Dean Barnett takes an idiot “white flag” Republican to task.

A Mauritanian pilot and his passengers foiled a hijacking.

Has there been a successful hijacking since 911? I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone will be able to pull it off again.

…from the war. Jules Crittendon has a round up.

Mark Steyn:

Isn

The blogosphere is abuzz with this bit of vile nonsense from William Arkin at the WaPo.

Lileks isn’t impressed. Neither are the guys at BlackFive.

Neither am I. Disregarding the notion that those fighting for our country should have at least as much freedom of speech as anyone else (those ingrates!), the notion that they are mercenaries isn’t just wrong–it’s slanderous. As Lileks notes:

But it is the United States and instead this NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary – oops sorry, volunteer – force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.

Oops, indeed. That just slipped out. He temporarily forgot the patriotism that motivates many, and provides a definitional difference between mercs and volunteer soldiers, but thank God he caught himself in time. As for that dirty work, it is best understood in terms of soiled linen, which wives are ALWAYS complaining about. We don

NBC, in a novel approach, actually interviews troops in Iraq, to see what they think about war criticism at home. They’re not very impressed.

Are we about to get an operational missile defense?

O’Reilly said there would be no formal announcement that the system was operational. He predicted the capability to defend against enemy missiles and to continue testing and development work would be achieved within a year.

“It’s just a matter of maturation,” he told reporters after a speech hosted by the George C. Marshall Institute, a public policy group.

Have you?

Have you?

Have you?