An Old War Dogs Satellite Site


Wednesday, 31 January 2007
 


It's Official: The Press Has Gone To War 
Dan Riehl

Many on the Right have always been suspect of the MSM media when it came to reporting on the Iraq War. While the first official shot may have been CNN showing video of enemy snipers at work, it seems that open hostilities have been declared now that President Bush has begun the infamous surge.

Within the past two days, the New York Times violated a standard ethical constraint when it broadcast video of an American Marine being shot, also reporting his death without officially contacting his family. They are reported to have suffered greatly in the process of viewing it. If there's any justice, they will sue the Times for the little bit that it's still worth.

A CBS journalist / activist has gone the extra mile in attempting to draw attention to a gruesome al-Qaeda video she incorporated into a news report without attribution.

Still, back again to the New York Times - a victory over hundreds of insurgents wasn't reported as a victory at all, simply an episode that raised questions, as it wasn't accomplished easily enough - that according to the Times. ...

Read the whole thing. Is there really any doubt left whose side they're on?

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 09:04 PM in Islamism Delenda Est, Media Malpractice | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Arrest Made After 'Suspicious Packages' Paralyzed
Boston as Part of Cartoon Network Marketing Campaign

Turnerism Scare in Beantown
Jules Crittenden

The stupidest thing Ted Turner* has done since he gave $100 million to the United Nations? Here.

*Or whoever he’s allowed to do business under his name.

That would be the Zebbler, local artist Peter Berdovsky, now in custody, who claims to be working for Interference Inc., which was running TBS’ guerrilla marketing campaign.  ...

***

Arrest Made After 'Suspicious Packages' Paralyzed
Boston as Part of Cartoon Network Marketing Campaign 

BOSTON —  More than 10 blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city in what turned out to be a publicity campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. The devices depict a character making an obscene gesture.

Boston police said Wednesday night that one person had been arrested, and authorities scheduled a news conference later in the evening to provide details.

Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.

"It's a hoax — and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick, who said he will speak to the state's attorney general "about what recourse we may have."

Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc. and parent of Cartoon Network, said the devices were part of a promotion for the TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball.

"They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger." ...

***

Michelle has comments here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sultan of Spin

A new Saudi ambassador
Michelle Malkin

Via the WashTimes' Embassy Row column:

Adel al-Jubeir, the urbane public face of the Saudi monarchy who is also well-connected in Washington, was yesterday named the new ambassador to the United States from the oil-rich desert kingdom. ...

David Tell scrutinized al-Jubeir, dubbed "the Sultan of Spin" by the gushing Washington press, here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 08:15 PM in Islamism Delenda Est, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Army Checks Cojones At The Door
January 30th, 2007 by Patriot 

Yellow-bellied, sorry excuse for an officer, 1LT Ehren Watada (Wetarded 'round these parts) has two fewer charges to worry about. The Army has bowed to the socialists and dropped two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer. Not only have we refused to charge him with the sedition he should be charged, but NOW WE'RE DROPPING CHARGES!?! The media has been relentless in making us believe they are above the law and can't be called to testify when they are part of illegal conduct. He now only faces a maximum of four years in prison. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Did Iran Attack American Troops In Iraq? (Updated, bumped)

Iran involvement suspected in Karbala compound attack 

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Pentagon is investigating whether a recent attack on a military compound in Karbala was carried out by Iranians or Iranian-trained operatives, two officials from separate U.S. government agencies said.

"People are looking at it seriously," one of the officials said.

That official added the Iranian connection was a leading theory in the investigation into the January 20 attack that killed five soldiers.

The second official said: "We believe it's possible the executors of the attack were Iranian or Iranian-trained."

Five U.S. soldiers were killed in the sophisticated attack by men wearing U.S.-style uniforms, according to U.S. military reports. ...

***

Did Iran Attack American Troops In Iraq? 
Ed Morrissey

CNN reports that American military investigators believe the January 20th attack on a military compound that killed five US soldiers may have either been conducted by Iran or by Iranian-run insurgents. The level of sophistication in the attack, conducted by terrorists in American military uniforms, showed too much sophistication to have originated from one of the native insurgencies:

[...]

The investigation just started, and the Pentagon will probably look at a number of possibilities for the attack. However, given the description of the attack and its effectiveness, it seems a little over the pay grade of even the Ba'athist remnants. Since this occurred in Karbala, a predominantly Shi'ite area, Sunni insurgents and al-Qaeda also seem unlikely suspects.

Earlier on Tuesday, Time Magazine reported that Iran has a motive to attack Americans in Iraq. The Revolutionary Guard wants some measure of revenge for the capture of five Iranians in Irbil, at least some of whom belong to the IRGC. Time speculates that the IRGC wanted to send a message, and that the number of casualties were specifically selected to make sure that no one misunderstood it.

What happens if the US concludes that Iran did indeed conduct this mission against American servicemen? It would be an act of war, although the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers in support of insurgents also qualifies.

***

Iranian-Made IEDs Are the Most Deadly U.S. Forces Have Seen, and Their Use Is on the Rise
Richard Esposito and Maddy Sauer Report: (H/T: Greg Tinti)

The most deadly improvised explosive devices being used against U.S. soldiers in Iraq continue to come from Iran, and Iran continues to provide more tactical training, according to explosive experts working with the U.S. military.

The Iranian-made devices are known as EFPs, or Explosively Formed Projectiles. When exploded, the copper disc center becomes a molten liquid bullet that can penetrate the thickest armor the United States has.

Earlier this month, CIA Director General Michael Hayden told the Senate Select Intelligence Committee that the EFPs from Iran cause more casualties on an incident-for-incident basis than any other type of improvised explosive device. ...

"I think the evidence is strong that the Iranian government is making these IEDs, and the Iranian government is sending them across the border and they are killing U.S. troops once they get there," says Richard Clarke, former White House counterterrorism chief and an ABC News consultant.

U.S. intelligence officials say Iran is using the bombs as a way to drive up U.S. casualties in Iraq without provoking a direct confrontation, but a looming question remains. According to CIA Director Hayden and others, most of the EFPs are provided to the Shia militias, while it is the Sunnis who are responsible for many more U.S. deaths. Officials are now asking, could Iran be arming both sides of the sectarian violence?

Either way, Clarke says the evidence is clear that the Iranians know they are causing damage to the U.S.

"I think it's very hard to escape the conclusion that, in all probability, the Iranian government is knowingly killing U.S. troops," said Clarke. ...

***

Allahpundit has more here.

*** Update and bump. Original timestamp 2007.01.30.23:37

Iran May Have Trained Attackers That Killed 5 American Soldiers, U.S. and Iraqis Say

BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 — Investigators say they believe that attackers who used American-style uniforms and weapons to infiltrate a secure compound and kill five American soldiers in Karbala on Jan. 20 may have been trained and financed by Iranian agents, according to American and Iraqi officials knowledgeable about the inquiry.

The officials said the sophistication of the attack astonished investigators, who doubt that Iraqis could have carried it out on their own — one reason a connection to Iran is being closely examined. ...

***

Al-Maliki: Iraq won't be battleground for U.S., Iran

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's prime minister said Wednesday he's sure Iran is behind some attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and he won't allow his country to be a battleground for the two nations.

"We have told the Iranians and the Americans, 'We know that you have a problem with each other, but we are asking you, please solve your problems outside Iraq,' " Nuri al-Maliki told CNN.

"We will not accept Iran to use Iraq to attack the American forces," al-Maliki said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with CNN.

"We don't want the American forces to take Iraq as a field to attack Iran or Syria," he added.

Asked about the role of Iran in Iraq, al-Maliki said he was confident that Iranian influence was behind attacks on U.S. forces. "It exists, and I assure you it exists," he said.

Iranian-U.S. tensions have been ratcheted up recently, with two U.S. officials theorizing about the possibility that Iran was involved in a January 20 attack that killed five U.S. soldiers.

Two officials from separate U.S. government agencies said Tuesday the Pentagon is investigating whether the attack on a military compound in Karbala was carried out by Iranians or Iranian-trained operatives.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 02:46 PM in Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Biden announces, immediately destroys presidential hopes

Biden. Foot. Mouth
Michelle Malkin

Question A: Who will press Joe Biden to name the names of the inarticulate and dim and dirty and unattractive African-Americans he was thinking about when he, um, complimented Barack Obama?

Question B: Will the Washington Post give this coverage equal to its Macacaphony over George Allen's racial blundering?

NY Observer:

Mr. Biden is equally skeptical—albeit in a slightly more backhanded way—about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

See also: Biden announces, immediately destroys presidential hopes

***

Oh No, Joe!
Confederate Yankee

It seems the Delaware Senator that Mark Levin long-ago named "the dumbest man in the U.S. Senate" has proven that point, with his own "macaca" moment. ...

I wonder how long long it will be before the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group Biden apparently considers marginalized, inarticulate, unintelligent, dirty, and ugly, issues a response. ...

***

Obama, The "Clean" Black
Posted by Curt

So was this a five minute Presidential candidacy or what?

Mr. Biden is equally skeptical—albeit in a slightly more backhanded way—about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

Whoa boy.  I'm immediately reminded of that line in the movie Backdraft:

You see that glow in the corner of your eye. It's your career dissapation light and it's going into overtime. ...

See also:

 

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 01:25 PM in Dem Dumbness, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Everybody Must Not Get Stoned
Ed Morrissey

It seems multiculturalism may be on the wane even in a former bastion of the practice. A town in Quebec issued a declaration of "rules" for immigrants that instructed them to hit the road if they didn't want to assimilate into the mainstream culture of the province:

Don't stone women to death, burn them or circumcise them, immigrants wishing to live in the town of Herouxville in Quebec, Canada, have been told.

The rules come in a new town council declaration on culture that Muslims have branded shocking and insulting. ...

Allahpundit has more here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 01:08 PM in Canada, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Specter Bill to Clarify Command-in-Chief Role

(2007-01-31) — Under the terms of a bill proposed today by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, the president’s role as commander-in-chief would be “redefined for the postmodern era as collaborator in chief.”

The measure comes just a day after Sen. Specter respectfully rejected President George Bush’s claim to be “the decider” on the issue of a troop surge in Iraq, saying “the decider is a shared and joint responsibility.”

“The antiquated Constitutional notion that the president is in charge of the armed forces has become obsolete if ever it was true,” the senator said.  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 11:57 AM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Cult Group Ready For Major Battle 
Ed Morrissey

The cult group destroyed by the Iraqi-run offensive on the eve of Ashura may have been obscure, but they had one point in common with the other insurgencies in Iraq -- they were armed to the teeth. Close air support from the US forces backing up the IA units made the difference, as more that 260 cultists died with bags of ammunition surrounding them:

The dead wore the same footwear, imitation leather dress shoes with Velcro flaps. Their mangled bodies filled the trenches. Bags of ammunition, with the names of fighters written on them, sat by their sides.

A pulpit made of bamboo stood next to a grassy field, a newspaper filled with rambling and enigmatic religious writing strewn nearby.

An unauthorized hourlong walk Tuesday through the bombed compound of a religious cult called Heaven's Army revealed provocative clues about the group,  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 11:27 AM in Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Yes, CBS getting is its news straight from the jihadis now

See previous: Is CBS getting its news straight from the jihadis now?

Don't miss today's Vent or Bryan Preston's supplement here.

Also linking: Kim Priestap, Good Lt.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 10:59 AM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Media Malpractice | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Classic Grunt’s Gripe, Updated
Jules Crittenden

Must read from a sergeant in Afghanistan, via Blackfive:

… I am tired of the Democrats whining for months on T.V., in the New York Times, and in the House and Senate that we need more troops to win the war in Iraq, and then when my Commander in Chief plans to do just that, they say that is the wrong plan, it won’t work, and we need a “new direction.”

… I am tired of the decisions of Sergeants and Privates made in the heat of battle being scrutinized by lawyers who were not there and will never really know the state of mind of the young soldiers who were there and what is asked of them in order to survive. ...

… So let’s get it done.  Until the fight is won and there is no more fight left.

I should have my ass kicked for missing Blackfive's post earlier. Go read it now.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 03:30 AM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Quick Nibbles -- 2007.01.31

I'm too tired to do 'em justice. Just read 'em.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 03:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


The Battle of Najaf, 2007
By Austin Bay (H/T)

Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is a most remarkable man.

Consider these attributes: a Muslim theologian who promotes democracy, an Iraqi Shia leader who supports national reconciliation, an international Shia luminary who believes Sunnis and Shias and Christians -- and human beings in general -- have reasons to cooperate and accommodate. In a just world, he would win a Nobel Peace Prize.

British Maj. Gen. Andrew Graham said of Sistani in 2004: "The pro-democracy moderate Muslim cleric doesn't have to be found. That's Sistani. Fortunately, he is the most influential religious leader in Iraq."

Sistani's influence extends beyond Iraq, into Shia communities throughout the world, including Iran and Lebanon.

However, these inspiring attributes are the very reason the so-called "Soldiers of Heaven" militia targeted Grand Ayatollah Sistani for either kidnapping or assassination this past weekend.  ...

Sistani offers a modernizing Shia alternative to Iran's radical leaders. That's why targeting Sistani immediately suggests a touch or two of Iranian involvement, at least in terms of funds and operational advice. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 01:19 AM in Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In which W sings soprano (Updated and bumped)

Officials: White House Holding Back
Report Detailing Iran's Meddling in Iraq

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  A plan by the Bush administration to release detailed and possibly damning specific evidence linking the Iranian government to efforts to destabilize Iraq have been put on hold, U.S. officials told FOX News.

Officials had said a "dossier" against Iran compiled by the U.S. likely would be made public at a press conference this week in Baghdad, and that the evidence would contain specifics including shipping documents, serial numbers, maps and other evidence which officials say would irrefutably link Iran to weapons shipments to Iraq.

Now, U.S. military officials say the decision to go public with the findings has been put on hold for several reasons, including concerns over the reaction from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — as well as inevitable follow-up questions that would be raised over what the U.S. should do about it.

***

Not in Front of the Kids, Honey
Jules Crittenden

Fox reports the Bush administration had planned to release a detailed dossier on Iran’s interference and support for terrorism in Iraq.

[...]

The report goes on to detail exactly how much the Democratic Congress does not what to deal seriously with Iran.  I suspect the concerns are not so much with how Ahmadinejad will react or what the U.S. will do about it, but rather how Congress will react, and how it will try to prevent the U.S. from doing anything about it.

The grownups can’t talk about ugly truths in front of the kids, because the kids aren’t ready to handle it. ...

*** Update and bump. Original timestamp 2007.01.30.22:27

Pentagon investigating Iran's Qods Force role in Karbala attack
Bill Roggio (Hat tip: Michelle)

On Friday, we reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' Qods Force was very likely behind the attack on the Provincial Joint Coordination Center in Karbala, which resulted in the kidnapping and execution of four U.S. soldiers. Five soldiers total were killed in the operation, and three others wounded. We noted, based on multiple sources in the military and intelligence community, that the attack was far too sophisticated for Shia militias (particularly the Mahdi Army) and it was unlikely al-Qaeda in Iraq carried out the operation. We also noted the attack and kidnapping may have been revenge for the Baghdad and Irbil raids on Iranian diplomatic missions. Today, CNN is reporting the Pentagon is seriously investigating Iran's involvement in the attack, and the Irbil raid was likely a motive for the Qods Force operation:

[...]

The United States had planned to detail Iran's involvement in supporting the Shia death squads, as well as the Sunni insurgency, al-Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al-Sunnah during a press briefing with Major General Bill Caldwell on Wednesday at 7:00 am Eastern. The briefing was purported to have detailed "specifics including shipping documents, serial numbers, maps and other evidence which officials say would irrefutably link Iran to weapons shipments to Iraq."

The Bush administration has decided to put the briefing "on hold for several reasons, including concerns over the reaction from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — as well as inevitable follow-up questions that would be raised over what the U.S. should do about it," according to FOX News.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 31, 2007 at 12:39 AM in Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Tuesday, 30 January 2007
 


Video: Mark Steyn on jihad in London, jihadist apologists 
Ian Schwartz

As expected, Alan Colmes took the side of the jihadists and tried to blame their anger on Tony Blair and the Iraq war. He even compared the jihadists, who say it’s okay to marry nine-year-old girls and abuse them, to so-called religious extremists in this country.

Hannity and Steyn discussed the hypocrisy of liberals to apologize for the jihadists rather than rail against their anti-woman culture.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 10:43 PM in Great Britain, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Has Congress Amended An AUMF In The Past?

From AP: Congress to test bounds of its war power.

President Bush may be the decision maker, but the Democratic-controlled Congress holds the purse strings. Whether to yank them shut when it comes to the conflict in Iraq, and under what conditions, is the question facing newly empowered majority Democrats.

No one challenges the notion that Congress can stop a war by canceling its funding. In fact, Vice President Dick Cheney challenged Congress to back up its objections to Bush's plan to put 21,500 more troops in Iraq by zeroing out the war budget.

Underlying Cheney's gambit is the consensus understanding that such a drastic move is doubtful because it would be fraught with political peril. ...

***

Has Congress Amended An AUMF In The Past?
Ed Morrissey

Earlier today, Russ Feingold began holding hearings on whether Congress had the authority to rescind or modify an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF), once approved and implemented by the executive. This weekend, I argued that Congress could not simply rescind an AUMF without the executive declaring an end to hostilities, once given command of the war. Feingold plans to use the hearings to demonstrate that Congress can indeed overrule the executive, withdraw their AUMF, and force an end to a deployment.

Does Congress have any precedent for such an action? This was the subject of a friendly set of e-mails between myself and Glenn Greenwald after he posted examples of Republican Senators demanding an end to our deployment in Somalia after the debacle of Mogadishu. These include Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Phil Gramm, and John McCain, who made the case for Senatorial action: ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 10:10 PM in Dem Dumbness, Dem Perfidy, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


"Elites to Anti-Affirmative-Action Voters: Drop Dead" 
By Michelle Malkin

The always-must-read Heather Mac Donald in the always-must-read City Journal:

...for all the evasions of the political and educational elites, the growing anti-preference push, with initiatives contemplated in several more states in 2008, could be one of the most important populist movements of recent years. Racial manipulation, while not eliminated from California, has been greatly reduced, a sea change that never would have happened without Prop. 209. One goal of the movement—the elimination of the academic achievement gap by setting a single standard of achievement for all to meet—remains elusive. But Ward Connerly’s courageous pursuit of a government that ignores race is delivering on the most fundamental promise of the American Constitution: equal treatment for all.

Conservatives asked at the NR Summit last weekend: Where are the leaders? ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 08:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


NASA Broke Law In Kerry Bunny Suit Visit 
KSC Ordered To Educate Employees About Campaigning Laws

Sen. John Kerry's visit to Kennedy Space Center during the 2004 presidential campaign violated the law, according to a federal watchdog agency.

NASA allowed Kerry to conduct a political stump speech and rally at the space center and broadcasted it to KSC employees, and the latter part violates the law, the Office of Special Counsel ruled, according to Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

Beaming the presidential campaign rally to government employees all over the spaceport violates laws prohibiting electioneering using federal resources, according to the report.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 06:09 PM in Jean Fraud Kerry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


AP Writer Has No Idea How Islamic
Messianic Cult Stockpiled Weapons
Kim Priestap

Really. AP writer Robert Reid has absolutely know idea how an Islamic messianic cult that wants to bring about the return of the 12th Imam could have gotten so many weapons:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Accounts of the bloody battle near Najaf have produced more questions than answers, raising doubts about Iraqi security forces' performance and concern over tensions within the majority Shiite community.

Among the questions: How did a messianic Shiite cult, the "Soldiers of Heaven," accumulate so many weapons and -- if Iraqi accounts are accurate -- display such military skills? Iraqi forces prevailed only after U.S. and British jets blasted the militants with rockets, machine gunfire and 500-pound bombs. Both U.S. and Iraqi reinforcements had to be sent to the fight.

It's also unclear how a shadowy cult that few Iraqis had ever heard of managed to assemble such a force seemingly without attracting the attention of the authorities earlier. ...

If Mr. Reid had read blogs like this one or LGF or Noisy Room, he wouldn't have had to ask the question. I've written a number of times here at Wizbang about Ahmadinejad's obsession with the return of the12th Imam, Islam's messianic figure - see posts here, here, and here just to start. We know that Iran is providing the insurgents with IEDs to use against our troops, and we also have reports that Iranian militants have been found in Iraq, so it makes sense that Ahmadinejad is probably behind this Islamic Messianic cult as well.  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 05:29 PM in Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We'll Just Settle For A Little Extortion

Libyan Justice
Jules Crittenden

The Ghaddafis,* dad and son, are men of justice.  This is why, upon noting that the trial before Libya’s highest kangaroo court in the matter of the Bulgarian nurses accused of infecting Libyan children with AIDS “went in the wrong direction,” they are mulling clemency.  In exchange for a consideration, perhaps.

How about consideration of putting Moammar back on the short list for a rocket through the tent?  These are not our nurses, but as an American taxpayer, I could support the expenditure of several million dollars worth of cruise missiles. ...

***

We'll Just Settle For A Little Extortion
Ed Morrissey

The Libyan government indicated for the first time that the six medical workers sentenced to death for purportedly exposing a family to AIDS and touching off an epidemic would not get executed. Western governments have continuously lobbied Tripoli to stop the execution and release the workers, calling the accusations ludicrous, but until yesterday it appeared that those efforts would fail. Moammar Gaddafi's son told a Bulgarian newspaper that his father opposes the execution -- but that compensation has to be offered:

LIBYA will not execute five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death last month, the son of the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi said in a newspaper interview, calling the verdicts unfair.

A Libyan court sentenced the six for intentionally infecting hundreds of children with the HIV virus in a case which started eight years ago and that has triggered widespread international concern about its fairness.  ...

Libya accused the Palestinian doctor and the five Bulgarian nurses of negligently infecting a family with AIDS and allowing it to spread throughout the nation. AIDS researchers have repeatedly shown this to be false, and challenged the Libyan government's assertion that AIDS did not exist in the country before their arrival. Despite numerous entreaties, Gaddafi allowed the trial to continue and sentence the six to death. Now Gaddafi has apparently changed his mind, a happy turn of events.

However, Gaddafi wants a little something for his trouble. Claiming that the family still has case, Gaddafi wants the Western nations to pay blood money for the workers' release. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 05:09 PM in Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Is CBS getting its news straight from the jihadis now?

CBS Uses Al Qaeda Video?
Blackfive

CBS Chief Foreign Correspondent in Baghdad, Lara Logan, first appeals for help in getting a key story about the battles around Haifa street put on the CBS Evening News instead of just published on the CBS News website...when it appears that part of her footage is straight from Al Qaeda. ...

***

Lara Logan & al Qaeda: What's the 411, CBS?
Michelle Malkin

First, read this heart-rending appeal from Lara Logan complaining about CBS News refusing to air one of her Haifa Street reports, which highlighted a masked "Haifa Street resident" who "blamed the fighting on the U.S. Here's a screen shot of her source: [image]

CBS didn't air the video on the nightly news because it was "too graphic for an evening news audience" according to a CBS News spokesperson. But it did put the video on its website.
And it's up at YouTube: [video link]

There may be an even greater reason for CBS not to have put Logan's report on the nightly news.

Nibras Kazimi took a closer look:

The footage “obtained by CBS” is identical to that put out by Al-Qaeda. But Logan makes no mention of Al-Qaeda’s video and does not address the implication that the footage she used was off an Al-Qaeda video. And if it’s not off the Al-Qaeda video, then how did she get footage identical to the one used by Al-Qaeda? This needs to be explained.  ...

***

Jules C: New Media on Old Media

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 04:46 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Media Malpractice | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Lugar Lobs Sense Into Resolution Debate
Bruce Kesler

the deep knowledge, common sense, vision and responsibility that has earned him such wide respect in foreign policy circles.

Senator Lugar leaps over the divide, observing “the debate on Iraq policy has reached new levels of stridency.” Lugar keeps his eye on strategic adjustment. Indeed, Lugar perceives that’s really what the president’s plan is, the beginning of a strategic adjustment that by its very nature cannot be presented as such.

The debates across and within lines over the various Senate resolutions essentially come down to a few points.

The president’s plan is not presented as strategic, a significant change in mission and mobilization to achieve ends. It is more operational or even tactical, adjustments of place and techniques. As such, opponents of the mission are not persuaded, as they pursue abandonment regardless of consequences, and supporters of the mission are not sufficiently encouraged, as sufficient resources are not committed.

Therefore, for most proponents the resolutions are seen as the beginning of forcing withdrawals. For some, the milder resolution is seen as an expression of no confidence. In either case, however, the only immediate beneficiaries are those seeking political points or cover and foes who clearly see encouragement to last us out.

Lugar presents the strategic adjustment: ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 04:19 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


The Obama Messiah Watch 
Introducing a periodic feature considering evidence that Obama is the son of God.
By Timothy Noah (Hat tip: Michelle)

Is Barack Obama—junior U.S. senator from Illinois, best-selling author, Harvard Law Review editor, Men's Vogue cover model, and "exploratory" presidential candidate—the second coming of our Savior and our Redeemer, Prince of Peace and King of Kings, Jesus Christ? His press coverage suggests we can't dismiss this possibility out of hand. I therefore inaugurate the Obama Messiah Watch, which will periodically highlight gratuitously adoring biographical details that appear in newspaper, television, and magazine profiles of this otherworldly presence in our midst.

Today's item,  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 03:51 PM in Barack Obama, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Get a room! 
Michelle Malkin

Via the NYPost:

Niles Lathem reports: "Looks like things are getting serious in the race for the White House - seriously lovey-dovey, that is. Judging from this photo, the spirit of bipartisan cooperation appeared to be alive and well yesterday between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain in Texas." ...

Got a good caption for the picture? Greg Tinti's holding a contest here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 03:28 PM in Hillary Clinton, John McCain-Feingold, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


“If they’re going to support us, support us all the way.”
Bryan Preston

Troops in Iraq don’t buy the left’s “we support the troops, but not the war” mantra. They don’t buy it at all.

   

   

   

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 02:55 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


A "Citizens Report on Iraq"
Michelle Malkin

Just released. Compiled as a response to the Iraq Study Group. Here's the 86-page PDF. From the press release:

In the Citizens Report on Iraq, readers will learn that progress is being made in Iraq; there are large areas of Iraq that are safe and prospering; that the enemy is being killed and wounded in astounding proportion to American casualties; that the reporting on Iraq by the dominant media is universally despised as inaccurate and misleading by those fighting for Free Iraq -- Americans and Iraqis alike; that the so-called antiwar movement, including the organizers of this past weekend's protest in Washington, is led by terrorist supporting Marxists as part of a global alliance seeking America's defeat in the Global War on Terror and that a prominent White House correspondent has allied herself with one of these groups.  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 02:36 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Media Malpractice | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack


Damning Us For Our Success 
Ed Morrissey

Ali Ansari has a strange column in today's Guardian regarding Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and US hawks. He wants to argue that Ahmadinejad's presidency is failing and that the economic pressures on the Iranian economy have accelerated his decline. However, he then claims that American hawks may yet save Ahmadinejad and scold us for not propping him up: ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 02:20 PM in Great Britain, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Moonbat Madness | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Case for Outing Jamil?

Part 46 of my Jamilgate series. Continued from this post.

The Case for Outing Jamil?
Confederate Yankee

I'm presenting working on what will likely be my last post on the Jamil Hussein/Hurriyah mosque attacks debacle. I've got some emails out to several sources and the AP itself attempting to tie up loose ends, and I won't write a final draft until those addressed have a reasonable amount of time to respond.

I did, however, have one question I addressed to all of those I queried, that I'd like to ask my readers as well:

Should I "out" Jamil, revealing his real, full, and complete name? ...

As long as there's any chance whatsoever that AP simply made up a name that by pure coincidence bore a similarity to a real person, I wouldn't.

According to Haider Ajina (in his 40s, Iraqi immigrant ~20 years ago, still has family there, US citizen, emails me sometimes but I'm quoting Gateway Pundit here) Iraqi boys named Jamil are almost as common as American boys named Sue. I figure it's 99.9% likely if AP was quoting Jamil Someone you have the right Jamil. But... what if some reporter made the name up thinking it would be like quoting "Mr. Susan Owens" and scored accidentally?

***

Jules C: New Media on Old Media

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 12:56 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Jamilgate, Media Malpractice | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Adm. Fallon: "The urgent need to make progress is obvious"
Michelle Malkin

Adm. William Fallon's confirmation hearing for the US Central Command top post
began this morning. He submitted answers to advance questions--available in PDF form at the Senate Armed Services Committee website. You should read the whole thing. Here are a few highlights: ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 11:19 AM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


(Not) Plugging The Holes In Our Border 
Ed Morrissey

In a war on terrorism in which we have already suffered thousands of deaths from infiltrators into the US, one might think that border security might take a leading position among issues faced the federal government. However, the Los Angeles Times reports that sophisticated tunnels literally undermining our southern border still remain in use even after their discovery, thanks to half-hearted efforts to plug the holes created by smugglers:

Seven of the largest tunnels discovered under the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years have yet to be filled in, authorities said, raising concerns because smugglers have tried to reuse such passages before.  ...

... These tunnels could be used to transport anything around our border protection, and illegal workers are the least problematic of the potential contraband.  ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 30, 2007 at 10:52 AM in Immigration | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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