Brennan: Our critics are helping al-Qaeda

posted at 9:30 am on February 9, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

Wait — before I write this post, I want to give a senior Obama administration official a word first:

With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s point in mind, let’s turn to the conclusion of the op-ed written by John Brennan, Barack Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser, on the merits of public discourse and dissent regarding the most vital issue of our time — keeping the nation safe from attack by terrorists, emphasis mine:

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. And the notion that America’s counterterrorism professionals and America’s system of justice are unable to handle these murderous miscreants is absurd.

Gee, isn’t that remarkably similar to the type of thing the Left accused the Bush administration of saying?  In fact, that’s exactly what Clinton’s remarks were intended to address.  The motivation of dissent matters less than its relevance and truth — and the truth is that our nation’s counterterrorist professionals were not consulted in the handling of Abdulmutallab until after the Department of Justice forced a delay of weeks in getting information from the EunuchBomber.  DNI Dennis Blair and FBI Director Robert Mueller didn’t get a call until afterwards, and the High-Value Interrogation Groups (HIGs) hadn’t yet been commissioned almost a year after Obama shut down their predecessor interrogation groups.

So who conducted the interviews?  Local FBI agents with no particular knowledge of al-Qaeda’s network in Yemen.  They conducted a 50-minute interview without any of the context needed for real intel extraction.  And that’s not a criticism of the FBI agents; it’s a criticism of the Obama administration for not having the HIGs before last week after decommissioning the previous groups in February 2009, and of the decision by Eric Holder to read Abdulmutallab his rights before letting the CIA have a crack at him.

Now Brennan wants to screech about patriotism and how being held accountable for a series of screw-ups somehow makes the people demanding that accountability the handmaidens of Osama bin Laden.  If Brennan can’t handle accountability, maybe he should resign his position and let someone else with more testicular fortitude — and a better understanding of representative democracy — take his place.

Update: Byron York deconstructs Brennan’s straw men:

Now, however, those critics are questioning whether Brennan is trying to score a few political points of his own. First, Brennan supports the administration’s position, which most critics find absurd, that the initial 50-minute interrogation of Abdulmutallab — all the Justice Department would allow before he was read his Miranda rights — was somehow adequate. “Immediately after the failed Christmas Day attack,” Brennan writes, “Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was thoroughly interrogated and provided important information.”

Second, Brennan writes that, “The most important breakthrough occurred after Abdulmutallab was read his rights…” What Brennan does not say is that that breakthrough reportedly occurred several weeks after Abdulmutallab was read his rights. In the intervening period, apparently, investigators got little out of the suspect.

Third, Brennan sets up a fairly obvious straw man when he writes that, “Cries to try terrorists only in military courts lack foundation.” The argument over the treatment of Abdulmutallab is an argument specifically over the treatment of an al Qaeda soldier who was caught trying to blow up an airliner — not whether terrorists should be tried only in military courts. As far as I know, the critics who believe the administration made a serious mistake with Abdulmutallab also believe that there are other cases — involving financial or logistical support of terrorism, for example — that are well suited to the civilian court system.

Finally, Brennan repeats President Obama’s argument that the Bush administration’s treatment of about Richard Reid justifies the Obama administration’s handling of Abdulmutallab. “Would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid was read his Miranda rights five minutes after being taken off a plane he tried to blow up,” Brennan writes. “The same people who criticize the president today were silent back then.” Critics find the argument weak because when Reid was apprehended, in December 2001, the institutions to handle suspects like him did not exist. Should Bush have put Reid before a military commission? A high-value detainee interrogation group? Send him to Guantanamo? None of that existed in the early months of the war on terror.

Update II: My good friend Scott Johnson at Power Line has an excellent take on Brennan’s desperate flailing.

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Yeah, our fiscal responsibility is helping the terrorists. Not demanding their “rights” be read to them, supplying their leaders with technology (GE), and demanding that they not be interrogated.

Black = White

YoungAmerican on February 9, 2010 at 10:51 AM

Brennan writes that politics “should never get in the way of national security. But too many in Washington are now misrepresenting the facts to score political points, instead of coming together to keep us safe.”

Yes democrat…you have all kinds of credibility when it comes to “not politicizing” our National Security:

Congressman admits Democrats “stretched the facts,” misled anti-war supporters about supposed plans for ending War
Submitted by Jeff Emanuel on Thu, 05/22/2008 – 8:18pm.
http://jeffemanuel.net/paul-kanjorski-pa-11-admits-democrats-lied-about-being-able-to-end-war-in-iraq

You see, Paul Kanjorski has an honesty problem.
More specifically, Paul Kanjorski’s problem is that he was publicly honest about the intentional dishonesty of Congressional Democrats (and Democrat candidates) in the run-up to the 2006 election – particularly with regard to the War in Iraq.

Transcript:
“I’ll tell you my impression. We really in this last election, when I say we…the Democrats, I think pushed it as far as we can to the end of the fleet, didn’t say it, but we implied it. That if we won the Congressional elections, we could stop the war. Now anybody was a good student of Government would know that wasn’t true. But you know, the temptation to want to win back the Congress, we sort of stretched the facts…and people ate it up.”


…and this from the democratic leadership

Democrats Mull Politicizing Iraq War Intelligence
Wednesday, November 05, 2003

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102206,00.htmlget_a(300,250,”frame1″);
WASHINGTON — 

The memo, provided late Tuesday by a source on the Committee and reported by Fox News’ Sean Hannity, discusses the timing of a possible investigation into pre-war Iraq (search) intelligence in such a way that it could bring maximum embarrassment to President Bush in his re-election campaign.

Among other things, the memo recommends that Democrats “prepare to launch an investigation when it becomes clear we have exhausted the opportunity to usefully collaborate with the [Senate] majority. We can pull the trigger on an independent investigation of the administration’s use of intelligence at any time — but we can only do so once … the best time would probably be next year.”
The last paragraph of the memo reads, “Intelligence issues are clearly secondary to the public’s concern regarding the insurgency in Iraq.”

If Brennan wants to condemn those that are politicizing National Security,he need look no further than a mirror and his own democratic party.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 10:53 AM

The goals of the Republican Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.

Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Actually, the GOP wants to defeat the terrorists while Barry wants to hold a beer summit with them. Big difference there, Slick.

chewmeister on February 9, 2010 at 10:53 AM

I am so sick and tired of this administration screwing up, blaming others, and then politicizing the situation for their own gain.

Mr. Brennan needs to heed the words of Chris Matthews: “Charismatic leaders have done this country and this world a lot of harm.”

UltimateBob on February 9, 2010 at 10:54 AM

It was so much fun when Bush was president, then ‘anything goes’ keeping us safe worked so well.

tarpon on February 9, 2010 at 9:44 AM

FIFY

chewmeister on February 9, 2010 at 10:55 AM

The goals of the Republican Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.

Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Then why does every bin Laden tape sound like a Democrat campaign speech?

Last one, he even wailed about global warming. I think Axelrod may be moonlighting.

NoDonkey on February 9, 2010 at 10:56 AM

The Obama Administration had previously made statements that to ensure there was no harsh treatment that all interviews of “high value targets” would be done by the FBI, instead of the CIA.
So, even if Brennan had told GOP leaders that the FBI was interviewing Abdulmutallab, there was no reason for the GOP leaders to infer that this “high value target” had been or would be mirandized.

J_Crater on February 9, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Obama’s ‘partisan’ critics want the US government security apparatus to hit AQ harder and faster, and Bush’s partisan critics wanted the US government security apparatus to GO AWAY.

Chris_Balsz on February 9, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Obama doesn’t want his critics helping Al-Qaeda.

That’s his job.

Bow.

profitsbeard on February 9, 2010 at 11:01 AM

“Terrorists such as Jose Padilla and Saleh al-Mari did not cooperate when transferred to military custody, which can harden one’s determination to resist cooperation,” he writes.

KSM and thousands of other terrorist have cooperated in military custody,giving us very important intel that saved thousands of lives.
The documentation (some of it at least) has been released and it has shown the success we have had in stopping terrorist attacks over the years previous to Obama.

At one time,this intel made up over 70% of what we knew about al-qaeda and how we were going to stop their terrorist attacks.

The results speak for themselves:

2004

There were no successful attacks inside the United States or against American interests abroad.

2005

There were no successful attacks inside the United States or against American interests abroad.

2006

There were no successful attacks inside the United States or against American interests abroad.

2007

There were no successful attacks inside the United States or against American interests abroad.

2008

So far, there have been no successful attacks inside the United States or against American interests abroad.

…and many plots stopped dead in their tracks


Foiled Terror Plots Against America Since 9/11
Thursday , September 11, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,335500,00.html
By Joseph Abrams and Jonathan Passantino

The following is a list of known terror plots thwarted by the U.S. government since Sept. 11, 2001.

Brennan is making a dam# fool out of himself with this idiotic spin.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:02 AM

Moreover, Brennan says, hundreds of terrorists have been convicted in criminal courts while only three have been convicted in the military tribunal system.

Uh…there would have been many convicted in the military tribunal system if ideologues like Holder did not jam up the process with lawsuits and legal games and all out support for defending the terrorist with his law firm.

Democrats purposely screwing up the military tribunal system and then complaining that it did not work is beyond hypocritical and outright stupid.

But hey…if Brennan does not like the military tribunal system…then ask Obama to shut it down….he “won” you know.

Moreover, Brennan says, hundreds of terrorists have been convicted in criminal courts

When are we going to be given a list of these “terrorist” that have already been convicted.

I can’t wait to see what defines these individuals as “terrorist” but the Fort Hood Killer is not supposed to be one according to the “adults” in charge.

Brennan and Holder need to provide a list of who these “terrorist” are.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Brennan has already proved himself to be a liar. He has no credibility in my mind. Now he is cornered and this is his way of trying to fight back. the whole group is rudderless in a growing storm.

rjoco1 on February 9, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Soooooo….if mirandizing the crotch bomber is such a sore spot to the Obama Administration, and they feel the need to get out in front and claim that Aboo-Moo-Talub gave up “actionable intelligence”, how come we haven’t heard about other bombers being rounded up or disrupted?

Surely Barry would get right on tv and take credit for that, wouldn’t he? Just to show he’s not week on “man-made disasters”????

David2.0 on February 9, 2010 at 11:11 AM

The lies and misrepresentations are so blatant I suspect that Brennan’s mission was to preach to the choir and buck up Obama’s base supporters, who will not be motivated to apply any fact-checking or rational analysis.

Or are Obama and his “brain trust” really so foolish as to think this preposterous propaganda actually influences any rational and informed person?

novaculus on February 9, 2010 at 11:12 AM

The former CIA official also asserts that the Obama administration is doing a better job than the Bush administration did in taking the fight to al Qaeda. “This administration’s efforts have disrupted dozens of terrorist plots against the homeland and been responsible for killing and capturing hundreds of hard-core terrorists, including senior leaders in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and beyond — far more than in 2008.”

Does super genius Brennan and the rest of the “adults” in Obama’s White House know that Bush was President much longer than 2008…..why are they only referencing 2008….
ohhhh…I get it….for talking points.

Get back to us when Obama can match this:


It’s Official: War on Terror Is the Most Successful Military Campaign In US
History
Monday, January 19, 2009, 1:49 AM
Jim Hoft
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/01/its-official-war-on-terror-is-the-most-successful-military-campaign-in-us-history/

Before President George W. Bush leaves office it’s only fitting to give credit to where credit it due. Although you would not know this from the anti-Bush media or democrats, the US military has waged the most successful major military campaign in American history these past 8 years.

In Afghanistan:
The US has suffered 604 fatalities in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda has suffered 12,000 fatalities. 28,700 militant Islamists have been captured.

In Iraq:
The US has suffered 4227 fatalities in Iraqi Freedom. More than 19,429 Al-Qaeda and Islamic militants have been killed. Over 18,900 insurgents have been captured.

Not only that but as Vice President Dick Cheney said this week we’ve achieved most of the objectives in Iraq that were established in the spring of ‘03:

We’ve got the violence level down to its lowest level since ‘03. We’ve had three national elections, a constitution written, a new government stood up, new army recruited and trained, the Iraqis increasingly able to take on responsibility for themselves. And we’ve now entered into a strategic framework agreement with the new Iraqi government that will provide for the ultimate withdrawal of U.S. forces.

You could not have asked for much more than that in terms of the policies that we started on in ‘03.

Yea…if I was a mouth piece for Obama like Brennan is,I would only talk about 2008 also…..because there was not much success for Bush there except…SIGNING THE SOFA AGREEMENT THAT PRETTY MUCH SEALED OUR WIN IN IRAQ.

You know Brennan…the war your democratic friends said we could not win.

Using the surge super smart Obama,Biden,and the rest of the “adults” said would not work.

I don’t even think this idiotic drivel served up by Brennan could be consumed by the fact depraved huffpo crowd,much less anyone in our intelligence agencies and objective foreign policy analyst.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:27 AM

“We need no lectures about the fact that this nation is at war,” he says.

Then act like it….
You could start by having more to say about the Afghanistan war than a flimsy paragraph in the SOTU speech and meeting with the head of the Unions,playing golf,and hosting basketball games more than 10 times the amount you see and address our Generals in charge of this war.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:31 AM

“There’s no war on terror, but there’s a war on obesity” — Rudi Giuliani

Sums up this administration (but those who oppose Obama enable the terrorists). The syrup is schadenfreudig.

Schadenfreude on February 9, 2010 at 11:34 AM

This from the guy that stopped the Bun Laden unit from killing Bin Laden. Brennan’s utterly incompetent.

Cr4sh Dummy on February 9, 2010 at 11:41 AM

terrorists are not 100-feet tall.

This is not a serious person. Or he feels that the USA Today readership are bunch of boobs. Maybe both.

curved space on February 9, 2010 at 11:46 AM

In other words, speaking for the Obama Administration, Brennan is now saying: “You’re either with us or against us in the fight against terror.”

Hmmm. Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, that’s what Senator Barack Obama condemned George Bush for saying in his prosecution on the war on terror, back in the day when kneejerk enemy-comforting dissent was patriotic or something.

But just like his promises for transparency in government, racial healing, respectful bipartisanship, smart diplomacy & fiscal responsibility, it would seem that even Obama’s cynically self-serving criticisms of the previous Administration’s policies against Al Qaeda have an expiration date on them too.

leilani on February 9, 2010 at 11:48 AM

After this administration is tossed out (and it will happen) Brennan needs to sit trial for his idiocy and treason. Of course, Brennan is just one of many traitors infesting the halls of the White House.

neurosculptor on February 9, 2010 at 11:49 AM

He suggests that many critics are hypocritical and clueless.

Here is “hypocritical and clueless for you”:


Holder in ’02: It’s “Hard to Interrogate” Enemy Combatant in the U.S. Because “He Has a Lawyer”
BY Stephen F. Hayes
February 3, 2010 6:05 PM
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/holder-02-its-hard-interrogate-enemy-combatant-us-because-he-has-lawyer

In a letter today to Senator Mitch McConnell, Attorney General Eric Holder defended his decision to have FBI agents read Miranda rights to Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and to charge him in civilian court.  Holder challenged the claims of some critics that the presence of a lawyer would in any way hurt U.S. intelligence collection from Abdulmutallab.

“I am…confident that the decision to address Mr. Abdulmutallab’s actions through our criminal justice system has not, and will not, compromise our ability to obtain information needed to detect and prevent future attacks.”


As usual with liberals…..their stances on policies depend on which way the wind is blowing.


Holder said: “Well, I mean, it’s hard to interrogate him at this point now that he has a lawyer and now that he is here in the United States. But to the extent that we can get information from him, I think we should.”

Holder went on to say that whatever information the U.S. government would likely come from an attempt by Lindh and his lawyer to seek a plea bargain with the United States.

Please Brennan….ignore your party’s own failure and hypocrisy so that you can create your pathetic straw man argument.

But I am sure your democratic friends and the international community are relived that the Obama administration has restored the rule of law and rights for the terrorist…..oh wait…:


Obama Administration: Guantanamo Detainees Have More Rights than Bagram Detainees, Who Have None
September 15, 2009 4:15 PM
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/obama-administration-guantanamo-detainees-have-more-rights-than-bagram-detainees-who-have-none.html

Whatever limited rights detainees at Guantanamo have under the U.S. Constitution, the Obama administration argued in a brief filed last night, they are not shared by detainees in Afghanistan.

President Obama’s Justice Department last night filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia arguing that the 600 or so detainees the U.S. is holding in Afghanistan at Bagram Air Base have no right to have their cases heard in U.S. courts.  Unlike detainees at Guantanamo, those being held in Bagram – many of whom were picked up outside of Afghanistan — have had no access to attorneys or to even hear the allegations against them.


What color ribbons will hollywood wear to this years Oscars in support of the torture and lack of rights being inflicted upon the poor jihadist in Bagram???????

Obama supports extending Patriot Act provisions
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett, Associated Press Writer Tue Sep 15, 7:11 pm ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090915/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_patriot_act

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration supports extending three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are due to expire at the end of the year, the Justice Department told Congress in a letter made public Tuesday.


I thought liberals kept whining about how this was destroying our Constitution and the fabric of this country…..


U.S. Says Rendition to Continue, but With More Oversight
NYTimes
By DAVID JOHNSTON

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will continue the Bush administration’s practice of sending terrorism suspects to third countries for detention and interrogation, but pledges to closely monitor their treatment to ensure that they are not tortured, administration officials said Monday.

Ohhhhhhhhh
MYYYYYYYYYYYY
GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Obama is the torturer and chief!!!!

Indefinite Detention With or Without Trial
Jacob Sullum | July 9, 2009, 12:28pm

So the Obama administration is all for due process, as long as it produces the correct result. Obama already has said that Guantanamo detainees who cannot be successfully tried by military commissions or civilian courts can still be imprisoned indefinitely if they are considered too dangerous to release. Now Johnson is saying that even those who are prosecuted can be kept imprisoned regardless of the verdict. The only point of prosecuting them, it seems, is to create an impression of due process while continuing the Bush detention policies that Obama condemned during the campaign.   


Looks like Bush is not a war criminal after all….all he needed to have these types of policies accepted by the liberal “smart ones” is a (D) beside his name.

Great op ed there Brennan….I can’t think of a better display of liberal ignorance,hypocrisy,and politicizing than you are doing with this pathetic drivel.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:55 AM

I do feel for the honest guys who want to keep us safe! Obama is what is hurting our safety. Obama’s weakness emboldens them. But they can’t fix that. So what else can they do than try to make Obama seem smarter and stronger by blaming his critics.

It’s desperate. The fact is we are not safe with Obama as President. His flailing around with terror has been a disaster. And now it is only luck that is keeps them from succeeding.

Only luck. So cross your fingers everyone!

petunia on February 9, 2010 at 12:00 PM

“There’s no war on terror, but there’s a war on obesity” — Rudi Giuliani

Sums up this administration (but those who oppose Obama enable the terrorists). The syrup is schadenfreudig.

Schadenfreude on February 9, 2010 at 11:34 AM

Did Rudy really say that? LOL!

petunia on February 9, 2010 at 12:03 PM

CYA Bennen refuses to address his responsibility to PROVIDE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. Get past your own defects, crybaby Brennen, and do your job. INTERROGATE CAPTURED TERRORISTS AND PREVENT RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORIST ATTACKS.

Btw, get Obama to fill vacant positions including the Congressional legislated/funded citizens’ ombudsman whose vacancy has NOT been overseeing the federal cybersecurity czar’s performance even as that spy czar’s position has been augmented to bypass all Constitutional balances of power.

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:03 PM

So, if you’re arrested by the FBI, is it ok for them to delay Mirandizing you for 50 minutes? If we’re going to treat terrorists like U.S. citizens, we need to do it right. This quasi-semi legal rights process has the potential to erode the rights of real U.S. citizens.

hawksruleva on February 9, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Only luck. So cross your fingers everyone!

petunia on February 9, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Yes, only Providence. Rather, pray for America and prepare your hands for self defense.

Meanwhile, maintain records for Obama’s impeachment, and garner alliance.

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:10 PM

I can’t wait to see what defines these individuals as “terrorist” but the Fort Hood Killer is not supposed to be one according to the “adults” in charge.

Brennan and Holder need to provide a list of who these “terrorist” are.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Don’t forget the muslim fellow who attacked the recruiting center in Arkansas. Is he being tried in civilian court? Because according to Holder’s rules, if he attacked military personnel, he should be subject to a tribunal.

hawksruleva on February 9, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Wow, Baxter Greene. Thank you for all the direct documentation of the politicization of the the previous administration’s war on terror for partisan purposes by Obama, Brennan & their fellow Dems.

Their chutzpah is absolutely breathtaking. If flaming hypocrisy were military ordinance, Brennan’s op-ed would have made for one hell of a “Shock & Awe” offensive all by itself.

leilani on February 9, 2010 at 12:15 PM

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 11:55 AM

Bravo!

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Dissenting over war is helping the Big Bad Enemy.

Boy does this whole theme sound familiar…

Dark-Star on February 9, 2010 at 12:19 PM

Obama Administration: Guantanamo Detainees Have More Rights than Bagram Detainees, Who Have None
September 15, 2009 4:15 PM
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/obama-administration-guantanamo-detainees-have-more-rights-than-bagram-detainees-who-have-none.html

Whatever limited rights detainees at Guantanamo have under the U.S. Constitution, the Obama administration argued in a brief filed last night, they are not shared by detainees in Afghanistan.

President Obama’s Justice Department last night filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia arguing that the 600 or so detainees the U.S. is holding in Afghanistan at Bagram Air Base have no right to have their cases heard in U.S. courts. Unlike detainees at Guantanamo, those being held in Bagram – many of whom were picked up outside of Afghanistan — have had no access to attorneys or to even hear the allegations against them.

What color ribbons will hollywood wear to this years Oscars in support of the torture and lack of rights being inflicted upon the poor jihadist in Bagram???????

It took a few months after the Jihadist US Army Major Hassan terrorized and assassinated so many in Ft. Hood, but finally the “one world” Unitarian Church in a neighboring town removed their 2008 billboard that posted, “Torture Is Wrong,” just in time to excuse/ignore this torture from the Left.

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:28 PM

offline?

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:30 PM

Lambast away, Brennan. I hope you don’t play serious poker, because you tip your hand in the most obvious fashion.

Deputy National Security Advisor my eyeball. More like Deputy Barney Fife.

hillbillyjim on February 9, 2010 at 12:34 PM

Bankrupting America helps al-qaeda.

Ronnie on February 9, 2010 at 12:37 PM

In an oped in USA Today, John Brennan — Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism — responds to critics of the Obama administration’s counterterrorism policies by saying “Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda.”

As with most liberal accusations….Brennan presents nothing to back this idiotic statement up.

But when it comes to demagoguery …nobody does it better than democrats:


Town hall protesters are “evil-mongers,” says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

Reid coined the term in a speech to an energy conference in Las Vegas this week and repeated it in an interview with Politics Daily.

“What I don’t want to do is create an opportunity for the people who are political terrorists to blow up the meeting and not try to answer thoughtful questions.”

Rep. Baron P. Hill concerning his local constituents and their disagreement concerning Obama’s Health Care bill.


Hoyer, Pelosi call protests against ObamaCare “un-American”


‘Un-American’ attacks can’t derail health care debate

By Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer
op-ed in USA today.

Of course when Bush was President….it was different:


‘06 Flashback: Pelosi Tells Anti-War Protesters ‘I’m a Fan of Disruptors’


January 17, 2006: “So I thank all of you who have spoken out for your courage, your point of view. All of it. Your advocacy is very American and very important.”


“It’s un-American to hold anyone indefinitely without trial,” Moran added. “It’s against our principles as a nation.”

  Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), who pushed Barack Obama to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the US for criminal trials, says that criticism of the decision is “un-American”:

…Moran might want to look no further than Obama in criticizing this…..



Shock: Puddle-Headed Liberal Joan Walsh of Salon Finds Criticism of Obama “Traitorous”

The climate right now is that Republicans use everything they can to undermine and delegitimize this president. And it‘s actually un-American. It‘s traitorous, in my opinion.

….Quite a different stance than when Bush was President…

here is Gary Kamiya, writing in Joan Walsh’s Salon webzine, soon after the fall of Baghdad:

I have a confession: I have at times, as the war has unfolded, secretly wished for things to go wrong. Wished for the Iraqis to be more nationalistic, to resist longer. Wished for the Arab world to rise up in rage. Wished for all the things we feared would happen. I’m not alone: A number of serious, intelligent, morally sensitive people who oppose the war have told me they have had identical feelings.

….But this is just “patriotic dissent” according to super
smart John Walsh.


Video: Chris Matthews compares the GOP to the Khmer Rouge

Courtesy of Ken Shepard at NewsBusters, a tasty bite of MSNBC’s Chris Matthews likening the Republican Party to genocidal Communists who slaughtered millions:



Democrat: Republicans hate ObamaCare because they’re racists. Also, Castro’s a genius.

The boss has been tracking Diane Watson’s race-baiting for years,


(D)Senator: ObamaCare opponents all birthers and racists;

Mark Steyn points us to these remarks by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in response to the stubborn opposition to Democrats’ attempts to have the federal government reorder a sixth of the American economy.


Rangel Plays Race Card, Says Obamacare The Victim

The “it” is playing the race card. Rangel said “bias” and “prejudice” are fueling opposition to health care reform.

Jesse Jackson: “You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man”

Carter Claims There Is “Racist” Tone Against Obama


“I think it’s based on racism,” Carter said. “There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”


But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!

Maureen Dowd..voice that she heard in her head



House Democrat: If we don’t censure Joe Wilson, the KKK will ride through the countryside



Nuts. Dem Grayson Now Compares GOP Health Care Plan to Holocaust & 9-11


Grayson: Imprison my critic for five years!


Just five years?  Why doesn’t Grayson just demand that Holder chop off her head?  After all, that’s the remedy that royalty and nobility usually demand.  (Drawing and quartering went out of fashion a while back, although Braveheart did its best to bring it back into vogue.)

Brennan has no room to talk when it comes to demagoguery and hate when opposing someones views……

……But I guess super genius here still has no problem with the democratic Senatorial leader Harry Reid announcing that the “War in Iraq is lost” while our Soldiers were still on the front lines……

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 12:38 PM

Accountability is suddenly not patriotic.

Funny, you sang a different tune from 2002-2008.

Grow Fins on February 9, 2010 at 12:38 PM

maverick muse on February 9, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Thanks….
…can you believe this idiot has a position of helping shape foreign policy????

What a tool.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 12:41 PM

Funny, you sang a different tune from 2002-2008.

Grow Fins on February 9, 2010 at 12:38 PM

So did you……

….But please explain how calling the democrats out on their willful use of the difficulties of war as a political tool and fighting against surrendering to al-qaeda “helped the enemy” from 2002-2008.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Their chutzpah is absolutely breathtaking. If flaming hypocrisy were military ordinance, Brennan’s op-ed would have made for one hell of a “Shock & Awe” offensive all by itself.

leilani on February 9, 2010 at 12:15 PM

You are exactly right…
which only goes to strengthen the point that democrats will say and do anything to gain political power.

Absolutely corrupt.

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 12:45 PM

The goals of the Republican Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.

Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

If that’s the best you’ve got, then you’ve run out of soap grease, as we rednecks like to say. You really are a pathetic excuse for a human being.

The goals of the right-leaning side of the GOP are designed with the preservation of the country, its citizens, our way of life. and our liberty as primary and necessary goals.

In other words, you lie.

Someone remind me to never waste my time on this individual again. Please.

hillbillyjim on February 9, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Don’t forget the muslim fellow who attacked the recruiting center in Arkansas. Is he being tried in civilian court? Because according to Holder’s rules, if he attacked military personnel, he should be subject to a tribunal.

hawksruleva on February 9, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Great point….
But then consistency and reality are not a strong point for liberals so this is no surprise.

I believe that shooter has also admitted to working in conjunction with al-qaeda if I remember correctly????

Baxter Greene on February 9, 2010 at 12:48 PM

The goals of the Republican National Socialist Democrat Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.
Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

FIFY

Insert witty screen name here on February 9, 2010 at 12:52 PM

The syrup is schadenfreudig.

Schadenfreude on February 9, 2010 at 11:34 AM

Schadenfrazizzle!

(OT: Have you seen E. lately?)

hillbillyjim on February 9, 2010 at 12:52 PM

Suddenly dissent is the highest form of treason.

t.ferg on February 9, 2010 at 1:19 PM

BRENNAN?………part of the collection of FOOL TOOLS in the Obama White House!!

PappyD61 on February 9, 2010 at 1:35 PM

I think Brennan’s questioning my patriotism!

PatMac on February 9, 2010 at 1:40 PM

Nothing will change, nothing can change with these people. They will never learn. In the end, they will just start a war. Obama will drop bombs on Iran. What else will be left to him? This is how it is with weak and corrupt and cornered men.

And this is the difference between a Bush and an Obama. Bush identified and took on an enemy when he had everything to lose politically, yet something of value greater than himself to protect. Obama will start a war when he has nothing left to lose, and will seek political salvation in those things he has never valued and indeed only scorned.

I’m not sure if he’ll start the war in autumn 2010 or 2012, but I have no doubt.

rrpjr on February 9, 2010 at 1:45 PM

The war is lost.

George Bush is a liar

Shove it, Brennan.

drjohn on February 9, 2010 at 1:59 PM

STAGED TERROR ATTACKS, ANYONE?!

BobAnthony on February 9, 2010 at 3:10 PM

NEWS FLASH:
Al Qaeda and Taliban buying up Toyota automobiles for ready made terrorist devices.

Cybergeezer on February 9, 2010 at 3:50 PM

Clinton’s voice is so grating. At any rate, has this guy been living under a rock for the last nine years? Dhimicrats were actively agreeing with foreign hatred of Bush and actively attempting to subvert this country’s security. This guy is either insane or has the biggest balls ever.

Claypigeon on February 9, 2010 at 6:45 PM

“He betrayed this country! He played on our fears!”

Sorry!, I just wanted to drop the reminder of that quote. Now I need to go outside and shovel three-new inches of global warming out of my driveway.

BTW… Maybe someone should put out an Amber Alert on AlGore…

shorebird on February 10, 2010 at 2:34 AM

The goals of the Republican Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.

Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

So is this going to be the new Ignorant Blind Puppet Monkey Chant of the Week? Oh… and as a reminder to hillbillyjim , never waste your time on this individual again… except for s#its and Giggles of course.

ronnyraygun on February 10, 2010 at 10:14 AM

The goals of the Republican Party and al-Qaeda are aligned against Obama and the country.

Decider on February 9, 2010 at 10:12 AM

Gotta agree, we’re both against a Marxist revolution in America.

Chris_Balsz on February 10, 2010 at 12:01 PM

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