CLAYMORE 07 AUG 07

SOUTH CAROLINA ARRESTS: Two Middle Eastern students arrested near the U.S. Navy Consolidated Brig at Goose Creek look extremely fishy, to say the least. These two gentlemen had homemade explosives in their possession, and a laptop they acted squirrelly about that initially inspired further investigation after a traffic stop for speeding. For some reason, the powers that be are allowing this case to proceed through civil courts. That is an outrage of the highest order. These two plotters should immediately be handed over to the military and designated enemy combatants. How much evidence do you need? Let's see, one guy is from Kuwait (studying, guess what, civil engineering) and the other is from Egypt. They were nabbed only a few miles from a military facility potentially holding other terrorists and had bombs assembled. That's enough for me to immediately advise a long stay at GITMO until a further determination can be made. I am completely unwilling to risk innocent American lives on these two. And I don't care about their rights. At all. It's war time and they aren't even citizens. Case closed, fellas. Check into a cage for a while.

DEMOCRAP FORUM: The bulk of the Dem Presidential candidates met in Chicago in a forum organized by the AFL/CIO. I'm not really sure why it wasn't called a debate, but it was essentially a rump kissing rally. Each candidate went to great lengths to smooch butt on union issues, even arguing over the number of picket lines walked. All maintained their uniformly socialist healthcare agenda and "Bush is bad rhetoric". None could explain what they would do if American forces withdraw from Iraq only to see Al Qaeda reign supreme. Kucinich once again provided the humor, while the U.S. Senators in the race spent time complimenting each other. Ho-hum. Billary did manage to utter the phrase "Islamic terrorism", which I guess is significant progess.

HOT IRAQ SUMMER: Expect the pace of combat in Iraq to pick up dramatically in the next several weeks leading up to the self-imposed September judgement time. The terrorists are well aware that any KIAs inflicted on U.S. forces now will be decried and used for political advantage by the Democraps next month. A sudden spike in American deaths or a large scale attack near the end of the month are both possible. The absence of such activities will be a fantastic sign of progress. It will be because they can't, not because they don't want to.

FRANKIE COLEMAN SKATES AGAIN: Frankie Coleman, wife of Columbus, Ohio Mayor Mike Coleman, has used alcohol as a public crutch to escape fair punishment once more. After largely avoiding any real punishment for a previous DUI arrest, Mrs. Coleman pleaded no contest and was sentenced on charges of falsification and attempted theft in office after her state job employment time sheets came into question. Mrs. Coleman submitted hours for which she was completely absent or habitually tardy. She could have faced up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on each count, but miraculously received five years probation, a $500 fine on each count, and 100 hours community service. Maybe Mrs. Coleman's problem is a lack of accountability because she escapes significant penalties for her problems. This is the sort of sentence that shakes faith in the judiciary and points out the advantages of celebrity, even if it's local. The judge should have maxed her out. I wonder what I would get for equivalent crimes?

JINGOCON