American Thinker Blog
July 31, 2006
Did Israel blow it - or are they working under the radar?
J.R. Dunn, who is as well qualified as anybody to judge these things, believes that Israel really blew its opportunity to defeat Hezbollah. He thinks that Prime Minister Olmert, without direct experience of combat himself, interfered with military judgment in... More
July 31, 2006
Schumer shifts: Bolton to be reconfirmed
New York Senator Charles Schumer's capitulation to allow a vote on UN Ambassador John Bolton's confirmation for reappointment means he will be confirmed. The Schumer position allows Democrats to vote no on the nomination itself to preserve their multilateralist commitments... More
July 31, 2006
Moonbats and the Military
In an August 7th Newsweek piece up at MSNBC.com here, Jonathan Alter points out the potential disaster looming for the Democrats if the loons on the left get their way. The author quotes none other than that oracle of political... More
July 31, 2006
The myth of the lone Muslim gunman
Michelle Malkin has a devastating video takedown of the media—sponsored theme of the "lone gunman" theory when it comes to Muslims killing Jews and other Americans. She uses the potential of internet video skillfully, combining words and images to show instance... More
July 31, 2006
Muhammad's willing executioners
Our contributor Andrew Bostom, the world's leading historian of jihad, has another important article today, in Front Page Magazine, on the scriptural and historical roots of infidel—killing in Islam. As always, his examples are vivid, numerous, and chilling. A small... More
July 31, 2006
Human Rights Watch watch
Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Soros—funded Human Rights Watch, is exposed in an editorial of the New York Sun, contradicting other key members of his organization, in order to justify his one—sided condemnation of Israel in the current crisis... More
July 31, 2006
The myth of the myth of Hezbollah hiding behind civilians
David Bernstein, writing at the Volokh Conspiracy, finds Salon Magazine publishing a self—refuting article purporting to demonstrate that Hezbollah doesn't really hide behind innocent human shields. First two paragraphs of the article: "The bombs came just as night fell, around... More
July 31, 2006
Qana update
The site EU Referendum demonstrates the extent to which the Qana deaths are being exploited heartlessly by Hezbollah propagandists and their willing enablers in the mass media. The cynical exploitation of the dead bodies of children over a period of... More
July 31, 2006
Collateral damage that killed Jews in WW II
If you go to a Blockbuster or some other video store or rent from Netflix, you can obtain the movie Shanghai Ghetto. It is about Jews who fled Germany and Eastern Europe in the late 1930s to the only place in... More
July 31, 2006
The passions of Hollywood
It takes a lot to stun the folks in Hollywood. Marital infidelity? Nah! Very common, and in the latest oh so public instance, Brad and Angelina are supposedly bigger than ever. Sexual deviancy? How boring of middle America to think that... More
July 30, 2006
Ed Peck lets it all hang out
Now that ex—U.S. envoy Joe Wilson has discredited himself as a laughingstock, some great and mysterious PR machine of the Bush—deranged Left appears to have supplanted him with Ed Peck, another ex—U.S. envoy who's now making the TV—talk show rounds in his... More
July 30, 2006
The curious case of the Qana building collapse
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are noting the strange 8 hour gap between the attack on Qana and the colllapse of the apartment building which killed so many children. "The attack on the structure in the Qana village took place... More
July 30, 2006
About those 34 Hizbollah civilian shields
As Hizbollah cynically exploits the tragedy of the 34 children killed along with 22 others in an Israeli air strike the estimable Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs puts the tragic pieces together, daring to ask the questions and give the... More
July 30, 2006
A ray of hope from... the French?
YARGB has posted this comment (registration required) from Belmont Club which I think is right: The French ceasefire proposal, according to the Jerusalem Post has the following stipulations: The proposal stresses the need "to create the conditions for a permanent... More
July 30, 2006
Missiles on video, human shield arms in pictrures
The Israeli Foreign Ministry website has video of missiles being fired from behind the building in Qana. Meanwhile, Australia's Herald—Sun posts pictures of Hezbollah armaments being fired from within suburban neighborhoods. Using civilians as human shields in this manner is... More
July 30, 2006
Human Rights Watch takes sides
Human Rights Watch is one of the many NGO's (non—government organizations) that has made the term a euphemism for no good operators. In recent months it peddled lies about Haditha and the "attack" on a family of Arabs on the... More
July 30, 2006
Irish anti-Zionists?
"Irish refused bombs sent to Prestwick airport" Well, we now know where the Irish stand regarding support of Israel versus the jihadist Iranian proxy Hezbollah: BOMBS destined to be used by Israel are being flown via Scotland only because the... More
July 30, 2006
Encouraging Hezbollah
Thank—you, New York Times. Poeple throughout the world, including the Arab world, will see this headline and truly believe Hezbollah is winning its fight against America. "A New Enemy Gains on the U.S." A group of fanatical terrorists, who shield... More
July 30, 2006
Civilian casualties are nothing new
In the middle of an article on Isarel's domestic politics of the war, Gil Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post cites Benjamin Netanyahu's response to a British interviewer citing civilian causiaties as a reason to object to Israel's response to Hezbollah's... More
July 30, 2006
Israel's stops and starts
David Warren, writing at Real Clear Politics, provides what may be the best short critique of Israel's actions in Lebanon. The stops and starts have delivered a mixed message. One moment Prime Minister Olmert says Israel is prepared for a... More
July 30, 2006
American Thinker labeled
Martin Bright, political editor of the UK New Statesman, has written a column in the Sunday edition of the UK Guardian (called The Observer on Sundays) in which he calls The American Thinker a "neocon journal." While we think the... More
July 30, 2006
More on Ed Peck
We recieved this letter commenting on our coverage of Ed Peck: It is a rare thing for me to write to a political blog. However, the subject article raised my hackles. In my nearly 30 year foreign service career I... More
July 29, 2006
Curse and effect
Wednesday the Seattle Times ran a letter—to—the—editor that stated "We need to weed out these neocons and their globalist conspirators!" [emphasis added] And the Wednesday Seattle Times letter headlined: "Eradicate those who have put us in the Middle East" Now... More
July 29, 2006
Jew-hatred from the Muslim Pope
Our contributor Andrew Bostom examines the words of the Grand Imam of Al Azhar University in Cairo, the closest to a supreme religious authority in Islam in exitence, hence the sobriquet "Muslim Pope." Almost needless to say, he finds some... More
July 29, 2006
Weaseling out?
Hassan Nasrallah was reported to be in Damascus today . This could be a very disturbing development. Hitler has set the gold standard in this department — blowing your brains out in your bunker as the good guys close in. After... More
July 29, 2006
Is heavy thinking ruining your life?
Curtis Dahlgren recognizes the trouble one can encounter when thinking becomes a habit, and begins to take over a life. Like all good satire, his essay published at Renew America has painfully accurate overtones. A few examples: I began to... More
July 29, 2006
Scowcroft at it again
A little while ago, former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft was roundly criticized for stating in a New Yorker article that there had existed "50 years of peace" in the Middle East under previous diplomatic policies — which consisted of... More
July 29, 2006
Moral inversion at Tikkun
Tikkun Magazine, published in Berkeley, California, is a primary journal of the Jewish religious left. Its managing editor Joel Schalit has expressed his shock at the shooting of Jews in Seattle in a manner that is itself shocking. It seems... More
July 29, 2006
Improvised anti-terror device
A Washington Post article today describes the way toys are being adapted to serve in the battle against improvised explosive devices in Iraq. Robert Pervere's fight against insurgents in Iraq started with an Emaxx monster truck from Debbie's RC World... More
July 29, 2006
Derangement deconstructed
Bookworm deftly deconstructs an interview between a left wing journalist and a left wing activist, in which it is a given that Bush is a criminal liar. Members of the crisis cult apparently find these rituals comforting. Thomas Lifson 7... More
July 29, 2006
"Hate crime" or domestic terrorism?
Yesterday, a self—proclaimed "Muslim American, angry at Israel" forced his way into a Jewish community center in Seattle, Washington, pulled out a gun, and opened fire. Six people were wounded, one fatally. The five others are hospitalized. The reaction by... More
July 29, 2006
Walter Pincus: canary in the coal mine
When Dems are playing tricks with national security matters.The Washington Post's Walter Pincus is our first clue that the game is on. Lawmakers Want More Data On Contracting Out Intelligence Congress is taking its first steps to oversee the Defense... More
July 29, 2006
Joe Wilson's sham lawsuit
Prominent Duke University Law Professor Erwin Chemerinsky was interviewed again by Professors Hewitt and Eastman and continues to show a complete ignorance of the facts of the case, in which he serves as counsel. Most significantly, he has ignored all... More
July 29, 2006
Chinese pollution detectable in Marin County, Calif.
The AP carries a hand—wringing dispatch about pollution from China blowing across the Pacific, and being detected on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco. On a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific Ocean,... More
July 29, 2006
Iran complains of press bias
Via Ummah News Links, we learn that Iran's embassy in Canada does not like the press coverage of the war in Lebanon: ...we are disappointed at the way facts have been presented in order to sway public opinion toward an... More
July 28, 2006
The summer gets hotter
Sometime ago I wrote about Russell Tice, self—denominated "whistleblower". Macsmind reports that he has been served a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury looking into illegal leaks of classified information: On Wednesday, July 26, Russell Tice, former National Security... More
July 28, 2006
When History literally came to an Ivy League Campus
After George Washington crossed the Delaware and won a victory at Trenton on Dec. 26, 1776, he did not rest on his laurels. Using Patton—like tactics to press the battle, he then marched his troops to attack the British at... More
July 28, 2006
NYT says Muslims no longer supporting Israel
Note: This is NOT an Onion article. It actually appeared frontpage above the fold... In an all too predictable move, NYT writer Neil MacFarquhar is asking readers to believe that a once—supportive Muslim world is now turning against Israel. That's... More
July 28, 2006
City of the future: Calgary
North America gained another city of over one million population this week, as Calgary, Alberta passed that magic milestone. Of course, many other metropolitan areas with extensive suburbs are far bigger in total, even if the core city has less... More
July 28, 2006
The Saudi/Tom Friedman peace plan in peril
The New York Times reports a truly alarming development: the conflict in Lebanon is threatening the Saudi—New York Times Peace Plan. Readers of the Times will remember that this plan was actually conjured up by columnist Tom Friedman who was... More
July 28, 2006
Carter's little helpers
Jimmy Carter stood by while Iran's Shah asked for American support to defend his government against Islamic extremism. After his overthrow, Carter stood by while American hostages withstood 444 days of imprisonment and torture under the Khomeini regime. This fecklessness... More
July 28, 2006
Putting numbers into perspective
In the last couple of days a number of news outlets have reported the findings of the World Health Organization concerning the incidence of skin cancer across the globe. Routers, for instance, opened its article thus: As many as 60,000... More
July 28, 2006
The Dems' transparent message: pandering
Failing a sensible position on foreign policy (see, if you haven't, how Bolton skewered Senator Kerry in yesterday's hearings for an extraordinary example), the Democrats have been trying to pull the wool over our eyes in a way that is... More
July 28, 2006
The conspiracy widens
Precision guided karma munitions scored a direct hit on Sheldon Drobny this week. Confronted with the the anti—Israel venom now spewing from bloggers of the rancid Left, Sheldon Drobny blamed it on the other side, seeing "Karl Rove's fingerprints all... More
July 28, 2006
CNN reforming?
There is a reason that many derisively refer to CNN as standing for Certainly Not News. After all, this is the network that crowed when they were the only ones allowed to remain in Saddam's Iraq until it was revealed... More
July 28, 2006
Warren Christopher:Time for a Cease-Fire
I still struggle to find any substantive accomplishments of Warren Christopher as Secretary of State. Yet here he is calling for a cease fire. If one talks of propping up Yeltsin, how long did that last and what were ultimately the... More
July 27, 2006
Be careful what you ask for
An unscientific poll of posters at a Democratic Underground discussion board yields a result that maybe isn't so surprising: 72% of those responding say they are "dealing with severe mental illness in their home." Based on the URL, this appears... More
July 27, 2006
The NYT and Ned Lamont: "gentlemen's agreement"?
Tom Maguire has a lot of fun at Just One Minute with the New York Times' avoidance of asking any awkward questions about Ned Lamont's membership in a whites—only, no—Jews—need apply country club in Greenwich, something he dropped only when... More
July 27, 2006
The American Left as "crisis cult"
Clinical psychologist Robert Godwin proposes an interesting framework for understanding the increasingly bizarre behavior of the American Left at his very interesting website One Cosmos. Drawing on the work of psychoanalytic anthropologist Weston LaBarre, he posits that the left has... More
July 27, 2006
Bamford bombs on Ledeen
In the fever swamps of the left, Michael Ledeen is seen as a shadowy figure trying to urge the U.S. to wage war on Iran. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rolling Stone has gone so far as to publish... More
July 27, 2006
Hezbollah's Army
Bill Roggio, of the Counter—Terrorism Blog presents a sobering assessment of Hezbollah's military status. He concludes: In just two weeks, Hezbollah has been fighting the Israeli military to an effective standstill on the ground (remember that time is not on... More
July 27, 2006
until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq"...
The number two leader of al Qaeda is calling for holy war against Israel and the West until Sapin is reconquered by the sword of Islam. The AP reports: Al—Qaida's No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call in a new... More
July 27, 2006
UNIFIL Deaths
Recall Kofi Annan's snap judgment that the Israelis deliberately targeted the UNIFIL outpost in an attack that accidentally killed a few UNIFIL "peacekeepers." His rush to judgment, needless to say, is always against Israel. Annan, who endlessly deliberates over every sentence in... More
July 27, 2006
NYT op-ed talks of "Jewish bin Ladenism"
A New York Times op—ed today by Abbas El—Zein concludes: ...the West has abandoned its claim to moral superiority based on respect for human rights and international law, and is pursuing instead a war based increasingly on tribal solidarity. What a... More
July 27, 2006
Saudi royal on trial for cocaine smuggling
The New York Sun picks up an article from the UK Telegraph about the trial in Paris of a Saudi prince who is alleged to have smuggled $92 million in cocaine into France on his private 727 jet. A Saudi... More
July 27, 2006
The first in history
In 1970 the late French political philosopher Jean—Francois Revel said this: Democratic civilization is the first in history to blame itself because another is trying to destroy it. This is an apt articulation of a startling truth, but it still... More
July 27, 2006
Mullahs: Condi war criminal; Tel Aviv a target
When Hitler was totally enraged, the story goes, he would throw fits and bite the carpet. Whether it's true or not, Tehran's mullahs look like they are biting a Persian rug. There are some Mad Mullahs in Tehran today. According... More
July 26, 2006
Know your enemy
The next time Hezbollah is characterized as a social welfare movement by the New York Times and others, consider this from the New York Sun: Just like Hitler fought the Jews, we are a great Islamic nation of jihad, and we... More
July 26, 2006
Missing headlines (heat wave department)
A search of all the news stories with the key words "heat wave" + "power failure" + "population growth" turned up nothing, nada, zip! When I removed the key words "power failure" I found only 8 stories for "heat wave" +... More
July 26, 2006
Chris Matthews off the deep end
Radioblogger has the transcript of a Chris Matthews appearance on the Imus in the Morning radio program yesterday which should do more than raise a few eyebrows. You've got to be a friend of the Israel Yiddish Star. That's American... More
July 26, 2006
Sweden's blind eye and Kofi's bald-faced lie
The New York Sun reported yesterday on the developing scandal in Sweden over that nation's knowledge of the bribes being paid in the UN Oil—for Food scandal. The Swedish government knew in 2000 that Saddam Hussein's government demanded kickbacks from... More
July 26, 2006
Sharia anyone?
There is a disturbing phenomenon on the rise in Britain's Muslim community called honor killings. This barbaric practice involves the killing of a female for alleged sexual or marital impropriates by members of her own family. Scotland Yard is currently... More
July 26, 2006
New York Times op-ed praises Hezbollah
A New York Times op—ed :praises Hezbollah for fighting under Islamic laws re: advance notice, discrimiantion in selecting targets, and proportionality. How obtuse can the New York Times editorial board be when choosing to run an op—ed that actually praises... More
July 26, 2006
Kofi's snap judgment
On what possible basis can Annan make this snap assertion? The Secretary General is now claiming that the unfortunate killing of UN personnel by the Israeli Defense Forces during its maneuvers against Hezbollah terrorists were the result of "deliberate" targeting. He has... More
July 26, 2006
Buried treasure
Pirate movies are once again popular, after some hard times a few years ago. But the most recent buried treasure has nothing to do with pirates. In Ireland, a worker digging with an excavator in a peat bog to package... More
July 25, 2006
Kristof in fantasyland again
Nicholas Kristof ($link) and others repeat the mantra that somehow Hezbollah was on its way our of power in Lebanon and that Israel will not only prevent this dynamic from playing out but will further strengthen Hezbollah. He fails to point... More
July 25, 2006
Human Rights Watch and Hezbollah
Avi Bell, writing in the New York Sun, demolishes a report on Hezbollah from the Soros—funded Human Rights Watch as a tissue of lies, omissions, mischaracterizations, and other flaws: ...the authors' distorted views of the underlying facts, selective omission of... More
July 25, 2006
Hezbolla the reformers?
A University of Southern California researcher discounts links between Iran and Hezbollah, and writes of Hezbollah as an agent of reform. In the Los Angeles Times, of course. Ed Lasky 7 25 06... More
July 25, 2006
Arch silliness in London
This past weekend marked the culmination of a curious week in London. Called the Big Dance, it sought to get people dancing en masse in the streets for the purpose of 'promoting dance as a social and physical activity.' Call... More
July 25, 2006
Nasrallah in heap big trouble with Lebanese
A fascinating Lebanese TV interview is reported by MEMRI featuring Hassan Nasrallah, head mafioso of the Party of God. Nasrallah managed to flee the destruction of his thirteen—story underground headquarters in Lebanon ——— only to land in heap big trouble... More
July 25, 2006
Insiders selling NYT Company shares
Barron's reports that insiders at the New York Times Company are selling their shares: ...company insiders including: Robert H. Eoff and P. Steven Ainsley, both group presidents; publisher Richard H. Gilman; vice president Catherine J. Mathis; and director Cathy J. Sulzberger.... More
July 25, 2006
PC infects WaPo sports coverage
Even the sports page is infected with pernicious media bias. The Washington Post dispatched reporter Molly Brown to Paris to cover the miraculous comeback of American Floyd Land in The Tour de France. Brown couldn't resist leading the second paragraph with... More
July 25, 2006
Floggin the carbon tax dead horse
The Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby is on his second installment of his carbon dioxide tax scheme. This time he resorts to that old standby logical fallacy "appeal to authority" citing renowned Silicon Valley tech tycoon Vinod Khosla to make his specious... More
July 25, 2006
IDF starts clearing Hezbollah's Siegfried Line
As the battle intensifies, the IDF is conducting a carefully planned and coordinated combined arms operation to reduce Hezbollah's bunker complexes in Southern Lebanon. As discussed previously in these pages, the IAF can do a lot with to support the... More
July 24, 2006
Muslims boycott Glasgow airport
Indignant at the extra security checks at the Glasgow airport some Muslims have decided to launch a boycott . Describing one of the procedures, Bashir Mann of the Muslim Council of Great Britain had this to say: 'This was a... More
July 24, 2006
NYT columnist Bob Herbert's moral inversion
Op—ed columnist Bob Herbert equates ($link) Israeli and American killing of innocents to Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda murdering The moral inversion at work at the New York Times is truly amazing. But the unnecessary slaughter of innocents, whether... More
July 24, 2006
Can Hezbollah be crushed?
Historian Diana Muir considers the question of crushing a populat religious movement, and concludes that it can be done, if one is willing to be brutal. From the History News Network: ...popular, religious movements have been crushed by military force... More
July 24, 2006
The California public employee overtime racket
Is any prison guard worth $200,000 a year? According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Jose Chacon, a lieutenant in the state prison system, earned $228,971 in 2005 He has plenty of company among state employees. 77 state employees earned at least... More
July 23, 2006
Bosnia discrimates against dhimmis
Once again, the Muslim world treats non—Muslims as second class citiznes or worse. So much for gratitutde for the help NATO (mostly the USA) provided against Serbia. From Ummah News Links: ... a new property restitution law in the Federation of... More
July 23, 2006
A gift from Dodd
Senator Chris Dodd, has announced that his party will put up a "bruising fight" to prevent the confirmation of John Bolton to remain as U.S. Ambassador to the UN: Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut on Sunday promised a bruising... More
July 23, 2006
Noth Korean supernote counterfeiting
The New York Times Sunday Magazine publishes a long and detailed view of the North Korean counterfeiting operations, which have long plaugued the United States Treasury, and which have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange. As the... More
July 23, 2006
Letter to the editor
Dear Sir, In response to Mr James Lewis's article "Israeli AF has the range to hit Iran nuke sites", I would like to point out that even if Iran's quest for nuclear weapons could be stopped by attacking the sites,I... More
July 23, 2006
Paranoia on the left
Sheldon Drobny is a wealthy Jewish financier of the Democrats, and founder of Air America, the liberal—left "answer" to conservative talk radio. See this Chicago Jewish News interview for a sense of the man. Remarkably, Drobny actually believes the virulent anti—Semitism and... More
July 23, 2006
Iran squeezed paying for refined products
Iran makes money every time oil prices go up, giving it an incentive to keep turmoil roiling, and keep oil prices at terror—threat levels. But Iran also imports 40% of its refined products. And those imports keep goping up in... More
July 23, 2006
More Kristof foolishness
Nicholas Kristof, the man who stoutly defended Sami Al—Arian (the man who was a key supporter and financier for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad network) now counsels Israel to, well, capitulate, in his subscriber—only New York Times column. This sentence is particularly... More
July 23, 2006
Less room for weaseling
Hmm..time to call in Ethan Bronner and Juan Cole and translate away this somewhat unequivocal declaration via the APIran: Israel doomed to 'destruction' Ed Lasky 7 23 06... More
July 23, 2006
The need for actionable intelligence
The Weekly Standard has an outstanding article called "Intelligence Dominance" by Richard H. Shultz Jr. and Roy Godson. If you thought Valerie Plame is not the model for a CIA that can win the war on terror, Shultz and Godson... More
July 23, 2006
Mrs. McCoy's shopping list
The Weekly Standard has an outstanding article called "Intelligence Dominance" by Richard H. Shultz Jr. and Roy Godson. If you thought Valerie Plame is not the model for a CIA that can win the war on terror, Shultz and Godson... More
July 23, 2006
North Korean missiles and Iran
The website China Confidential reports that the North Korean missile tests in early July are regarded in North Korea as successful, implying that the Taepodong missiles were destroyed intentionally, after proving their lift—off and guidance capability. According to the report, the... More
July 22, 2006
Islamic terror compared to resistance to Nazis
From Ummah News Links: THE HAGUE, 22/07/06 — Socialist Party (SP) leader Jan Marijnissen has suggested that Islam terrorism may be compared to resistance against the Nazis during World War II. "Terrorism occurs in all times and places and its... More
July 22, 2006
Whould THIS be "disproportionate"?
From Arutz Shiva (link includes downloadable audio): Aaron Klein, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for WorldNetDaily.com, reports that the British intelligence service MI6 has established that Hezbollah is poised to launch a new "rain of terror" on Israel (c"v) with rockets equipped with... More
July 21, 2006
Congratulations all around
Captain Ed, the extraordinarily astute and hard—working proprietor of Captain's Quarters blog is joining together with the Heritage Foundation, the extraordinarily effective and influential think tank in Washington, DC. This is a match made in heaven, and both sides deserve congratulations... More
July 21, 2006
Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism: the Link
Many are the critics of Israel who react in horror when accused of anti—Semitism. Of course it is theoretically possible to criticize Israel without being a Jew—hater. Many Jews criticize Israel, and so do many well—meaning friends seeking a better... More
July 21, 2006
Who is it that threatens Lebanese democracy?
Michael Young, opinion editor of Beirut's Daily Star: stalemate with Hezbollah would be viewed as a victory and weaken the Lebanese government further. So, while there is much caterwalling about preserving the power of the Lebanese Government, one expert on... More
July 21, 2006
Why the UN peacekeepers didn't stop Hezbollah?
This explains why UNIFIL did not restrain Hezbollah: The French are in charge of it! Ed Lasky 7 21 06 ... More
July 21, 2006
Misusuing the word "proportionality"
From an New York Sun article by David Twersky: Javier Solana argued that Israel's actions could be seen as "not proportionate." Under international law, "proportionality" has nothing whatsoever to do with whether one party's response is proportional in some complex... More
July 21, 2006
Breaching Hezbollah's Siegfried Line
"We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line," sang the British Tommies in WWII as they marched to war. In fact, they were bloodied in North Africa, along with the Americans, and then pursued the painful campaign... More
July 21, 2006
War crimes double standards
Check out this buried correction at the New York Times involving the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: An article yesterday about a statement released by Louise Arbour, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, in which she said... More
July 21, 2006
Who's stupid here?
They clutch to the notion as does a baby who cannot sleep without her pacifier. Within a group never known for its consistency, it has been the one thing upon which the left agrees: George W. Bush is an intellectually... More
July 20, 2006
Waiting for reconquista
Spain's Prime Minister Zapatero owes his electoral success to the 3/11 train bombing in Madrid. Maybe that explains why he donned a Palestinian—style scarf and criticized Israel. Or maybe he has already surrendered in his heart to reconquista, the sworn... More
July 20, 2006
Islamist target: Switzerland
Maybe this helps explain why Switzerland departed from its usual silence and declared two weeks ago that Israel was violating international law as it tried to recover its kidnapped soldier and stop missile attacks aginst Israel . Islamic radicals are... More
July 20, 2006
Patience wearing thin
Victor Davis Hanson well articulates at Real Clear Politics a theory that I have been mulling ever since 9/11: step—by—step, Western patience with Islamic terror and its supporters on multi—cultural grounds is dying. Sooner or later we will start fighting as... More
July 20, 2006
NYT hypocrisy on display (again)
The Inter American Press Association, a media watchdog group protecting a free press, has issued a report highly critical of the Chavez regime in Venezuela. Freedom of the press is on the way out there. AP reported it. But so... More
July 20, 2006
Causus Belli
Investors Business Daily publishes an editorial supplying ample information justifying a future Israeli attack on Syria, should that come to pass: The order given to Hamas to kidnap the first Israeli soldier came from Khaleed Meshal, exiled Hamas warlord, from... More
July 20, 2006
Middle East Haiku
All mourn as peace dies. Rockets fall where spears once flew. Did peace ever live? Tim Bruner 7 20 06... More
July 20, 2006
Sometimes American meddling pays off
The CIA subsidized politicians in Japan's Liberal Democratic Party in the 1950s, according to a document just released by the United States government, and reported by Japan's Kyodo News Agency. The LDP was and is the dominant political party of... More
July 20, 2006
The pending Bolton re-nomination
One of the more disgraceful recent instances of political obstructionism was the Senate's refusal to confirm the superbly qualified and eloquent John Bolton as ambassador to the UN. The President for forced to use an interim appointment to temporarily bypass... More
July 20, 2006
Peru's amazing shoeshine-boy president
Wanna read a great Horatio Alger story? Except that in Latin America, it's a far more radical thing: President Alejandro Toledo, the outgoing president of Peru, a staunch, effective opponent of leftist Chavista populism, has decided to go back to... More
July 20, 2006
AP bias watch
The Associated Press interprets the House vote (410—8 in favor of supporting Israel against Hezbollah) as a result of its fear that the pro—Israel lobby will retaliate against those who dissent: "So strong was the momentum for the resolution that... More
July 20, 2006
Look who's underwriting anti-Semitism
Little Green Footballs has been documenting the frequent anti—semitic screeds on Daily Kos for sometime, screeds like this. But if you check the ad links to see who is keeping Kos afloat, you will see it's people like Senator Feingold and... More
July 19, 2006
How screwy is the IAEA? (International Atomic Energy Agency)
A multiple choice question. Please choose one or more: A. Screwy enough to fire its tough chief inspector for Iran nukes, Chris Charlier, as demanded by Ali Larijani, the head foreign policy spook for the Mullahs. B. Screwy enough to... More
July 19, 2006
Richard Cohen and Mainstream Press Myopia
Richard Cohen's WaPo column yesterday called Israel "a mistake"and was roundly denounced by AT's James Lewis and many others. Cohen stated that Israel was created as a haven for European Jews under attack from anti—Semitism, ...the idea of creating a nation... More
July 19, 2006
Bravo! to Canada's Prime Minister Harper
I am a huge fan of Canadian Prime Minister Harper. All the more so today, as I read this report from the Canadian Press: Speaking as the Group of Eight summit wound up, Harper also offered his condolences to the families... More
July 19, 2006
Japan's Iran?
King—min Liu compares Japan's situation with North Korea to Israel's situation with Iran in the New York Sun. Prime Minister Koizumi was in Israel last week, and met with Prime Minister Olmert as the war was ongoing. Israel is surrounded... More
July 18, 2006
Why Richard Cohen should be fired today
Suppose a famous columnist for the Washington Post wrote the following: Black Harlem is a mistake. It just arose from Southern Blacks who migrated to New York City a century ago. It would be better if it never existed. or... More
July 18, 2006
Human shields
Unlike Hezbollah which deliberately targets civilains, the IDF has worked hard to minimize civlian casualties in southern Lebanon by , among other things, dropping fliers urging non—combatant civilians to leave. Hezbollah, however, is determined to use the people of Lebanon... More
July 18, 2006
Kristof unhinged
Even by Krsitofian standards, this column ($link) is one of the more obtuse it has been my misfortune to have read by him. No mention of the 1000 plus rockets that have been launched from Gaza into Israel despite the complete withdrawal... More
July 18, 2006
Israeli AF has the range to hit Iranian nuke sites
Even as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are battling to knock down Hezbollah, Iran's terror proxy in Lebanon, the Washington Times reports that the Israeli Air Force is now equpped to take on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even while he is busy... More
July 18, 2006
Semper I (a poem)
"Semper I" is an old Marine Corps term applied to those selfish careerists who place their own success ahead of their men and the wellbeing of the Corps. Congressman John Murtha is a living example of that disgraceful term. A bugle... More
July 18, 2006
Comment of the day on the New York Times' new size
Lucianne Goldberg: "If they are going to make the Times smaller it won't be the right width for a lot of litter boxes. What are cat lovers to do?" ... More
July 18, 2006
NYTCo earnings are due this morning
Rosslyn Smith writes: Note the reference to how this move was announced on the ever of the quarterly earnings report. Note also that there should be a nice transportation cost savings because of the reduced weight. Reducing page... More
July 18, 2006
Such a deal!
The New York Times is desperately flogging circulation. Richard Baehr comments: I got a call from the Times yesteday offering me the Monday to Saturday paper free for two months. I accepted, and told the caller (who undoubtedly couldn't care... More
July 18, 2006
As Rachel weeps for her children
While Hizbollah, Hamas and their terrorist funding enablers such as Iran spew hatred towards "the Zionist entity" (they can't even squeak out the word Israel), Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke forcefully about Israel's mission and determination but with quiet... More
July 17, 2006
What's dis-proportionate?
Our friend from Dublin, Ireland, Tom Carew, asks some basic questions about proportionality. In WW II, the total German dead were 10.82% of the population, and the much lower Japanese rate was 3.61%. But the UK lost 0.94% and the... More
July 17, 2006
The sad history of UN peacekeepers and Israel
The Corner's Michael Rubin reminds readers of the disastrous role of UN peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: An International Force for Lebanon? [Michael Rubin] Both Tony Blair and Kofi Annan are calling for deployment of an international peacekeeping force... More
July 17, 2006
ESPN's ESPY awards
What happened to the Taliban? During a bout of channel—flipping Sunday night I briefly stopped to watch ESPN's ESPY awards show. Actress Ashley Judd introduced the winners of something called the Arthur Ashe courage in sports awards. Ms. Judd introduced... More
July 17, 2006
More public higher education scandal for California
The San Francisco Chronicle continues its investigation of the pay practices in state—run higher education, moving from the University of California System to the California State University System, the second tier of campuses. The same sort of practices seem to... More
July 17, 2006
The Arab silent majority
Yousseff Ibrahim argues in the New York Sun ($link) that the majority of Muslims want to be free of backward the fundamentalists in their midst. I don't know if he is right that his views are representative of the majority, but,... More
July 17, 2006
Jamaica and jihad
David Paulin explores the strange fact that a number of prominent terrorists have connections to Jamaica and the Caribbean at ModernConservative.com. He points a finger at the alienated intellectual classes in many Caribbean islands, who have never been able to... More
July 17, 2006
Hezbollah's friends
Bookworm remembers an interesting gathering in Beirut: In September 2004, there was a huge gathering of anti—American, anti—Israeli organizations in Beirut to attend a conference entitled 'Where Next For The Global Anti—War And Anti—Globalization Movements? An International Strategy Meeting.' The... More
July 17, 2006
Results of Democrats' moral high ground
There are many reasons to be grateful that Dean's Dems are not in control of Congress and the presidency. Here is one of them: Speaking at DemocracyFest "billed as part conference, part festival for progressive activists in San Diego," Dean... More
July 17, 2006
Inviting collateral damage
Listening to the talking heads and pundits discussing the War in Lebanon, I am struck by the lack of anyone's observation of the lack of air defenses by Hizbollah. From all reports I'm seeing and reading, the Israelis totally own... More
July 16, 2006
Guess who?
Here's an interesting question in light of current world events, 'What terrorist organization was responsible for the most number of American deaths prior to the 9/11 attacks?' A tough question and the answer might surprise you. J. Cofer Black, the... More
July 16, 2006
Sea change
I do not think this remarkable event would have been possible without our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: "Arab FMs hold emergency summit" | Jerusalem Post: "The Saudi foreign minister appeared to be leading a camp of ministers criticizing the guerrilla... More
July 16, 2006
Special loans for special people can be taxable
The disclosure that certain favored employees of the University of California have received home loans at non—market rates struck my accountant's eye. Two items: 1) The article stated that UC officials argue the loans do not cost the university any money because... More
July 16, 2006
Is Russia losing patience with Iran?
In a report today, the AP notes that Iran has indicated the Western incentives to halt its nuclear program are an acceptable basis to begin talks. No sensible person can read that as but yet another stall effort. Nevertheless this... More
July 16, 2006
UN gun grab project implodes
Thanks to the National Rifle Association and other pro—gun rights groups around the world, the UN's five—year effort to essentially establish a global gun control scheme has gone nowhere. The UN Small Arms Conference ended Friday, July 7, with no... More
July 16, 2006
The "proportionality" argument
Mediacrity quickly disposes of the ridiculous rhetoric on Israel and proportionality: Today's No. 1 Israel—smear word is "disproportionate." Just run the words in Google News and you'll see what I mean —— 3,500 hits! It's a fave of such epitomes... More
July 15, 2006
Strategic triumph
By having Hamas and Hizbollah attack Israel, the Islamic extremists, presumably under the leadership of Iran, have succeeded in calling into the field at the same time the two most effective military forces in the world — those of the... More
July 14, 2006
Is the US at war?
Frank Salvato, editor of the New Media Journal, sees us as "on the brink of world war" and responds with a call to"acknowledge the reality of war," as the editorial's title has it. ... it is time to reject the idiocy of... More
July 14, 2006
Presidential power is in the details
Two prominent law bloggers say that the Specter Bill punts and that the Addington/Yoo contentions about presidential power to monitor communication under FISA have won the day stealthily. Orin Kerr: Maybe I'm missing something, but my sense is that it largely... More
July 14, 2006
Special loans for special people at taxpayer expense
The San Francisco Chronicle deserves great praise for its work on the University of California's scandalous compensation policies. Yesterday Todd Wallack disclosed: The University of California has issued thousands of low—interest home loans to executives, faculty members and other selected employees but... More
July 14, 2006
A call to take the war to Damascus
Youseff Ibrahim in the New York Sun sees a historic moment in the war raging on Israel's borders. Iran's "tentacle" Hizbullah enjoys no support among Sunni Arabs, and Syria is a pariah: The right address for Israel's wrath was and... More
July 14, 2006
Too much is at stake
The wayward ways of our leadership have given rise to palpable discouragement and disappointment in the conservative base. So much so that in some quarters the frustration is slowly growing into indifference. And although the frustration is both understandable and... More
July 14, 2006
The green money machine gears up
Last week I wrote a piece on Al Gore's global warming tour No sooner were the pixels burned into my LCD display than Washington Post columnist Sebastian Mallaby affirmed my wildest suspicions. In Monday' s Post, Mallaby wrote a column... More
July 13, 2006
Everybody's thinking of suing
As a bookend to the preposterous Wilson/Plame case, Dan Rather indicates he doesn't quite know on what grounds, but he may sue CBS. Pretty funny except when you realize he made tens of millions peddling pap for the network. Look,... More
July 13, 2006
Overlooked news that's important
Olivier Guitta draws our attention to some important overlooked news reagrding the conflict underway on Osarel's borders, at the Counterterrorism Blog: 1— According to Israeli Channel 10, Hezbollah was able to hack into the Israeli Army's computer systems prior to... More
July 13, 2006
Letter to the editor
The article "On Fanatics, Religion, and Islam" is excellent, but contains a sentence that needs some clarifying response. "Another Christian sect, despite Jesus' words on the comparative unimportance of the sabbath, seems to believe that salvation is determined by whether... More
July 13, 2006
Mumbai bombing suspects identified
The "organized crime" elements the New York Times instructed us to suspect of the Mumbai train bombing outrage have been tentatively identified. From the Hindustan Times: Forty—eight hours after bombs ripped through Mumbai, the needle pointed to Pakistan. Intelligence agencies... More
July 13, 2006
Plame puts plot against Prez on Page One
Well, James Bond girl Valerie Plame finally took off her sunglasses — the ones she wore in a vanity cover of Vanity Fair next to a frowning Joe Wilson, sitting in their real—spy sports car. All to cover her secret... More
July 13, 2006
Plame suit
I expect the defense can finance itsellf by selling tickets to the depositions. WASHINGTON——(Business Wire)——July 13, 2006—— Valerie Plame Wilson, Ambassador Joseph Wilson and their counsel, Christopher Wolf of Proskauer Rose LLP, will hold a news conference at 10 AM... More
July 13, 2006
Gutless & Guiltless
Between Syd Barrett, the founder of Pink Floyd who died last Friday at aged 60, and Aljazeera.net's latest hero Kevin Barrett, the University of Wisconsin's new 9/11 conspiracy professor, the surname Barrett is all over the headlines this week. But... More
July 13, 2006
Blurring the lines
Non—state organizations like al Qaeda and Hezbollah are difficult to war against. Hamas controls the Palestinian Authority (not quite a state itself), and now Hezbollah in Lebanon is behaving as a state, to some degree. Megan K. Stack and Rania Abouzeid writen... More
July 13, 2006
The widening war
The New York Sun has an excellent editorial by Daniel Freedman on the situation in Israel. He points out that Sharon, architect of the Gaza withdrawal, is cruelly unavailable to guide Isarel through a situation he probably anticipated. It is another example... More
July 13, 2006
Rich praise
Editor & Publisher, the leftist publiucation serving the leftist press, predictably loves leftist Frank Rich's forthcoming book. Matt May is not impressed and blogs what he wrote to E&P: "Your 'review' of the new Frank Rich offering is a prime example... More
July 13, 2006
London congestion charge to hit £25 for SUVs
London mayor Ken Livingstone announced yesterday that the £8—a—day congestion charge will be raised to £25 for SUVs. In other words, if you own an SUV you will have to pay almost 50 dollars for the privilege of driving through... More
July 13, 2006
On Flag-Draped Coffins (a poem)
I thought I'd seen it all I guess In videos from the East; Enough to tell me nothing less, We're dealing with a beast. Such savagery and blood lust, Sawing off our soldier's head, Ensures to me that we must... More
July 12, 2006
Judge Not
Sweetness & Light reminds us that the Judge (Royce Lambreth) who was removed from a long running suit against the Department of Interior for his bias and who so described the Department in the challenged opinion: 'the morally and culturally oblivious... More
July 12, 2006
SF's first Iraq War casualty
Bookworm notes that San Francisco has lost its first native son to die in Iraq. The war claimed another life, that of Army Spc. 4 Christopher D. Rose. His death is noteworthy, not only because it's a tragedy every time... More
July 12, 2006
The Rise of Red State Mexico
Strange as it sounds, the red—state phenomenon in elections is starting to spread beyond U.S. borders. In Mexico, there are (figuratively speaking) red states too. Their support explains why a free—market candidate, Felipe Calderon, won Mexico's election on July 2... More
July 12, 2006
Why would anyone suspect Muslims?
The New York Times spends 118 words going to bat for the presumptive innocence of Muslims in the Mumbai train blasts in its coverage this morning: But they also reminded many here of a series of bomb blasts in this... More
July 12, 2006
Inverted lens
The visible rise of particularly brutal Central American ethnic gangs in the United States has not contributed much to the general celebration of diversity. This is a matter of considerable concern to our betters in the media/academic/therapeutic establishment. The elite need... More
July 12, 2006
You can always count on Chirac
The G8 summit has not yet started, but already there is no shortage of squabbling and controversy. The pre—summit talks have been dominated by the question of how to fund a program to provide cheap drugs to Africa. As could... More
July 12, 2006
Reality check
The tape has finally been released — the one of the desecration of the bodies of PVT Menchaca and PVT Tucker. We knew the opposition would not be able to resist. The best guess of informed observers is that they... More
July 12, 2006
Pres. Bush capitulates on Geneva Convenion protection
This is just about the last nail that needs to go into the Bush Doctrine coffin to bury it for good. Let's not make any more cracks about the Euroweenies or 'Cheese eating surrender monkeys.' We're well on our way... More
July 11, 2006
North Korea
North Korea continues to bait the rest of the world with its program to launch missiles with no offcial notification of other nations, and with no regard for its neighbor Japan, which has been overflown contrary to international law. That... More
July 11, 2006
An inconvenient victim
Louis Pepe has the distinction of being the first victim of Islamic terrorists in America. A jailer at the federal lockup in Manhattan, Pepe was attacked and severely injured when a top lieutenant of Osama bin Laden stabbed him in... More
July 11, 2006
The LAPD is looking for a few bad men
A few rotten apples really do spoil the barrel. The Los Angeles Times reports that four men alone comprised a virtual crime wave in a a substantial portion of the city, the Northeast Division. In June, police arrested four men... More
July 11, 2006
What's in a name?
The Times of London reports that HINDUS living in Britain do not want to be described as 'Asian', according to a big study of the community. Instead, they want to be known as British Indian, Hindu — or even Desi,... More
July 11, 2006
Enemies of our society
Many speeches were given to mark the 1st anniversary of the London terrorist bombings, but none can beat the one given by Omar Brooks. Repeatedly poking fun of the victims, the Muslim cleric who is also known as Abu Izzadeen,... More
July 11, 2006
The sheepdogs , the wolves, and the sheep
General Lehnert's speech is excellent, and I am all for proper recognition of our warriors. And the recognition needs to continue. But we must realize the true reward for military service will be the knowledge that our sacrifices ensure the survival of the greatest nation on... More
July 11, 2006
Russia's Arabic language satellite news service
Russia is seeking more influence in the Middle East via heightened Arabic language television news broadcasts. Russia Reform Monitor reports: The Financial Times reports that RIA Novosti, the state—controlled news agency and umbrella organization for Russia Today, the Kremlin's English—language... More
July 11, 2006
General Lehnert speaks (and is well worth listening to)
Few American Thinker readers will ever get the opportunity to sit down and have a heart—to—heart conversation with a Marine Corps General, get a feel for how he views the world, learn what influences his thinking or hear some of... More
July 11, 2006
Milestones in airline maintenance
Iranian news agency ISNA proudly reports that Iran is now able to perform overhauls on its aging fleet of 5 Boeing 747s, which date from prior to the imposition of sanctions by the United States during the Jimmy Carter presidency.... More
July 10, 2006
Did Gitmo detainee lawyers help plan mass suicide?
Buried in the New York Times (but at least it showed up there) is information suggesting that lawyers for the Gitmo detainess may have helped them to coordinate suicides, resulting in a worldwide firestorm over alleged abuse of the poor... More
July 10, 2006
Do as I say now...
... but not as we did then when we could do something In his current column, John Stoessel makes a point in passing that most of us are familiar with, but we should still not forget. The Kyoto Protocol, the rejection... More
July 10, 2006
An advantage Bush should press
In his San Diego Union—Tribune commentary, 'A political battle Bush is winning,' Robert Caldwell notes the following regarding Americans' opinions concerning press revelations of classified programs that are part of the war against terrorists: An Opinion Dynamics Corp. poll conducted... More
July 10, 2006
Hoekstra notes the CIA war on Bush
Yesterday the New York Times published a story about a once—confidential letter sent by Congressman Hoekstra, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee to the President. Tom Maguire reports that the NYT reads into the Hoekstra letter what isn't there——domestic spying ... More
July 10, 2006
Letter to the editor
The Gaza—based "PCHR" — Palestine Centre for Human Rights — is funded by the Irish Goverment, to the tune of £ 100,000 [ = £ 69,460 or $ 127,850 ] in 2005, and also by the EU, but its statement... More
July 10, 2006
A shining example
We buried a great American on Friday. Marine Staff Sergeant Raymond Plouhar was killed by a roadside in Anbar province on June 26th, while on his second tour to Iraq. He left behind his wife, Leigha and two sons Raymond... More
July 09, 2006
Slow down, Aussiegirl
I am glad we have passion on our side, but I don't agree with Aussiegirl's cri de coeur. We are winning. It is very important not to mistake that for losing, although in the middle of the fight it can... More
July 09, 2006
Nice work, if you can get it
How would you like to run a business where gross revenues were absolutely guaranteed regardless of the quality and quantity of output? Now imagine that as the head honcho you can make cuts in staffing so that you can redirect... More
July 08, 2006
Captured docs expose Saddam and Blix
So little attention is being paid to the now translated captured Iraqi documents, it's a pity. For the reveal a great deal that flies in the face of conventional (media generated) opinion about Saddam's connections to terrorism and his WMD... More
July 08, 2006
Whistling past the graveyard?
Aussiegirl has just fired a political missile at President Bush at Ultima Thule. She's fed up with all the political dithering —— over North Korea's nukes, Iran's weapons program, the failure to secure our borders, and much else. She's worried... More
July 08, 2006
Dispatch from leftist loonyland
Former British defense secretary Lord Healey said yesterday that the United Kingdom should divest itself of its nuclear arsenal. "I don't think we need nuclear weapons any longer," he said. So let me see if I get this right. North... More
July 07, 2006
Paul Krugman distorts the WSJ
Krugman's thesis today in his column "The Treason Card" (behind the Times Select Wall) is that Bush and the Republicans exploited 9/11 to enact tax cuts and appoint right—wing judges. He misreads the WSJ editorial he cites. T he preamble... More
July 07, 2006
Scenes from dhimmitude
Diana West, in a Washington Times op—ed, provides a vignette of dhimmitude as practice by the UK police. The following incident took place during hte anti—Danish cartoon rally by Muslims in London: ...[an] English bobby vigorously silencing such a citizen, described... More
July 07, 2006
The lying generation
An extensive survey of baby boomers in Great Britain uncovered that many of them are apt to exaggerate their exploits during the decade of flower power and the Summer of Love. It turns out that many boomers actually experienced far... More
July 07, 2006
Scofflaw diplomats
The New York Sun has been covering recent research on UN diplomats who ignore parking tickets (as they are able to do via their diplomatic immunity. It is an anti—America thing. "Researchers who examined tens of thousands of parking tickets... | 
