From a former diplomat specializing in the area.  The writer begins:

"Sen. Hillary Clinton declared this weekend, "I'm in to win." Anyone who has watched her remarkable trajectory can have no doubt that she'll do whatever it takes to win the presidency. I wish she felt the same way about the war."

· We are at war. America faces an existential threat. This is not, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi has claimed, a "situation to be solved." It would be nice if we could wake up tomorrow and say, as Sen. Barack Obama suggested at a Jan. 11 hearing, "Enough is enough." Wishing doesn't make it so. We will have to fight these terrorists to the death somewhere, sometime. We can't negotiate with them or "solve" their jihad. If we quit in Iraq now, we must get ready for a harder, longer, more deadly struggle later.

· Quitting helps the terrorists. Few politicians want to be known as spokesmen for retreat. Instead we hear such words as "redeployment," "drawdown" or "troop cap." Let's be clear: If we restrict the ability of our troops to fight and win this war, we help the terrorists. Don't take my word for it. Read the plans of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Ayman Zawahiri to drive America from Iraq, establish a base for al-Qaeda and spread jihad across the Middle East. The terrorists are counting on us to lose our will and retreat under pressure. We're in danger of proving them right.

· Beware the polls. In November the American people expressed serious concerns about Iraq (and about Republican corruption and scandals). They did not say that they want us to lose this war. They did not say that they want us to allow Iraq to become a base for al-Qaeda to conduct global terrorist operations. They did not say that they would rather we fight the terrorists here at home. Until you see a poll that asks those questions, don't use election results as an excuse to retreat.

· Retreat from Iraq hurts us in the broader war. We are fighting the war on terrorism with allies across the globe, leaders such as Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan and Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan. Brave activists are also standing with us, fighting for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the empowerment of women. They risk their lives every day to defeat the forces of terrorism. They can't win without us, and many of them won't continue to fight if they believe we're abandoning them. Politicians urging America to quit in Iraq should explain how we win the war on terrorism once we've scared all of our allies away....

· Our soldiers will win if we let them. Read their blogs. Talk to them. They know that free people must fight to defend their freedom. No force on Earth -- especially not an army of terrorists and insurgents -- can defeat our soldiers militarily. American troops will win if we show even one-tenth the courage here at home that they show every day on the battlefield. And by the way, you cannot wish failure on our soldiers' mission and claim, at the same time, to be supporting the troops. It just doesn't compute.

You can not negotiate with Terrorists unless you speak their language: senseless violence and unwavering resolve.  Read the rest of this fabulous piece here.

The author of this piece?  Liz Cheney, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.  And yes, that Cheney.

h/t Dafydd

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PETA kills animals.com

Check back early and often for updates!
h/t Malkin

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WTF with Pelosi blinking all the time?  Damn distracting.

Best line "You did not vote to lose"  NICE

Nice summary of what is going on in Iraq.

What did you notice?

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1 I didn't see it... sadly I have no interest in the SOTU speech. I've watched only a few of them - they do nothing for me. I do love the live blogging though - especially Vodka Pundit. *grin* Now he's worth the read. I'll read the rest tomorrow and by the time I'm done I'll have a pretty good all around view of what was said without having to watch Pelosi do her jumping jacks - see Instapundit's bit of live blogging for details. LOL (or watch her blink for that matter)

Posted by: Teresa at January 23, 2007 09:43 PM (gsbs5)

2 I missed the first half, but when I tuned in I noticed the same thing about the blinking -- it was distracting! I was wondering if her contact lenses were getting dry under the lights. And did you see that b-ball player towering over Laura Bush? Holy Moly!!!

Posted by: Marie at January 24, 2007 07:05 AM (keaCm)

3 "Damn distracting." I'll try not to point out the irony of you saying that after having added the Snap plug-in to your site. (Ooops! Too late!

Posted by: zonker at January 24, 2007 03:23 PM (PrUNH)

4 IF Pelosi has one more facelift, she is going to have a very nice goatee..

Posted by: r_mate_e at January 24, 2007 06:38 PM (MxGwp)

5 I didn't watch either. The thought of Pelosi. Too much blinking sounds like something an android (Stepford Wife) would do. Or it could be a power supply issue.

Posted by: dogette at January 26, 2007 05:51 AM (wN2Jx)

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Well  not yet, but holy sh*t Pelosi looks scary.  My reaction and a round up later.  Maybe.

Also: The Good Cap'n is liveblogging the speech, there's an open discussion thread at LGF, and Aaron gives us his version of what the President WISHES he could say tonight!

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How to get through the SOTU.

h/t Emily

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Many people have asked why we don't have kids and aren't planning on them for a while.

Other than "It's none of your business," which most people don't appreciate, try this on for size:

California would become the first state to explicitly ban spanking for children younger than 4 under legislation to be introduced next week.

Slapping, smacking, whacking or kicking also would be outlawed.

Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, a Mountain View Democrat who is crafting the measure, said corporal punishment victimizes helpless children and contributes to a society "addicted to violence."

[...]

"To my mind, there's no amount of physical force that's appropriate on a child 3 years old or younger," Lieber said.

h/t Darleen

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This is just wrong on so many levels:

A group of Methodist ministers from across the nation launched an online petition drive Thursday urging Southern Methodist University to stop trying to land George W. Bush's presidential library.

The petition, on a newly created Web site, http://www.protectsmu.org, says that "as United Methodists, we believe that the linking of his presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name is utterly inappropriate." [emphasis mine -Ed.]

I guess it only applies to liberals.  F*cking hypocrites.

I am done with the United Methodist church.  DONE.  Period.

See, I grew up in the UM church.  My Dad is a lay minister in the church.  We were married in a UM church.  But no more.  I stopped going to church a long time ago, for a variety of reasons, but I always loved the UM church for its very laissez faire approach.  Gay?  No problem.  Divorced?  No problem.  Female?  Who cares?

I would agree with these "pastors" if they were excluding him on the grounds that he had done something famously immoral.  A church (or church-sponsored school) shouldn't associate itself with someone immoral.  But because you don't like his politics?

Give me a f*cking break.

It's a church, people.  CHURCH.  Politics stops at the f*cking door.  Not to mention that it is located in central Texas, Mrs. Bush went there, and the Bushes are IN FACT Methodists.

You never would have heard a PEEP from them if it was Clinton's library.  And we all know the things HE did that ministers are supposed to frown upon.....

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After the Spanish specialist made them look silly (or was paid to say that it wasn't intestinal cancer) the Cuban doctors treating el barbudo have finally come up with a suitable explanation for his condition without mentioning the C word:

"Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in serious condition after a series of three failed operations on his large intestine for diverticulitis complicated by infection, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Monday.

Castro, 80, suffered a serious infection that worsened to peritonitis, the newspaper's Tuesday edition said, citing two medical sources at the Madrid hospital where a surgeon who visited Castro in December works. The report was posted on the newspaper's Web site on Monday.

Castro's prognosis is "very serious" and he is being fed intravenously, the paper said."

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Click.  Click now.

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It was emanating from the NJ statehouse...

"For World War II veteran Sam Stia, a legislative proposal that would cease requiring New Jersey schools to teach about Veterans Day and Memorial Day can be summed up in two words.

"That's wrong," Stia, 83, said Thursday from his Hamilton home, where he flies an American flag at half-staff to honor fallen soldiers. "We're just giving our flag away and our patriotism away."

Stia and other veterans are steamed about the proposal, which the state lawmakers unanimously passed last month and now awaits action by the governor. It was included as part of a larger measure designed to help control property taxes, mostly by abolishing some laws on school purchasing and public hearings.

Other holidays about which schools no longer would be required to teach include Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Arbor Day and Commodore Barry Day, which commemorates Revolutionary War hero John Barry.

New Jersey schools must observe the holidays under a 1967 law designed to promote "the development of a higher spirit of patriotism." Florida, Nebraska and Washington are among states with similar laws."

If you're a Jersey taxpayer (Jimbo, Kate, et. al.) maybe you should let your reps know how unacceptable this is.

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Barbara Boxer and her ilk have gotten where they are by pushing a simple mantra:  Women are Equal to men.  Women should push through the glass ceiling.  Women have the right to have a successful career.

Evidently this is no longer good enough: in attacking Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice yesterday, Senator Boxer said,

"Who pays the price?" Boxer repeatedly demanded. "You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family."

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* but were afraid to ask...
Dean Barnett has a great FAQ about the new Iraq strategy posted at Hugh Hewitt.

Here's a brief sample:

1) How in the hell are an additional 20,000 troops going to make such a big difference when we already have about 140,000 troops in Iraq? It makes no sense! Cut and run!!

First, calm down. We're going to walk through this analytically, not sprint through it hysterically. The current troop level in Baghdad is only 13,000. Most of the 20,000 new troops are going to be headed to Baghdad. That means we're going to increase our troop complement in Baghdad by roughly 150%. In other words, as regards the Battle of Baghdad, this is an enormous tactical adjustment, not a symbolic gesture.

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14 members of the Carter Center Board of Councilors resigned today in protest of Jimmy Carter's recent views on Israel.  In response to Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.", the 14 councilors wrote:

"We can no longer endorse your strident and uncompromising position," the letter to Carter said. "This is not the Carter Center or the Jimmy Carter we came to respect and support."

"We are deeply troubled by the president's comments and writings and are submitting the following letter of resignation to the Carter Center,"

"[abandoning his] historic role of broker in favor of becoming an advocate for one side." and "[confusing] opinion with fact, subjectivity with objectivity and force for change with partisan advocacy,"

Kenneth Stein, the first Executive Director of the Carter Center resigned a month ago over this same book.

Perhaps Mr. Carter should re-think his strategy here.  Continuing to be "relevant" will do far less for his legacy than returning to his roots in fair-dealing. 

Or maybe he's tired of hiding his true colors.

Update: This brings to 16 the number of advisors that Carter's book has alienated. Professsor Melvin Konner declined the honor even before joining the committee, saying in part:

"I am now carefully rereading parts of this very puzzling and problematic book, having read it through once quickly. I am not going to point out again here all the mistakes and misrepresentations pointed out by others (to take just one example, his flat contradiction of the accounts by President Clinton and Dennis Ross of events at Camp David at which they were present and he was not)˜none of which he has answered—nor explain the grotesque distortion caused by his almost completely ignoring Jewish history between ancient times and 1947 (he devotes five lines on page 64 to that millennial tragic story and mentions the Holocaust twice; his "Historical Chronology" at the outset contains nothing˜nothing˜between 1939 and 1947). However, I will call your attention to a sentence on p. 213 that had not stood out for me the first time I read it: "It is imperative that the general Arab community and all significant Palestinian groups make it clear that they will end the suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism when international laws and the ultimate goals of the Roadmap for Peace are accepted by Israel."

As someone who has lived his life as a professional reader and writer, I cannot find any way to read this sentence that does not condone the murder of Jews until such time as Israel unilaterally follows President Carter's prescription for peace. This sentence, simply put, makes President Carter an apologist for terrorists and places my children, along with all Jews everywhere, in greater danger. "-- Emphasis mine, Ed.

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In anticipation of today's Friday F*ck Off, here's a list of people I'd like to tell to F*ck off:

LA Drivers
Leftards who let power go to their heads
Feminists
People who pick on the weak
assholes who don't pay their child support
People who slam their siblings in public
People who don't pick up their dog poo
Egomaniacs
Incompetents
Cashiers who don't know how to use their registers
Target
jackass house guests who complain for a week.  About EVERYTHING
Litterbugs
Fucktards who drive SLLLLLOW in the left lane.  Especially on the Arroyo Parkway.
cagastro and pals
that little ronery North Korean fuck, too
TV network executives
Sales tax
Stuffed shirt bureaucrats
telemarketers
the replacement mailman
idiots who wash their sidewalks.  Talk about wasting water. Fuckers.  This is CA.
dook basketball
Nick Saban
Dan LeBatard.  Where the Fuck is Wilbon, goddammit??
the NIH study section who told me that they love my science and acknowledge that I have the expertise to do the work, but they don't think I have enough experience.
Ads on the delete screen on the TiVo.  WTF is that about?  I pay enough for the fucking service as it is.
Sorority Chicklets
The Girls Gone Wild guy.  And all the little sluts on those videos too.  Cheap much?
vegan evangelists
enviroNazis
Clueless fucks who think that if they keep those Kerry/ Edwards bumper stickers on, that they can live in denial that the election is over.
John Kerry
John Edwards
sheeple who actually believe the media in all instances without question
and did I mention fucking stupid LA drivers?

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1 A little tense? (BTW, I went through journalism school and worked on the school newspaper with Dan LeBatard. Super nice guy and very talented as a writer. I have no beef with him.)

Posted by: rSM at January 05, 2007 04:12 AM (IyNwh)

2 Wow. Glad you didn't add people who ask for the same thing 2 or 3 times... or is that included under 'incompetents'? GRIN. Hope your year is starting to look better now.

Posted by: vw bug at January 05, 2007 05:54 AM (5wNak)

3 **chuckling softly to myself, hoping CTG doesn't overhear and tell me to eff off!**

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at January 05, 2007 06:14 AM (MwQOF)

4 Excellent list - just excellent. I love this one best: "that little ronery North Korean fuck, too" Well put ROFLMAO.

Posted by: Teresa at January 05, 2007 07:38 AM (gsbs5)

5 This list is great. I'll throw in my hat to L.A. drivers as well. For all the time people in this city have to actually spend driving, you'd think they'd eventually get good at it, let alone just plain competent. Nope. It's amazing. L.A. drivers when it rains? Forget about it. That's a f@#$ off long enough to fill a book.

Posted by: Emily at January 05, 2007 08:01 AM (lXDk3)

6 Dayum good list! ; )

Posted by: Christina at January 05, 2007 10:36 AM (NUhQR)

7 I like your style. :-) I actually feel better just having read that... Thanks.

Posted by: Richmond at January 05, 2007 02:28 PM (e8QFP)

8 Impressive list! Wash the sidewalks?! Some people have waaaay too much time on their hands.

Posted by: Marie at January 05, 2007 07:03 PM (keaCm)

9 LA Drivers - I don't live there... Leftards who let power go to their heads - who? Feminists - no comment People who pick on the weak - but they're so much fun... assholes who don't pay their child support - I do, so I'm safe People who slam their siblings in public - they're idiots, and deserve to be outed People who don't pick up their dog poo - one more reason to NOT have pets Egomaniacs - such as me? Incompetents - such as my family? Cashiers who don't know how to use their registers - ha! that's classic Target - I just shopped there today, but only because I got a gift card from my boss jackass house guests who complain for a week About EVERYTHING - kick them out and don't allow them to call a taxi... Litterbugs - damn straight Fucktards who drive SLLLLLOW in the left lane, Especially on the Arroyo Parkway. - slow drivers should have their license revoked cagastro and pals - who? that little ronery North Korean fuck, too - um... TV network executives - I don't watch television, so.... Sales tax - agreed Stuffed shirt bureaucrats - hell yeah! telemarketers - click the replacement mailman - going postal rocks! idiots who wash their sidewalks. Talk about wasting water. Fuckers. This is CA. - I live in the middle of nowhere... no sidewalks (I miss the city) dook basketball - what? Nick Saban - who? Dan LeBatard. Where the Fuck is Wilbon, goddammit?? - who and who? the NIH study section who told me that they love my science and acknowledge that I have the expertise to do the work, but they don't think I have enough experience. - can't get experience without getting a job, but can't get a job without experience; catch 22, the chicken and the egg Ads on the delete screen on the TiVo. WTF is that about? I pay enough for the fucking service as it is. - no clue what you're talking about Sorority Chicklets - never met one The Girls Gone Wild guy. And all the little sluts on those videos too. Cheap much? - never saw the videos vegan evangelists - that's a new one on me enviroNazis - tree~huggers? Clueless fucks who think that if they keep those Kerry/ Edwards bumper stickers on, that they can live in denial that the election is over. - who cares? Junior won... John Kerry - I know the name, and the face, but the only thing I really know about him is that he's married to the steak sauce chick and was an idiot... second- or third-hand knowledge, at best John Edwards - I assume from the above statement that this guy ran with Kerry.... I don't watch the news, so... sheeple who actually believe the media in all instances without question - I know a lot of those... and did I mention fucking stupid LA drivers? - see first answer

Posted by: Thomas Warlock at January 05, 2007 08:20 PM (kTf66)

10 *smirk* Yeah, my day went kinda like that, too.

Posted by: Mia at January 05, 2007 08:50 PM (Dlq0g)

11 I have to tell you, it was very cathartic to read your list!

Posted by: Bou at January 06, 2007 06:37 AM (PQFHD)

12 LA drivers?! Heh... try navigating your way through the rush-hour circus in Midtown Manhattan. It's common for NY drivers/cabbies to be plastered (so to speak) on the front pages of our three dailies for plowing into showroom windows and mowing pedestrians in greenmarkets down.

Posted by: Erica at January 06, 2007 03:59 PM (n1ABe)

13 Those Tivo ads drive me nuts!

Posted by: Sissy at January 08, 2007 08:48 AM (3lsFM)

14 Did we get it all out of our system?? *S* I'm like you, sometimes once I get started it just keeps rolling and rolling,,,

Posted by: Michele at January 08, 2007 10:27 AM (DqxwU)

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