In related news, Satan appeared on planet Earth today and credited himself with the founding of Christianity.

Are you freaking kidding me?

I am very optimistic about — about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You’re going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer. You’re going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government.

I spent — I’ve been there 17 times now. I go about every two months — three months. I know every one of the major players in all the segments of that society. It’s impressed me. I’ve been impressed how they have been deciding to use the political process rather than guns to settle their differences.

Biden and Obama opposed every single aspect of the Iraq War.

Biden and Obama opposed and criticized the Iraq surge.

Biden and Obama farmed every political talking point they could find to oppose the Bush Administration on Iraq.

Biden and Obama continue to bash their predecessors every chance they get.

And now they want to take credit for the success in Iraq???

Oh, but wait!

Sarah Palin has something written on her hand!!!!

So says Obama security advisor John Brennan in an op-ed in USA Today.

Really? Really??? Yes, really.

Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They will, however, be dismantled and destroyed, by our military, our intelligence services and our law enforcement community.

John Brennan is Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

If you need a common sense deconstruction of Brennan’s vapid pontifications, Byron York is happy to oblige.

Josh Gerstein at the Politico argues that everything would be better if people would just stop attacking Obama and treat him with the respect everyone gave George W. Bush…

“Eight years ago, a terrorist bomber’s attempt to blow up a transatlantic airliner was thwarted by a group of passengers, an incident that revealed some gaping holes in airline security just a few months after the attacks of September 11. But it was six days before President George W. Bush, then on vacation, made any public remarks about the so-called “shoe bomber,” Richard Reid, and there were virtually no complaints from the press or any opposition Democrats that his response was sluggish or inadequate.”

“That stands in sharp contrast to the withering criticism President Barack Obama has received from Republicans and some in the press for his reaction to Friday’s incident on a Northwest Airlines flight heading for Detroit.”

Here’s a thought, Josh. Maybe if Obama wasn’t phoning in his response from the 9th green we’d take it more seriously…

“In his studied desire to be the unBush by responding coolly to events like this, Obama is dangerously close to failing as a leader. Yes, it is good not to shoot from the hip and make broad assertions without the facts. But Obama took three days before speaking to the American people, emerging on Monday in between golf and tennis games in Hawaii to deliver a rather tepid address that significantly underplayed what happened.”

It clearly doesn’t. So why are we doing it?

“A prison complex 150 miles from Chicago will house Gitmo detainees, the Obama administration will announce Tuesday.”

“A senior administration official tells ABC News that on Tuesday the administration will announce that President Obama “has directed  that the federal government proceed with the acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois to house federal inmates and a limited number of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”

“Thomson Correctional Center is a  maximum security prison that opened in 2001 but has never been fully utilized because of state budget issues.”

“Information from the state of Illinois indicates that Thomson Correctional Center is a Level 1 adult male maximum-security facility comprised of 1,600 cells and eight housing units, none of which are currently used. The facility is on 146 acres and is currently surrounded by a 12-foot exterior fence and 15-foot interior fence — which includes a dual sided electric stun fence.”

“Closing the detention center at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al Qaeda,” the official said. “Tomorrow’s announcement is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objectives.”

Yeah, right.

The answer to my question above is simple. We’re doing it because Obama is beholden to his base to close Gitmo. Obama and his base are putting their political agenda ahead of national security.

Let me say that again. Obama’s success is more important to them than America’s national security.

John McCormack at the Weekly Standard just published a memo being circulated by Republicans on Capitol Hill regarding the decision. It’s well worth a read…

“Having failed to bring the Olympics to Illinois, President Obama will give Illinois an odd replacement gift just in time for the Holidays—al Qaeda terrorists from the Guantanamo detention facility. In announcing this decision, there still remains no explication of how closing Guantanamo makes America safer. Quite to the contrary, unnecessarily importing al Qaeda terrorists into the United States 1) gives them more legal protections, including Constitutional rights, than they have now at Guantanamo, 2) increases the chances they may be released into the country, and 3) in exchange for these significant costs, does not appease the Democratic base, and certainly will not appease al Qaeda.”

Read the whole thing.

UPDATE: Silly me! I didn’t know bringing Gitmo to Illinois was a jobs program!

President Obama is in Norway today to pick up his much deserved Nobel Peace Prize.

How’s the trip going so far? Awesome.

“Barack Obama’s trip to Oslo to pick up his Nobel peace award is in danger of being overshadowed by a row over the cancellation of a series of events normally attended by the prizewinner.”

“Norwegians are incensed over what they view as his shabby response to the prize by cutting short his visit.”

“The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children’s event promoting peace and a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel peace centre.”

“He has also turned down a lunch invitation from the King of Norway.”

Obama was also greeted by adoring fans.

“The president’s motorcade arrived at Oslo’s high-rise government complex to a few dozen anti-war protesters gathered behind wire fences nearby. Dressed in black hoods and waving banners, the demonstrators banged drums and chanted anti-war slogans. “The Afghan people are paying the price,” some shouted.”

“Greenpeace and anti-war activists planned larger demonstrations later that were expected to draw several thousand people. Protesters have plastered posters around the city, featuring an Obama campaign poster altered with skepticism to say, “Change?”

I think the people who decided Obama should get the Nobel Peace Prize were using it to try to influence American foreign policy. But now Obama has decided to send more troops to Afghanistan and they’ve all got egg on their faces.

I have no sympathy. Barack Obama is our president, the American president, not the president of Europe, Norway or the world.

There were no civilian trials for our attackers in 1941.

Why?

Not because of unemployment, not because of the economy, not because of the war in Afghanistan.

No. They’re meeting to discuss the one agenda item that’s lowest on the list of most Americans…

ObamaCare!

“WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will huddle with Senate Democrats on Sunday in a special meeting to discuss health-care legislation.”

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) has kept the Senate in a rare weekend session as senators try to complete work on a health-care bill before Christmas.”

“President Obama will meet with the full Democratic caucus at 2 p.m. EST Sunday, a spokesman for Sen. Reid said.”

“On Saturday evening, Senate Republicans forced Democrats to vote in favor of cutting billions from providers of home care for older people as partisan debate flared.”

“Democrats were meeting behind closed doors to try to reach agreement on how to structure a government-sponsored insurance option, one of the most controversial issues for Democrats in the debate. Mr. Reid has asked a group of 10 Senate Democrats to try to strike a compromise on the issue. The group includes proponents of a strong public plan like Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.) and Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio), and senators pushing for a more limited version including Sens. Tom Carper (D., Del.) and Mark Pryor (D., Ark.).”

“Several centrist Democrats have said they will not support the version that is in the bill now pending before the Senate. That public plan reimburses based on rates negotiated with health-care providers, and allows states that do not want to participate to opt out.”

The year is 2001. The debate is post 9/11 and it’s Charles Krauthammer versus known leftist and terror apologist, Tariq Ali.

DON’T watch these videos unless you like:

A. Charles Krauthammer

and/or

B. The taste of blood

PART I

PART II

In a way, Stewart is right. Obama is using the same strategy in Afghanistan that Bush used in Iraq. A strategy Senator Obama opposed under President Bush.