Lolterizts from reader DamnCat on IMAO.

N.O.W. - National Organization for Women - just in case you don't know who they are, and why this is irony.

Both my regular readers know that I don't often comment on things that are painfully obvious, but I'm making an exception.

Harry Reid should resign.

One definition of treason is "giving aid and comfort to our enemies." When Reid said "this war is lost," he echoes what many liberals feel. However that doesn't make it true. And most people that think we've lost the war in Iraq aren't treasonous, they're just stupid liberals.

Our political leaders, however, must be held to a higher standard. I'm not saying they can't be stupid — that's their right. But Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, is quoted by al Jazeera with the observation "The US war in Iraq is lost and a further build-up of US troops in the country will not recover the situation, the senior Democrat in the US senate has said."

I'm not naive enough to believe he'd ever be prosecuted, but that his actions can be construed as giving aid and comfort to the enemy is despicable, and proof that he is ill-suited to represent his state.

Harry Reid should resign.

It's Spring Break. A time when boys and girls, pretending to be adults, go to places they know they shouldn't; do things they wish they hadn't; and pray they don't show up in a "Girls Gone Wild" DVD later on.

It's one thing to be a college student, drunk on Jello shots, at the beach bar in Daytona, lifting your shirt for some dope with a video camera. It is something else to be the Speaker of the House, drunk on power, making a fool of yourself by pretending to be a diplomat and going to the Syrian desert.

Read Girl's Gone Wild at Rich Galen's Mullings.com.

The plain-spoken Fred Thompson blogs at Redstate on The Pirates of Tehran.

Can he continue to speak his mind if he becomes a candidate?

British schools are going to avoid teaching about the Holocaust or the Crusades. Why? Because some mosques teach that the Holocaust didn't happen, and a different version of the events of the Crusades… and the once-proud British empire now wets its panties at the thought of offending some Muslims.

"Why bother to rewrite history when you can just avoid teaching it altogether?" Get pissed off at The Other Side of Kim du Toit.

BBC News has the details; the summary is 15 UK sailors and marines were boarding ships in Iraqi waters to check for contraband when they were surrounded by several Iranian naval vessels and captured.

I'm sure you all have the same question on your minds as me - "Iran has a navy?"

Anyway, Harvey has the best analysis I've seen so far:

All I know is that in 2500 years, they'll be making a movie called "15" featuring another 20,000 dead Persians.

By Ted Sampley
U.S. Veteran Dispatch
January 2007

Democrat Keith Ellison is now officially the first Muslim United States congressman. True to his pledge, he placed his hand on the Quran, the Muslim book of jihad and pledged his allegiance to the United States during his ceremonial swearing-in.

Capitol Hill staff said Ellison's swearing-in photo opportunity drew more media than they had ever seen in the history of the U.S. House. Ellison represents the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota.

The Quran Ellison used was no ordinary book. It once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States and one of America 's founding fathers. Ellison borrowed it from the Rare Book Section of the Library of Congress. It was one of the 6,500 Jefferson books archived in the library.

Ellison, who was born in Detroit and converted to Islam while in college, said he chose to use Jefferson's Quran because it showed that "a visionary like Jefferson " believed that wisdom could be gleaned from many sources.

There is no doubt Ellison was right about Jefferson believing wisdom could be "gleaned" from the Muslim Quran. At the time Jefferson owned the book, he needed to know everything possible about Muslims because he was about to advocate war against the Islamic "Barbary" states of Morocco , Algeria , Tunisia and Tripoli .

Ellison's use of Jefferson's Quran as a prop illuminates a subject once well-known in the history of the United States, but, which today, is mostly forgotten - the Muslim pirate slavers who over many centuries enslaved millions of Africans and tens of thousands of Christian Europeans and Americans in the Islamic "Barbary" states.

Over the course of 10 centuries, Muslim pirates cruised the African and Mediterranean coastline, pillaging villages and seizing slaves.

The taking of slaves in pre-dawn raids on unsuspecting coastal villages had a high casualty rate. It was typical of Muslim raiders to kill off as many of the "non-Muslim" older men and women as possible so the preferred "booty" of only young women and children could be collected.

Young non-Muslim women were targeted because of their value as concubines in Islamic markets. Islamic law provides for the sexual interests of Muslim men by allowing them to take as many as four wives at one time and to have as many concubines as their fortunes allow.

Boys, as young as 9 or 10 years old, were often mutilated to create eunuchs who would bring higher prices in the slave markets of the Middle East .

Muslim slave traders created "eunuch stations" along major African slave routes so the necessary surgery could be performed. It was estimated that only a small number of the boys subjected to the mutilation survived after the surgery.

When American colonists rebelled against British rule in 1776, American merchant ships lost Royal Navy protection. With no American Navy for protection, American ships were attacked and their Christian crews enslaved by Muslim pirates operating under the control of the "Dey of Algiers " — an Islamist warlord ruling Algeria .

Because American commerce in the Mediterranean was being destroyed by the pirates, the Continental Congress agreed in 1784 to negotiate treaties with the four Barbary States . Congress appointed a special commission consisting of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, to oversee the negotiations.

Lacking the ability to protect its merchant ships in the Mediterranean, the new America government tried to appease the Muslim slavers by agreeing to pay tribute and ransoms in order to retrieve seized American ships and buy the freedom of enslaved sailors.

Adams argued in favor of paying tribute as the cheapest way to get American commerce in the Mediterranean moving again. Jefferson was opposed. He believed there would be no end to the demands for tribute and wanted matters settled "through the medium of war." He proposed a league of trading nations to force an end to Muslim piracy.

In 1786, Jefferson, then the American ambassador to France, and Adams, then the American ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the "Dey of Algiers" ambassador to Britain.

The Americans wanted to negotiate a peace treaty based on Congress' vote to appease.

During the meeting Jefferson and Adams asked the Dey's ambassador why Muslims held so much hostility towards America , a nation with which they had no previous contacts.

In a later meeting with the American Congress, the two future presidents reported that Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja had answered that Islam "was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Quran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise."

For the following 15 years, the American government paid the Muslims millions of dollars for the safe passage of American ships or the return of American hostages. The payments in ransom and tribute amounted to 20 percent of United States government annual revenues in 1800.

Not long after Jefferson's inauguration as president in 1801, he dispatched a group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean , and informed Congress.

Declaring that America was going to spend "millions for defense but not one cent for tribute," Jefferson pressed the issue by deploying American Marines and many of America 's best warships to the Muslim Barbary Coast .

The USS Constitution, USS Constellation, USS Philadelphia, USS Chesapeake, USS Argus, USS Syren and USS Intrepid all saw action.

In 1805, American Marines marched across the dessert from Egypt into Tripolitania, forcing the surrender of Tripoli and the freeing of all American slaves.

During the Jefferson administration, the Muslim Barbary States , crumbling as a result of intense American naval bombardment and on shore raids by Marines, finally officially agreed to abandon slavery and piracy.

Jefferson's victory over the Muslims lives on today in the Marine Hymn, with the line, "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli , we will fight our country's battles on the land as on the sea."

It wasn't until 1815 that the problem was fully settled by the total defeat of all the Muslim slave trading pirates.

Jefferson had been right. The "medium of war" was the only way to put and end to the Muslim problem. Mr. Ellison was right about Jefferson . He was a "visionary" wise enough to read and learn about the enemy from their own Muslim book of jihad.

Stolen directly from IMAO.us, because it's funny.

Reports are conflicting, but the rumor is that Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan about a month ago.

I'd prefer to hear that he died at the hands of Navy SEALs, but it's interesting to note that despite his family's fantastic wealth, he died a fugitive, hiding in caves. Good life choices there, Sparky.

Liberals "fear" Bush because they can't face the reality that bin Laden and other terrorists are truly evil.

It's called "reaction formation," and Answer Girl has a definition: 

Behavior or emotion that is the polar opposite of the way someone is or should be feeling, because the authentic emotion is too frightening to deal with. 

Despite ample evidence to the contrary, liberals still believe that poverty and ignorance are the root causes of terrorism, and that if we could just educate the poor savages and lift them from poverty, they would turn away from jihad and sip lattes and discuss Chomsky. 

Bin Laden is educated and born to wealth, and the idea that, rather than misguided, he is actually evil, is too scary to consider. So to prove to themselves that they are brave after all, they oppose Bush at every turn, "speak truth to power," and pretend to be persecuted while their subconscious hides under the bed.

They cling desperately to their "reality," which explains their vitriol against any who disagree with them, especially those who are supposed to agree, like Senator Lieberman.

This psychosis also explains why it's pretty much impossible for conservatives to find middle ground, and it's the reason liberals must be defeated in the upcoming election and as long as the Islamo-Fascists exist.

Find out — read Tora Bora- Did we miss bin Laden? at Blackfive.

"For too long, the world was paralyzed by the argument that terrorism could not be stopped until the grievances of terrorists were addressed. The complicated and heartrending issues that perplex mankind are no excuse for violent, inhumane attacks, nor do they excuse not taking aggressive action against those who deliberately slaughter innocent people… Effective antiterrorist action has also been thwarted by the claim that… ‘One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.’ That’s a catchy phrase, but also misleading. Freedom fighters do not need to terrorize a population into submission. Freedom fighters target the military forces and the organized instruments of repression keeping dictatorial regimes in power. Freedom fighters struggle to liberate their citizens from oppression and to establish a form of government that reflects the will of the people… [O]ne has to be blind, ignorant, or simply unwilling to see the truth if he or she is unable to distinguish between those I just described and terrorists. Terrorists intentionally kill or maim unarmed civilians, often women and children, often third parties who are not in any way part of a dictatorial regime. Terrorists are always the enemies of democracy."

– Ronald Reagan 

From Saudi Arabia's English-language Arab News:

With the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah expressing regret Sunday on Lebanese TV for the month-long war in Lebanon in which more than a thousand people died, many people in the Kingdom accused the Hezbollah militia of "adventurism" and being "irresponsible." . . .

Abu Muhammad, a Saudi private sector worker, said, "What I don't understand is that if he knew that Israel was going to react like this then why did he do it? In my opinion he is no different to (Osama) Bin Laden who brought destruction to the Arab and Islamic world because of his adventurism." . . .

Hasan Minawi is a Lebanese national in his early 30s living in Jeddah. He said, "Nasrallah's regret was expected — he wasn't even ready for this war. He did not build any shelters or at least set up an siren system to warn people about pending attacks. He was ready with arms but not with backup. He should have apologized long ago."

Minawi added, "Nasrallah knows how the Israeli enemy behaves, he should have known it was going to go this far and even beyond."

James Taranto notes:

Minawi's comment is quite revealing. He's not saying it was morally wrong to attack Israel but that it was strategically stupid to provoke "the Israeli enemy" with the knowledge that it would strike back. By this reasoning, there would be no reason not to attack Israel if it refrained from defending itself. It's a nice example of the folly of appeasement.

Michelle Malkin has the full definitions here; my summary follows:

• Jihadis — our enemies. I can hear the whines — "but SteveO, Jihad really means the lifelong conflict between one's soul and one's flesh. Islam is a religion of peace."
  Bull dooky.
  "…the late Ayatollah Khomeini rebuked Religion of Peace propagandists back in 1942: 'Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those (who say this) are witless.'"
• Infidels/Kafirs — non-Muslims. I'm one, by the grace of God.
• Sharia — the system of law that the Islamo-Fascists want to impose upon us. This is the means by which they justify killing their daughters and sisters for immodesty, among other things. Although you don't hear of feminist groups protesting against Sharia killings, for some reason.
• Caliphate — a nation ruled by Sharia law.
• Taqiyya — WWMD (What Would Mohammed Do)? Lie like a rug, apparently, so it's okay if Muslims lie. That's why we have fabricated stories of Korans being flushed at Gitmo. Idiot tribesmen thought it made a good lie; idiot liberals and main-stream media types (but I repeat myself) apparently think the military has super-toilets that will flush a whole book.
• Dhimmitude — inferiority of infidels. Not based upon fact or observation, obviously.

Over the next few days, my family will be praying for the family and friends of Ruth Sheila Lapin.

Ruth was a resident of East Windsor, NJ, and was 53 years old when she was killed by terrorists at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. She was a senior business analyst at Baseline Financial Services.

From one of her friends: "Ruth knew how to have a good time. She appreciated the power of a witty remark and a good laugh. She had a unique spirit that doesn't come along frequently and a deep love for her children. Ruth was a person who left a lasting impression on you. She enjoyed her life."

Rest in peace, Ruth - we will never forget. 

The 2996 Project

Howard Dean sez:

One of the most important things Democrats will do is repeal the Patriot Act, and put a halt to the warrantless surveillance of individuals in this country who are suspected of terrorist activities…

Howard Dean means:

…because Death-to-America types have just as much right to undermine the War on Terror as we do…

Maybe even more!

Visit WuzzaDem for the rest!

Iraq veteran Paul Hackett disgraced himself and his uniform tonight on The O'Reilly Factor, with John Kasich guest-hosting.

First he called Dan Senor, former advisor to the U.S. presidential envoy in Iraq, "Herr Senor." Then he called him "little Unterfuhrer." 

Senor kept his cool a lot better than I would have, but I doubt he'd get in trouble anywhere in the country for giving Hackett a whuppin'. I hope to hear of it soon.

Watch the video — Hackett calls Dan Senor “Unterfuhrer.”

SarahK nails it:

I’ve already told [my husband] that we’re not flying any more after this trip until our Feds get a clue and stop being PC and adopt the El Al model. We don’t need to improve it. We just need to copy it. Until we do it, I’m not flying. I used to be a great flyer before 9/11, but not now.

And I used to tell myself that I’m not going to let the terrorists win by letting them keep me from flying. But it’s not them. They’re not keeping me from flying. Our stupid, coddling, whiny, PC government is keeping me from flying. The politicians who sit around and read polls all day instead of actually ever doing anything are keeping me from flying. The Feds who refuse to face reality and refuse to fix the problems rather than the symptoms are keeping me from flying. Our activist, terrorist-loving judges are keeping me from flying. The immigration and customs agents who hand out visas to young Middle Eastern men like they’re candy are keeping me from flying.

Read the whole post

I heard someone on the radio a few days ago that applauded President Bush's finally using the term "Islamo-Fascism," instead of "War on Terror." He pointed out that terror is a way of waging war, and that we didn't fight the War on Blitzkrieg in WWII, we fought the Germans. 

Please note the definition of fascism:

A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

We're not in danger of Muslims in general, but there is definitely a clear and present danger from those who practice Islam in very specific ways and demand that everyone do so, or die. 

So, Muslims are okay. But since we believe strongly in freedom — not only for Americans but for all people, Islamo-fascists must desist or be destroyed. 

And as a footnote, I just changed the category "War on Terror" to "War on Islamo-Fascism" here at Acme Anvil Co.

(Click to enlarge)

Scene: 2010. Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility

State of the art American warplanes fly over and drop… leaflets. Leaflets with smiley faces that read "Please stop."

New scene: The White House

Advisor: The deterrence mission failed, President Kerry.

President  Doofus  Nightmare  Carter II  Kerry: I just — I just don't get it.

Day by Day, by Chris Muir

Ann Coulter skewers liberals again:

They oppose the National Security Agency listening to people who are calling specific phone numbers found on al-Qaida cell phones and computers. Spying on al-Qaida terrorists is hampering our ability to fight the global war on terror!

Sign up today to help memorialize the 2,996 people killed during the 9/11 attacks. I'll be featuring Ruth Sheila Lapin, who was killed at the World Trade Center. 

Sign Up Here

We hear a lot about the sons and fathers killed in action, but almost nothing about the daughters and mothers that paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Read what is possibly the only worthwhile post on Daily Kos, and ignore the ankle biters' comments. 

Frank J. has some ideas to help fight terrorism at IMAO.

I'd add my favorite - pack your hollowpoints with bacon grease, so that when you shoot them, they don't become martyrs. Plus, you get that yummy bacon smell with each shot!

Decide for yourself. 

***Warning — disturbing images***

Here is the problem: "Don't trust the Bush administration" is not much of antiterror strategy. For the long term — i.e., Jan. 20, 2009, and beyond — it is not a strategy for anything, for on that day the Bush administration will end. If the administration's critics do have better ideas about how to win the war against our terrorist enemies, they do the country a disservice by presenting them in an unappealing package of partisan hatred and paranoia.

This is a hard read, but it makes dreadful sense.

Love should always rise, above war and fear and death.  Love should always be first, and not last, in our hearts.  It should never be that love brings wrong, and disdain brings right.

And yet, it is…. That means we have moved into a time beyond human wisdom. 

Read the comments, too.

BLACKFIVE: On the Virtues of Killing Children

From NewsMax.com:

Bush recently demonstrated that the choice of words can set the tone and mood of the nation.

It was the first time that, in describing the nation’s fight against terrorism, the president modified his prior rhetoric and clearly stated that what we are engaged in is a "war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those who love freedom [and] to hurt our nation."

Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has been ahead of the curve when it comes to the vocabulary of war. In a July 2006 speech at the National Press Club, Santorum examined President Bush’s penchant for use of the phrase "war on terror."

"Some say we're fighting a war on terror," Santorum said. "That's like saying World War II was a war on blitzkrieg. Terror, like blitzkrieg, is a tactic of war used by our enemy; it is not the enemy. In World War II, we fought Nazism and Japanese imperialism. Today we are fighting against Islamic fascism."

Bush’s use of the more specific terminology brought an immediate denunciation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who nevertheless couldn't explain why we should care what they think.

Actually, I added that last little bit.

I've seen lots of comparisons of the political climate of the US now and during WWII, but Thomas Sowell knocks it out of the park, as usual. Read the article at Townhall.com.

This article by Walter Reich appeared in the NY Sun on August 10, 2006.

On the day an Israeli airstrike inadvertently killed some 28 civilians in the Lebanese town of Qana, a Berlin daily, Der Tagesspiegel, published an amazing letter that summarized the Hezbollah strategy that resulted in those deaths.

The letter-writer, who identified himself as Dr. Mounir Herzallah, said he was a Shiite from southern Lebanon who had lived there until 2002. After the Israelis withdrew from the area in 2000, he recalled, Hezbollah moved into his town, dug rocket depots in bunkers, and then built a school and a residence over those bunkers.

The letter went on: "Laughing, a local sheikh explained to me that the Jews would lose in any event because the rockets would either be fired at them or, if they attacked the rocket depots, they would be condemned by world opinion on account of the dead civilians. These people do not care about the Lebanese population; they use them as shields and, once dead, as propaganda."

Reich summarizes:

All countries have an obligation to minimize the loss of civilian life, both on their own side and on the other. But no country has an obligation to allow itself to be destroyed or its people killed. Demanding that of any country is a perversion not only of the ethics of war but also of the ethics of life.

It's not a long article, and definitely worth the time.