Monthly Archives: June 2006

June 23, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Media Alert

Scott and I will be on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show tonight at 7:40 central time, 8:40 eastern, talking about the New York Times’ latest tipoff to al Qaeda. You can tune in in most cities, or listen on the web here. »
June 23, 2006 — John Hinderaker

That Was Then, This Is Now

John Kerry on the campaign trail, in December 2003, before the Council on Foreign Relations: I fear that in the run-up to the 2004 election, the administration is considering what is tantamount to a cut-and-run strategy. Their sudden embrace of accelerated Iraqification and American troop withdrawal dates, without adequate stability, is an invitation to failure. The hard work of rebuilding Iraq must not be dictated by the schedule of the »
June 23, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Inept Jihadis

That’s how the guys who were arrested in Miami last night sound. There is no indication they were in touch with al Qaeda, and Attorney General Gonzales says: There is no immediate threat … part of the reason for that is because they didn’t have the materials they requested, they didn’t receive the weapons, at least we don’t know of. In other words, the authorities were on to these guys »
June 23, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

Aussies rule

Charles Krauthammer loves Australia and the “transcendent courage” and “playful insanity” of the Aussies. After watching the Australian team’s heroic performances in the World Cup, I can’t disagree. It’s enough to make one believe that national character is soccer destiny — until one remembers that Australia accomplished nothing in soccer until Dutch coach Guus Hiddink took charge. »
June 23, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

Aussies rule

Charles Krauthammer loves Australia and the “transcendent courage” and “playful insanity” of the Aussies. After watching the Australian team’s heroic performances in the World Cup, I can’t disagree. It’s enough to make one believe that national character is soccer destiny — until one remembers that Australia accomplished nothing in soccer until Dutch coach Guus Hiddink took charge. »
June 23, 2006 — Scott Johnson

The Times strikes again

In today’s New York Times story by Eric Lichtblau and James Risen, the Times blows the classified program that seeks to trace al Qaeda-related bank transactions: Viewed by the Bush administration as a vital tool, the program has played a hidden role in domestic and foreign terrorism investigations since 2001 and helped in the capture of the most wanted Qaeda figure in Southeast Asia, the officials said. The program, run »
June 23, 2006 — Scott Johnson

The Times strikes again

In today’s New York Times story by Eric Lichtblau and James Risen, the Times blows the classified program that seeks to trace al Qaeda-related bank transactions: Viewed by the Bush administration as a vital tool, the program has played a hidden role in domestic and foreign terrorism investigations since 2001 and helped in the capture of the most wanted Qaeda figure in Southeast Asia, the officials said. The program, run »
June 22, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

A bust in Miami

Law enforcement officials have arrested seven people on terrorism conspiracy charges in connection with the early stages of a plot to attack Chicago’s Sears Tower and other buildings as well. The arrests occurred in Miami. Those arrested include five American citizens, one illegal alien from Haiti, and one resident alien. At least some of the suspects apparently are members of a radical African-American Muslim group and at least one had »
June 22, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

A bust in Miami

Law enforcement officials have arrested seven people on terrorism conspiracy charges in connection with the early stages of a plot to attack Chicago’s Sears Tower and other buildings as well. The arrests occurred in Miami. Those arrested include five American citizens, one illegal alien from Haiti, and one resident alien. At least some of the suspects apparently are members of a radical African-American Muslim group and at least one had »
June 22, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

Down for the cup

And down for the count — the U.S. ended its World Cup campaign with a 2-1 loss to Ghana. Ghana’s second goal was the result of a very questionable penalty kick, but the U.S. deserved no more than a draw in this match and a draw would not have been enough. Italy did its part by defeating the Czechs (thanks to a goal by former Everton player Marco Materazzi), but »
June 22, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Rumsfeld Confirms WMD Finds

Earlier today, Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. George Casey gave a joint press conference on Iraq. I haven’t seen a full transcript yet, but one of the subjects they addressed was yesterday’s report on the hundreds of chemical and biological weapons that have been found in Iraq: QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, there has been a lot made on Capitol Hill about these chemical weapons that were found and may be quite old. »
June 22, 2006 — John Hinderaker

The Last 300 Men to Die For a Mistake?

My friend Bob Cunningham makes an excellent point about the utter incoherence of the Kerry/Kennedy/Boxer cut-and-run proposal: The line that made John Kerry famous, said in connection with the Vietnam War, was: “How can you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?” It is, of course, the reason he was not able to say that his Iraq War Resolution vote was a mistake during »
June 22, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

Leave his dog out of this

It’s bad enough that the right-wing New Republic is smearing Markos Moulitsas. But now they’re even attacking YearlyKos. To which Kos offers a time-tested response: “the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we’re gonna keep it.” Via Real Clear Politics. »
June 22, 2006 — Paul Mirengoff

Media Alert

I’m scheduled to appear on the radio show Open Source this evening. The topic will be The Encyclopedia of American Conservatism. The show is from 7-8 in the east. I’m told I’ll be on towards the end, but the lineup is such that you might want to listen to the whole thing. »
June 22, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Faint Hope Gone

I don’t think there was ever any chance that alleged “whistle blower” Coleen Rowley was going to beat my Congressman, Col. John Kline, in November. The district is too Republican, and Kline is too good a representative. But, as Scott noted here, the portion of the report by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General dealing with Zacarias Moussaoui has now been declassified. That report should end whatever long-shot »
June 22, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Terrorist Airplain Plots Revealed

Documents obtained from Homeland Security disclose multiple plots by al Qaeda against aviation targets in Great Britain: Newly disclosed documents allege al-Qaida had plans to turn cameras into stun guns and crash a hijacked plane into East London’s Canary Wharf development. The U.S. Department of Homeland security document was obtained by ABC News and detailed as many as nine plots to hijack and crash aircraft. None of them took place, »
June 22, 2006 — John Hinderaker

Senate Rejects Dems’ Pullout Plan

By a decisive 86-13 vote, the U.S. Senate today rejected John Kerry’s proposal for a complete withdrawal from Iraq by July 1 of next year–a completely arbitrary date that replaced the equally arbitrary date in Kerry’s last proposal, December 31, 2006. More Democrats supported the leadership’s odd alternative, which called for troop withdrawals to begin but specified no end date. Since the administration is already reducing troop levels and will »