Uh-Oh… US Knew of Al-Qaeda Terror Plot Involving Nigerian Before Christmas

Gateway Pundit "The U.S. government had intelligence from Yemen before Christmas that leaders of a branch of Al Qaeda there were talking about “a Nigerian” being prepared for a terrorist attack, the New York Times reported Tuesday."

Our Year of Obama

Victor Davis Hanson "The final irony is that should Obama and his revolutionaries prevail in their remaking of America, their own progeny will not enjoy the opportunity and affluence that they so cavalierly take to be their birthright, which was bequeathed to them by less liberal others."

Kerry requests Iran let him visit

Jennifer Rubin "“Sen. John Kerry has filed a formal request to visit Iran, Iranian news agencies reported Tuesday — news made public in the middle of the government’s bloody crackdown on dissidents that has left more than a dozen dead.” It would be frightful if the Obami foreign policy toward Iran were this incoherent."

Why Obama pretends

PowerlineBlog Quoting Dick Cheney: "It doesn't fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency - social transformation--the restructuring of American society. President Obama's first object and his highest responsibility must be to defend us against an enemy that knows we are at war."

Christian Bashing: A Special Christmas Gift From ‘NCIS’

Big Hollywood Spoiler alert: "It turns out the Marine was murdered by his own brother in what I can only describe as an “Honor Killing.” The ‘Christian’ family was so embarrassed by the son’s conversion to Islam that the brother thought the only recourse he had was to kill him. Out of all the cultures in the globe where honor killing is a very serious problem, how many have appened in America within a Christian family? Oh yeah—NONE. Is there a verse in the Bible one can point to where the Christian is instructed to kill the offending family member should he or she decide to convert to another religion? I think not. NCIS, what were you thinking? "

Model for air travel security may be El Al

CNN "El Al receives threats daily, yet it has not had a terrorist incident in more than 30 years, according to David Hermesh, El Al's president.".... "El Al attributes its record of safe travel to its tough security measures. "If you're a passenger on El Al, most likely you will be observed from the minute that you left your car or you have been dropped off ..."

Tea Parties: The Biggest Mistake We Could Make in 2010

Big Government "So, I see trouble brewing ahead for the Tea Party movement one that might lead to its being wasted and the frittering away of these potentially powerful passions will be the biggest mistake the right could make. Sadly, I can almost see no way to prevent it from happening. So, Happy New Year, sure, but let’s keep all this in mind and find a way to weld the Tea Party passion into action." But please! No third party- at least for conservatives.

Obama’s Shameful Handling of National Security Issues

Pam Meister , PJM "When he did finally make a public statement, it was pretty much boilerplate: ordering a review of security procedures and a promise to get the bad guys. All with the trademark “cool” that made him so different than his predecessor. Sorry, but “cool” isn’t what we need right now. We need someone who’s willing to fight."...."Does Obama have what it takes to stop them? I hate to say no, but that’s what it looks like from my little corner of the world. And it’s damn scary."

Editorial Cartoon by Signe Wilkinson, Philadelphia Daily News

AAEC

U.S. and allies must detain Afghan prisoners

Max Boot, WaPo "Some have been released and have gone on to commit fresh atrocities. Such a situation, which exists on a much bigger scale in Afghanistan, is profoundly demoralizing to troops. If service members see a "catch and release" policy in effect, they are likely to either pull back or pull the trigger prematurely. Both possibilities are worrisome. The former means more enemy fighters on the loose; the latter sullies our troops' honor, denies them the intelligence gleaned from interrogations and leads the remaining Taliban to fight harder. "

Connecting the Dots on Janet Napolitano’s Stupidity

Verum Serum "I think everyone would agree that the stupidest thing Janet Napolitano has said all year is that the “system worked” in reference to the failed terror attack on on Northwest flight #253 on Christmas Day. The second stupidest thing Napolitano has said this year, in my opinion, is most likely something you have not heard." Read it here. Also this by Clarice Feldman in AT: Napolitano in context

Learning from Abdul Mutallab

Victor Davis Hanson "... it is time to stop the apologetics and kowtowing, and grudgingly accept that thousands of radical Islamic fundamentalists worldwide want to kill Americans — and dozens of governments, at least on the sly, hope that they do. Such venom has nothing to do with past American behavior or George Bush's strut, nor can it be ameliorated on the cheap by Barack Obama's Nobel Prize, middle name, or reset-button diplomacy."