E!!

I am shocked and outraged.

It is well-established historical and political fact that America does not negotiate with terrorists regarding the release of hostages.  We do this so terrorists will not be emboldened to take even more hostages  in order to have even more of their demands met.

But apparently, about two weeks ago, Obama authorized the release of an Iran-backed terrorist who is responsible for the 2007 abduction/murder of American troops (five murdered, four of them after being kidnapped) in Karbala.  And did so as barter for five British hostages.  Or rather, for two dead bodies of former British hostages – because that is what we actually got back.  Two corpses.  In exchange for the freedom of a terrorist who murdered American soldiers.   

Andy McCarthy has all the details – including a very plausible theory about how Obama’s decision might be tied into some Guantanamo prisoners being sent to Bermuda.  Here’s the money quote from his piece:

Back in May 2008, in a speech before the Israeli Knesset, President Bush derided the “foolish delusion” of unidentified, naïve politicians who “seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along.” Exhibiting a thin-skinned consciousness of guilt, Sen. Barack Obama assumed Bush had been referring to him, and lashed out: “George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists.”

President Obama is now way beyond mere support of such engagement. Under his leadership, and even as the mullahs who have been at war with the United States for 30 years are engaged in a Tiananmen-style crackdown, Obama is neck-deep in terrorist-for-hostages negotiations with Iran-backed killers who have American blood on their hands.

A WaTi write-up is here.  Senators Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Jon Kyl of Arizona have written a letter demanding answers.  I would think so.  And where is the LameStream Media?  Still under the ether…

Remember when the Left snarked at Bush for the orchestration of various photo opps with the U.S. military? 

Apparently Obama’s PR people have decided to adopt the practice.  Including pre-screening and special-stamping military personnel based on who they voted for in November.

Here’s a great piece on it (on Hot Air).

Last week Conor Friedersdorf wanted specifics about acceptable methods of interrogation and torture from Bill O’Reilly (who had made some vague statements about it).  The comments that followed were interesting; a few of them were mine.  If you’re interested in the subject, it’s worth seeing what was said on both sides.

Samual Goldman, in another C11 post, also brought it up - and comments again ensued.

In general, I believe there are circumstances under which both war and “enhanced” interrogations are necessary - and that both can be conducted ethically.  And three waterboardings out of thousands of individuals captured in the war on terror does not send me reeling.

As for those who suggest it would be better to suffer American citizens to die than to pour a bucket of water down someones’s throat so they’ll cough up an answer?

Imagine one of the dead will be your child, your parent, your brother, or your friend - and then ask yourself whether you really mean it.

See photos in the Weird Weapons post.  What is that…?

? ? ?