MACHINE GUN # 2

AFGHANISTAN: Today the Iraq Sun reported details of recent coalition battles with the Taliban. It seems the death of Mullah Dadullah decapitated their leadership to some extent. Even before his demise, however, the Taliban have consistently been handed their heads in battles with coalition forces. Twenty Taliban were killed in several encounters, the largest of which was an attack on an Afhan police station that resulted in three dead cops and twelve dead insurgents. Numbers from various sources indicate approximately 1,800 people have been killed in Afghaninstan so far this year, the vast majority of them insurgent Taliban. Late news today was not as good. A Chinook carrying five Americans and two other coalition troops crashed, killing all aboard. The helicopter was reportedly taken down by an RPG in the Kajaki district at night. Little suprise reports of combat successes in Afghanistan are rarely if ever reported in the mass media. Even when American combat forces are eliminating the enemy in droves, the media continues their slavish devotion to battering the CINC.

RUSSIA: I have no idea what President Bush saw in Putin's eyes, but it must have been the sickle and hammer on his retinas. Putin has jacked up his rhetoric about the proposed U.S. missile defense deployment in Europe. To add a little emphasis the Russkies tested two new nuclear missiles, one an ICBM and the other a short range high precision model. This may indicate he is ready to abandon the 1987 ban on intermediate range missiles, even though he has to realize the full deployment of our purely defensive system is designed to counter rogue nation attack and not the massive Russian nuclear force. What we are actually talking about is an anti-missile system built with North Korea and Iran in mind. Putin must long for the old days when the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe. Now he has to settle for stirring up anti-American sentiment in democracies. This system should be offered but not forced on Europe. If those governments do not wish to defend themselves against the mullahs in Iran or Kim Jong Illin', then so be it. Refusing the system seems petty and ignorant. Perhaps Putin needs a little help at home and feels acting like Stalin wins points. He is a dangerous and authoritarian figure who should be closely watched by President Bush at their upcoming meeting at Kennebunkport.

IMMIGRATION: "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills." That is the first paragraph of Section 7, Article I of the Constitution and seems very clear. The Kennedy-McCain immigration bill adjusts payment levels and thus must be immediately rejected by the House on constitutional grounds. Almost every media discussion of the issue involves some Einstein pointing out that "We can't just deport twelve million illegal immigrants". The fundamental issue of port and border security must be addressed first and foremost. The story of the TB traveler is very instructive as to the weakness of our current system. The idea of ever granting citizenship or even temporary residency to those who do not even respect our sovereignty or borders is ludicrous. The age in which we live dictates a tight border security system and heavily regulated immigration. We fail to maintain our borders at our own peril, and that danger has never been more threatening.

MR. PRESIDENT: I would like to take issue with your statement that opponents of the Kennedy-McCain immigration bill "don't want what's best for America." I am loathe to criticize the CINC in time of war, so I hope you will retract your statement. Because I generally try to follow the Eleventh Commandment, I'll stop there.

JINGOCON

MEMORIAL DAY MIX

IRAN / U.S. MEETING: For the first time in twenty-seven years, the United States and Iran conducted a diplomatic meeting, focused solely on Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki clearly stated that coalition forces are needed in his country until the security situation improves. The Iranians, who have been smuggling EFPs into Iraq to kill American forces, blamed the U.S. for the inadequate security forces. The Iranians continue to deny they are shipping arms and training terrorists to destabilize Iraq despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The meeting produced nothing and went nowhere to no one's surprise. The Iranian regime is an unrepentant state sponsor of terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Israel to name but a few. I agree with those who call for "engaging" Iran. We should "engage" their planes, ships, and nuclear sites as soon as possible before we or one of our allies lose a major city to nuclear attack.

PRESIDENTIAL DEMS: Today the Three Stooges (Billary, Hussein Obama, Johnny Edwards) once again dishonored themselves and their pathetic party by using (of all things) Memorial Day as a platform to preach surrender and attack the CINC. The one day a year we have to honor our fallen warriors mutated by the Dems into defeatism. They simply have no honor. Allow me to explain further. Billary, quoting a media report using the infamous "unnamed senior administration official", suggested she thinks rumors of a major troop reduction in Iraq signal the President is admitting defeat and planning withdrawal. Wrong, Billary, and I missed the announcement of your joining the Bush inner sanctum. Thanks for encouraging Al Qaeda. Next up, empty suit Hussein Obama, who first proclaimed that Memorial Day is not a time for politics, then proceeded to bash the CINC. More encouragement for Bin Laden. Finally, and worst of all, perfectly coifed Johnny Edwards used the holiday to ask people to protest agaist the war in Iraq. What war, Senator? Just days ago you proclaimed the war a mere "bumper sticker". I'm afraid Johnny is perilously close to joining the likes of Hanoi Jane Fonda and the Dixie Chicks, all known for disloyal acts in time of war. Using a holiday that remembers the sacrifices of those who died in defense of freedom to further a defeatist agenda is beyond bad taste. It's more like aiding and abetting the enemies of America by providing fodder for their propaganda machine. The Dems do not acknowledge the reenlistment rates of U.S. troops in Iraq, or that those troops believe in their mission and want to finish the job. Selling out to the treasonous liberal mob speaks for itself.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS: America pauses once a year to remember our fallen military heroes. To paraphrase General Patton, we should not mourn them, but instead thank God that they existed. Those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend the United States deserve our undying gratitude. Perhaps all Americans should pause more often to consider those who have fallen in defense of our freedoms. I would like to especially recognize the fallen paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division.

JINGOCON

MACHINE GUN #1

FIRST BURST: The idea of setting up September as some sort of final reckoning for American presence in Iraq is not a good plan. Establishing a firm date will result in a bloody summer, as President Bush has correctly warned. A Tet-style offensive in August would not be surprising. The Dem Congress appears ready to run screaming into the night in response to a rough summer. Al Qaeda is well aware of our schedule, and they don't have one. Both sides of the aisle in Congress need to grow spines and continue the fight our enemies have selected.

SECOND BURST: The poll of American Muslims released this week was highly disturbing. Approximately one in four of those under thirty years old approved of suicide bombing in certain "justifiable" circumstances. Anyone remember 7/7? My immediate thought was that I hope our government responds accordingly. Like, perhaps, making sure mosques here in the U.S. are not being used as armories as they so often are abroad.

THIRD BURST: Isn't it odd that we rarely hear any mention of the casualties inflicted on the enemy? The Pentagon and associated sites provide the only accurate accounts. Occasionally the mainstream media will a run story that contains the number of enemy dead, but it never receives the coverage it should. The use of the words "another" and "more" in reports of U.S. casualties is constant and meant to demoralize. We are not amused.

CEASE FIRE: It's funny to see the way Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) is treated by his fellow Dems in the presidential race. Even though I agree with him on practically nothing, he is clearly the most qualified Dem. None of the other candidates (especially Obama) can come close to matching his experience in international affairs, yet he is treated with disdain. Bad news, Governor: your party favors sizzle over substance.

JINGOCON

POLITICAL OVERVIEW

Almost six years have past since 9/11. If someone days after had described the current political climate to me, I would not have believed it. I had always assumed that Americans would unite if under attack, put aside trivial political differences, and defeat the enemy. Those days appear to be gone. The craven nature of the opposition Left only encourages our enemies to fight harder and longer.
Some of the Dems have drifted off into an alternate reality where the war is a "bumper sticker". It's that bad. We have an opposition party that is hell-bent on pulling our forces from the field of battle when they are actively engaged in combat against Al Qaeda. Bin Laden and his terrorist buddies have made Iraq the central front whether we like it or not. Dems do not acknowledge that simple fact. They live in a world where war is perfectly planned and seemlessly executed with minimal casualties and immediate victory. They do not seem to have a firm grasp on the current tactical situation at all. Nor do they seem to understand the propaganda value of their contemptuous screeds against our President to the enemy. Most Dems appear to be perfectly willing to accept an American defeat in Iraq or anywhere else so long as they can blame President Bush and turn events to their domestice political advantage. They have spent at least the last four years demonizing, belittling, and denigrating the Commander in Chief during time of war for partisan gain. The 2008 presidential candidates are lock-step in their willingness to plant the white flag in Iraq and run home like little girls. Lib rhetoric since 9/11, including the numerous flaky conspiracy theories, are designed to harm Mr. Bush without regard to consequence. They do the bidding of Bin Laden in providing a steady stream of anti-Bush rhetoric and placement of career gain ahead of national security. The rabid and demented nature of their opposition belies their true nature.
The Dems have a clear record of weakness and vacillation on defense issues. Their opportunities to manage military events during my lifetime have not worked out well for them or for America. They always claim to "support the troops". Their definition of "support" is to say the phrase while at the same time making outrageous statements that could have been written by Zawahiri. The far left of their party is completely pacifist and would not fight if the enemy attacked their own house. This element has developed significant control through their sheer volume.
Questioning their patriotism is a fair and logical first step, despite the edicts of the mainstream media. Can you really want what's best for America if you're willing to surrender to a vicious enemy or serve as an agent of demoralization to our armed forces? Can you really want what's best for America if you are not willing to fight our enemies when they have declared the place of battle? How much of an American are you if you can in good conscience refer to American forces as "occupiers"? Is it patriotic to delay vital war funding for troops in combat? There is no length to which the Dems will not go in their opposition. That immediately qualifies them to be questioned at length.
Legitimate, thoughtful opposition is fine. There must, however, be a constant concern for the way domestic political events play overseas. Many of the things shouted to the world from atop the Dem mountain would definitely be better left unsaid or said in private. Discretion would be the key word here. A nation engaged in a global conflict is not aided by domestic squabbles. Our enemies relish the idea of an opposition party that will legislate defeat. The Al Qaeda plan is to divide us here at home. Thanks to the Dems, that strategy has largely succeeded.
Leaders do not advocate retreat in the face of the enemy. Retreat and surrender is not a plan for victory. The timidity and lack of concern for consequence among the presidential Dems is notable and predictable. They are playing whatever songs of defeatism their gutless constituents wish to hear in order to get elected. It is not promising when cowardice and defeatism become the abstract political currency of an entire party.
To quote the great General William Tecumseh Sherman: "War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say give them all they want." Move that on.

JINGOCON