How Not to Defeat al Qaeda

by Frederick W. Kagan & Kimberly Kagan "Al Qaeda, by contrast, seeks to rule all the world's 1.5 billion Muslims and to reduce the non-Muslim peoples to subservience. For al Qaeda, terrorism is a start, not an end nor even the preferred means. It goes without saying that the United States and the West would face catastrophic consequences if al Qaeda ever managed to obtain the ability to wage war by different means. Defeating al Qaeda requires more than disrupting its leadership cells so that they cannot plan and conduct attacks in the United States. It also requires preventing al Qaeda from obtaining the capabilities it seeks to wage real war beyond terrorist strikes." H/T to The Weekly Standard

Obama can't downsize to success in Afghanistan

LA Times "We do not have to create "Jeffersonian democracy" in Afghanistan. But we do have to keep it from becoming a terrorist haven. The only way to achieve that minimal objective is with a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy. If Obama blinks now, he will be doing grave damage not only to U.S. security but to his own credibility." Hat tip to Dawn Patrol .

Officials: Fed will need to boost rates quickly

Yahoo Finance "To prevent inflation from taking off, the Federal Reserve will need to start boosting interest rates quickly and aggressively once the economy is back on firmer footing, Fed officials warned Tuesday." Not entirely bad news, you realize?

From the Sergeant Major

Link "President Obama and General McCrystal need to review their history. When you treat the Afghans with kid gloves, they will bite off your hand."

American capitalism gone with a whimper (Repeat)

Pravda English "The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe."

The Past Is Not Quite Past

by Victor Davis Hanson "Each time I restudy the Pacific theater it become even more mysterious, absolutely inexplicable. I wish only that Obama had not spent his Sundays lapping up liberation theology from Rev. Wright but had read instead With the Old Breed, Guadalcanal Diary, or Goodbye, Darkness to understand why his country is what it is, and why it ensures him such a forum of respect and influence."

Sarkozy unloads on Obama's 'virtual' disarmament reality.

WSJ "We thought we'd never see the day when the President of France shows more resolve than America's Commander in Chief for confronting one of the gravest challenges to global security. But here we are."

20 Questions About Obamacare

Townhall "So, let's talk about the basic questions YOU should have answered to your satisfaction before you consider supporting any health care bill that comes out of Congress. As you read these questions, keep in mind that every one has been inspired by bills that are moving through Congress as we speak."

Senate Finance Committee Rejects Both Public Option Amendments

WaPo "Republicans stood solidly against both provisions, arguing that they would lead to complete government control over health care. But Schumer vowed to keep pressing for a public option on grounds it was the best way to control rising health-care costs. "

The Need to Think Critically

Probe Ministries "Another critical thinking skill is to be wary of is the appeal to authority. "Nothing is true just because some big shot says it is true."{2} In our culture, we practically worship experts (especially scientific experts), and willingly set aside our own beliefs and instincts if somebody with a white lab coat or letters after their name tells us something is true or right or good." Hat tip to Pete Smith in Texas.

Video: Community organizers pray to their new deity, or something; Update: Or do they?

Hot Air "The Gamaliel Foundation is a community-organizing group that acts as the ground troops for Barack Obama’s domestic policies, especially health-care reform. Anyone who has spent any time in church will recognize the worship cadence of this clip, which puts Obama in the place of the Lord in prayer:"

Obama has talked to David Letterman more than our Afghanistan commander

By Rick Moran "Yes, but Letterman never tried to tell the president unpleasant things. He's so jolly and funny while I'm sure that General McChrystal is just another Gloomy Gus military guy."...."For Obama, it's a question of priorities. Obviously, David Letterman can do him more good politically than General McChrystal. Besides, since most liberals believe military guys are just dumb brutes who serve no purpose except killing babies and threatening to take over the government, it's no wonder our community organizing president doesn't want to talk to him."