Final Protective Fire

Sunday, August 31, 2003

 

Glenn Reynolds calls this story a "bombshell" and its hard to disagree. If what Gerald Posner is claiming pans out, then the Saudis are going to need a whole regiment of lying spokesman like that receeding hairline of a spokesman they have now. Posner is quoted above as claiming that Abu Zubaydah, the top-ranking Al Queda executive picked up in Pakistan, has links deep into the royal family of Saudi Arabia - the "Prince Turki al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the kingdom's longtime intelligence chief" specifically.

If in fact, the Bush administration has these interrogation results, this story may explain the rash of deaths last year among the Saudi princes. And may explain other inexplicable events recently. But don't make me watch that liar of a spokesman again.

Robin 4:31 PM

Friday, August 29, 2003

 

More examples of the outrageous rhetoric from Democrats, this set from Howard Dean.

Robin 5:31 PM

 

Another Libertarian is made.

Robin 11:25 AM

Thursday, August 28, 2003

 

Cruz Bustamante, proud of his racism. You stick to it, Cruz, since we know that racist Democrats don't get called on it.

UPDATE: Charles Johnson shows us how MECHA is linked to terrorists. Great job, Cruz.

And Glenn points us to this comparison of the manifesto of MECHA and National Socialism by Sharansky.

Robin 7:46 PM

 

Fox News has Arnold leaping ahead of Cruz Bustamante in the California Recall election race. I'm not elated by this polling result because I credit it no more than the poll that showed Bustamante ahead. The polling companies have been losing ground in polling techniques as people have become less cooperative with poll takers. I don't think that polls can be completed in short enough cycles for this fast-paced circus atmosphere election. In addition, I don't think anyone has any idea how to account for actual turnout.

So I don't believe any polling data for California's race.

I found this interesting in the article:
Democrats say they have aggressive advertisements "already in the can" and are just waiting for the right time to unleash them. They also are expecting to hold a press conference of Hollywood liberals to denounce the Schwarzenegger candidacy.

Great idea, let's have some prominent Hollywood people ... like Susan Sarandon or the Dixie Chicks denounce Arnold. Brilliant move. Bwaaahaaaaahaaa *choke*.

Robin 10:27 AM

 

Today's Day by Day is great.

Robin 9:36 AM

 

I've enjoyed this gentleman's comments on Winds of Change, now I'm enjoying his blog. You should too.

Robin 9:32 AM

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

 

Randy Barnett of the Volokh Conspiracy has a great post here about the importance of a written constitution and the importance of respect for its textual meaning. It is a great piece that does a far better job of explaining the foundation for my objections to the recent Lawrence decision and my reaction to the nonsense about the Ten Commandments monument in Alabama. Must read.

Robin 3:17 PM

 

NewsMax is still having fun with Cruz Bustamente's past membership in the bizarre MeCha student organization. You would think that membership in a racist, quasi-fascist, Left-wing group would be a disqualifier for a candidate for governor of California ... but that's Democrat hypocrisy for you.

Robin 1:49 PM

 

Donald Luskin has an interesting piece here which not only Fisk's David Gross' piece on the dividend tax cuts, but also has some interesting background material on stock performance and how choosing endpoints for statistical comparisons can change dramatically ( or manipulate if one wishes to be deceptive ) conclusions.

Robin 11:31 AM

 

Michael Ledeen has a good piece on how intelligence failures are born. Link stolen from Winds of Change.

Robin 9:37 AM

Tuesday, August 26, 2003

 

A well-done ridiculing of the silly anti-gun BBC piece.

Robin 1:07 PM

 

This news report describes the contents of the final report. Bad management kills.

Robin 10:20 AM

Monday, August 25, 2003

 

Steve Verdon makes one wonder, does Kyoto kill?

Robin 3:35 PM

 

The suspicion that Iraqi WMD are hidden by Syria in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon resurfaces. I think I saw this on DEBKA a few months back. If more substance appears, I may have to take back some of the things I've said about DEBKA ...

Robin 1:07 PM

 

Ralph Peters discusses the bombing of the UN HQ in Baghdad and of course when he's done there is little left to say.

Robin 1:01 PM

Thursday, August 21, 2003

 

This is a fascinating piece on the investigation of the UN HQ bombing in Baghdad. From the article:
American investigators looking into the suicide bombing of the United Nations compound on Tuesday are focusing on the possibility that the attackers were assisted by Iraqi security guards who worked there, a senior American official here said today. The official said all of the guards at the compound were agents of the Iraqi secret services, to whom they reported on United Nations activities before the war. The United Nations continued to employ them after the war was over, the official said.

Now obviously the story doesn't yet link the Iraqi guards to the bombing but if true, it makes one wonder just how stupid United Nations officials can be. Couple that with the reports that the United Nations refused US security offers to distance themselves from the US and there is no conclusion but that there was an enormous amount of stupidity in the UN HQ that had its unfortunate reward.

Glenn Reynolds wonders if they were looking into where the Oil-For-Food money went. An interesting thought, Glenn, but unlikely as there is little sign that the UN really wants to know.

Robin 8:26 PM

 

The Man Without Qualities has a great take on the pieces coming out trashing Arianna Huffington.

Robin 3:25 PM

 

As noted at left, I've declared this a PHOTOSHOPPED GLENN REYNOLDS FREE ZONE.

No applause please - I'm an artist.

Robin 1:51 PM

 

I found a reference to this interesting Ha'aretz piece on how Israel will deal with Abba on the Volokh Conspiracy. It is an interesting statement and long overdue in my opinion because this is just more duplicitious nonsense from the Palestinian Authority.

Robin 11:01 AM

 

This has been out for a while, but I just read this piece on power control, by M.Simon of Winds of Change.

UPDATE: Found this great slice-n-dice of Paul Krugman's nonsense on Don Luskin's outstanding site.

Robin 10:59 AM

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

 

There is a story today of a journalist killed by American troops as he pointed a camera at them. The troops allegedly misidentified his camera as an RPG. His friends and family are claiming that he was murdered. But Alan Brain invites you to decide yourself, showing some anti-tank missile systems and a camera.

Robin 7:08 PM

 

Stuart Buck finds much to Fisk in a NYT op-ed piece about President Bush's judicial appointments.

Robin 4:16 PM

 

Once upon a time, there was a difference between the New York Times and the New York Post. Now with the scandals at the NYT, we know that their reporting is more compromised than the Post. Charles Murtaugh finds more ways in which the difference has disappeared or reversed.

Robin 1:29 PM

 

On the Volokh Conspiracy, David Bernstein discusses the book The New Dealers' War by Thomas Fleming. In his posting, David moves into a discussion of FDR's handling of the Great Depression. I've recently finished The New Dealers' War myself and its an interesting take on the administration of the time leading up to World War II and the conduct of the war itself. I think the core takeaway from the book is the astonishingly incompetent administration style of FDR himself.

There are several areas where Fleming concentrates upon FDR's style and its impact on US policy, such as domestic economic policy during the war, the confused manner in which post-war policy with respect to how Germany would be treated was developed ( the infamous "Morganthau Plan" ), and the equally infamous "unconditional surrender" announcement.

Michael Beschloss' book The Conquerors spends much of its length on those issues as well. Beschloss' book is among his weaker works in my opinion.

Fleming also describes how FDR deceived the American public regarding his failing health during the 1944 reelection campaign - all the more irresponsible given the confused manner in which Harry Truman was selected as Vice President in place of the radical Henry Wallace.

More lightly touched was FDR's deceptive campaign of 1940 where FDR essentially deceived the American public to vote for him by denying his true policies and intentions with respect to American entry into WWII. And the extensive penetration of the FDR administration by Communist agents.

Robin 9:46 AM

Friday, August 15, 2003

 

My first "Iraq" 419 scam email:
FROM: ABUDUL TAFIQ.
TIKRIT PRESIDENTIAL VILLA; IRAQ.

ASSALAAMUALAIKUM.

In appreciation to your esteemed contact received through a reliable Source and the choice of your country, I wish to introduce my self. I am Abudul Tafiq, an aide in Saddam Hussein's presidential palace in Tikrit. I know that this letter might come to you as a surprise, but I Honestly do not intend to surprise you. I write this letter with deep Sense of humility with respect to my intention to entrust the sum of US$20 million United States Dollars with you to be held until we meet.

This sum came through oil sales permitted by the United Nations for the Purchase of humanitarian supplies during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein as the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. Saddam Hussein has large cash reserves hidden in the global electronic financial network and invested in legitimate corporations from which he can afford the luxury of maintaining a loyal military and security Apparatus and which he can use to continue developing chemical and Biological weapons, along with the means to deliver them.

Following the fall of Baghdad on the 9th April 2003; my master along With top military officials of his government disappeared, marines, Searching for tools in a presidential palace, instead found 164 metal Boxes, believed to each contain US$4 million, including a cache of US$112 Million that was discovered on Wednesday in a row of dog kennels, Soldiers of the 3rd infantry division have found about $780 million in makeshift vaults in the gated complex on the western bank of the Tigris River that was once occupied by senior officials of Sddam's government, armed forces and political party.

But I managed to escape with 5 metal boxes containing usd$20 million. I Escaped to a neighboring country which I shall disclose to you latter Because of the fear that I might be arrested by the new leadership these funds was since deposited with a Finance company in Europe, which I shall disclose to you latter. I have been living since then as a political refugee, I am seeking for a reliable person who can assist me in moving this money out for safe banking and profitable investment.

Honestly, I contacted you because I do not want to invest this money in Iraq and due to my status here as a political refugee. I cannot think of such investment for now, moreover I would not want to take risk because this money is all I was able to take away and I am depending on this money no body knows about the existence of this money, which is why I decided that investing this money abroad should be the best for me. I will be honored if I can be given the privilege of investing this money with your help.

In view of this plight, I expect you to be trust worth and kind enough to respond to this distress call to save my life and that of my relatives who are dependent on me, and from a hopeless future and if you agree I hereby agree to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 20% of the total money and annual 5% of the after tax returns on investment for the first three years. Thereafter the term shall be varied 5% for expenses, which may arise during the transaction, when the money is moved into your discreet account.

You will be allowed to draw 20% to your favour while the remaining 70% will be invested meaningfully for our future if possible in your area of business and deterrents sector of the economy in your country which are dividends yielding. What ever your decision is please reach me immediately through my email address and keep this letter tight secret for the interest of my family.

Best regards,
ABUDUL TAFIQ.

Robin 8:54 PM

 

In NRO, Jeb Babbin writes about Rumsfeld cleaning house in the Army.

Robin 5:00 PM

 

Randy Barnett points us to this prepub draft of a law review article responding to Lawrence Tribe's attack on the Bush v. Gore decision.

Robin 9:58 AM

Thursday, August 14, 2003

 

Sheesh, you think that do you think Glenn and Frank can get a room? Hehe.

Robin 10:55 AM

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

 

After Bob Mulholland's thuggish comment about Arnold getting "real bullets" in the recall campaign, no one is surprised, I assume, at real violence from pro-Davis union thugs as reported by Howard Veit. Link shamelessly stolen from Glenn Reynolds.

Robin 9:10 AM

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

 

Here, Trent continues with a theme he has discussed before. That of how he sees the Bush administration policy with respect to the Saudi regime. This is interesting analysis. Where I don't necessarily follow Trent, I'm nonetheless reading carefully because Trent always builds a good framework for his analysis and when I differ, I question my own premises and conclusions closely.

Robin 8:25 PM

 

Jane Galt finds some hilarious hypocrisy among Limousine Liberals.

Robin 3:48 PM

 

Glenn Reynolds ( and Eugene Volokh ) think that Fox News' suit against Al Franken for using "Fair and Balanced" in the title of his latest book is asinine or silly. While they have a point, I'm sympathetic to Fox as Al Franken has been eating off other people's work for awhile now. Al Franken has no audience of his own, and has long been reduced to feeding off the audience or notoriety of others. Come on, Franken, do something original. Some think that Fox has a case.

Of course all these links are shamelessly stolen from Glenn Reynolds and Eugene Volokh.

Robin 2:08 PM

 

Paul Krugman wrote a completely confused piece decrying privatization in the US Army. But to save me the effort of shredding it, the Man Without Qualities not only beat me to it, but did a better job.

You would think there was enough going on in the world, that Krugman could find something about which he is fit to write a competent column. But you would be wrong.

Phil Carter spends more time on Krugman than he deserves, from Glenn Reynolds.

Robin 11:22 AM

Monday, August 11, 2003

 

At first, I was going to jokingly claim that this was on my Christmas wish list, but now I'm thinking that I actually will buy one.

Robin 3:40 PM

 

Ah, this is welcome news, some consequences to those who went to Iraq as "human shields". Which actually was a war crime by the way, although unfortunately isn't be charged as such.

Robin 3:13 PM

 

Bob Mulholland, a Democrat operative in California and Gov. Davis' chief thug, makes a kooky threat against Arnold as reported by Drudge. So much for the theory that Democratic Underground is just the extremist kooks, eh Bob?

Robin 2:56 PM

 

A year ago, I mentioned a Vietnamese immigrant friend of mine. I again ran into him over the lunch hour this week and was reminded during my talk with him of how special our nation is that attracts immigrants like him.

Robin 2:52 PM

 

Victor Davis Hanson has some thoughts in NRO about hindsight, the war on terrorism and the conflict in Iraq.

Robin 12:47 PM

 

Joanne Jacobs blogs the result of having the teachers' union run charter schools.

Robin 11:07 AM

Thursday, August 07, 2003

 

In Same Ol Gore, Brian Carnell catches Al Gore making up stuff again.

Robin 3:10 PM

Wednesday, August 06, 2003

 

Arnold is running. Davis will be toast.

Robin 6:58 PM

 

Junkyard Blog has some interesting information about the MiG's recently found buried in Iraq, if correct it provides more evidence of the perfidy of the Russians. (Shamelessly stolen from Instapundit ).

Robin 3:14 PM

 

Stephen Green's blog has been thinking a lot about the little Stephen, if you know what I mean, but returns to a very good Fisking of Senator John Kerry's ludicrous essay on the Bush administration policy on North Korea.

Robin 3:12 PM

 

Spinsanity addresses more falsehoods from Robert Scheer.

Robin 11:11 AM

Monday, August 04, 2003

 

Charles Johnson discovered a nauseating little "coincidence".

Robin 8:32 PM

 

Once again, the Ninth Circuit comes up with a completely ridiculous ruling, noted here by Howard Bashman, this ruling basically gives felons free license to engage in reckless driving to escape police. I can't imagine anything so stupid, so of course Stephen Reinhardt, author of the ludicrous Ninth Circuit Second Amendment opinion last year that quoted Bellesiles' dishonest work, agrees with the majority opinion in this case.

Robin 1:44 PM

 

Don Luskin slaughters another misleading Paul Krugman column. This one is Krugman's rather pathetic attempt to absolve California's Democrat legislature and Democrat Governor of responsibility for California's abysmal budget crisis. It is really astounding that Krugman would write such a ridiculous column and Luskin shows just how ridiculous the arguments are.

Robin 10:52 AM

Saturday, August 02, 2003

 

The Denver-area media have been playing up a cat mutilator in recent months. But, well, duh, there is no cat mutilator.

Robin 8:02 PM

Friday, August 01, 2003

 

Another story, this one about the young man who lost his arms to stray ordnance during the Iraq war, that shows that the NGO's are embarrassing in their poor performance in Iraq.

Robin 3:47 PM

 

So much for my plans to go swimming in Yellowstone Lake this summer.

Robin 2:05 PM