Coward Faces Deportation From Canada

He should probably stock up on Molson Ice and Canadian bacon before he leaves.

(CNN) -- A U.S. soldier who deserted to Canada will not face persecution if he returns to the United States, Canada's refugee agency ruled Wednesday.

No, but in my opinion, every American should consider him a coward.

National Guard Sgt. Corey Glass, 25, says he fled to Toronto in 2006 after serving in Iraq because he did not want to fight in a war he did not support.

Then why did you join the National Guard in the first place, hippie? There's no draft. No one forced you to sign on the dotted line!

"What I saw in Iraq convinced me that the war is illegal and immoral. I could not in good conscience continue to take part in it," Glass said Wednesday. "I don't think it's fair that I should be punished for doing what I felt morally obligated to do."

Actually, you should be punished for not honoring your commitment. You remember reading about that when you signed up, right? Or were you too busy combing those way cool sideburns?

Glass, who's still on active duty and is considered absent without leave, applied for refugee status at the Canadian border in August 2006 on the grounds of objection to military service.

And again, you wouldn't be in this predicament if you hadn't voluntarily joined the National Guard, you asswipe!

But Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board denied his application for refugee status Wednesday, prompting the Canadian Border Services Agency to issue a June 12 deportation order.

Good. It is my sincere wish that his unit meets him at the border and lets him know how they feel about cowards.

Glass, of Fairmont, Indiana, says he joined the National Guard believing that he would be deployed only if the United States faced occupation. After he returned from his first tour of duty, he said, he tried to leave the Army but was told that desertion was punishable by death. (H/T - CNN)

Glass is either full of crap or the stupidest man alive. I'm going with option number one. No one joins the military thinking, "Oh, I'll never be deployed unless we're facing a 'Red Dawn' scenario." Glass knew full well what he was doing when he signed up, and if he didn't, you better be damned sure that the recruiter made it perfectly clear. With all of the crybabies claiming that the recruiters tricked them - as if they're luring them into the office with candy - the personnel in the stations are making sure they dot their I's and cross their T's.

And now we're supposed to feel sorry for this piece of shite because, in the worst-case scenario, he could receive the death penalty for this? Yeah right, and I'm sure that this was the first time that Glass was informed of the punishment for desertion.

Personally, I think that punishment is wasted on a tool like Glass. I'd rather see the "Coward" label hang from his neck like an albatross.

Who Wants To Be A 'Raqstar?

Mike the Marine created an excellent video/slideshow that every single one of you must watch. If you're bloggers, you should also link it, post haste: it's that good. Try and watch it without getting choked up. I dare you. Here is the link:

'Raqstar
To the men and women in the video: I don't say it enough here, but I am very proud of all of you and what you're doing. Thank you all very much.

Iraq Dismisses 1,300 Soldiers, Police For Desertion

Frakkin' cowards.

BAGHDAD - Iraq's government moved Sunday to restore discipline within the ranks of the security forces, sacking more than 1,300 soldiers and policemen who deserted during recent fighting against Shiite militias in Basra.

At the same time, Iraq's Cabinet ratcheted up the pressure on anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr by approving draft legislation barring political parties with militias from participating in upcoming provincial elections.

Al-Sadr, who heads the country's biggest militia, the Mahdi Army, has been under intense pressure from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also a Shiite, to disband the Mahdi Army or face political isolation. (H/T - Yahoo!)

Good for them. These are the kinds of bold moves that the Iraqi government needs to make in order to be taken seriously.

Al-Sadr Aide Assassinated In Iraq

Oh damn, that's a shame.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen assassinated a top aide of anti-American leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday, sharpening a Shiite power struggle that has already triggered fighting between the cleric's followers and the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

Riyadh al-Nouri, director of al-Sadr's office in Najaf, was gunned down by an unknown number assailants near his home after returning from prayer services, police and Sadrist officials said.

Al-Sadr blamed the Americans and their Iraqi allies for the killing but called for calm — presumably to avoid a showdown at a time his Mahdi Army militia is under pressure by Iraqi and U.S.-led forces in Baghdad and southern Iraq. (H/T - Yahoo!)

I try not to take pleasure in an event that will escalate the infighting in Iraq, but I have to admit that when I read this article, I giggled a little bit. Okay, I laughed a lot . . . out loud. In my opinion, the death of any member of al-Sadr's movement is good news for Iraq.

New York Cabbie, Or Radical Islamist?

Apparently, Yousef al-Khattab (aka Joseph Cohen) is both.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — A New York City cabbie who operates an extremist Islamic anti-American Web site that features violent images — including mocking the deaths of GIs in Iraq — says he’s doing the country a service by “exposing the truth.”

Yousef al-Khattab, who runs RevolutionMuslim.com from his home in Queens, told FOX News that he also wants the U.S. to embrace Islam and Sharia Law, which prohibits alcohol and can include stoning to death or severe flogging for pre-marital sex and adultery.

And Joe has no worries there. I suspect he is a 40-year old virgin.

And, because al-Khattab enjoys the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, all the authorities can do is watch.

Formerly known as Joseph Cohen, al-Khattab is an American-born Jew who converted to Islam after attending an Orthodox Rabbinical school, which he later described as a “racist cult.”

This guy is is an Islamist and he thinks Orthodox Jews are racist? I guess the Islamofascists don't mind having a converted Jew in their mist. Interesting.

The 39-year-old New York taxi driver launched RevolutionMuslim.com with the mission of “preserving Islamic culture,” “calling people to the oneness of God” and asking them to “support the beloved Sheik Abdullah Faisal, who’s preaching the religion of Islam and serving as a spiritual guide.” (H/T - FOXNews)

Yeah, I think I'll pass. If I want to be subservient to a website, I'll check out Dorkelina.com. All your pandas are belong to us!

Report: U.S. Withdraw From Iraq Would Mean Chaos

Hmm . . . ya think? Isn't this exactly what I have been saying for months now? Actually, John McCain has been saying it, too. It's one of the few things we agree upon.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United States is no closer to achieving its goals in Iraq than it was a year ago but a quick military withdrawal could lead to massive chaos and even genocide, according to a report released Sunday by a U.S. think tank.

The U.S. Institute of Peace report was written by experts who advised the Iraq Study Group, a panel mandated by Congress to offer recommendations on U.S. policy in Iraq in 2006.

The report was released two days before top commander Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker brief Congress on the situation in Iraq and prospects for American troop reductions. Their recommendations, which President Bush has signaled he will accept, could largely determine the course of action in Iraq for the coming year.

The report cited security improvements in Iraq since the buildup of U.S. forces in 2007, but credited factors outside U.S. control, such as help from mostly Sunni fighters who turned against al-Qaida and a truce by a Shiite militia.

"The U.S. is no closer to being able to leave Iraq than it was a year ago," it concluded. "Lasting political development could take five to 10 years of full, unconditional U.S. commitment to Iraq." (H/T - Yahoo!)

Okay, before everyone gets into the tired, boring debate of whether or not we should be in Iraq, save your breath and typing fingers: I don't give a rat's ass. We're there: move on. My main point for posting this story is two-fold:

First, America and its allies need to decide if they're going to pussyfoot around this thing, or if they're going to go full bore. That has been a problem since the beginning. The surge is working - even Democrats are acknowledging that - but every effort needs to be undertaken to crack down upon al Sadr's scumbags and al Qaeda toads by any means necessary. Take the gloves off, kids. It's time to smash some heads!

Second, when Barack Obama - face it, Hill-dabeast supporters: he's going to win the nomination - promises to immediately withdraw the troops from Iraq, he's just making speeches. Even he doesn't believe it. He cannot and will not do it; at least nowhere near as quickly as he claims. Obama's a smart guy, and he knows that complete, immediate withdraw would be a catastrophe. So, if that's your only reason to vote for him, you may want to rethink your decision.

Sgt. Matt Maupin's Remains Found In Iraq

After four long years, Keith "Matt" Maupin is coming home.

Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin's mother said President Bush called her tonight to extend his condolences after the Army identified the missing soldier's remains in Iraq.

Bush has met several times with the Maupins during the past four years and pledged to them that everything would be done to find out what had happened to their son after he was captured by insurgents on April 9, 2004.

Carolyn Maupin took the President's call on a cell phone at 9:45 p.m. behind the Yellow Ribbon Support Center in Batavia. Maupin's parents were notified earlier Sunday when a three-star general visited them and gave them the news, they said.

I cannot imagine. His parents must have felt simultaneous feelings of agony and relief.

"Matt is coming home. He's completed his mission," his father, Keith Maupin, said.

Wow. Now you know why Matt was a quality human being: he got it from his parents.

Maupin was a 20-year-old specialist when he was captured on April 9, 2004, after his fuel convoy was ambushed west of Baghdad. He had been driving a supply truck.

Arab television network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape a week later showing Maupin sitting on the floor surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles.

That June, Al-Jazeera aired another tape purporting to show a U.S. soldier being shot. But the dark and grainy tape showed only the back of the victim's head and not the actual shooting. (H/T - Little Green Footballs)

If there is any good news in this story it is this: America will not leave their heroes behind, because the people that raised them to become the heroes they are deserve no less.

Charges Dropped Against Haditha Marine

I hope there is an apology forthcoming, as well.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The Marine Corps dropped its case and gave full immunity Friday to a serviceman who was accused of involuntary manslaughter in a squad's killing of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005.

The case against Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, 26, of Edmond, Okla., was dropped as jury selection was about to begin for his court-martial. The government has been seeking Tatum's testimony against the squad leader, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich of Meriden, Conn.

In addition to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, Tatum had been charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. Tatum's attorney, Jack Zimmerman, said there was no agreement with the government before the dismissal.

"Absolutely, there is no deal," he said. (H/T - Yahoo!)

Good news!

(The Jawa Report has more here.)

SEAL To Receive Medal Of Honor

I figured that since the only thing you will see, hear, and read about today is the MSM's virtual glee over the 4,000th American death toll in Iraq, I should probably post some good news.

Because you'll never hear about it on the news shows.

"SAN DIEGO — A California-based SEAL who threw his body on a grenade to save his comrades in Iraq will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, a Defense Department official has confirmed.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor, of Garden Grove, Calif., was holed up on the roof of a Ramadi house with three other SEALs on Sept. 29, 2006, when an insurgent grenade landed nearby.

Monsoor, a 25-year old with SEAL Team 3, grabbed the grenade and clutched it to his chest. The blast killed him, but his actions, officials said at the time, saved the men on the rooftop.

Monsoor will be the second member of the Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, and the first sailor to receive it for combat in Iraq.

Michael Fumento, who’s written about Monsoor and combat operations in Ramadi, reported on his Internet blog over the weekend that Monsoor’s family would receive the posthumous award on the fallen SEAL’s behalf during a White House ceremony April 8. "

A search on Google reveals not one link to any of the mainstream media except Fox News. Not ONE! (H/T - The Navy Times, via The Rott)

Attention members of the media: this is the type of story that you should be leading with - every hour of every day - because heroes like SEAL Monsoor are doing incredible things in Iraq and Afghanistan - every hour of every day.

Iraqi Deaths Pain Sharon (Head Of) Stone

Here we go, yet another Hollywood has-been who thinks the country that was so good to her is, in fact, the Devil.

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Sharon Stone believes the Sept. 11 attacks should not have been used as a pretext for the United States to launch wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to her comments published Monday in a pan-Arab newspaper.

Sure the war in Iraq is controversial, but will someone please tell this broad that many hard-core liberals still think we were right to go into Afghanistan?

In her interview with Al Hayat, the actress also bemoaned what she called Americans' decision to ignore the deaths of so many Iraqis.

Actually, Sharon, we are not only ignoring them, but we are wiping our dirty boots on their corpses when we step over them. Ass.

"I feel at great pain when the spotlight is on the death of 4,000 American soldiers, while 600,000 Iraqi deaths are ignored," she said. "War is not a movie, it is a tragedy of dead bodies, victims, the disabled, orphans, widows and the displaced."

Nice try, you toad, but you're only off by about 510,000! According to Iraq Body Count, the current number of document Iraqi civilian deaths from violence is between 81,353 - 88,810. And this is not a Haliburton website, either. It is much more liberal than you would imagine, but - unlike you, Sharon - they are backed up by facts. While 90,000 dead is an abomination, it is nowhere near the 600,000 that Stone is throwing out there.

Stone came to the region seeking answers for herself because, she said, the U.S. media has failed to provide Americans with the truth. "I feel sad when I realize how much truth is being changed or obscured in the American media," she said.

Is that the American Mainstream Media, or the Evil Conservative Media, Sharon? Personally, I think both are misrepresenting the truth in their own ways.

The star of "Basic Instinct" and other movies criticized both Arab countries and Israel for failing to resolve their decades-long conflict. She said she also opposes any military conflict with Iran. (H/T - AP)

And there it is. The fault lies with the Jooooos! I mean, they should really reach out to those Arab countries that don't recognize them, plot their deaths on a daily basis, and invade their soil on a week-to-week basis.

Please Sharon, stop pontificating about matters you know nothing about and stick to your strengths: like showing your cooter to the world in really bad films.

Al Qaeda Killing Off Former Allies

Oh, that's a shame. I wonder if stripping down and running through the streets yelling, "Yippie, Yippie!" would seem inappropriate?

BALAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Video provided to CNN shows an al Qaeda in Iraq firing squad executing one-time allies -- fellow Sunni extremists -- who were not loyal enough to the terror organization, coalition military analysts said.

In the video provided by coalition military officials, armed men wearing masks are shown standing behind nine kneeling men, all of whom are wearing blindfolds or hoods with their hands presumably tied behind their backs. The video shows the men being executed.

"Al Qaeda in Iraq, which is foreign led and foreign dominated here inside Iraq, is killing off other Sunni groups that are certainly not supportive of the government of Iraq, currently, or of the foreign occupation, but are not sharing the same ideology that al Qaeda in Iraq has," Rear Adm. Gregory Smith said. (H/T - CNN)

I'm not sure if this story is meant to elicit sympathy, but if it is, the good folks at CNN are wasting their time and money. Look, these Sunni extremists knew full well what al Qaeda stood for, and had no problem standing with the animals anyway. In my opinion, the got what they deserved.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Girl Wins Hannah Montana Tix With Despicable Lie

No punishment is too severe for this woman. If you're gonna lie about something, don't lie about a soldier's death in Iraq.

GARLAND, Texas (AP) -- An essay that won a 6-year-old girl four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert began with the powerful line: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

While gripping, it wasn't true -- and now the girl may lose her tickets after her mom acknowledged to contest organizers it was all a lie.

The saga began Friday with company officials surprising the girl at a Club Libby Lu at a mall in suburban Garland, northeast of Dallas. The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, New York, and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on January 9.

The mother had told company officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq, company spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said.

"We did the essay and that's what we did to win," Priscilla Ceballos, the mother, said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW. "We did whatever we could do to win." (H/T - CNN)

And that, Priscilla is exactly why you are the biggest scumbag in American history. The sponsor is threatening to revoke the tickets. Considering? The tickets should have already been revoked! I realize that it's not the girl's fault that her mother is a despicable, disgusting, slob - who appears to have no remorse, by the way - but the girl should not be rewarded for a lie.

It's a damned shame the Garland Police can't charge Ceballos with a crime. They execute people all the time in Texas, and I can think of no person more deserving.

Stark Raving Mad

Just when you thought the Iraq war rhetoric couldn't get any more disgraceful: enter Representative Pete Stark (D - CA). Apparently, Rep. Stark thinks that our troops "blow up innocent people." Read on.

"Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you're telling us today? Is that how you're going to fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

I find it difficult to even comment on this, because I find Stark's words completely despicable. If Stark has a problem with President Bush, that's cool. Join the club. But to disparage our men and women in harm's way with comments like these is truly a disgusting move. In case you haven't noticed, Representative Stark, our troops overseas will see this. What kind of message are you sending them?

If you can stomach it, you can view the entire rant HERE.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Just when you thought things in Iraq couldn't get any more complicated . . . enter Tom Turkey.

ANKARA, Turkey - The Turkish government will seek parliamentary approval for a military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, a government spokesman said Monday, taking action on one of two major issues straining relations with Washington.

The spokesman, Cemil Cicek, said he hoped Parliament would vote on the motion this week — passage is considered likely — but indicated that the government would still prefer a solution to the conflict that does not involve a cross-border offensive.

Cicek insisted the only target was the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK.

"We have always respected the sovereignty of Iraq, which is a friendly and brotherly country to us," Cicek said. "But the reality that everyone knows is that this terrorist organization, which has bases in the north of Iraq, is attacking the territorial integrity of Turkey and its citizens." (H/T - Yahoo!)

I don't buy their explanation at all. Turkey has been at odds with Iraq for years, and in my opinion, they are seeing an opening. Pretty soon, they'll be trying a land-grab at Iraq's expense. Then, it'll only be a matter of time until our forces over there get caught up in some Turkey/PKK skirmish. And when that happens we'll have to retaliate. Then Iran walks in, and the next thing you know, it's World War III.

I would like to think that Turkey would utilize some restraint here, but I doubt restraint is one of their strong points.

Sanchez Playing "Dirty" Pool?

I'm sorry, but I just don't get this story. And, furthermore, I don't know how statements like these help anyone - especially the troops.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. mission in Iraq is a "nightmare with no end in sight" because of political misjudgments after the fall of Saddam Hussein that continue today, a former chief of U.S.-led forces said Friday.

Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded coalition troops for a year beginning June 2003, cast a wide net of blame for both political and military shortcomings in Iraq that helped open the way for the insurgency — such as disbanding the Saddam-era military and failing to cement ties with tribal leaders and quickly establish civilian government after Saddam was toppled.

He called current strategies — including the deployment of 30,000 additional forces earlier this year — a "desperate attempt" to make up for years of misguided policies in Iraq. "There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight," Sanchez told a group of journalists covering military affairs.

Again, I just don't understand why a retired general would utter comments like these, especially when there are men and women in harm's way in Iraq. I just don't see how this helps morale.

Sanchez retired from the Army last year, two years after he completing a tumultuous year as commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq. As he stepped down, he called his career a casualty of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. He was never charged with anything but he was not promoted in the aftermath of the prisoner abuse reports. He was criticized by some for not doing more to avoid mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.

Motive? I am not sure. I do not want to condemn the man, especially after his service to our country, but this sounds like sour grapes to me. His career took a nose dive after Abu Ghraib, and as a result, he was passed over for promotion. Now, he is going in front of the cameras, and - more importantly - in front of his troops, to tell the world that Iraq is a "nightmare" while criticizing the surge.

It is also interesting how the winds have shifted for Sanchez recently. A few years ago, the MSM was crucifying him for the Abu Ghraib scandal, and now he is the media darling? Why the sudden change?

When asked when he saw that the mission was going awry, he responded: "About the 15th of June 2003" — the day he took command. (H/T - Yahoo!)

I'm sorry, General Sanchez, but if the mission was going awry in 2003, why didn't you do anything to right the ship? And why did it take you four years to speak about about this "nightmare?" Respectfully, I would have more respect for you, sir, if - when you realized the mission was untenable - you resigned in protest. You did not, and that makes me question your motives here.

A Rush To Judgment

Wow, even Fox News got this story all wrong.

The conservative talk radio host was fighting back after Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate lambasted him over remarks he made last week suggesting veterans who oppose the Iraq war are "phony soldiers."

In the House, Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who is running for the open Senate seat in his state, has authored a resolution condemning the host. Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has not decided whether or not he'll bring it up for a vote, his staff told FOX News.

The offense came up when a caller named Mike, who said he is currently serving in the Army, described his anger about talk of a pull-out from Iraq. Limbaugh readily agrees, according to the recorded exchange:

CALLER 2 (Mike): ...What's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.

LIMBAUGH: The phony soldiers.

CALLER 2: The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they're willing to sacrifice for their country.

Limbaugh has since said on his show that he was referring only to one soldier: disgraced, convicted former Army soldier-turned-antiwar-activist Jesse Macbeth. Macbeth falsely claimed to have participated in war crimes in Iraq and received a Purple Heart, but in reality, he was discharged after only 44 days of service, never placing a foot in Iraq.

He's right.

How do I know? Because I listened to the entire episode on the way to work that day. Maybe, just maybe, if the media looked at the situation in the context that it was presented, they would have realized that they completely botched the story. Limbaugh never suggested that soldiers who oppose the war are "phony." He said that soldiers who say they are combat veterans when they never served are "phony."

The funny thing is that Limbaugh said all of this would happen immediately after that phone call was concluded. He told the audience that the media would twist his words and try to make people believe that he doesn't support the troops. He was right there, too. And now, idiots like Harry Reid and Tom Harkin - people who wouldn't cross the street to spit upon a member of our armed services - are trying to paint themselves as patriots. Please. A few words of outrage won't make us forget the many times you have stated the Iraq War "is lost."

Look, Limbaugh can be an arrogant ass at times. If you want to crucify him for that, feel free. But don't dare to rip him for not supporting the troops, because that would not only be incorrect; it would also be ignorant of the facts.

This is why I tell the local media nothing when they ask for details of a high-profile crime. Why bother? They'll get it wrong every time.

Top Al-Qaeda Leader Killed In Iraq

Chalk one up for the good guys. Hoo-frakkin'-rah!

WASHINGTON - U.S.-led forces have killed one of the most important leaders of al-Qaida in Iraq, a Tunisian believed connected to the kidnapping and killings last summer of American soldiers, a top commander said Friday.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson said the death of the suspected terrorist and recent similar operations have left the organization in Iraq fractured.

"Abu Usama al-Tunisi was one of the most senior leaders ... the emir of foreign terrorists in Iraq and part of the inner leadership circle," Anderson said.

Al-Tunisi was a leader in helping bring foreign terrorists into the country and his death "is a key loss" to al-Qaida leadership there, Anderson told a Pentagon news conference via video conference from Baghdad. (H/T - Yahoo!)

General Anderson also credited the recent troop surge for the successes, stating that pockets of al-Qaeda are now isolated in the northern and southern parts of the country.

But wait, didn't Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden tell us that the troop surge wasn't working?

Somewhere, General Petraeus is laughing his arse off.

The Cheerleader Speaks

Katie Couric: She's perky, she's cutesy . . . she's dopey.

Speaking at the National Press Club Tuesday evening, CBS "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric pulled back the curtain on her personal views of both the war in Iraq and former “Evening News” anchor Dan Rather.

“Everyone in this room would agree that people in this country were misled in terms of the rationale of this war,” said Couric, adding that it is “pretty much accepted” that the war in Iraq was a mistake.

Further, Couric said the Bush administration botched the war effort, calling it “accepted truths” that it erred by“disbanding the Iraq military, and leaving 100,000 Sunni men feeling marginalized and angry...[and] whether there were enough boots on the ground, the feeling that we’d be welcomed as liberators and didn’t need to focus as much on security.” She added “I’d feel totally comfortable saying any of that at some point, if required, on television.” (H/T - Examiner.com)

So much for Katie's credibility, huh?

Look, I don't have a problem with her opposition to the war. Hell, she can join the other fifty percent of the country that is opposed to it. I don't have a problem with her hatred of the Bush Administration. Lord knows he's disappointed me numerous times, too. My problem is that she still thinks of herself as a "serious impartial journalist," when the fact of the matter is that she is nothing of the kind.

In my opinion, Couric cannot separate her personal feelings from the requirements of her profession. Her job is to report the news, and do so without bias. By openly admitting she is against the war and dislikes the current administration, she is no better Bill Maher of the tools at MoveOn.

Madeleine Not-So-Bright: Hillary's No Cold Fish

Run for your lives! The dead are rising from their graves! I mean, look at this decrepit old coot. It's Night of the Living Dead out there.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Once the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States government, Madeleine Albright spent Friday in central Iowa. The former Secretary of State is campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I don't think I have ever seen the world in such a mess," Albright said to a packed house at the West Des Moines Community Center.

"I believe that Iraq is going to go down in history as the greatest disaster in American foreign policy. That means that I am acknowledging it is worse than Vietnam," she told the group.

Albright said Clinton is a caring person who understands the problems of real people. "There has been an attempt to portray her as a cold fish, and she is not." (H/T - Drudge)

Now that's a ringing endorsement! Watching Not-So-Bright proclaim that The Hill-dabeast is not a cold fish is like watching me say that Michael Moore does not need to lose weight.

Also interesting is her condemnation of the Iraq War. It is disconcerting to listen to Not-So-Bright decry our efforts in Iraq, especially after saying this on February 1, 1988:

CNN) -- The United States is prepared to use "substantial" force against Iraq if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the crisis over U.N. weapons inspections, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Sunday. Albright underlined what she said was a continued danger posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. (H/T - CNN)

Maddie, I don't mind you being stupid - I expect that from politicians - but I do mind you being ignorant. And only an ignoramus would say that Iraq is worse than Vietnam.

Although many on your side of the aisle are showing the same contempt for our armed services that your Vietnam-era cohorts did.

(Linked at OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.)

The "D" Stands For Defeat

Apparently, the Cindy Shee-Hags are becoming frustrated with the Democrats. Join the club.

A well-known anti-war leader has gone public with the transcript of a private conference call that shows peace activists are exasperated with the Democratic congressional leadership and at a loss for a long-term strategy.

The Aug. 29 call highlights divisions in the Democratic Party that Republicans are gearing up to try to exploit as Congress debates its response to the report on Iraq this week by Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The transcript shows that opponents of the war in Iraq plan to try to convince freshman Democrats from conservative districts that they might not get reelected unless the party produces something serious in the way of resistance to the war.

But the call shows the war opponents are having little success because of fears about the impact on next year’s elections if the party is seen as defeatist. (H/T - RT)

What bothers me most about this story is that politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle are either ripping or celebrating the General Petraeus Iraq report before the report is even presented!

Look, no matter what Petraeus' recommendations are, at least give the man the common courtesy to present his report first. After that, feel free to either praise him or decry him. Until then, Republicans and Democrats alike should keep their pie holes shut.