The Libyans have successfully extorted more money out of the Europeans, this time for border control. Either pay us to guard our borders or be swamped by millions of African Muslims, Khaddafi said. They paid. Also, see Libya complaints about illegal immigration. Priceless. Here is a fascinating article on Brussels Journal, edited by my friend Paul Belien. He is a former contributor to the Wall Street Journal Europe, a free-market activist who started the Centre for the New Europe, and has just published a new book on the EU. It argues that the European Union—with its myriad official languages, socialist-minded regulators and desire to build an artificial state that transcends traditional borders—is simply an attempt to create Belgium on a continental scale. As such, the EU will face all of the problems now faced by Belgium. Buy it now.

Here another account, written by a former Green Beret who was on the same trip to Gitmo as Simmons. Note the details. One interrogator bakes cookies for her subjects, while another hands out doughnuts. Officers there say that kind approach works, citing the river of intelligence derived since Gitmo opened. Fine. But how much more would the alternative, harsher methods have produced? And how much faster?

Former intelligence operative (and now Fox News commentator) Wayne Simmons recently visited America's terrorist holding pens on the tip of Cuba. He took Air Force Two, along with some other worthies. He sent me this e-mail, which by his permission I will be quoting at some length. First, let me underline one point which is both original and frightening: Are the facilities so cushy at Gitmo that the terrorists have an incentive to delay talking in order to extend their stay? There have been cases, as one guard explained in another communication, that they actually had to force prisoners onto to planes to return to their home countries.

(more…)

I've long been hearing grumbling about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from Israelis, while the American Jews seem to think he walks on water. There are persistent rumors that Sharon or members of cabinet have been on the take for casinos based in the lands east of Jerusalem. Now, Caroline Glick of the Jerusalem Post, writes this column. I think it time for Americans to reevaluate Sharon and to put their faith in principles, not politicians. And to support the second only when they embody the first.

A gaggle of European leftists have moved from vocal opposition to the war in Iraq to actually funding the anti-democratic terrorists, what they so charmingly call "the resistance." Nevermind that their money could be used to kill American and European troops, that Iraq is the only Arab democracy, or that al Qaeda opposes every human right the Left once cherished. Raising funds in the heart of NATO for America's enemies… It is hard to believe.

Check out this leftwing European web site (English edition). Launched in November 2003, here is their call for 10 euros (about $13) per person to help finance our enemies:

• We therefore invite all the anti-imperialists who oppose the American Empire without any ideological and religious precondition to start an international collection of funds supporting the Iraqi national resistance movement: we ask every person to donate 10 euros. The Iraqi national resistance front in formation will decide upon their utilisation.
• Committees, political, social and cultural organisations as well as individuals who endorse this proposal are asked to contact us. Our aim is to build an international popular campaign in support of the Iraqi resistance which also implies the creation of the appropriate
  international body.

The effort has already raised several million euros, according to this week's U.S. News and World Report. Some of this money has actually gone to fund weapons, according to one organizer. Here's the money quote:

The groups are an odd collection, made up largely of Marxists and Maoists, sprinkled with an array of Arab emigres and aging, old-school fascists, according to Lorenzo Vidino, an analyst on European terrorism based at The Investigative Project in Washington, D.C. "It's the old anti-capitalist, anti-U.S., anti-Israel crowd," says Vidino, who has been to their gatherings, where he saw activists from Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. "The glue that binds them together is anti-Americanism."

The weenies at MSNBC called to postpone the interview. So sorry, guys, false alarm.

I will be on MSNBC's Connected Coast to Coast with hosts Ron Reagan and Monica Crowley at approximately Noon (EDT) on Thursday, June 16. Tune in. We will be talking about reports that place bin Laden in Iran.

Wanna buy a car bomb? $18,000. And remember, these are "friend prices." Those other jihadis, they pay more. Ask around the baazar. Terrorists who know shop here… Jassim Hazan Hamadi al-Bazi, also known by his al Qaeda name, Abu Ahmed, made and sold a variety of bombs and weapons for our enemies in Iraq. Now he is in Iraqi custody—and many lives have been saved as a result. Check out this story in Britain's Guardian newspaper. Dare I say it? One more sign that we are winning.

An acquaintance of mine, Mike Bussio, sent me the following e-mail.
I thought you readers might be interested in seeing it in full. I
haven't investigated it, but it sounds like the kind of bone-headed
thing the International Committee of the Red Cross would do.

(more…)

Longtime readers of this site will remember a post about a popular Iraqi television show called "Terrorists in the grip of Justice," which featured battered terrorists in Mosul and elsewhere confessing to their murderous deeds. It was reportedly highly popular and has seemed to mobilze public opinion against the anti-democratic terrorists. Now Christopher Hitchens, who I bumped into at a dinner for the son of the late Shah of Iran, has written about the Iraqi show for Slate. You heard it here first, but Hitchens' piece is worth a read.