Whoops!

May have overplayed the hand. Reports are now coming out the the Saudis are trying to get the Russians to block any attempts by Washington to allow UN sanctions against Iran. The Captain's Quarters has a good take on the whole situation.

Support - Or Not

Glenn Reynolds has a post up that about sums the whole issue up. Do you support the troops? Or not?

FAIR WARNING: comments better be kept civil - before you try to post a comment, you'd better read the "About" page.

The Storm And The Fury

All over nothing, nothing at all. It won't make it stop, but the key phrase that the Bush opponents seized upon in the Fitzgerald filing IS A MISSTATEMENT.

Last week, Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald wrote that, in conversation with former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, Libby described the uranium story as a "key judgment" of the CIA's 2002 National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, a term of art indicating there was consensus within the intelligence community on that issue. In fact, the alleged effort to buy uranium was not among the estimate's (sic) key judgments and was listed further back in the 96-page, classified document.

Move along to the next spin cycle.

UPDATE: Oops, never mind. Flopping Aces sees a political hack.

Hand Me My Fiddle

The story that the Roman emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned is, of course, wrong. The violin would not be invented for many centuries after the Roman empire fell. If Nero did actually play an instrument while watching the fires consume Rome, it was a lyre. Nero fancied himself a bit of an artist, after all. But the image of the great emperor playing an instrument as fire rampaged through the capitol of the known world at that time is a compelling one. It's a powerful image of someone who cares not for the damage that is happening around him, but treats the conflagration as an amusement.

So it is today with some of our citizens.

They are so fixated on trying to "get" a president that they have not been able to beat at the polls, that they have lost all perspective, They rant and rave daily, growing ever more strident, in an attempt to bring him down. If it damages the republic, they don't care. If it endangers their fellow citizens, they don't give a damn. If it advances their cause, they will do anything, no matter the cost. Paralyze politics? No matter to them. Stop all progress? Bah, nothing to the true believers.

So we get to see the spectacle of a left wing army of pundits and a left-biased media hounding after a president, a system of government, a civilization. Relentless, they pursue their goal. Bring him down at all costs. He must be destroyed. They will use the proven lies of a person they would not invite to dinner to accomplish what they have decided is their mission. They'll fixate on the "outing" of an, at best, third rate bureaucrat and use that to make headlines. No matter the cost, the goal must be achieved.

And while they fiddle with their causes and their attacks, the city burns.

Or will.

Not A Bad Start

If I were Bill Clinton, I would be hiding right now. Why? Because Hillary will be looking to kick any damn thing she can right now.

A while back, I commented on the new plan Mitt Romney has pushed through in Massachusetts to provide universal health insurance. I wanted to see the details. Well, in the Opinion Journal, Mitt Romney provided an overview of the legislation, how it was arrived at and (very important to me) a caution that it was still a "wait and see" moment to tell if it would really work. I'd still like to see the detail, but it sure sounds like a good plan right now. It stops the freeloaders from clogging the system and helps the weakest among us. Pretty damned good.

It also gives Romney a huge boost in his presidential ambitions. Unlike a certain US Senator who has no real accomplishments aside from nasty attacks.

Socks (the cat, not Sandy Burger) better be hiding right now, too.

Want To Know What’s Really Happening To The Economy?

Don't bother reading the MSM, read the roundup over at Gateway Pundit. There's so much there, you'll be astonished.

And it makes Hillary's interview look totally bogus, a major bonus.

The Look Of Fear

This is the look of total and complete terror that Dog Arbo gets whenever there is a thunderstorm. What you don't get from the picture is the sound of the rapid, loud panting which always brings the song Locomotive Breath to mind. Dog is terrified - and I mean abject, wet your self terrified of any loud noise. Fortunately the storm is passed now.

Thanks

A big thank you to Jacques Hawtrey over at Carry On America for blogrolling us. New blogs like this one sincerely appreciate the folks who have done that. It's good to know people are reading and enjoying the site.

If you have linked or blogrolled me and I haven't acknowledged you, send me an email (info on the "About" page) and I'll make sure I get a thank you posted.

A New Career!

(New Haven) After years as a spokesman for the brutal Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi successfully talked his way into Yale even though he had only a fourth grade education. Despite his efforts as front man for the murderous, oppressive and theocratic Taliban, he was able to convince the admissions office that he had been an unwilling victim of a takeover of the group by extremist elements. Now Mr. Hashemi has finally discovered his true calling in life as an author. Here he is with his very first self help book. "If I can help even a few more people with my background and training to get into Yale, it will all be worth it," says Mr. Hashemi.

Who’s Side Are They On?

Uncle Jimbo asks about the American Media. I think the truth is sadly evident and getting more blatant every day.

I have difficulty with the press pushing back every time it finds out the military doesn't trust it to inform the American public, or the world, about our operations. Every time they sniff out any foray into information warfare, they begin with the propaganda meme, and attempt to discredit it. Yet the same folks will bemoan the inability of the administration to stir public sentiment in our favor at home or anywhere else. It would be nice for the media to admit they have waged an aggressive propaganda campaign of disinformation and disinterest in anything positive that has actually harmed our war effort and made our work in Iraq more difficult.

I think he pretty well nails this one.

UPDATE: And a rather fine slam dance from Powerline.

Here’s What You Asked For Mr. Cohen

Earlier, I noted an column that got me pretty riled up. Richard Cohen praised the three retired generals who have been very outspoken about their disapproval of the Iraq war. Mr. Cohen was convinced these three speak 'truth to power' (not his words, his implication) and wanted others currently serving to come forward.

Well, here are the words of a serving officer in today's Philadelphia Enquirer, Mr. Cohen. Maj. Kevin Kelly is an F-16 fighter pilot with the New Jersey Air National Guard on a tour of duty in Iraq right now.

…Here's a guy who takes a bullet that misses his head by inches, and he's sitting there thanking me? It put things into perspective and, quite frankly, made me feel a little unworthy. The kids who are serving over here are the best America has to offer. Their bravery is evident in their capacity to perform professionally even when scared half to death. They make me proud.

We then went to the ward that cared for the Iraqi citizens. To describe it as "horrible" would not be adequate. The ward was filled with police and civilian casualties from a car-bomb attack that left almost every patient missing at least one limb, and many missing several. Despite the heavy sedation and pain medication, most were conscious, screaming and groaning in agony.

Now, if you ever have any doubt that you live in a thoroughly good, decent and moral country, just recall what I'm about to tell you: In the next ward, doctors and nurses were working just as diligently on the very animals who commit these despicable attacks. I scratch my head when so many back home are unable to make the moral distinction between the ideology that gave birth to the greatest country on Earth and the ideology of our enemy in Iraq. I am sometimes fearful that this moral blindness may one day lead to the downfall of our republic. I only hope I'm wrong.

And his final words are powerful:

We truly are the last best hope of the world. We dare not quash that hope in Iraq, and, in the process, destroy our valiant, struggling friends - and their desire for peace and happiness.

There you go, Mr. Cohen, the true voice you yearned for. Not the overly politicized former generals who knowingly endanger the troops they claim to support.

Happy, Mr. Cohen?

UPDATE: And still more words from a serving soldier, Mr. Cohen. This time in front of a group of your peers.

Hitting The Big Time

Oh, not me, The Real Ugly American got noticed by the Columbia Journalism Review. The email he sent is classic.

Hello Gal,

Just wanted to say thank you for the link and glad you liked the name of my blog . For the record I am not “a righty blogger”. I am a registered Democrat, and consider myself to be a liberal.

So much for basic journalism I guess. You and Sy Hersh prolly get along quite well.

Blog on!
The Ugly American

*Sniff* I was there when Rick hit the big time. I'm so proud. Getting dissed by the CJR means they must think you're a threat, dude!  

I had my own entry up on what I thought of Hersh's article. TRUA and I are pretty much in agreement on the article and it's author, I just tend to be a bit more circumspect in my language - for the reasons I put in my comment policy. (Which by no means will keep me from cutting loose on a rant one of these days!)

The Yale Follies Update

More new stuff up over at Nail Yale. They have sightings of some sanity in letters to the editors, etc.

But just so we don't forget what we're dealing with. 

Here's a picture of Mr. Hashemi holding up the "evidence" the Taliban were using to persecute some Christian aid workers they were threatening to kill. As soon as they gave them a fair conviction of course.

Taliban official Rehmatullah Hashmi, an official from the Taliban's foreign ministry, shows a book conficsated from the International Assistance Mission, IAM. Eight foreign aid workers have been arrested and are on trial on charges of preaching Christianity.

Photo: BK Bangash, AP

Back On Earth

The angry left continues to attack the presidency, their focus so intense that nothing else seems to get through their mental filters unless it makes a "gotcha" moment and can be used to attack Bush.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Iran has announced it has enriched uranium.

UPDATE: And Mark Steyn, as always, has an impressive column up on the matter of Iran.

I Spoke Too Soon

Yesterday I noted that the big flap about the "leaks" was gone already. I spoke too soon, the meme is still going with the NYT providing more misleading conflation of issues today. As I noted yesterday, Christopher Hitchens pretty well destroys the "Bush Lied" meme about Niger uranium and in the process strips Joe Wilson of any credibility whatsoever.

I kind of wish someone would listen to me.