Any Port in a Storm Part VII: News Out of Context

The day just wouldn’t be complete without a port post. Today’s “bombshell” is that the Coast Guard had unresolved intelligence issues. What gets left out of the stories is this, from The Coast Guard itself:

STATEMENT BY COAST GUARD SPOKESMAN CMDR. JEFF CARTER ON COAST GUARD PORT TRANSACTION ANALYSIS

WASHINGTON – “What is being quoted is an excerpt of a broader Coast Guard intelligence analysis that was performed early on as part of its due diligence process. The excerpts made public earlier today, when taken out of context, do not reflect the full, classified analysis performed by the Coast Guard. That analysis concludes ‘that DP World’s acquisition of P&O, in and of itself, does not pose a significant threat to U.S. assets in [continental United States] ports.’ Upon subsequent and further review, the Coast Guard and the entire CFIUS panel believed that this transaction, when taking into account strong security assurances by DP World, does not compromise U.S. security.”

So, the very Federal agency quoted says the quotes were taken out of context, and do not reflect the full, classified analysis performed by the Coast Guard. Agenda journalism, anyone?

A Win for Right-to-Life: 8-0 Decision

Big, big setback for the abortionist lobby. The first of many, I hope.

Unholy Lawsuit

The runup to The Da Vinci Code movie has begun with a lawsuit. Now, if you read the wild, historically inaccurate supposedly “nonfiction” Holy Blood, Holy Grail then you’re familiar with the background of Dan Brown’s fictional novel. To deny that claim is simply foolish. But to call it plagiarism? That may be a stretch. As Sarah Crown says so well:

As all good postmodernists know, there is no such thing as an original idea. There is, technically, nothing stopping two people having precisely the same thought, especially on such a well-trodden subject as religion. As somebody somewhere once said, originality is the art of remembering what you heard but forgetting where you heard it.

In these days of linky-love(Linky-love stolen from Beth at MVRWC) bloggers don’t have the luxury of “forgetting” where we read something. Blogging would be alot easier if we could.

Sarah also has a great theory on the whole lawsuit silliness. I have to admit I thought of this, but since she wrote it down first, and to avoid any lawsuits before the Liberty Just in Case movie comes out, I’ll give her proper credit:

So let’s forget about all this plagiarism nonsense. The far more interesting aspect of the Dan Brown case, in my opinion, is the Da Vinci-lite conspiracy theory I came up with all by myself, way back in 2005. The Da Vinci Code and The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail are both, thanks to a series of industry takeovers, published by Random House. Surely this entire farrago is nothing more than a huge sales-driving stunt, carefully orchestrated by Random House to manipulate us poor, impressionable readers? The court case will no doubt generate fantastic pre-publicity for the Da Vinci Code film; meanwhile, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail has shot up the Amazon bestseller charts from number 173 yesterday lunchtime to number 10 at the time of writing. I suspect marketing management on the grandest scale.

Grand scale marketing from Hollywood to promote an upcoming blockbuster? Say it isn’t so!

Note: My custom is to link to the books I mention. I get a small percentage of any purchases that come from the links. I want no profit from either Holy Blood, Holy Grail or The Da Vinci Code. I’ll put the titles in parenthesis, but will not link them.

MilTracker: Good News From the U.S. Military

MilTracker: U.S. Military News is a new site, run by Phil Van Treuren of Camp Katrina fame. Sure to be a favorite for anyone interested in the truth about what our military is doing around the world.

Death Happens in Threes: Dennis Weaver

Loved McCloud, and love the Gunsmoke reruns on TVLand. But my favorite has to be Duel, still one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. I never pass a eighteen wheeler without that movie going through my head.

Keeping Track of the Flu

The Flu Wiki is a great site for the latest info on the bird flu spreading throughout the world. If you don’t think it’s still spreading, take a look at this.

A New Beginning

Nariel of Ancient Eyes was baptized yesterday. Her post is up about the experience. Well worth reading. Write a congratulatory comment if you are so inclined.

Duke Cunningham: A Sad Fall for a former Hero

Duke Cunningham deserves to go to jail. No question about it. His corruption is abhorrent, and his disgrace is well deserved.

But before we destroy Congressman Cunningham, let’s remember Lt. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, an ace fighter pilot, and winner of the Navy Cross for heroism and air marksmanship. On May 10, 1972, Duke shot down three MIG fighters. His record of that day still stands. In fact, no matter what he did as a Congressman, his military record will always stand. No one can take that away from Lt. Cunningham, not even himself.

Iraq: Some Positive News.

It’s a bit of an active day in Iraq with a few good developments…

Iraq Official: Top Zarqawi Aide Captured

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – Interior Ministry forces captured a top aide to al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi during a raid in western Iraq, a security official said Monday.

The official, a member of the ministry’s counterinsurgency Wolf Brigade, identified the key al-Qaida figure as Abu al-Farouq, who was previously unknown. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Yes, another number 2, in a long line of number 2’s, but it’s progress.

Speaking of progress, maybe the freedom and independance tune is finally reaching the ears of the Sunnis…

Sunnis Said Ready to End Boycott of Talks

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Sunni Arabs are willing to end a boycott of talks to form a unity government if Shiites meet certain conditions, a top Sunni said on Monday amid reports that a kidnapped U.S. reporter is alive and that a top Al Qaeda terror leader was captured.

Four people were killed in scattered attacks.

Interior Ministry forces captured a top aide to Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi during a raid in western Iraq, state television reported Monday.

It’s all good news, but as always it must be tempered… Iraq is still unstable, and will be for a while, people don’t learn to walk overnight.

Any Port in a Storm Part VI: What We Have Here…

…Is a failure to communicate.

(Welcome Instapundit Readers, please stay a while and have a look around.)

The great danger for great leaders is making assumptions about your followers. An officer assuming unquestioned obedience from the troops as you charge the machine gun nest can get you killed. A President assuming unquestioned support for your Supreme Court nominee can get you embarrassed. Failing to explain the rationale for surviellance of terrorists without warrants can cost you the program, and give the Defeatocrats an opening they so desperately desire. And assuming a port deal will go through unquestioned in the September 12th World can lose you an important ally in the Middle East, and drop your poll numbers even more if you are President.

Robert Novak’s column details the lack of communication that is becoming a theme for the Bush White House:

Deputy Secretary Robert Kimmitt, an experienced Washington hand, managed the deal at Treasury without giving a heads-up to top Republicans in Congress. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist might have been less quick to attack the port arrangement if they’d had advance word. Hastert heard nothing from a former staffer, Kevin Fromer, now handling Treasury legislative affairs.

When the Democrats first opened fire, Presidential Counselor Dan Bartlett was alerted by congressional Republicans to stormy waters ahead and urged to do something about it. Bartlett replied in the imperial style of this presidency by suggesting he hoped Republicans could support the deal, but if they could not, it just would be too bad. That was followed by the president’s rare session with reporters aboard Air Force One in which he threatened a veto.

Sen. Richard Shelby, whose Banking Committee has jurisdiction of the issue, was silent at first, but only because he was traveling in Europe. When he issued a brief, limited circulation statement last Thursday, it was not good news for the White House. “From Treasury’s perspective,” he said, “the [foreign acquisitions] process with respect to the Dubai transaction worked perfectly; from the Banking Committee’s perspective, it failed miserably.” He set hearings for Thursday that will not be pleasant.

The rest of the world may wonder how a relatively routine commercial transaction turned Republican leaders against their president. Frank McKenna, the Canadian ambassador who is leaving Washington this week, has cracked the code by appreciating the existence of two U.S. governments, one executive and the other legislative. That system requires more presidential finesse than was displayed in handling the Dubai contract.

Theodore Roosevelt was the first to understand the true power of the Presidency. His use of the Bully pulpit set the standard for future administrations. His cousin FDR understood the bully pulpit, and changed America forever. John Kennedy understood the true power of the office, and launched us to the Moon. Ronald Reagan instinctively mastered the power, and brought down the Soviet Union. Bill Clinton mastered the power of the Presidential pulpit, and survived impeachment.

President Bush has failed to master the Bully pulpit in time of war, and has seen his popularity go from the low 90’s to the low 40’s. Each time the President explains, communicates the “why” of a decision, his poll numbers go up. And it helps me, as a loyal follower of this President, support his decision. But when he blindsides me, a lowly blogger, as he did with the Harriet Miers choice, and the NSA Terrorist Surveillance program, and most recently the Port decision, it puts me in the position of a private asked to charge the machine gun nest of my left leaning readers.

Mr. Bush and his Administration assume I’ll follow, no questions asked, as a loyal Republican. Those who have been reading Liberty Just in Case for any length of time know that’s a foolish assumption. The great failing of this Administration is the failure to recognize the Power of the Presidency is communicating, explaining, convincing. For a brief shining moment, following 9/11, the President understood it. He “got it.” His understanding has been slipping away bit by bit since those fateful days. Until he and his administration get that understanding of the Power of the Presidency back, they will continue to be involved in political firestorm after firestorm. And the war effort will suffer for their failure.