American Thinker Blog
January 31, 2006
Great editorial
Investors Business Daily today minces no words in an editorial on the national security implications of oil drilling restrictions. Sens. John Sununu and John McCain are right to question America's reliance on foreign fuel. If barriers to U.S. drilling and... More
January 31, 2006
The warrior spirit
Warriors have a knack for conveying the most information in the least amount of words. Russ Vaughn's 'cold resolve that my country must do whatever is in its power to defeat these Jihadists, to hunt them down in every rat... More
January 31, 2006
What's not to like?
The Washington Post reports today on Utah, where the President's popularity is high, and in a few communities, almost unanimous. Naturally, it is condescending: In Randolph, though —— where Bush received 95.6 percent of the vote and support for him continues to... More
January 31, 2006
China and Iran
William Hawkins has an excellent article at NRO, mainly about the growing concurrence of interests between China and Iran. He recommends exerting pressure on China to curb its growing web of strategic, technological and business ties with the regime of... More
January 31, 2006
Is Tony Blair turning on global warming?
As a rule, Tony Blair could be relied on staying within the bound of reasonableness when push came to shove in controversies surrounding global warming. He has argued, for instance, that that the problem of global warming cannot be dealt... More
January 31, 2006
AT touched a nerve in Denmark
Yesterday, we published an item entitled "Buy Danish! (to counter the Islamic boycott)" asking our readers to support our friends in Denmark, who face an Islamic boycott, diplomatic troubles and terror threats. The Danish crime? Maintaining their traditions of freedom of... More
January 31, 2006
Flight 93 - the movie
My heart is heavy and my eyes misting in a most un—paratrooper—like manner, for I have just watched A&E's presentation of the movie Flight 93, and I am filled with a whirling mixture of emotions: sadness first for the innocent lives... More
January 31, 2006
Hamas will not compromise
Bill Clinton told us yesterday that Hamas will compromise. But the Middle East Media Research Institute has just translated an Al Jazeera interview with the Hamas leader, Khaled Mash'al. He makes his message pretty clear: "... we are committed to the... More
January 31, 2006
The Mystery of the Obama Cult
Sunday, He Who Walks on Water, as I refer to our Illinois junior senator, Barack Obama, appeared with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. Senator Obama said 'We need to recognize, because Judge Alito will be confirmed, that if we're going... More
January 31, 2006
WaPo op-ed for Hamas
The Washington Post gives Hamas op—ed space to spin their goals and beliefs. This is shameful. Note the author's background: indicted in the United States in 2004 as a co—conspirator on racketeering and money—laundering charges in connection with activities on behalf... More
January 31, 2006
Karl Rove's deep cover agent?
Every now and then the lunatic conspiracy theories of the left, seeing Karl Rove as the master conspirator, gain a moment of ironic plausibility. Such a moment occurred (very briefly) when I read this post from the publisher of the... More
January 30, 2006
Andrew Bostom interview
Our contributor Andrew Bostom, author of The Legacy of Jihad, is interviewed by Jamie Glazov at Front Page Magazine. The cataclysmic events of 9/11 had very little context for me, so I set out to learn about Islam, reading voraciously.... More
January 30, 2006
Arabic culture is tribal in origin
Ken Lydell of Occam's Razor looks at the the Hamas victory as a variant on the tradition of clan and tribe competition: Every Arab country consists of tribes and clans competing with one another to get more than their fair... More
January 30, 2006
Godspeed to a great classical liberal
This past Saturday the world said farewell to Sir John Cowperthwaite. Although his name is not widely known, his impact has been considerable. Once termed 'the finance director of the world's most successful enterprise,' he was the man behind the... More
January 30, 2006
Democrats turning on each other
The Democrats are in such disarray that their constant scandal—mongering to no effect is starting to inflict friendly fire on their own ranks. It looks like it's every man for himself. Nick Danger at RedState.Org noticed that Joe Biden was... More
January 30, 2006
Buy Danish! to counter the Islamic boycott (updated!)
Several months ago an international boycott was launched against Israel by educational unions in the UK. Leftist churches have passed anti—Israel investment policies. For some reason political boycotts always come from the Left, and they are always one—sided. Now Denmark... More
January 30, 2006
Hamas: Israel must change its flag
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that since the sweeping victory won by Hamas in last Wednesday's parliamentary elections the hardline terror group has acted "responsibly." Shortly thereafter, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar made the following demand: "Israel must remove the... More
January 30, 2006
Hugo Chavez drives Venezuela to drink
Whisky—drinking is an old tradition in Venezuela, so the news that scotch and whiskey sales were up 55% on the year earlier was not that big a surprise. I first heard of Venezuelans' affinity for whiskey in David Atlee Phillips' entertaining... More
January 30, 2006
Statists of Fear
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland over the weekend, noted climatologist Bill Clinton declared that the world's greatest crisis is... temperature change. The press reported Clinton saying to the overfed corporate toadies before him at the World Economic Forum that 'climate... More
January 30, 2006
Propaganda fails at the box office.
According to weekend estimates at boxofficemojo.com, the wide distribution of Syriana after its Golden Globe Award flopped. It added 1,183 screens last Friday, appearing in three times as many theaters as the prior weekend. Yet its gross only went up 52.8%. In worse... More
January 29, 2006
More nonsense from a UN biggie
According to Mahoammed ElBaradei of the UN Atomic Energy agency, nuclear proliferation comes from Western humiliation of Third World. He advocates US supply Iran with nuclear plant. Hmm...how does that apply to North Korea—a hermit nation that has had minimal... More
January 29, 2006
DiFi's new digs
Senator Dianne Feinstein and her financier husband Richard Blum are movin' on up, at least in terms of San Francisco real estate. They are leaving their elegant home on a quiet street abutting the greenery of the former Presidio Army... More
January 29, 2006
Congressman Delahunt Update
Not only does Congressman Delahunt of Massachusetts expect us to buy an unlikley story, he is playing footsie and receiving valuable campaign assistance from a foreign tyrant of the Marxist and anti—Semitic persuasion. There seems to be a trend among... More
January 29, 2006
Mr. Foggy Bottom
I have always despised the world view of Arnaud de Borchgrave. Everytime he speaks I hear the echo of some jaded, not too bright foreign service officer who can tell you how to pronounce the name of the Assistant Deputy... More
January 29, 2006
Al Jazeera snatches up Guardian propaganda
The Guardian of London just published two shameful articles. One by Jonathan Steele proclaims "we must respect the choice of the Palestinian people" in electing of Hamas. No doubt Steele's forerunners at the Guardian said exactly the same thing about... More
January 29, 2006
U.K. Guardian: send money to Hamas
The leftists at the U.K. Guardian didn't take long to decide that "we should not get hung up on the wrong issues, like armed resistance and the "'war on terror.'" Don't you love it when these people expose themselves for... More
January 29, 2006
Beyond Hypocrisy
Peter Schweitzer, writing in the New York Post today, exposes blatant hypocrisy on the part of Bill Clinton, his wealthy supporter Ron Burkle, and assorted other members of the left wing political/governmental apparat. Bill Clinton has himself promoted an investment... More
January 28, 2006
ZAP!
I am spending today pouring wine at the largest wine—tasting event in America, the 15th annual Zinfandel Festival, held by ZAP. Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) is the first—ever fan club for a grape, composed of both producers and consumers... More
January 28, 2006
The ignorance defense
Congressman Delahunt did not know his daughter was a lobybist for the Saudis. Gimme a break. Ed Lasky 1 28 06... More
January 28, 2006
Frequent offenders
A small number of people commit a disproportionate share of property crime. The lesson was learned once again here in Berkeley, where a homeless man has confessed to 100 burglaries, after being apprehended and questioned by Berkeley Police. The San... More
January 27, 2006
The Anne Frank Syndrome
Every time I take my children to the dentist, I get to be amused and appalled by his startling political pronouncements. He's an unregenerate 60s Leftie, who actually thinks that Al Franken is brave for stating his political views (apparently... More
January 27, 2006
Spielberg licks his wounds in Europe
Stunned by the box office failure of Munich at home, Steven Spielberg is looking for love from the Germans. He tells Der Spiegel's website: "'Munich' is definitely the most European film I have ever made," Steven Spielberg told Germany"s Spiegel... More
January 27, 2006
Lebanon makes sausage
Rick Moran uses the sausage—making and law—making comparison as a jumping off point for explaining the difficult process Lebanon is navigating toward some better form of governance better than its former Syrian occupation. It is a complex situation, ably illuminated... More
January 27, 2006
The big picture
All of the arguments, legal and otherwise, about FISA and NSA are missing the point of this little debate. It's not about either. It's about the separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches and whether Congress will be... More
January 27, 2006
Cash rewards
There's no other incentive quite like the prospect of a large sum of cash. Police departments, bail bondsmen, and worried parents use cash rewards to good effect. They may cost a lot, but they work. Israpundit has discovered the delightful... More
January 27, 2006
Really banning discrimination at universities
When is discrimination not discrimination? For the past few decades the answer has been when it helps government approved minorities——blacks, Hispanics, women——overcome past discrimination. Those not so anointed complained about counter discrimination, with varying degrees of success, over the years.... More
January 26, 2006
Libby drops the other shoe
As I have observed, the Special Prosecutor, constrained by the DoJ regulations on questioning reporters about their sources and by his felt need to do so, conducted a perfectly ridiculous inquiry in which reporters who quite obviously had prior independent... More
January 26, 2006
NSA Program: First consider the stakes
If you find your head spinning at the various legal debates on FISA and the NSA surveillance, you might find Judge Posner's take in The New Republic is helpful. To me it is the most sensible discussion I've seen. He... More
January 26, 2006
Saddam's secrets
Rick Moran reviews all the previous information to the effect that Saddam transported his WMD's to Syria before the war, information now confirmed by Iraqi General Sada, author, Saddam's Secrets. He does a wonderful job of putting it all together.... More
January 26, 2006
No Alarm Bells at The New York Times
On Monday, January 23, 2006 The New York Times took a front page look at an all—female fire engine company in San Diego and finds a feel good buddy story, while missing the larger public safety issues. The engineer, Melissa... More
January 26, 2006
The Boy Crisis Discrimination Suit
A few days ago Noel Sheppard argued here that articles such as the one in the current issue of Newsweek titled "The Trouble With Boys" with its cover splashed with a picture of several glaring pre adolescent males, hgeadlined "The... More
January 26, 2006
Cindy Sheehan detested by Venezuelans
Cindy Sheehan went to Caracas, Venezuela to put her thumb in the eye of the Bush administration. She was leading the World Social Forum, a far—left "alternative" to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, to cavort with fellow leftists. Less... More
January 26, 2006
Law firm outsourcing to Manila
Business Week notes that Baker & McKenzie, the worlwide law firm is outsourcing some work to Manila. The challenges of the global economy are nothing new to Baker & McKenzie. The law firm opened its first foreign office —— in... More
January 26, 2006
Thank-you, community activists
"Community activists" like Acorn often oppose new Wal—Marts, and whenever they have influence, Wal—Marts are scarce. The communities suffer as a result, of course. The latest example of the malign character of the community activist branch of the left comes from... More
January 26, 2006
Oh, I see. That explains it!
Quote: "CBC apologizes for 'Harper—heil' graphic, says it was a bad cut—and—paste job" The CBC has apologized to a viewer who complained that a news graphic appeared to juxtapose the name of the prime minister—designate with the German word "heil"... More
January 26, 2006
Hamas will not moderate when in power
Mohammed Abbas long fended off calls to adhere to the Road Map by disarming terror groups—such as Hamas. He has justified his stance by claiming that bringing Hamas into the political process and even into the government (as appears likely... More
January 26, 2006
Osama's favorite US propagandist?
Daniel Pipes has an excellent story today about Osama Bin Laden's favorite US propagandist: Far—leftist William Blum, whose book on America was endorsed in an audiotape by you—know—who? Writes Pipes: "Asked if he was queasy about bin Laden's urging listeners... More
January 25, 2006
Oily George and Uday in the UK Sun
The London Sun today publishes two stunning pictures from a video of British Member of Parliament George Galloway meeting with Uday Hussein, the sadistic son of Saddam, who was killed in a shootout with US troops in July of 2003.... More
January 25, 2006
Maryland's Democrat two-step
A judge in Maryland has voided the State's ban on gay marriages as unconstitutional and the Maryland Democratic Party has begun its election year dance to avoid the fallout from the decision, which it admits supports its own views on... More
January 25, 2006
Venezuela: the censorship begins
Apologists for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez have always claimed to win their argument about his regime by insisting there were no collective farms, no extrajudicial killings, no halts on freedom of expression, no end to freedom of association, no end... More
January 25, 2006
Most liberal icons are leftists
Neither pretty singing Nor some scented flowers Will succeed in hiding Their true leftist colors. Vasko Kohlmayer 1 25 06... More
January 24, 2006
Exploiting the internal divide in Iran
Daveed Gartenstein—Ross, "writing":http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/575kccof.asp in the ??Weekly Standard??, examines in more detail the fissures within the Iranian regime that James Lewis mentioned in his "article":http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5189 today. While not considering the role of a possible military strike in bringing down the regime,... More
January 24, 2006
A Soldier's Response to Joel Stein
No doubt readers are aware of yesterday's LA unabashedly anti—war/anti—soldier "column":http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la—oe—stein24jan24,0,4137172.column?coll=la—news—comment—opinions in the ??Los Angeles Times??, "Warriors and Wusses" by Joel Stein. Reuters among others has a "piece":http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24212064.htm on the huge fallout, while talk host and blogger Hugh Hewitt "interviewed":http://www.radioblogger.com/#001332%20... More
January 24, 2006
Albedo Algore
Proving once again the absurdity of the Kyoto treaty, scientists have "noticed":http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/060124_earth_albedo.html less sunlight is reaching the earth and acknowledge they have no idea what that means to the global warming debate. bq. After dropping for about 15 years, the... More
January 24, 2006
Screenwriter has more wounds to lick
Bookworm read Tony Kushner's "defense":http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la—op—kushner22jan22,0,1100643.story?coll=la—news—comment—opinions of his screenplay for Steven Spielberg's ??Munich?? in the ??Los Angeles Times??. She was not much "impressed":http://bookwormroom.blogspot.com/2006/01/fisking—kushner.html. Spielberg and Ksuhner both seem to be somewhat bruised and possibly bewildered by the reaction to ??Munich?? by... More
January 24, 2006
Naomi Wolf follows Madonna to sainthood
In an article called "Naomi Wolf: I had a vision of Jesus," the Glasgow, Scotland Sunday Herald reported that feminist heroine Naomi Wolf has turned to spirituality. This will outrage the feminist Left, but it may actually mark a new... More
January 24, 2006
Oprah at Auschwitz
Noted and prolific, New York—bred and now long—time Israel resident, author Naomi Ragen is commenting on Oprah Winfrey's forthcoming trip to Auschwitz. Oprah will be in the company of noted author and Nobel Peace Prize winner* Elie Wiesel. Let me say this.... More
January 24, 2006
Kennedy on Alito
Of a good man's probity An inquisitor he is keen While his own moral slate Is woefully unclean. Vasko Kohlmayer 1 24 06 ... More
January 24, 2006
Niggling criticism update
Yesterday Ed Lasky examined the curiously petty criticism launched at Elie Wiesel by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and as Bookworm noted, NPR. It looks like a smear campaign by the left. What else could explain an attempt... More
January 24, 2006
The Canadian version
Paul Jackson's article today on Canada's Conservative victory published here on AT was intended for an American audience. For his readership in Canada (in Calgary and all the other cities where his column is syndicated), Paul has written a slightly... More
January 24, 2006
NYT bets on evolution
The New York Times says that new Canadian PM Harper has "evolved into a centrist." I suppose that means to them that he is not as much a lesser life form than he was when he was more to the... More
January 23, 2006
Damadola update
It seems the Pakistani authorities are as "anxious":http://pakistantimes.net/national23010601.htm to find the secreted bodies as Al Qaeda was to hide them. bq. DAMADOLA: Pakistani authorities arrested a suspected militant with links to al—Qaida operatives that were targeted in U.S. attack last... More
January 23, 2006
The campaign against Elie Wiesel
Bookworm noticed yet another attack on Elie Wiesel, in addition to those Ed Lasky noted. It appears that three iconic liberal elite outposts have the same trumped—up line trying to build the case for a "fake" when the facts are... More
January 23, 2006
Plantation Politics
Shelby Steele has an article in today's Wall Street Journal, "Hillary's Plantation." Predictably this has led some conservatives to moan that 90% of all blacks still vote Democrat and naysayers to claim Steele has no factual basis for asserting Hillary won't be... More
January 23, 2006
Fog lifts on Damadola air strike
There have been a lot of conflicting statements and a fake photo designed to suggest that that the Damadola strike was clumsy and ineffective in getting the target and that anger in Pakistan and innocent victims were the principal result... More
January 23, 2006
Is SCOTUS moving toward deregulating campaign ads?
Election Law blog looks to the Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC ruling and suggests the Supreme Court is moving toward deregulating campaign ads. This gets technical, but the third paragraph below sums up the implications for campaign advertising. This... More
January 23, 2006
India's Energy Supply and Iran
A report out of New Delhi indicates that India wants to complete a natural gas pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan that will terminate in India. Even though a planned visit by Iran's Petroleum Minister Kazem Vaziri—Hamaneh was cancelled, the proverbial... More
January 23, 2006
Mike Malloy dummies up (again)
Last Friday, we pointed out that Mike Malloy, a host on Air America, profanely refused an invitation to come to CPAC and actually talk with conservatives. He is quite clearly afraid to engage in the battle of ideas, and throws... More
January 23, 2006
Libby makes his first move
I have warned the liberal press that they made a huge mistake in demanding a full investigation of the phony Plame "outing." Looking at the first move of Scooter Libby's defense team last Friday, it seems my prediction that the press will... More
January 22, 2006
In case you had any question
This says it all about Palestinian political culture: man nicknamed Hitler is running seat in Parliament (and will likely win) Ed Lasky 1 22 06... More
January 21, 2006
Gross negligence
If there is any truth to this story about the supposed high school journalist who went to Iraq, the American media will be guilty of complicity in a hoax. Their ability (or will) to get to the bottom of scams... More
January 20, 2006
Eliminating Israel - a first step
Some kind of line was crossed when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stood in front of a map from which Israel had been extinguished, and addressed a group celebrating Palestine. Call it the mainstreaming of the elimination of Israel. Our... More
January 20, 2006
Even leftists are laughing at CNN
CNN has been reduced to peddling conspiracy theories. Hugh Hewitt has covered the ravings of Jack Cafferty: Less than 30 minutes ago, Jack Cafferty on CNN's The Siutuation Room, which may soon be renamed The Rubber Room: The last time... More
January 20, 2006
Talk radio host doesn't want to talk
CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) invited the opposition to come to its meeting next month and talk. Who better to talk to than talkers? So Air America's Mike Malloy received a polite invitation. After all, last year Al Franken came... More
January 20, 2006
China's accelerating unrest
The Chinese are traking to the streets in record numbers of cases, protesting pollution, corruption, high—handedness, seizures of property, and other examples of the autocratic behavior of their masters. The New York Times reports: The number of "public order disturbances"... More
January 20, 2006
Hillary tells a whopper
Gateway Pundit caught Hillary peddling nonsense about diplomacy to the students and scholars at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She must think they are very stupid. Her contrafactual assertion that President Bush is continuing the foreign policy... More
January 20, 2006
Targeted killing of terrorists
Daniel Byman, writing in the Los Angeles Times, has his numbers wrong, though he agrees Israel's policy of targeted assassinations has worked to reduce attacks in the current intifada. Since the recent intifada killed more than 1,000 Israelis, the 172... More
January 20, 2006
Kofi blocks disarmament effort for Lebanon militias
Kofi Annan, that friend of humanity, that icon of all that is good and decent, has blocked a UN Security Council effort, a rare incidence of unanimity there, to advance the disarmament of militias in Lebanon. The New York Sun reports: The... More
January 20, 2006
Europe's Dictatorship
Belarus under Alexander Lukashenko has become the most problematic of European states. A dictatorship, Belarus is forging ties with our global antagonists China, Russia, and Iran. It is supplying materiel and technology to Iran. Lukashenko is also pursuing some steps... More
January 19, 2006
The Barrett Report
I have argued here that Independent and Special Prosecutions are an abomination and should never be utilized again "The Culture of Strife." Isn't it ironic? Just as the man who was Vice President in what was surely the most corrupt... More
January 19, 2006
De Oppresso Liber
Bill Roggio offers the latest on the Domadola strike,concluding: It is clear the reports from earlier in the week that al—Qaeda is refocusing efforts in Afghanistan are accurate. With the recent capture or killing of several high—level al—Qaeda leaders, including... More
January 19, 2006
Democrat dirty tricks
While disgruntled Democrats (are there are other kind?) are still grousing about Bush's 2000 election victory and questioning the validity of his 2004 win, how are they reacting to the following incident of Democrat dirty tricks? MILWAUKEE —— Witness testimony, cell... More
January 19, 2006
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Unemployment Calims Plunge" WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) —— First—time claims for state unemployment benefits plunged by 36,000 to a seasonally adjusted 271,000 in the week ended Jan. 14, the Labor Department said Thursday. This marked the lowest level for initial claims since... More
January 19, 2006
From The Executive Editor Desk at NYTimes.com
Here is the entire email: Sir, in reply to your article: A caption Saturday, January 14, on NYTimes.com with a photograph of damage from a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan misidentified an item in the photograph. Agence France—Presse, the agency that... More
January 19, 2006
Russia's phony posturing on Iran
Russia is once again thwarting the efforts by the United States to take real measures against a dangerous rogue state. To pretend that Russia is some kind of serious diplomatic arbitrator in the current Iran nuclear standoff is simply preposterous.... More
January 19, 2006
Douglas Hanson in Washington Times
Our national security correspondent Douglas Hanson has an op—ed in the Washington Times this morning, entitled "The Mullah's War Games." As AT readers have come to expect, Doug places the military strategies of the mullahs in context, showing how the current nuclear... More
January 19, 2006
Anti-Semitism, the early warning system
Andrew Klavan, writing in the Los Angeles Times, posits that anti—Semitism is part of the reason God made the Jews His Chosen People. THERE IS ONE good thing about anti—Semitism: It lets you know who the bad guys are.... ...there's... More
January 19, 2006
The fake photo lives on and on
Yesterday, we caught Slate cluelessly recycling the fake photo the New York Times posted to its home page last Saturday. In less than an hour, Slate removed the photo without comment. Then AT pointed out their lack of decency in failing... More
January 19, 2006
Our technology edge
As a management consultant I have seen many organizations hobbled by an inability to integrate their data systems. When the organization is as large and bureaucratic as the US government, the challenge is all the greater. Yet, as the trumped—up... More
January 19, 2006
Democrat Plantations
The British have an expression, 'one doesn't know where to look.' Meaning that the statement just made is so embarrassing — in this case so historically fatuous — that you don't want to catch anyone's eye. It came to mind... More
January 19, 2006
Blame America First is back
Even if they weren't a leftwing organization, I am not a big fan of reports by Human Rights Watch or any of these NGOs. These dry annual reports are put together haphazardly and add nothing we don't already know. They... More
January 19, 2006
Brought to you courtesy of the red, white, and blue
Remember the "human shields"? The people who went to Iraq to protect oil refineries, power stations, hospitals, and other potential targets from American bombing? Saddam's best friends from the West, in other words. Well, one of them, a Brit named... More
January 18, 2006
Hollyood by the (dismal) numbers
After reading Cinnamon Stillwell's article Hollywood's Propaganda Binge, I looked up the Golden Globe nominees on the website boxofficemofo.com. With the exception of the excellent Johnny Cash biography Walk the Line (18th highest gross), the major award winners have made little... More
January 18, 2006
A Strange Coincidence
While the media seem to have written off the notion that Zawahiri was killed in the attack on Damadola. I'd wait to see if we get another video of him before jumping to conclusions. The day after the bombing, a... More
January 18, 2006
Europe's leftist reporters are as bad as the NYT
One of the world's oldest and largest news agencies, Paris—headquartered AFP, has treated us to a textbook example of journalistic deceptiveness. The last two paragraphs in a story about the execution of Clarence Allen in California read as follows: Polls... More
January 18, 2006
Biting the hand that feeds New York
One of the truisms of Washington, DC is that all politics are local. Except for one group of politicians: those who seek national attention. Most Congressmen are charged with and accept the responsibility of caring for their constituents. Hence the phenomenon... More
January 18, 2006
The fake photo lives!
The New York Times fake photo lives on. Once in the bloodstream of the left wing media, staged pictures acieve immortality because they are so useful. Slate uses* the posed pic (without comment) to illustrate an araticle questioning the legality of... More
January 18, 2006
France in denial
Our contributor Nidra Poller has written a sobering account for Tech Central Station of the way France handled the incident of Muslim "youths" terrorizing 600 train passengers in the early morning hours of January 1st. Cover—up, appeasement, denial, and other... More
January 18, 2006
Pay us or we won't listen to you
The New York Times has constructed a second wall around its op—ed columnists, many of whom still bear bruises from criticism they received form bloggers before their publisher erected the "Times Select" subscription wall around them. Unless you subscribe to... More
January 18, 2006
Unwelcome sunshine at UCLA
UCLA recruiters have long delighted in bringing star high school athletes to their campus during the winter months, when warm weather and sunshine prove particularly attractive to many from colder climes. But the sort of sunshine that operates as a... More
January 18, 2006
Leak, dribble, dribble
Because the powerhouse political law firm of Williams and Connolly succeeded in getting much of the Barrett report redacted before release, what we learn of its content will leak out in dribbles over a period of time. Maybe that's a... More
January 17, 2006
Watch the bouncing ball
The Democrats may want to scratch their "culture of corruption" meme soon. Human Events reports: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D.—Nev.) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton on March 5, 2002, asking her to veto an agreement between... More
January 17, 2006
Dark Clouds over Britain
The excellent British financial newspaper The Business ran a feature over the weekend titled UK Tax Grab Even Larger than Germany's. It opens with this: Britain's tax burden will surge ahead of Germany's for the first time in a generation... More
January 17, 2006
Look who's suing
The ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights are suing President Bush, the NSA and some other agencies over the NSA surveillance program. Guess who one of the prominent plaintiffs is? None other than Rachel Meeropol, grand—daughter of Communist spies... More
January 17, 2006
'Forty, forty, we know you'
As the great warrior lies in a Jerusalem hospital bed fighting for his life, or, indeed, perhaps already beyond that, it is worth while recalling the position he held in the minds of Israeli soldiers, for all that he was... More
January 17, 2006
Ted Kennedy and the ladies
O—o—o—h that Ted Kennedy——all beefy and sanctimonious and hypocritical as he once again grilled a real lawyer who was admitted to college and law school on his own fine merit and graduated with highest honors he earned, unlike, well, Ted... More
January 17, 2006
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Us Manufacturing Capacity Utilization Hits Five Year High" Marketwatch reports: For all of 2005, industrial production increased 3.2%, compared with a 4.1% gain in 2004. Capacity utilization increased by 1 percentage point from December 2004 and is now 0.3... More
January 17, 2006
Austria sent
Vienna is the host city for the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, the body whose seals were recently broken by Iran's governemnt as it moves ahead with its nuclear program, all the more threatening in light of its president's expressed... More
January 17, 2006
Disinformation in Iraq
Our frequent contributor John B. Dwyer has a column today in the Washington Times, entitled "Disinformation on Iraq." Readers familiar with his work as a military historian will not be surprised at the historical perspective he brings to present—day disinformation.... More
January 17, 2006
Anchorman: The Legend of James Rubin
Remember James Rubin? Here's a hint: he was the State Department's chief spokesman under Bill Clinton. Another hint: he is married to CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour. What ever happened to him? He's alive, and on the air, on Sky News,... More
January 17, 2006
The chocolate city
The MSM are fond of cliche—ing that the recent Katrina devastation and response in New Orleans exposed America's racism. Well yeah, but not the way they mean. All the sensationalist reporting about cannibalism in the Superdome, blacks suffering disproportionately more,... More
January 17, 2006
China: "uprisings everywhere"
Dictatorships wield arbitrary power, so that they look strong to those of us accustomed to the open political struggles characteristic of free societies. But the exercise of arbitrary power does not necessarily make for a robust regime. If he were... More
January 17, 2006
Al Gore dishonors Dr. King's memory
Dishonoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, former vice president and presidential candidate Al Gore spoke not of love and respect and tolerance, as were King's ideals, but rather of partisan politics and contempt of the other. Hijacking the... More
January 16, 2006
Gaia is going gaga
If you still think Europe is not a madhouse these days, a book soon to be published will cure you. James Lovelock, described by The Independent of Britain as "an independent environmental scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society" (no less),... More
January 16, 2006
Selective Television Outrage
When I earned my master's degree in English at the University of Texas at Austin and entered the doctoral program, I began teaching English composition. Before the semester began, the new instructors were required to attend a week of meetings.... More
January 16, 2006
When the cat's away
A few days ago, George Galloway, the controversial, anti—Israel member of the British Parliament, raised money for a pro Arab charity by pretending to lick milk from the hand of an actress on television. (And here you thought British politicians were... More
January 16, 2006
More on the fake NYT photo
William Krulac of Greensburg, PA writes us with some more information on the artillery shell: I am a former artilleryman with twenty years of experience. I have fired nearly every cannon system in the US Army inventory. The text of... More
January 16, 2006
Bigger Iraq Role for the UN?
Brent Scowcroft, National Security Advisor to Presidents Ford and Bush 41, advises a greater role for the UN in Iraq. The United Nations could be asked to assume a greater role in providing a more ecumenical political umbrella and expertise... More
January 16, 2006
CENTCOM Reports 16 January 2006
The CENTCOM Newsletter for the week of 9 January 2006 can be found here. Among the stories covered this week: Amran, Yemen — If two—year—old Ebtisam Salim could have talked, she would have complained of having had diarrhea and a... More
January 16, 2006
Theo Van Gogh's Submission
Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh's two minute movie Submission, the extraordinary short film that sealed Van Gogh's fate, was screened in Los Angles this weekend at American Film Renaissance. Brilliant, artistic, and gruesome, it depicts the internal struggle of a Muslim... More
January 16, 2006
It's gonna be one of those days for Jack Bauer
Rick Moran is on the job, posting his response and plot summaries for the season debut of 24. I have yet to run into anyone who was disappointed, and many of us think that the season is off to a... More
January 16, 2006
Not Your Daddy's Party
Michael Barone and John Leo, two writers I greatly admire , noticed as I did the contempt the Democratic elite displayed for Judge Alito, who, it seemed to me, is the very sort of person who until the 1960's represented the... More
January 15, 2006
Qaddafi forgiven?
Thirty—six years ago to this day a son of a Bedouin farmer became the premier of Libya. Muammar al—Qaddafi, a captain in the Libyan army, had wrested control of the country from King Idris the previous year. The anti—Western dictatorship... More
January 15, 2006
Munich's "development hell"
George Jonas, the author of the book Vengeance, on which Steve Spielberg's Munich is based, is among many others notably unhappy with the film, which is proving to be a rare box office dud for Hollywood's richest director. Jonas writes... More
January 15, 2006
Everyone Loves Jack Bauer?
Maybe not everyone, but a lot of conservatives. Not to mention many millions without notable political positions. The Ace of Spades kindly linked to our two articles about 24, and provided further (and consistent) thoughts on the show. Lorie Byrd, another of... More
January 15, 2006
Mitterrand exposed
The Free Europe Institute has an interesting commentary about France's version of our Protest Warriors. It seems during the tenth anniversary of the death of President François Mitterrand, France has been holding a week—long celebration not unsurprisingly at the national... More
January 15, 2006
Missing in Action: The Democrats
Belmont Club describes the growing war between the Sunni insurgents and al Qaeda in Iraq and the coming showdown with Iran .The author,Wretchard, a keen observer, notes that much of the Democrat opposition to Operation Iraqi Freedom is because the... More
January 15, 2006
Coffee Communism in Caracas
Long lines and rationing — was there ever any communist regime without them? They happen because of price controls, something that was rife in the old Soviet Union, and still exists in Cuba. The dynamic is now appearing in Venezuela.... More
January 15, 2006
A Rant?
A website called Islamophobia Watch accuses AT of a "rant" (and implicitly of Islamophobia) for this article on Muhammad's use of torture, as carefully documented with reference to Islamic holy scripture. There is no analysis, of course, merely a label flung... More
January 15, 2006
War Resolution
As the fracas continues over the President's authorization of domestic eavesdropping against potential enemies of this country, it is useful to recall the text of the war resolution that was passed by Congress following 9/11. There is an excellent brief... More
January 14, 2006
A perfect sandalista folly
The World Social Forum starts next week, drawing the monolithic leftist rent—a—mob together from wherever they exist in any country. Up until last year, the antiglobalization event was held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as an alternative to the Davos Forum... More
January 14, 2006
America's Physcon, Ted Kennedy
Physcon was the nickname for Ptolemy VIII, who became pharaoh of Egypt in 144 B.C. following the assassination of Ptolemy VII at his initiative. Physcon means, roughly, "potbelly," but the nickname has come to stand for a whole related host... More
January 14, 2006
The George Galloway Freak Show
George Galloway at his best: in a television freak show. ...even some of George Galloway's supporters believe he may have overstepped his own generous mark, appearing on a television game show, "Celebrity Big Brother," with sundry C—list celebrities. Mr. Galloway's... More
January 14, 2006
Are you my better?
Are you my better? Now let me see. You are rich and a Kennedy. The best looking one you used to be, But to remember that takes a long memory. Pampered, spoiled, but you weren't always. Things were... More
January 14, 2006
Civility of the Right
Robert Bluey reports that former VP AlGore is to be introduced by former GOP Congressman Bob Barr when he, Gore, offers a major speech attacking the Bush Administration as a 'Police State' on MLK Day at the DAR Constitution Hall. The... More
January 13, 2006
It's the vote count, stupid
After Judge Alito's impressive performance this week (and Justice Roberts' equally impressive performance last September), numerous commentators having been writing the epitaph for the Democrats' strategy of "Borking" conservative judicial appointees. For example, in today's Opinion Journal, Daniel Henninger wrote: "Borking... More
January 13, 2006
The IAEA, the EU, and Russia play ball
The Iran nuclear fiasco has finally reached its first culminating point, and all indications are that the case will be referred to the UN Security Council. The AP reports today that Iran is planning to block International Atomic Energy Agency... More
January 13, 2006
Harvard Law Prof: The Law is an Ass
The Alito hearings are bringing some strange confessions out of the legal woodwork. I've long wondered what Alan Dershowitz really believes about the law. Dershowitz is routinely trotted out on CNN, PBS, and the alphabet channels as the Harvard Law... More
January 13, 2006
David Duke Does Damascus
MEMRI reports that American Nazi David Duke just made a trip to Baghdad where he declared his support for Assad: During a visit to Syria last week, white supremacist and former U.S. State Representative from Louisiana David Duke spoke at... More
January 13, 2006
Must-see TV tonight
Far be it from us for willy—nilly recommending watching the Mainstream Media but every once in a while they stumble upon a topic and treat it fairly. Tonight on ABC we might actually have a chance to see such an... More
January 13, 2006
Hampered by Outdated Misunderstandings
Laurie Mylroie writes a wise article in the New York Sun on the nature of the war on terror, and the way in which the Clinton administration's concept of the war as a law enforcement matter continues to hamper us.... More
January 13, 2006
Kennedy just doesn't get it
Powerline has a piece on Sen. Kennedy's use of material from the Concerned Alumni of Princeton yesterday. It turns out that the "bigoted" article that Ted Kennedy was flourishing in front of Judge Alito from the Concerned Alumni of Princeton... More
January 13, 2006
Homeshoring: a Big Gain for Americans
Modern technology is not just responsible for shifting jobs overseas; it can also claim credit for permitting people who prefer to work from home the chance to help their family finances. The upshot? Increased time with family, personal autonomy and increased... More
January 13, 2006
The Effect of the NYT Leak
A.J. Strata earlier surmised that the procedures utilized in the NSA monitoring were not as described in the heated partisan fashion which characterized the New York Times' revelation. Today, he appears to be vindicated: The Washington Post has vindicated my suspicions... More
January 13, 2006
An Alito Filibuster?
I don't think it will happen, anyway. But if the Democrat senators do try to filibuster Judge Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court, they will be "protecting women" right after having reduced a woman to tears with their cruelty. The... More
January 13, 2006
The Inattention Season
According to the Pew Research Center, only 14 percent of you are closely following the Alito hearings (compared to the nearly half who have paid close attention to the miners' tragedy). Of course, anyone who has been reading AT this... More
January 13, 2006
The NYT sees only one side, and it isn't ours
The New York Times article on the visit by new German Chancellor Angela Merkel discusses the conflicts that complicate relations between America and Germany. The sole focus is on Merkel's and Germany's criticisms about US policy: Guantanamo, the "kidnapping" (by... More
January 13, 2006
The UN Moves Against Gun Rights
Gradually, and in the name of high ideals, the United Nations is moving against the Second Ammendment right to bear arms. An armed citizenry is, of course, anathema to the elitists and tyrants who dominate the UN. The New York... More
January 13, 2006
The DNA of a Minority Party
I was listening to the Kennedy—Alito exchange on Concerned Alumni of Princeton when it occurred to me that at last the mask had slipped and revealed something which to date had been less obvious: the contempt the Democratic leadership, many... More
January 13, 2006
The Banana Brain Song
Our Poet Laureate Russ Vaughn remembers, and has been inspired by Harry Belafonte's one and only certifiable hit recording, the Banana Boat Song. Here is his satirical modernized version: The Banana Brain Song Yo—yo, yo—oh—yo—yo, No lights on an' nobody... More
January 13, 2006
ABC Nightline reporter hired by Al Jazeera
Dave Marash, an "award—winning former correspondent" for ABC News' Nightline, is joining Al Jazeera, and calls his new post "the most interesting job on earth." Well, I always thought Nightline was Al Jazeera—light, but can a reporter, whose reputation relies on honesty and... More
January 12, 2006
Munich? What about Amsterdam?
Steven Spielberg's Munich questions the right of Israel to deter terrorist attacks by eliminating the perpetrators. But what about an issue closer to home? Theo van Gogh was a movie director and carried a name famous in the history of... More
January 12, 2006
Voters as sheep?
A man named Ford Bell is running for the DFL (Democratic) nomination for Senate this year, seeking to succeeed Senator Mark Dayton, whose performance was so pathetic that he didn't bother running for re—election. Dr. Bell is a veterinarian, which... More
January 12, 2006
Everything's free in America?
Everything's free in America for a small fee. So say the Stephen Sondheim lyrics of 'America' in West Side Story. Isn't this the basic idea behind guest worker programs for otherwise illegal immigrants? From the White House to the statehouses... More
January 12, 2006
Sen. Feingold's Excellent Adventure
I have always found sanctimony from Sen. Feingold particulalry unappealing since he was instrumental in engineering the first significant curbing of free political speech in this country since its founding (yes, he had help, but that does not change the... More
January 12, 2006
Whitewash Dean's Questionable Junket
Columbia University's "whitewash dean" Lisa Anderson took a Saudi—funded junket shortly before dismissing complaints of anti—Israel bias and professorial misbehavor. Now, it turns out that she wouldn't have even been allowed to take such gift, had she worked in the... More
January 12, 2006
The Journalist Exception
Who said that the Mainstream Media is incapable of discretion when it comes to releasing "hot" news stories? As we know, journalists obsessively cover any kidnapping or attack on Americans or coalition forces in Iraq, regardless if this gives aid... More
January 12, 2006
Ah, to die in Venice
How does an elderly but vigorous professor become a popular hero in la bell' Italia these days? By seducing his students in exchange for top grades, videotaping the action, and writing a hot best—seller. Il dottore Ezio Capizzano, a 70... More
January 12, 2006
Academic and Cultural Elites - and Murder
A number of brave Muslims have spoken up against Islamist totalitarianism. And then there are the others — like Sa'id ibn Nasser Al—Ghamdi. Al—Ghamdi was awarded the highest university honors for his 1988 doctoral dissertation at the Ibn Saud Islamic... More
January 11, 2006
Mark Levin, the Blog
At last, Mark Levin has started blogging. One of the sharpest minds anywhere, Mark combines shrewd insight into the law with a great sense of strategy and that rarest of qualities, clear prose understandable to those of us deificient in... More
January 11, 2006
UN SecGen sent reform report into the fire
While continuing to peruse Joshua Muravchik's excellent new book, The Future of the United Nations, I find myself shocked (no nauseated) by the dictatorial regimes that have run the UN for the past ..oh...50 years or so. The latest story... More
January 11, 2006
The President's Latest Victory in Iraq Speech
With the Alito hearings clogging the airways and numbing our minds, President Bush's speech before the VFW in D.C. didn't get the full attention it deserves, except that part of it criticizing the "Murthites." Here is a link to the... More
January 11, 2006
Post-literate Congress
I have the Alito hearings on the tube as I write this. Leahy is hectoring Alito on the warrantless "spying" by the administration and he is getting very worked up about it. Which brings up an interesting point. Dan Quayle —... More
January 11, 2006
NYT Implies Israel all but Created Hamas
Well..the Times did not exactly state this, but one might draw the conclusion that the violence erupting in the Gaza Strip is Israel's fault if you read this paragraph in today' article: The densely populated, heavily armed territory is taut... More
January 11, 2006
New York Times Circulation Crisis
The New York Times has lost almost 20% of its circulation in New York City between 2001 and 2004, its competitor, The New York Post reports. And the Post gleefully notes that its own circulation in NYC has soared 29%... More
January 11, 2006
Iran Nukes years Away on Planet NYT
The New York Times article on Iran's breaking of an agreement to restrain its nuclear "research" with the Europeans and the IAEA downplays the threat of Iran's pursuit of a nuclear bomb. Despite years of deception, despite collusion with the nuclear... More
January 11, 2006
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"State Budget Shortfalls Vanishing as Bush Policies Succeed" President Bush's tax cuts have worked their magic on the economy, buoying state level tax collections As a result, the Wall Street Journal reports ($link) Just prior to his state of... More
January 11, 2006
Columbia Whitewash Dean took Saudi Junket
Academic officials in prestigious universities like Columbia may not be covered by the conflict—of—interest regulations which apply to public officials, but surely these tax—exempt institutions owe some sort of duty to basic principles of honesty. Last year, Columbia students made... More
January 11, 2006
Churchill on Islam
Winston Churchill, who seems to have done almost everything, fought in the British campaign against Islamic radicalism in the Sudan in the 1890's. A figure who called himself The Mahdi — a long awaited kind of messiah — had created... More
January 11, 2006
Misbegotten Munich Mess-ups Metastasize
Steven Spielberg's lavishly—promoted film Munich almost is making me reconsider my opinion on abortion. This project should have been killed in the editing room. It so ill—conceived that even the process of promotion has been badly bungled. According to Box... More
January 11, 2006
Schumer Morphing into Byrd?
Matt May takes Senator Schumer on a well—deserved trip behind the pundits' woodshed.... More
January 10, 2006
Expat nightmare coming in HK?
Brian Schwarz notes in China Challenges that the days of glamorous living for foreign expats in Hong Kong may be coming to an end. Coming just days after the conservative Heritage Foundation awarded Hong Kong the top spot in its... More
January 10, 2006
Castro's Campus Comrades (updated)
Campus is indeed an ideal place for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to hide his agents. Although such leftists possess no security clearances, it's still possible for them to do damage — not against the U.S. military or the U.S. government,... More
January 10, 2006
Pro-American Thinker Canadians
American Thinker has discovered that there is one Canadian, and probably a few more —— at least in the Western Provinces —— with a favorable attitude towards the States, in general, as well as American Thinker and its fearless leader... More
January 10, 2006
The Left Forgets so Quickly
Alicia Colon has written another brilliant column, this time on the Left's faulty memory. This woman should be syndicated across America and widely read. Dick Weltz 1 10 06... More
January 10, 2006
UK cleared nuclear cargo to Iran
Very worrisome news from the UK, via, of all sources, the leftist Sunday edition of the Guardian, the Observer. British officials have allowed the export to Iran of a cargo of radioactive material that experts believe could be used in... More
January 10, 2006
Living high at the UN
While reading Joshua Muravchik's brief but illuminating book, The Future of the United Nations, I came across this interesting factoid.The level of salaries for "professional" staff is determined on the basis of the "Noblemaire Principle," according to which, the international... More
January 10, 2006
Palestinians on the verge of bankruptcy
Not moral or political — that was long ago. This time, it is financial bankruptcy of the Palestinian Authority that is in question. The Palestinian Authority, the largest employer in the territories, is facing a fiscal crisis that could result,... More
January 10, 2006
Stetham's murderer and Osthoff
German sources, the UPI is reporting, say that Susanne Osthoff, the kidnapped archeologist who was released just before Christmas, was in fact a free lance spy for her country: These sources, admit that a ransom was paid for her release but contend... More
January 10, 2006
A California Trend for Independence
More than a few years of my life were marked by frequent excursions into Southern California, including working in some of the world's most beautiful landscapes in the mountains and the on the coast. But vast areas in the '60s... More
January 09, 2006
Perfect Hiding Place for Castro Agents: Campus
Via the San Francisco Chronicle: A college professor and his wife, a college administrator, have been charged with being longtime illegal agents of Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to documents filed Monday. Carlos Alvarez, a psychology professor at Florida International... More
January 09, 2006
Feminist Thought Police
The president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Joanne Tosti—Vasey, has called for the resignation of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, after Paterno expressed regret that a Florida State football player was prohibited from... More
January 09, 2006
Sen. Jay Rockefeller a Target?
Macsmind is reporting that Sen. Rockefeller may be the target of investigators examining the leak of classified information on the NSA surveillance program. I'm trying to confirm this information, but several sources are telling me today that some investigators working... More
January 09, 2006
Questioning patriotism
Rabbi Aryeh Sperro, writing in Human Events Online, is not afraid to question the patriotism of some liberals. It is another article I wish I had written. Some highlights: ...dissent is not service. Dissent is simply personal gratification, a right... More
January 09, 2006
Blame the Jews?
Of all the thousands of potenital critics the New York Times could have hired to review James Risen's new book, they choose an author well—known for his conspiracy theories regarding American Jews' control of the US Government and their infuence... More
January 09, 2006
Is God Dead in Europe?
James Gannon writes a provocative USA Today essay about the decline of Christianity in Europe. Is this a portent for America? Ed Lasky 1 09 06... More
January 09, 2006
Who Runs Britain? Don't Ask...
The BBC made the mistake of asking radio listeners of its Today show what they think about an important question, and got an answer not to its liking. As befits an elitist outfit with a guarranteed revenue source, it proceeded... More
January 09, 2006
Bin Missing?
Michael Ledeen reports that credible accounts from inside Iran say Osama bin Laden died there three weeks ago: ...according to Iranians | 
