You have to have seen this video of Lauren Caitlin Upton (and who hasn’t?) to get the joke.
I have a preview of a speech that the President will make in his address to The American Legion National Convention In Reno, Nevada this afternoon. In it he clearly defines Iran’s position in America’s war on terror:
The Second Strain Is Shia Extremism, Supported And Embodied By Iran’s Government. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and the United States is working with friends and allies around the world to confront the danger presented by actions of Iran’s government. Iran’s leaders threaten the security of nations everywhere by:
- Actively pursuing technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons
- Arresting visiting American scholars who have committed no crimes and pose no threat to their regime
- Backing Hezbollah terrorists who are trying to undermine the democratic government of Lebanon
- Funding the terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which murder the innocent, target Israel, and destabilize the Palestinian territories
- Sending arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan, which can be used to attack American and NATO troops and Afghan civilians
- Sending arms to extremists in Iraq that are used against Coalition and Iraqi troops, and Iraqi civilians.
He doesn’t stop there. Bush directly links Iran to attacks in Iraq – and the resulting coalition deaths.
Shia Extremists, Backed By Iran, Are Training Iraqis To Carry Out Attacks On Our Forces, The Iraqi Government, And The Iraqi People. Members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force are supplying extremist groups with funding and weapons, including sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs). With the assistance of Hezbollah, they have provided training for violent forces active inside Iraq.
- The Attacks On Our Bases And Our Troops Using Iranian-Supplied Munitions Have Increased In The Last Few Months – Despite Pledges By Iran To Help Stabilize The Security Situation In Iraq. Recently, Coalition forces seized 240-millimeter rockets that had been manufactured in Iran this year and provided to Iraqi extremist groups by Iranian agents.
- The Iranian Regime Must Halt These Actions At Once. Some say Iran’s leaders are not aware of what members of their own regime are doing. Others say Iran’s leaders are actively seeking to provoke the West. Either way, Iranian leaders bear the responsibility for aiding attacks against Coalition forces and the murder of innocent Iraqis.
This has the feel of a significant turning point in our relationship with Iran. However, Iran’s rhetoric hasn’t shifted:
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Tuesday that any action against the Iranian nation will be given proper response.
“I consider it unlikely if the US takes any such illogical and illegal action because the measure would turn into a joke worldwide.
They continue to work towards establishing an exploitable power vacuum in Iraq:
Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters, the president said the arrogant powers with their blind eyes cannot see the rights of Iraqi nation and their constitution.
“I advise the occupiers to halt their crimes and carnage which only make the current situation more complicated,” he said.
“You cannot bring to knees a nation with over seven thousand years of civilization by making use of four fighter planes and some soldiers, artillery and tanks,” he underlined.
“We advise you to amend your policies because through such harsh policies you will get nowhere,” he said.
“I truly declare that the political power of occupiers is on the decline and the region will witness the emergence of a big power,” underlined the president.
“We are ready to help restore security of the region through collective cooperation with our regional friends and Saudi Arabia,” he pointed out.
A major reality check looms on the horizon. It’s long overdue.
Great news out of South Korea:
South Korea’s presidential office said Tuesday that negotiators from the South Korean government and the Taliban reached an agreement to release all of the 19 South Korean hostages still held in Afghanistan.
“The South Korean government welcomes the agreement on the hostage release,” presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said in a press conference.
CNN has more information on the terms of the agreement:
Under the terms of the agreement, South Korea agreed to stick by its previous decision to withdraw its 200 non-combat troops from Afghanistan, which work mostly in an engineering and medical capacity.
In addition, Seoul will halt all Christian missionary work in Afghanistan.
The spokesman said there was no agreement to pay the captors, nor was there any mention of releasing Taliban prisoners — a major demand of the kidnappers.
Cheer Up Senator – And Pick a Better Spot Next Time
Roll Call has the disturbing scoop:
According to the incident report, Sgt. Dave Karsnia was working as a plainclothes officer on June 11 investigating civilian complaints regarding sexual activity in the men’s public restroom in which Craig was arrested.
Airport police previously had made numerous arrests in the men’s restroom of the Northstar Crossing in the Lindbergh Terminal in connection with sexual activity.
Karsnia entered the bathroom at noon that day and about 13 minutes after taking a seat in a stall, he stated he could see “an older white male with grey hair standing outside my stall.”
The man, who lingered in front of the stall for two minutes, was later identified as Craig.
“I could see Craig look through the crack in the door from his position. Craig would look down at his hands, ‘fidget’ with his fingers, and then look through the crack into my stall again. Craig would repeat this cycle for about two minutes,” the report states.
Craig then entered the stall next to Karsnia’s and placed his roller bag against the front of the stall door.
“My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall,” Karsnia stated in his report. “From my seated position, I could observe the shoes and ankles of Craig seated to the left of me.”
Craig was wearing dress pants with black dress shoes.
“At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area,” the report states.
Craig then proceeded to swipe his hand under the stall divider several times, and Karsnia noted in his report that “I could … see Craig had a gold ring on his ring finger as his hand was on my side of the stall divider.”
Karsnia then held his police identification down by the floor so that Craig could see it.
“With my left hand near the floor, I pointed towards the exit. Craig responded, ‘No!’ I again pointed towards the exit. Craig exited the stall with his roller bags without flushing the toilet. … Craig said he would not go. I told Craig that he was under arrest, he had to go, and that I didn’t want to make a scene. Craig then left the restroom.”
My first reaction – Ew. After that initial queasiness passed, which took about 15 minutes for me, the only real observation was that the Democrats were going to go nuts with this one but who cares? Let them distract themselves with something salacious. They’ll make fools of themselves in the frenzy. They always do.
Update:
FOX News has the Senator’s side of the story:
“At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct,” Craig said in a statement. “I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously.”
Not – Buying – It. Hugh Hewitt isn’t fooled either:
I don’t believe him. Read the statement by the arresting officer. He must think the people of Idaho are idiots.
But even if I did believe him, this would make his judgment too flawed to be in the United States Senate in a time of war. He has to go.
Update II:
Jonathan Martin points to a disturbing video flashback – all the way back to 1982 – which involves young Congressional pages, cocaine, and Larry Craig:
Larry, can you just resign like yesterday please?
Also Blogging:
The Corner
This Larry Craig bathroom thing is really disgusting. My first thought is how rotten a job that plainclothes officer has. The second is that we may have another vacant Senate seat in a few days.
Say Anything
Second, as for the whole gay thing, I’m not sure where Craig himself comes down on it but I could care less about him wanting to have sex with other men. Cheating on his wife, of course, is another matter. Though the fact that he’s adopted all of his children may be telling in terms of his sexuality.
Postman on Politics
Last year the website blogactive.com claimed Craig was a closeted homosexual.
The Carpetbagger Report
One thing’s for sure — the GOP didn’t need another sex scandal right now.
Balloon Juice
Why is everyone soliciting sex in bathrooms, for chrissakes? Is there some underground bathroom/gay sex culture out there? And if you have ever been to a public bathroom in WV (especially the ones in out of the way gas stations), sex is the last damned thing on your mind. A hot shower with bleach is what I am thinking about when I use a public bathrom- not hot gay sex.
First State Politics
After Foley, Vitter and now this, maybe the GOP needs to get off the social agenda for a while. All it seems to do is turn people into hypocrites.
Captain’s Quarters
The Republicans already have a 21-12 disadvantage in next year’s Senate contests. His was one of the seats the GOP hoped to hold, and his party had been pushing to keep him from retiring. I suspect they’re looking for Plan B at the moment.
Hot Air
If you’re wondering which party he belongs to, let me put it this way: the media will be sure to specify it in its reporting on this story.
A Blog for All
The sooner the scumbags can be purged from Congress, the better for everyone. It doesn’t matter the party, but you know that the media will be sure to provide that detail prominently depending on which party is involved. And be assured that there are other sleazy characters on both sides of the aisle who are engaging in illicit behaviors or are taking advantage of their powerful positions to enrich themselves and their friends.
Right Side of the Rainbow
No, Matt, I’m sure foot tapping isn’t a crime in Minnesota. But people should be able to relieve themselves in a public facility without having someone else’s extremities all up in their toileting space. (By the way, WaPo reports that Craig pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct, not lewd conduct.)
Big news this morning:
Embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, senior administration officials told CNN Monday.
Many lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have long called for his ouster after the firing of several U.S. attorneys in 2006. President Bush had long stood by Gonzales.
One of Gonzales’ chief critics, Sen. Charles E. Schumer released a statement Monday praising Gonzales for resigning.
Michelle Malkin isn’t shedding any tears and appears to have little hope when it comes to the current administration’s political maneuvering:
If the administration learned anything at all from the shamnesty debacle, Michael Chertoff would not be the leading candidate to replace Gonzales.
Can we even be sure that Harriet Miers isn’t in the running for this one?
Need to Know is a short roundup of key stories that shouldn’t be missed on your cruise through the blogosphere. The number of links in the roundup may vary but if you find it here you can trust that it’s must-read material.
Israpundit
Homeland Security: Forget everything you’ve been told about “moderate” Muslim groups in America. New evidence that U.S. prosecutors have revealed at a major terror trial exposes the facade. Exhibit No. 003-0085 is the most chilling. Translated from Arabic by federal investigators in the case against the Holy Land Foundation, an alleged Hamas front, the secret document outlines a full-blown conspiracy by the major Muslim groups in America – all of which are considered “mainstream” by the media.
Leaning Straight Up
In short, when newspapers or other media avoid or censor anything that might be offensive to Muslims, where it is fairly obvious that such avoidance action would not happen if it was say Catholics or Jews. My interest in this is equality. I refuse to accept that the media or others have an obligation to handle all matter Islam with kid gloves where people of my particular faith are open targets for scorn, mockery and derision.
NewsBusters
Has Bill Moyers become PBS’s Jack Cafferty, Bill Maher, Rosie O’Donnell, and Keith Olbermann all rolled into one crusading, Bush-hating, anti-war propagandist funded by American tax dollars?
Pajamas Media
High tech big boys Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have been subject to much criticism, in and out of the blogosphere, for cooperating with online censorship in the People’s Republic of China. Some say this cooperation has even led to the incarceration of journalists and dissidents. Now Yahoo and Microsoft are at it again, signing a “self discipline” pact with the Internet Society of China. Pajamas Media CEO Roger L. Simon has a suggestion for what bloggers and their readers can do about it.
OPFOR
In Iraq, Al-Qa’ida has sought to change the will of the enemy, not the people, a failure which is most evident in Anbar. They choose spectacular and violent attacks on Iraqis, aimed at affecting the will of the American people, instead harnessing the power of Islam to revolutionize the Iraqi countryside. And it is a failure that is working in our favor.
Wizbang
Miss Teen USA South Carolina Lauren Caitlin Upton is a YouTube hit. The video of her bumbling answer to why one-fifth of Americans can’t locate our country on a world map has been viewed over 1.5 million times since Friday. Let this be an example to our young people; trying to B.S. your way through an question you don’t understand or know the answer on a live primetime TV broadcast is a bad idea…
Cheat Seeking Missiles
The Dems have convinced themselves that Iraqis are incapable of self-government, in their typical “I’m not a racist” racist style. They must convince themselves of this because should Iraqis actually govern themselves democratically, George Bush was right. It is no consolation to them if the Hussein violence, the sectarian violence, the infringement of liberties all stop, if George Bush being right is part of the deal.
The Captain’s Journal
In A-10s Aid in Counterinsurgency, we discussed the new role being contemplated for A-10s. The storied tank-killer has a new mission, i.e., that of aiding and assisting in counterinsurgency, or so it was being planned (debates on this can be seen in Air Power and Small Wars, and Warfare and Lawfare: An Unstable Alchemy). Perhaps as a test for this mission, the A-10 (438th Air Expeditionary Group) went back into action to provide close air support for Marines in the Anbar Province. Not long after this deployment, it was announced that the The USAF was considering a new A-10 COIN Squadron.
Power Line
On Friday, Charles Krauthammer argued that the U.S. should work with elements in the Iraqi Parliament to bring down the Maliki government. Krauthammer’s criticism of Maliki seems well-founded. But because Maliki is a symptom of the problems in Iraq and not their cause, it’s difficult to see what would be gained by ousting him.
Neptunus Lex
It’s fascinating: On the left, the term “Swift-boating” has come to mean a baseless attack on an opponent, mere propaganda. Everyone knows that the Swift boat people were liars, albeit liars who had maintained a remarkably coherent story ever since some of them had squared off with Kerry on his “Genghis Khan” narrative right from the start.
Axis of Right
At the Midwest Republican Leadership Conference this weekend, prominent Republicans seemed to be foaming at the mouth in delight at the prospect of a She Who Must Not Be Named general election campaign. Some Republicans had an “anybody but her” attitude, others weren’t too clear on who they wanted competing against her, and some worried about turnout next year.
Redstate
So if unemployment was at 10% that would be bad news, if it’s at 3% that’s bad news. Maybe it has more to do with the party of the President than actual economic news. To be clear, the Mountain West is booming and it creates increases in wages for working families. That is the private sector doing its thing, making people richer for their hard work. Perhaps reporters in NYC and DC no longer understand basic economics, but we should all be happy that the Mountain West is doing so well and we should be thankful that we are in a major economic boom with historically low unemployment.
The Corner
A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region. It may have been impossibly idealistic and even naïve to entertain such hopes (though I don’t think so), but an ambitious freedom agenda was always a part of the justification for the Iraq War – and that’s something that everyone who argues the Bush “lied us into war” is purposely ignoring.
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