Monthly Archives: May 2003

May 23, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Choose something like a star

When Robert Frost urged us to “choose something like a star,” it was “to stay our minds on and be staid.” I feel that way about reading Victor Davis Hanson. He provides the perspective that creates a kind of equanimity. His column today on National Review Online is a cardinal example: “Middle East tragedies.” »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Pentagon Reacts to BBC Slur

The Pentagon reacted this afternoon to the BBC’s slur against the U.S. Army in connection with the Jessica Lynch rescue. Spokesman Dave Lapan, a Marine Lt. Col., characterized the BBC’s claim that the rescue was fraudulent as “ludicrous and insulting.” He also said the claim that U.S. special forces were “firing blanks”–an assertion that has been thoroughly debunked on the internet–was “silly.” “The thing that is most insulting is the »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

“Bush Regime” Playing Cards

Some lefty has created this virtual “Bush Regime” deck of cards, featuring the President as the Ace of Clubs, etc. This isn’t particularly clever, but it is an interesting guide to who’s who on the right, as perceived by this particular lefty. Andrew Sullivan is crowing about being the five of diamonds. What’s interesting to me is the preponderance of “new media” (i.e., internet and talk radio) figures who made »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Tim Blair Has a New Site

Check it out here. Tim is Australia’s premier blogger–which sounds like it could be damning with faint praise, but isn’t. He’s left Blogger and is now using Movable Type, the same software we use. We’ve found it to be a big improvement. »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Illegal Immigrants at Sears Tower Arrested

This news item is interesting, but it is impossible to know what to make of it. Apparently some illegal immigrants who worked for tenants of the Sears Tower have been arrested by federal authorities on account of “security concerns.” No information about the number arrested, countries of origin, etc. The Sears Tower has long been a rumored target of terrorist threats, to the point where I believe it has become »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

More on Morocco Bombings

Moroccan sources have told the New York Times that the bombings last week were financed by al Qaeda, which sent more than $50,000 into Morocco to pay expenses. The actual bombers (twelve are dead, two others in custody) were recruited and trained by a small group of Moroccans who, in turn, had received training in Afghanistan. Moroccan sources say that the men who carried out the attacks had no criminal »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Gold Shipment Recovered in Iraq

American soldiers stopped a Mercedes truck near the Syrian border earlier today. They searched the truck and found 2,000 40-pound bars of gold, worth up to $500 million. The two men driving the truck said they thought the bars were bronze, and they had been paid to deliver the truck and its contents to someone in Qaim. »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Iran Admits Al Qaeda Presence

In what could be a significant development, Iran has admitted that al Qaeda operatives are currently in that country. The U.S. believes that among them is Saif Al Adel, believed to be al Qaeda’s top operational planner. Iran says that the al Qaeda members are “in custody;” American officials suspect that they are functioning freely and in effect are being given safe haven. Given that until now Iran has denied »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Uday to Surrender?

The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that Uday Hussein, Saddam’s older son, has been hiding in a Baghdad suburb and is now negotiating a surrender with American authorities. The Americans are said to be in no particular hurry, as they think Uday will be caught sooner or later in any event. Uday is understandably concerned that he may be found by Iraqis before he concludes a deal with the »
May 23, 2003 — John Hinderaker

Star Tribune Swallows Scheer Fairy Tale Whole

This is truly unbelievable. The Minneapolis Star Tribune re-published Robert Scheer’s thoroughly debunked fable about the rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch this morning. Way to be right up to the minute, Strib. Coming next week: A Strib special on an explosive, just-discovered book called the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Don’t miss it. »
May 23, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Scheer decline

Hugh Hewitt wants to make sure that Robert Scheer does for the Los Angeles Times what Jayson Blair has done for the New York Times: “Decline of the Times, Part 2.” Hugh’s Web site has compiled a great set of links for further study of this and related issues. »
May 23, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Addicted to tobacco money

George Will’s column today pursues a theme that D.J. Tice of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has frequently written about, the addiction of the states to money extorted from the tobacco business: “The states’ tobacco dilemma.” Rocket Man might be interested to note that some editor has sought to correct Will by changing what was obviously Will’s reference to preexisting law establishing the sale of cigarettes as not “tortious” to »
May 23, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Road map to oblivion

While the mainstream papers carry leaked reports that the Bush administration has secured Prime Minister Sharon’s agreement to some language that can be construed as an endorsement of the so-called road map, the Jerusalem Post carries four stories of interest. The first relates to the seizure of the PLO love boat that I noted yesterday: “Hizbullah ‘A-Team’ of international terror?” The second relates to the meeting between Daddy Mazen and »
May 22, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Remembering the First Minnesota Volunteers

Among the heroes who saved the Union on July 2 at Gettysburg with Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine were the 282 men of the First Minnesota Volunteers. Their story cannot be told often enough, and Mackubin Thomas Owens makes it the centerpiece of his terrific “Reflections on Memorial Day.” (Courtesy of No Left Turns.) HINDROCKET adds: Well, the Trunk is right, of course. The pivot of American history »
May 22, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Scheer disgust

Shark Blog has done some serious spadework on the Robert Scheer blowout that Hugh Hewitt has devoted himself to over the past day: “Scheer scandal.” The Shark Blog is also the home of the overnight sensation: “Robert Scheer Canard-o-Matic.” (Courtesy of Instapundit.) »
May 22, 2003 — Scott Johnson

The PLO love boat

The Israeli Navy has seized a fishing boat with bombmaking equipment and 36 instructional CD-ROM disks for the preparation of suicide bombers: “Israel arrests Hezbollah man aboard boat headed for Gaza.” According to Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom, Palestinians close to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat were involved in sending the ship. »
May 22, 2003 — Scott Johnson

Year of the blues

We’re a little late getting to this story, but it’s good news, so what the heck. In September 2002 the Senate passed a resolution proclaiming the year beginning February 1, 2003, “Year of the Blues.” I believe that passage of the resolution was led by then-Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and now-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Here is the text of the resolution proclaiming 2003 the year of the blues, with »