Lately, President Obama has been hacking his way across the lush landscape of Martha’s Vineyard. Meanwhile, some traditional Islamist jihadists, along with a few British malcontents, have been hacking their way across an arid desert that once belonged to Syria and Iraq.  A few days ago they each took a break from slicing to issue a statement. All of this is what the pundits are calling “bad optics.”  A severed head is seldom easy on the eyes, but once upon a time, Obama could move mountains and lower sea levels, not to mention avert the public murder of a fellow countryman.  It’s generally much easier, however, to keep a punctual tee time than it is to negotiate with people more extreme and ideological than even the Tea Party; and so James Foley becomes another American citizen or ally the president cannot rescue, along with Meriam Ibrahim, Saeed Abedini, Chris Stevens & Co., and Dr.  Shakil Afridi.  As a last resort he should...(Read Full Post)