American Thinker Blog
August 31, 2006
Niamey: see no evil
The Senate Select Commission on Intelligence noted that in 1999 Joseph A Wilson had also been sent to Niger by the CIA and there has been much speculation about the purpose of that trip. Now we know. His keen powers... More
August 31, 2006
How the AP distorted Rumsfeld's speech
The website QandO does a thorough fisking of the Associated Press's shocking — yet unsurprising — distortion of Donald Rumsfeld's speech to the American Legion. Example 1 of four: Donald Rumsfeld gave a speech to the American Legion. You can... More
August 30, 2006
The Plame Game (a poem)
Now that we know who to blame for the Plame game Will the media stem the floods from that dam? Or will they continue to inflame with the same claim That the White House orchestrated this fantasy scam? They... More
August 30, 2006
The Powell-Armitage-Wilkerson cabal
Draw your own conclusions from the fact that Armitage's best friend Colin Powell called Dick Cheney's supporters (including Scooter Libby, Doug Feith and Paul Wolfowitz) the "Gestapo Office" (quite insulting considering that there is a history of relatives lost in the Holocaust... More
August 30, 2006
NYT blocks British from viewing stories
This is ironic. The New York Times has withheld publication of an article from UK readers of its website in order to avoid prejudicing a trial. The publisher has used its advertising system to identify the location of UK readers... More
August 30, 2006
A racialist boondoggle
The University of California, which has been raising tuition at an extraordinary pace for years, is throwing millions of dollars a year at a racialist boondoggle. The San Francisco Chronicle's Matier and Ross report the creation of a new post:... More
August 30, 2006
Jewish MP assaulted by anti-Israel MP in UK
The 1856 Caning of Senator Charles Sumner (Mass) by South Carolina Represenative Preston Brooks after Sumner gave an anti—slavery speech in Congress has an echo in the current British Parliament. A Jewish member of Britain's House of Lords was assaulted by... More
August 30, 2006
Shazzam! The NYT discovers Dick Armitage!
The New York Times has just published a stunning discovery — the real identity of the leaker who "outed" Valerie Plame, famous non—spy and disinformation expert. In an article that deserves to be nominated for the Walter Duranty Prize the... More
August 30, 2006
What hath Hezb'allah wrought?
Don't be fooled by Nasrallah's apparent apology for the latest Hez'bollah war. Listen to that deceptive babbling: It was really just meant to be a kidnapping, he whined during a Lebanese television interview; had we known the Israelis would actually... More
August 30, 2006
Not a charitable humanitarian organization
Glen Kessler of the Washington Post reports that the US put a freeze on the assets of the Islamic Resistance Support Organization, a Hezb'allah affiliate which is ostensibly a charity. The Treasury Department released copies of a receipt issued by... More
August 30, 2006
The other Katrina story
Yesterday, August 29, was a memorial day for many who were involved with Hurricane Katrina. Much like the Rodney King riots of the early 90's, Katrina The Debacle has come to assume an evil existence of its own. But the... More
August 30, 2006
Investor's Business Daily asks THE question
"Did Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald Lie?" asks the headline in this pointed IBD op—ed. "Patrick Fitzgerald's three—year manhunt to track down who blew Valerie Plame's CIA "cover" has been exposed as a costly sham. He apparently knew all along that his... More
August 29, 2006
Hit and run rampage in SF - driver with Afghani name
A run amok driver mowed down pedestrians in San Francisco today, and is believed to have done the same in nearby Fremont earlier. His name has finally been released, and Bookworm has done a little sleuthing, finding that his name... More
August 29, 2006
Dastardly diplomats
When I read yesterday's news that Colin Powell's aide, Dick Armitage, had been Robert Novak's source for Valerie Plame's name I was not greatly surprised. For one thing, America's diplomats have a long record of confusing their personal interests with... More
August 29, 2006
The twin fabulists: Joe Wilson and John Mark Karr
What is it with these fabulists who fantasize about what movie star will play them on the big screen? First, we had Joe Wilson musing to the Washington Post's Richard Leiby in October of 2003 about who will play his wife... More
August 29, 2006
Plame blame game primer
Just to make sure we're all on the same page, let's consider the some assertions by Joseph C. Wilson IV, and how they do or do not comport with the related sections of the report by the Senate Select Committee... More
August 29, 2006
Go, Rummy, Go!
Donald Rumsfeld is a man who is very picky with words. This administration prefers actions over words, but words are important. It is therefore a day to celebrate when Rummy comes out and says it like it is. Of course... More
August 29, 2006
Spike Lee and Hurricane Katrina's Anniversary
The day before the unofficial anniversary of the breach of the New Orleans levees, there was a local story of heroism in my hometown of Indianapolis. This will never cross Katie Couric's brand new desk at CBS nor Anderson Cooper's... More
August 29, 2006
Prelude to Apocalypse: an exchange
While there is much to agree with in Dan Gordon's article, I do have some comments: 1. While I accepted the weight of opinion that Hezbollah's provocative first move was at the instance of Iran, I did not accept the... More
August 29, 2006
That cross again
I read the recent debate about the Mount Soledad cross with considerable pleasure. It's comforting to see that the contributors to the American Thinker are independent enough to have some issues they disagree about and that they can do so with... More
August 29, 2006
Jesse Jackson, the Zelig of our time
Sweetness & Light has noted Reuters' publication of a propaganda photo with Jesse Jackson viewing ruins in Beirut, complete with "Made in America" propaganda sign. Strangely enough, no dead babies or children's toys are in evidence. I guess they are... More
August 29, 2006
Annan equates Israeli soldiers to Taliban
Benny Avni of the New York Sun quotes Kofi Annan in a seeming equation of Israeli soliders with the Taliban. "You have to talk with those with the guns to stop shooting, whether they are Israelis or whether they are... More
August 29, 2006
Not as assimilated as you think
Geneive Abdo, writing in the Washington Post, tells us that the comforting media stereotype of Muslims in America being completely different from their Muslim brethren in Europe in terms of assimilation, is not really valid. I found few signs... More
August 29, 2006
Duke's president and the Lacrosse team
Betsy Newmark, who lives near Durham, NC (Raleigh) and is the parent of a Duke graduate, reflects on the picture drawn of Duke President Brodhead and his administration's handling of the Lacrosse team in the wake of the rape charges. The... More
August 29, 2006
Fake Plamegate still damaged Bush
Ray Robison looks at the polling data during Plamegate, and points out the degree to which the MSM sold the public on the (false) notion that the Bush administration behaved unethically. Most tellingly, he contrasts the polling data with polls... More
August 28, 2006
Time for the Duranty Award: my nomination
I think it's time to have an annual Duranty Award to the news outlet which has done the most to cover up for thuggish rulers while undermining those who fight to protect Western civilization and its values. It's a hard call... More
August 28, 2006
40 years and 180 degrees
Bookworm has been going through a 1967 issue of Life Magazine which covered the Arab—Israeli war, and has discovered that 40 years has seen a dramatic shift in attitudes towrad Israel by major media. In 1967, Life was a major... More
August 28, 2006
Is Rahm Emanuel worried?
While the Cook Report, Stuart Rothenberg and Larry Sabato have all recently raised their forecast of the seats the Democrats might pick up in the November House races, Democratic Congressional Campaign Chair Rahm Emanuel is acting increasingly agitated, like a... More
August 28, 2006
Fighter Chicks
A confession: I am in awe of fighter pilots. I was never physically qualified to join the Army, much less posessed of the physical and mental abilities necessary to be a fighter pilot. But that has never stopped me from... More
August 28, 2006
HuffPo blogger contemplates another 9/11
Rocco DiPippo of The Autonomist discovers one of the Huffington Post bloggers (not just a person posting a comment, but someone allowed to run a blog there) coming awfully close to wishing for another 9/11. Russell Shaw asks, "If you... More
August 28, 2006
The Hezbo war: a success for Israel?
We have published articles on both sides of the question, and the argument is far from settled. But the latest evidence includes this remarkable statement from Nasrallah himself, "We did not think, even one percent, that the capture would lead... More
August 28, 2006
Is UNIFIL blind, deaf and dumb?
How could UNIFIL have failed to notice this? "IDF forces from the Golani Brigade blasted open a Hizbullah bunker overnight Saturday some 400 meters from the security fence near Rosh Hanikra, it was reported on Sunday. The bunker was discovered... More
August 28, 2006
Spikey dumps Armitage and Plame
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we do practice to deceive," Sir Walter Scott wrote. Newsweek's Michael "Spikey" Isikoff has just decided to dump leakey old Richard "Dick" Armitage, who squealed on Valerie Plame, who blamed George W.... More
August 28, 2006
An oxymoronic tolerance conference
An international conference devoted to "freedom of expression and tolerance" should allow representatives from all over the world, right? Wrong — if that conference involves Muslim nations. Yossi Sarid, an Israeli liberal journalist was among 60 journalists invited to take... More
August 28, 2006
Gore - ever more unhinged
Agence France Presse reports on a speech Al Gore gave in Edinburgh Sunday at the International Television Festival in which he says "democracy is under attack." Does he mean by Osama, or by Ahmadinejad, or by Nasrallah (Hizballah)? You know... More
August 28, 2006
Oh little town of Muslim Bethlehem
Christians revere Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. For many years Christian Arabs were in the majority of that town. They owned many of the businesses and were in charge of the town's religious celebrations; decorating and sponsoring celebrations for... More
August 27, 2006
Democrats
Paul Jackson, extraordinary Canadian journalist and occasional AT contributor, writes a column in today's Calgary Sun that recalls a day when some Democrats "had blood in their veins" when it came time to defend America. There's much talk currently ——... More
August 27, 2006
Time to Boot Armitage from the Straight Talk Express
Mike Isikoff and David Corn, whose work I often discount because of their evident biases, have now produced a new book, reiterating what we've been saying for some time: Richard Armitage was Robert Novak's source about Plame and he kept silent... More
August 27, 2006
Israel appoints general for possible war with Iran
Via the Washington Times: In what must be an officially approved leak, the London Telegraph reports that Israel has appointed a top general to oversee a war against Iran, prompting speculation that it is preparing for possible military action against... More
August 27, 2006
Civil rights theatrics
In today's Washington Post, Manhattan Institute fellow John McWhorter offers an alternative view of the controversy prompted by Andrew Young's recent statement about the ownership of mom—and—pop stores in black urban areas. 'In Defense of Andrew Young' begins: Andrew Young... More
August 27, 2006
British Neoconservatives Publish Manifesto
British neocons? What's that? Well, they've just told us. According to Adam Smyth at the Brussels Journal, The Henry Jackson Society (HJS) is a British organisation that wants to spread 'liberal democracy' across the world through an interventionist policy. It... More
August 27, 2006
Dissenting views on public crosses
Although I've enjoyed many of Mr. Jack Kemp's previous articles and agreed with many, his disingenuous arguments the contrary, he is wrong, wrong, wrong about the Jewish War Veterans and the ACLU being silly and stupid protesting about a cross on... More
August 27, 2006
The Persian Osirak
Once again, thumbing his nose at the West and the UN, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the start of a new phase in the drive to make the Arak 'research reactor' fully operational. The facility, which Reuters euphemistically calls a... More
August 27, 2006
Humor item of the day
Did you realize that Isarel was using a death ray in Lebanon? If not, you haven't been paying enough attention to Islamist websites. Sweetness & Light has been doing that research, so you don't have to. Scroll down for an... More
August 27, 2006
Ecological and economic diversity for fisheries
Fisheries policy in the United States has led to disastrous declines in many species because of a phenomenon known as the tragedy of the commons. When a resource is available to all, no incentive for conservation exists. Ronald Bailey of... More
August 26, 2006
Stuck on Stupid
Senator Joe Lieberman refuses to endorse or campaign for the other Connecticut Dems on the ticket and the left goes wild with rage. Captain Ed weighs in intelligently as usual. "Firedoglake, MyDD, and even the normally reasonable Middle Earth Journal... More
August 26, 2006
Hot, cold, let's call the whole thing off
Some scientists believe global warming is increasing the glaciers in some parts of the world. "Researchers at Newcastle University looked at temperature trends in the western Himalaya over the past century. They found warmer winters and cooler summers, combined with... More
August 26, 2006
Turks and Kurds going at it
In case you've been too distracted by Iran's nuclear antics, Hezb'allah's big adventure in Lebanon, or the Sunni—Shiite show in the greater Baghdad metropolis and haven't noticed the Turks and Kurds going at it in northern Iraq, here's a short... More
August 26, 2006
Polls moving in GOP direction
Below find the latest poll results for 5 GOP senators in trouble (Talent, Chafee, DeWine, Burns and Santorum), who had all been trailing. In parentheses, the prior poll result (GOP candidate first). Missouri : 46—44 (46—47) Rhode Island: 43—42 (38—44)... More
August 26, 2006
MSM science fiction
From the Weekly Standard comes the hardly new revelation that 'Science by Press Release' isn't really 'science' at all. "NEW STEM CELL METHOD avoids destroying embryos," the New York Times headline blared. "Stem cell breakthrough may end political logjam," chimed... More
August 25, 2006
What Ever Happened to Plan A?
You've got to be 21 to buy a beer in most of the country. In New York, the age is 18 for a pack of smokes, and there are some efforts afoot to raise it to 21. But under the... More
August 25, 2006
Proof that there are stupid Jews
I saw a San Diego headline today online. "Jewish veterans, local ACLU latest to sue over cross," it read. I immediately thought, "Are these people crazy?" Wouldn't their organization — and the nation — be better served if they... More
August 25, 2006
ABC News blog tells a different story than other MSM
A blog called the "Blotter" produced by ABC News has an interesting report suggesting Al Qaeda has come to Gaza. This report was generated from the disection of the videos showing the Fox News correspondents being held hostage. This analysis was done... More
August 25, 2006
Foreign Affairs: Is There Still a Terrorist Threat?
John Mueller, a professor of political sceience at Ohio State University, writes an essay on this question in Foreign Affairs, published by the Council on Foreign Relations. The author never mentions Hezbollah which has a more robustly developed infrastructure in the US... More
August 25, 2006
Big news versus little news about Kentucky's governor
When Republican Kentucky governor Fletcher was indicted on misdemeanor charges in June, it was a front—page, above the fold news story for the New York Times. But the charges were just dismissed, and the Times relegates the news to a brief... More
August 25, 2006
Netanyahu on proportionality
As all those Lebanese civilians start streaming back to their wrecked homes, the international media is there to record the scenes of destruction and the former inhabitants' poignant wailings as they show their (civilian) weapons and vow murderous revenge. They... More
August 25, 2006
Rwanda-Kosovo redux?
The UN turned away refugees in Lebanon seeking shelter. Somehow, the summer vacation must have removed the filters at the New York Times. Otherwise, how would this ever get published in the Times? On July 15, Israeli loudspeakers across the... More
August 25, 2006
Canada's Liberals face turmoil (a continuing series)
Adam Daifallah, writing in the New York Sun, diagnoses some of the deep schisms facing Canada's Liberal Party, which, he points out, has been the most electorally successful part in North America over the past few decades. The willingness to... More
August 25, 2006
A warning to the MSM
Observing the mainstream media's (MSM) behavior during the Israel—Hezbollah conflict, I was struck by the number of biblical sayings that are applicable to their treacherous ways. Here are just a few examples: Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice... More
August 25, 2006
NYT: Do as we say, not as we do
The New York Times talks a good game about treating workers well. Wal—Mart does not get good press in the Times and elsewhere for its alleged sins of low wages and benefits. Still, thousands showed up in Oakland and Chicago... More
August 25, 2006
In our midst
Joel Mowbray publishes in the Washington Times a shocking account of the ties of a powerful professor/institute head at Georgetown University, Professor John Esposito. Headline—grabbing stories about a British—based Muslim academic's public support for "martyrdom" last weekend missed a key... More
August 25, 2006
Lame Plame Game Flames Out
The much—publicized Plame civil suit is off to a bad start. The plaintiffs moved for permission to leave their residential address off the complaint. Judge Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia gave the motion short... More
August 24, 2006
Erratum
Dr. Sowell engages in a bit of voodoo economics here, I fear. A supermarket can prosper with one cent of clear profit on each dollar of sales because that dollar comes back to be re—used again and again in the... More
August 24, 2006
What would we do without academics?
A British online friend brought this to my attention and I thought I'd share it with you: How Mark Steyn is missed in British newspapers. Here he is on The Axis of Evenhandedness: There's a hoary old joke from a... More
August 24, 2006
Egypt slams Syria in state-controlled press
A bitter split between Egypt, the most populous Arab country, and Syria has broken into print with publication of an article in the state—controlled Cairo newspaper. Joelle Bassoul of Reuters writes: Egypt state media have accused Syria of committing "massacres"... More
August 24, 2006
The French betrayal
Nidra Poller is an astute political commentator and also a novelist living in Paris. Faithful long—time readers may remember the three articles she has contributed to AT. Today, in the Wall Street Journal, she takes a look ($link) at France's... More
August 24, 2006
The New York Times continue its PR spin on Iran
First there was the Ethan Bronner column that used biased experts to support a contention that Iran does not intend to abolish Israel (despite that country's clearly stated desire to do so and its nuclear development). Now, the Times published an op—ed... More
August 24, 2006
China supplying military jets to Zimbabwe
Rober Mugabe, the thuggish dictator who has ruined Zimbabwe's formerly robust agricultural sector by seizing white—owned land and handing it out to supporters, driving the country formerly known as Rhodesia into financial ruin and near—starvation, is "buying" six military jets... More
August 23, 2006
Canadian Hezbollah supporter resigns Liberal Party post
From Canada's CTV News: Embattled Liberal MP Boris Wrzesnewskyj has resigned as deputy foreign affairs critic following the uproar over his comments suggesting Canada should negotiate with Hezbollah. Wrzesnewskyj found himself distanced from members of his own party when he... More
August 23, 2006
Qana conclusions devastating to press
After much hard work, the blog Eureferendum has completed its detailed analysis of the photojournalism at Qana. Everything has been painstakingly analyzed online with the participation of bloggers from around the world and is available for you to see. The conclusion... More
August 23, 2006
Farewell to foie gras in Chicago
Yesterday Chicago restaurant diners bid au revoir to the delectable delicacy foie gras. Foodie political correctness has infected the normally—sensible Windy City as if it were San Francisco. Rick Moran covers the story at Right Wing Nut House. ...in lobbying... More
August 23, 2006
More Hezbollah photo fraud
Via Andrew Bolt's blog on the Herald—Sun website (Australia). Dick Weltz 8 23 06... More
August 23, 2006
CNN's love song to Osama
When even the New York Times reviewer can be this critical, CNN must have been seized by the spirit of Leni Riefestahl in its paean to Osama bin Laden. On the one hand, the producers here are attentive to Mr.... More
August 23, 2006
Democrat Dingell's website drops links to Israel-bashers
From the JTA news agency: The Web site of U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D—Mich.) was linked for five years to the Web sites of the Arab Anti—Discrimination Committee and the Arab American News. ADC's site contains accounts of 'massacres' in... More
August 23, 2006
Wal-Mart hatred on display in LA Times
The Los Angeles Times publishes an op—ed by Erin Aubry Kaplan that is startling on both its rhetorical hatred for Wal—Mart and its easygoing attitude toward black racism against Koreans, Jews, and others who operate retail stores in black neighborhoods.... More
August 23, 2006
Al Gore buys San Francisco condo
Buried at the end of a Matier & Ross column in the San Francisco Chronicle is the news that Al and Tipper Gore have purchased a luxury condo in San Francisco. Gore is a businessman these days —— sitting on the... More
August 23, 2006
Human Rights Watch executive director skewered
The New York Sun publishes an editorial today that should forever lay to rest the question of the credibility of Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. By juxtaposing some of Roth's statements when challenged with the underlying facts,... More
August 23, 2006
Media obsession with Jon Benet spawns shallow critique
There's something about lurid crimes that brings out the worst in social commentators. With his August 22 Newsday column, 'Karr: I have fun, I have rights, I have the media,' the usually astute James P. Pinkerton joins such notables as Buckley and... More
August 23, 2006
A terrorist
The Washington Post publishes an op—ed calling Marwan Barghouti, a terrorist, a "prisoner of conscience." This bizarre terminology for someone with by definition no conscience, is used by one Saad Eddin Ibrahim, who is identified as: ...an Egyptian democracy activist and... More
August 23, 2006
Burns self-immolating
Senator Conrad Burns of Montana, up for re—election, keeps sticking his foot in his mouth. The latest instance. via AP: Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, whose re—election campaign is pressing for tighter immigration controls, referred to his house painter as "a... More
August 23, 2006
BBC goes Oprah
And just what is this supposed to accomplish? The only thing missing is Oprah. From the BBC: Al—Khiyam is one of many towns and villages in southern Lebanon that was heavily bombed in Israel's military campaign against the Hezbollah militant... More
August 22, 2006
Connecticut Follies
Now that it seems likely that Senator Lieberman will be returned to the Senate as an independent and in the process bring enough Republican voters to the polls to help three incumbent Republican Congressmen return as well, the left is... More
August 22, 2006
Straight talk from the "gas guru"
The Washington Times picked up this Jeff Leonard AP piece on Trilby Lundberg publisher of the authoritative Lundberg survey of national gasoline prices. Refreshingly for the AP, this story is a straight profile on Ms. Lundberg that reveals some important insights... More
August 22, 2006
UK public opinion on the war on terror
The Spectator Magazine of the UK has sponsored an in—depth public opinion poll, one which seems to smash various received stereotypes about the British public: Almost three quarters of the British public are now convinced that we are fighting a... More
August 22, 2006
No torts for criminals
An alleged burglar fell to his death when climbing a defective stairway on the outside of a Boston house. The owner, who had previously been cited for problems with the stairway and had already begun appealing the citation, is now... More
August 22, 2006
Polls trending in new direction
Presidential approval is inching up past 40 percent: 43% in Rasmussen, 42% in CNN and USA Today. This might reflect Lebanon, the foiled British attack, and/or the Lieberman race. Note also the generic Dem/GOP congressional difference is down to 2%!... More
August 21, 2006
Canada's Liberals face turmoil
The Longwalk.ca was a blog published by Thomas Hubert,a vice president of communications for The Liberal Party of Canada. He blogged and commented some really nasty anti Israel stuff. He resigned today. His blog is gone with an apology to all... More
August 21, 2006
There are limits to what outsiders can tell Israel
What can outsiders say about Israel's war against the Hezbos? Maybe Prime Minister Olmert was indecisive. Maybe he made wise choices ——— or at least choices that seemed wise to the inner cabinet, which was really in charge. He's the... More
August 21, 2006
More evidence Armitage was the Plame source
We have suggested that Richard Armitage had been the source of the disclosure of Plame's name. A F.O.I.A. request, adds to other evidence that it was he who told Woodward in mid—June of 2003. From the AP: Armitage's official State... More
August 21, 2006
Canada's PM Harper picking up Jewish support
The Toronto Star, a left wing paper, reports Canadian Jews seem to be switching in some numbers away from the Liberal Party: [S]upport for Harper among Jews is wider than a few influential business leaders. Across the community there are... More
August 21, 2006
A victory for passengers
There are those who seek to portray the refusal of British holidaymakers to allow two suspiciously acting Arabs on a flight as a victory for terrorists. The truth is, however, that the exact opposite is the case. This was a... More
August 21, 2006
Summer daze and wishful thinking
Almost everyone's out of D.C. at the moment, save for a few reporters at the Washington Post who seem to have sunstroke because they are writing stuff that makes little sense, at least to those of us who don't think... More
August 21, 2006
The friends of Harry Reid
The Los Angeles Times reports on ties between a major political money contributor and a powerful politican, leading to the near miraculous removal of a number of obstacles to development of a huge tract of land, soon to house as... More
August 21, 2006
Hezbo photo follies on display
Now that the cease fire is in effect in Lebanon ,the photo journalists are for the first time showing funerals of killed Hezb'allah fighters, including four from Qana, where we'd been led to believe only little children and other civilians had... More
August 21, 2006
Arab press says
Amir Taheri has been reading what the Arab press says in Arabic about the war in Lebanon. He finds no unanimity on the subject of who won. One Tunisian writer has compared Nasrallah with the Mexican bandit—cum—folk hero Pancho Villa who... More
August 21, 2006
Lebanon, France, Ireland and proportionality
Tom Carew writes from Dublin: Two aspects of "proportionality" are worth noting. First, when Ireland had only 2.8m people in 1960, and an Army of only 7 Regular Infantry Battalions, with no overseas experience, with WW II bolt—action Lee Enfield... More
August 20, 2006
German judge okays Islamic call to violence
Calling on Muslims to kill Islamic scholar Dr. Raddatz is fine, but stamping the word "Koran" on toilet paper ( as done by 61—year—old Manfred van Hove) merits a 1—year prison sentence in Germany. Editrixblog reports: Please dear Crocodile, eat... More
August 20, 2006
Ahmadinejad's blog?
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has joined the blogosphere. But don't expect the anger and vitriol that American political blogs are known for, at least not in his first post. Some of his attacks are cultural, but primarily they are economic, particularly interwoven in an... More
August 20, 2006
Luttwak - Israeli gloom misplaced.
An excellent column by Edward Luttwak in the new British online paperThe First Post makes a convincing case that the gloomy assessment of Israel's performance against the Hezbos is 'way premature, and probably wrong. He compares the current situation with... More
August 20, 2006
City of New Orleans to Law Abiding Gun Owners: Drop Dead!
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, citizens of New Orleans had their firearms unlawfully confiscated under orders from former New Orleans Police Chief Eddie Compass. So during a time when the means of self—defense were most needed, the... More
August 19, 2006
The death of photojournalism
It is rare that I read anything in Editor & Publisher with which I agree. That publication largely reflects the left wing views of the American press, and too often defends what I consider the indefensible practices of the profession.... More
August 19, 2006
Letter to editor
Re: your article yesterday by Bill Lalor, "Bolton Confirmation Hearings Loom" Editor: So the Democrats are complaining that Bolton has a 'tendency to 'go it alone''? I distinctly remember their main complaint about Condoleezza Rice was that she was "not... More
August 19, 2006
Right Track/Wrong Track foolishness
Jay Cost, who was on the button in predicting the outcome of the 2004 election warns on Real Clear Politics that the pundits' reliance on right track/wrong tracks polling as predictors of the mid term outcome is misplaced: Changes in... More
August 19, 2006
The Words of Santayana (a poem)
Words of Santayana will be with us sure maņana, When we face a fascist menace once again. What we term a win today, we will learn to our dismay, Is perceived as lack of will by evil men. A... More
August 18, 2006
Road warrior report:: airports not so bad
In my experience during the past week, airports have been running surprisingly smoothly. The passenger load is way down —— probably because some people have canceled flights, but more importantly because kids seem to be starting school earlier each year,... More
August 18, 2006
Melanie Phillips
Melanie Phillips, writing in National Review Online, admirably clarifies the problem the UK faces with a reported one third of young Muslims believing the 7/7 London Tube attack was justified. She says that they are caught in a "cultural limbo,... More
August 18, 2006
NYT runs op-ed by anti-Semite
A former special adviser to Kofi Annan lambasts Israel and America, says US should not have supplied Israel with arms and should talk with Hezbollah in a New York Times op—ed. He effectively justifies Hezbollah's actions. Not a mention of their attacks... More
August 18, 2006
Jimmy Carter accused of lying
Judith Apter Klinghoffer, writing at the History News Network, accuses Jimmy Carter of a "bold faced lie" in his interview with Der Spiegel. In his recent interview with Spiegel Online, the self—righteous former president accused Israel of a "massive bombing... More
August 18, 2006
About those Lamont voters
Just who were those Lamont voters opposing Senator Joseph Lieberman in last week's Connecticut primary? Angry kiddies using blogs and online activism to fuel their post adolescent rebellion? Not quite according to an analysis to be published in this week's New... More
August 18, 2006
Mullah Strangelove: The Terminator?
Iran's sinister President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad simply begs for a nickname. What should it be? Mullah Strangelove? Doctor Kool—Aid? Darth Vader? Apparently his Iranian enemies call him "the monkey." But the nickname problem was already solved in the 1980s, when, according... More
August 18, 2006
Missing headlines (Hezb'allah department)
"Large portion of Hezb'allah fighting force killed" Despite all the gloomy assessments of the war in Lebanon, we must recognize that the media has concentrated on the deaths of alleged Lebanese civilians while ignoring the number of Hez b'Allah fighters... More
August 18, 2006
Screwy passenger on United Flt. 923
Catherine Mayo, the woman who urinated in the aisle and otherwise went a bit berserk on a London to Washington, DC flight and was formally charged today, is not merely a person with claustrophobia, as Gov. Mitt Romney would have... More
August 17, 2006
Hold the Mayo?
Catherine Mayo is the name of the woman detained in the incident aboard a United Airlines flight from London forced to land in Boston, after she allegedly disrupted it. Eagle—eyed Sweetness & Light noticed that some accounts referred to the 59... More
August 17, 2006
Israeli soldiers in pictures
A friend sent this link to a remarkable set of pictures of Israeli soldiers on the front lines. It is well worth a look, even if you don't read Hebrew.... More
August 17, 2006
Qana, Plame and karma
Many of the mainstream media apologists have conceded — and they had little choice but to do so — that many of the photographs of the Israelis' response to Hez b'Allah's act of war, were staged. The evidence of staging... More
August 17, 2006
Denver's Archbishop speaks out
Denver's Archbishop Chaput now joins Sydney's Archbishop Pell (whom I discussed here) as another courageous and honest voice on the subject of Christian—Muslim relations. Such candid views, ignored by their uninformed, and often craven peers——"elite" theologians, journalists, and politicians ——... More
August 17, 2006
Democrats stuck on stupid with Wal-Mart
The headline of the New York Times article today tells the story. "Eye on election, Democrats run as Wal—Mart foe." The story contains the following indicators of the enduring enthusiasm for bashing an institution which attracts roughly 100 million cash—bearing... More
August 17, 2006
Israeli wine harvest threatened
The Hezb'allah attack on northern Israel had, among many other serious consequences, the effect of postponing, and possibly ruining, the harvest of Israel's wine grapes, most of which are grown in the north. The American Thinker has published Sidney Retsky's... More
August 17, 2006
Israel's parliamentary follies
Israel's Defense Minister Amir Peretz is now claiming in Haaretz that he was ignorant of the threat that Hezb'allah missiles posed to Israel. Of course, even a casual reader of media anywhere in the world, let alone a front—line state... More
August 17, 2006
Free the Cuban press
The mysterious dissident Cuban journalist goes to a secret computer in Havana every few days where it's safe from Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's surveillance goons and sends me his hand—gathered Cuban news by email. Quite apart from the state—controlled press,... More
August 17, 2006
Awfulizing the Hezbo war
War always has advances and retreats. The Hezbo War is not a victory for civilized nations. but Is it a defeat? Not much of one. But human beings can make a mental defeat out of anything. The psychologist Albert Ellis... More
August 17, 2006
What happened to 'never again'?
As the smoke clears from the battleground of the Israel Hezb'allah War and as we observe the continued supineness of Israel in light of its first strategic defeat, the vocabulary of the situation gradually comes to the fore. And now... More
August 16, 2006
Muslim schools via the NYT looking glass
Michael Luo writes about Muslim schools in New York devoted to memorizing the Koran. Never once does he mention the problematic nature of some of those very verses. A rather respectful tone is taken: The students who finish memorizing the... More
August 16, 2006
Trust me
The French general in charge of UNIFIL says will take a year to build forces in Lebanon. He also blames Israel for the deliberate killing of UNIFIL personnel. Somebody explain to me why Israel should trust its security to this... More
August 16, 2006
Expert in what?
David Bernstein of The Volokh Conspiracy unmasks Professor Juan Cole of the University of Michigan for publishing and building an anti—Israel case on phony reports, and failing to correct the error when notified. Juan Cole matters because he is so often... More
August 16, 2006
Publishing Hersh's claims
The BBC highlights outlandish allegations, based on anonymous sources, from Seymour Hersh, a man who has been roundly criticized for inaccuracy. Hirsch just wants to re—live My Lai. Israel and the United States were in close contact about Israel's war on Hezbollah... More
August 16, 2006
"Rogue" kidnappers in Gaza
For understandable reasons, Fox News Channel has remained rather silent about the kidnapping of correspondent Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig in Gaza. Presumably, negotiations are under way. I only hope that it is all about money, not about changing... More
August 16, 2006
If media
There's a new media trope out there that the Hezbo fanatics have won the Lebanon war ——— or are perceived to have won, which is the same thing, as far as the media are concerned. The New York Times, for... More
August 16, 2006
The mind of Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan continues to amaze with his verbal gymnastics. Of course diplomats in general have a penchant for understatement and bland formulations, but Kofi's choice of words sometimes just amazes. The Secretary General was interviewed by Israel's Channel 2, and... More
August 15, 2006
The legend of Bobby Jindal
U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal (R—LA) is a spectacularly talented an accomplished man, and he is only 36 years old so far. But now the legend of Bobby Jay adds new luster with the latest chapter. As reported in the local... More
August 15, 2006
Conference call with Bibi Netanyahu
Rick Richman, proprietor of the blog Jewish Current Issues, was kind enough to assemble a group of people* to interview former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone from Israel today. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke for a few minutes about... More
August 15, 2006
The academy and the terrorists
Andrew Walden takes a close look at the connection between academia and just—busted terrorists in the UK, in Front Page Magazine. One of at least 24 'young Western Muslims' nailed in the British airliner bombing plot last week, Zaman is... More
August 15, 2006
Gaza and Israeli civilians
An item today in AT points the reader to The Israeli Project's (TIP) update marking the one—year anniversary of the 'withdrawal' of Israelis from the Gaza strip. The lives of nearly 9,000 civilians were turned upside down by the evacuation,... More
August 15, 2006
Kelo decision impact update
The Supreme Court's ruling of last year in the case of Kelo v. City of New London is proving to indeed be a 'Decision too far.' Jonathan Last, writing in the Weekly Standard, reviews the impact that decision has had... More
August 15, 2006
Defending Jed Babbin
Dafydd at Big Lizards tears into Jed Babbin, likening him to Nancy Pelosi for alleged crimes of defeatism: Jed Babbin is now with the terrorists. Oh, I'm sure he would go ballistic if he ever read this post (which he... More
August 15, 2006
Proportion!
Amidst the whining that Israel's response to thousands of rockets landing on its territory was disproportionate —— a charge leveled against no other nation for defending itself —— Yaashiko Sagamori agrees; Jews should strike back proportionately. But he focuses on proportions... More
August 15, 2006
Further reflections on the Israel-Hezb'allah War
As Israel, having abandoned the terrible simplicity of 'never again,' awaits the French army to bless it with the fruits of the ceasefire, further reflection on this war increases its mysteries. Take the Germans as an example. As any student... More
August 15, 2006
Is Hamas targeting Fox News for terror?
The terrorists know this is above all a PR war, so when a Fox News reporter and a cameraman are kidnapped by unidentified gunment in Hamastan ——— previously known as Gaza ——— you have to wonder why. Bibi Netanyahu remarked a week... More
August 15, 2006
Gaza disengagement: one year later
The Israel Project marks today as the first anniversary of Isarel's disengagement from Gaza, as in the forced evacuation of Jewish settlers. It does not report much good coming from it. The disengagement plan required Israelis to give up their... More
August 15, 2006
The Iranian regime hates Jews. Ho-hum.
Sometimes it is actually better to sit back and let deranged idiots strut their stuff. Ummah News Links brings us word of the opening of an exhibit in Tehran "of more than 200 cartoons about the Holocaust opened today as... More
August 15, 2006
The first year of Sweetness & Light
Big congratulations to Sweetness & Light, which has just marked its first anniversary. S&L combs through MSM articles, and most memorably, photos, and with deadly accuracy highlights the absurdities they reveal, letting the rascals indict themselves. Others in the world of journalism... More
August 15, 2006
Appeasement? (a poem)
Has appeasement ever worked? I can't recall. It seems to always precede the fall Of each good intention, every kindly thought Of all the hand—ringing apologists fraught With knee knocking neuroses And hand trembling psychoses.... More
August 14, 2006
Milestones of Shari'a (a continuing series)
Shari'a marches on. In the United Kingdom, passport photographs apparently now must conform to Muslim ideas about modesty, according to this article in the Telegraph: A five—year—old girl's passport application was rejected because her photograph showed her bare shoulders. Hannah... More
August 14, 2006
Regime change
Michael Ledeen equates the critics of Bush war in Iraq with the critics of Israel's war in Lebanon at National Review Online. But I think in one case (with the Israel critics), the disappointment is that the war was not won... More
August 14, 2006
NYT ridicules Christians
The New York Times runs a condescending article clearly meant to ridicule certain Christians: WHEN Israel and Hezbollah began trading blows last month, the community at RaptureReady.com, a fundamentalist Christian site dedicated to the proposition that the end times are near, was... More
August 14, 2006
Reflections on the ceasefire
The bottom line is that the good guys were unable, under the provocation of war, to destroy Hezb'allah. Everything else is just blather. These "international forces" ignore a critical aspect of a military force — who and for what are... More
August 14, 2006
This week's new word: Keller, a noun and a verb
"Keller", VERB: — to attempt to excuse ones unethical behavior by reference to an ethical standard that one does not actually observe, especially if the attempt is transparently disingenuous. Example 1: "Tom, who never gave a nickel to charity in... More
August 14, 2006
How low will Hezb'allah go?
For well over a week, as the Qana incident has been debunked amidst the ruins of MSM credibility, suspicions have been raised that the much—photographed child victims were planted in the building, either after the fact, or in anticipation of... More
August 13, 2006
The canary is chirping
In recent times the impact and meaning of Hitler and Nazism have been so distorted and trivialized, debased and twisted that honest analysts are reluctant to mention its ugly reappearance. But now it is necessary to shout a warning that Hitler's... More
August 13, 2006
Excellent Israeli self-critique
An excellent critique of the Israeli response in the Hezb'allah war is given by Ari Shavit at Haaretz. This will sound very familiar to Americans. Shavit identifies two pervasive problems: Political Correctness and the illusion of normality during wartime. Because... More
August 13, 2006
MSM grappling with Reuters photo fraud
David Bernstein covers some of the MSM reaction to Reuters' red—handed propagandizing exposed the Volokh Conspiracy. Tim Rutten of the LA Times sees the bigger picture: That brings us to the most troubling of the possible explanations for these fraudulent... More
August 13, 2006
NYT exec. editor clears up all ambiguity: he lies
Byron Calame has redeemed himself. The New York Times public editor reveals that the the head editorial honcho Bill Keller has now admitted he lied to the public about the reasons for delaying publication of the NSA surveillance of incoming... More
August 13, 2006
A Muslim seeks deep reform of his faith
Iqbal Syed Hussain writes a cry—from—the—heart essay in the Pakistani newspaper, The Nation, deploring the corruption and delusions which are so characteristic of contemporary Islam: In the 21st century, when the world is moving fast and some nations have already... More
August 12, 2006
The use and abuse of statistics
Real Clear Politics hosts a series of articles by economist Thomas Sowell regarding the use, abuse, promulgation and suppression of statistics for political purposes by agencies of the U.S. government and the British Home Office. For example: Some years back,... More
August 12, 2006
WaPo op-ed contradicted by the facts
In this article, Ms. Juliette Kayyem (who teaches at the Kennedy School of Government, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — the congenial home for Professor Walt of the "Israel Lobby" paper) opposes government efforts to surveil possible... More
August 12, 2006
Cindy Sheehan's on-camera deficit disorder
Sweetness & Light diagnoses the root cause of Cindy Sheehan's hospitalization in Waco, Texas after her most recent publicity stunt in Crawford, where she bought up property, failed to generate the requisite headlines. S&L has been on Cindy's case for... More
August 12, 2006
Israel: Meet your Jimmy Clinton
Here in the U.S. we've had our share of questionable leaders from time—to—time. They arise, do their work, and then hopefully go away without causing too much long—term damage. In a country such as ours, the effects are usually minimal... More
August 12, 2006
Letter to the editor and a reply
[unedited] Mr. Editor James Lewis might have some misgivings about pervailing culture in United Kingdom, and he is right about American Heritage owning up to British Empire. However, to suggest that, and I quote " India's rising prosperity and modernization... More
August 12, 2006
Whose Side Are They On?
An MSNBC news report describes the reaction of the Pakistani community in Walthamstow, England, where nearly half of the terrorists arrested last week in the foiled plot to blow up several airliners lived. The report is not encouraging to those... More
August 12, 2006
How To Define The War?
The National Review's Rich Lowry, commenting on the recently foiled air terror plot in Great Britain, repeats the conventional wisdom (even among many so—called hawks) concerning the War on Terror. In particular, he writes that we are facing "a shadowy... More
August 12, 2006
Leuctra again
It is said that when the ephors of Sparta were brought news of the surrender of the Spartan army to the Theban general Epaminondas at Leuctra in 371 BCE, they maintained their stoic demeanor, notwithstanding the heretofore unimaginable nature of... More
August 12, 2006
Defending Mr. Green Helmet
Mr. Green Helmet is the subject of an AP story defending his role as a "civil defense worker." LGF posted an initial commentary, well worth reading, refuting the AP story's claims. But EU Referendum is hosting a work—in—progress report more definitvely... More
August 12, 2006
Home-grown Muslim terrorists in the U.K.
I found this on Eteraz ('heartfelt disagreement' in Urdu) and the links within most informative, and have added the author to the list of those to visit from time to time to gather other perspectives on the world. The post... More
August 11, 2006
Treat Hezb'allah as a criminal enterprise
Rachel Ehrenfeld argues the case in the Washington Times. We should avoid the excuses and evasions regarding its so—called "political status" and judge it solely by its actions and not its propaganda. Drug trafficking is a major money maker for... More
August 11, 2006
Cossacks for Israel
Are we talking about something from The Onion? No, it's actually rather splendid news, genuine if improbable—sounding. The Cossacks of Ukraine, who, as the czar's storm troops, historically terrorized Russia's Jews confined to the Russian Pale of Settlement, have now... More
August 11, 2006
Israel Must Win
Daniel Rivkin, Jr and Lee Casey, who have both been in the forefront of defenders of Israel in the American media, now question Israel's course in a Haaretz article entitled "Israel must win." The failure of resolve on the part of Ehud Olmert puts... More
August 11, 2006
Fog of the news cycle
We've all heard of the 'fog of war,' of being 'fogged—in' at an airfield, the State Department moniker of 'Foggy Bottom,' of waiting for the 'fog to lift,' of 'London fog,' of having one's glasses 'fog up,' or of being... More
August 11, 2006
Bush use of "Islamic fascists" term provokes criticism
The Los Angeles Times, among others, presents objections voiced by some Muslims to the President's phrase. President Bush was widely criticized by Muslim leaders on Thursday for saying that the foiled plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic was... More
August 11, 2006
NYT understanding of terrorist grievances
A New York Times editorial seems to justify and misreads the (irr) rationality of terrorism; the NYT sees such acts as expressions of anger and frustration. There is nothing Americans want more than to win the war on terror, to... More
August 10, 2006
CBS to broadcast death threat against President Bush
Ahmadinejad will tell the world on this Sunday's Sixty Minutes that "Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate." The reference is to his letter to President Bush last May, in imitation of... More
August 10, 2006
Mr. Green Helmet:
Adnan Hajj and Reuters photo editors put in play the basic credibility of the major media when they published a Photoshopped image exaggerating damage from an Israeli warstrike. Photoshopping conclusively established that Reuters puts out propaganda. So the next question is obviously,... More
August 10, 2006
Tough talk from north of the border
Real Clear Politics brings to us a David Warren column from the Ottawa Citizen, written for a Canadian readership, but plain excellent and worth a read. "Not all my readers appreciate that we are seeing now, in southern Lebanon and... More
August 10, 2006
Green hypocrisy
Peter Schweizer, writing in USA Today, nails Al Gore for Green hypocrisy. Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000—square—foot, 20—room, eight—bathroom home in Nashville, and... More
August 10, 2006
What price Iraq reconstruction?
General McCoy is rightfully proud of the American reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Much good has and will be done. But at what cost? The Wall Street Journal, citing the recent audit of Iraq reconstruction efforts, reports ($) the following: Special... More
August 10, 2006
Int'l Red Cross helping Hezb'allah
Israel has destroyed bridges being used to transfer supplies and terrorists to Hezb'allah forces in the Southern part of Lebanon. Regardless that some of the people in this New York Times article are murderers, the International Red Cross aids and... More
August 10, 2006
Singling out Israel (again)
The foriegn minister of Finland, which has just rotated into the EU presidency, singles out Israel as recipient of leaked documents. "It has long been known that all EU documents that deal with the Middle East also are known in... More
August 10, 2006
Mike Wallace: Ahmadinejad "impressive" and "smart as hell"
Mike Wallace on Ahmadinejad, "He is an impressive fellow. He really is. He's obviously smart as hell" The degradation of some in the media is on full display. The buttering up exceeds even Larry King. Ahmadinejad denied the holocaust and awaits... More
August 10, 2006
The new terror bust
Today's announcement of a British bust of a terror ring, and the Code Red status granted to flights between the U.K. and the U.S. ushers in a new day in air travel security. A lot more baggage will be checked,... More
August 10, 2006
CNN's Anderson Cooper refutes AP SVP on staging
David Bernstein, writing at the Volokh Conspiracy, makes a high level Associated Press executive look pompous and foolish in her denial of the very possibility of photographs being staged. It is rather stunning that antique media people think they can... More
August 09, 2006
Clueless in Seattle
Dave in Seattle, never clueless, writes: While the rest of the media world argues about the issue of faked / staged / mis—captioned newsphotos, the Seattle Post—Intelligencer protects its readers by not covering such foolishness. And as if to emphasize their... More
August 09, 2006
What's missing in media photos from Lebanon?
Confederate Yankee knows: With this control and the apparent complicity of many media stringers both Arab and western, Hezbollah has chosen to fight a completely different kind of media war than they one we have seen in Iraq. A review... More
August 09, 2006
Putting the slam back in the slammer
One tourist attraction in San Francisco that I heartily recommend to visitors is the tour of Alcatraz, now part of a national park. The boat ride out is scenic, and the prison itself is historic, hosting many of the worst... More
August 09, 2006
Speaking truth to leftist power
Matt May has written for AT about the United Methodist Chruch and its Middle East stance. Today, he writes a defense of fighting for freedom in a United Methodist website. It is worth a look. The left has captured many... More
August 09, 2006
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Moonbats
The moonbats are barking loud this morning. Simple arithmetic tells me a slightly different story about the overall attractiveness of BDS at the ballot box. This was one of the hottest Senate primaries in recent memory. Yet the approximately 146,000... More
August 09, 2006
The Hitler Bible
The U.K. Daily Mirror is not the first paper most think of when it comes to serious breaking news. But the Mirror was the first to break the story of Adolf Hitler doing a little editing of the Bible so... More
August 09, 2006
Where is the Israeli narrative?
I watched snippets of Israeli delegate Dan Gillerman making his case in the UN Security Council debate. To my dismay, he stayed within the context of the UN narrative: start with the status quo ante, take account of the terrorists'... More
August 09, 2006
Siniora op ed
Lebanon's Prime Minister Siniora pens an op—ed in the Washington Post. After an intemperate and error—filled tirade that fills the Lebanese Prime Minister's screed, is the last line the punch—line? Lebanon must be allowed to reclaim its position in this troubled... More
August 09, 2006
Little truth and big truth at the New York Times
The mighty New York Times deigns to cover the Reuters scandal today, in an article in business section (of all pl | 
