First, here’s Mark Levin, discussing the New York Times’ framing of the strained decision.  Writes Levin: It seems to me that since the ACLU — the mother ship for the NYCLU and other affiliates — was one of the plaintiffs in the case, it would be nice if the Times would disclose this connection. But the biggest problem with the Times editorial is that is provides no serious analysis of

This time from Bryan Cunningham, who “served in senior positions in the CIA and as a federal prosecutor under President Clinton, and as deputy legal adviser to the National Security Council under President George W. Bush”: Whatever Judge Taylor’s motives, it is critical to understand the impact of her decision, were it allowed to stand. Among many damaging results, the Terrorist Surveillance Program, publicly credited not 72 hours ago with

Via Powerline (thanks to JWebb), “Satellite Blackout in Tehran”: Blog of the Week Vital Perspective notes that the government of Iran is going from building to building in Tehran, smashing satellite dishes. This can only be construed as an effort to cut Iranians off, as much as possible, from news originating in the outside world. Which strikes me as ominous, especially with August 22 only five days away. Notes Vital

From CNN: A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it. U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency’s program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say

From ABC’s The Blotter: A senior al Qaeda commander allegedly tied to the London airplane bomb plot has been arrested in Pakistan, Pakistani intelligence and law enforcement officials have told ABC News. Matiur Rehman, one of the most wanted men in Pakistan, is known to have met with the alleged plot ringleader Rashid Rauf, according to the officials. Rehman’s capture could provide the most important leads in months to the

Karr confesses.  From this morning’s Rocky Mountain News / AP: A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old’s death “an accident,” a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case. John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree

Because she earned the right to spit in a lot of faces, that’s for sure.  From the Rocky Mountain News, “Suspect named in JonBenet killing”: A man arrested in Thailand is being held in connection with the slaying of JonBenet Ramsey, law enforcement officials said today. John Karr, 41, a former Atlanta, Ga., resident, was arrested today in Bangkok, according to two people familiar with the investigation who spoke on

To my mind, it’s still too soon to say—and much depends upon whether or not Olmert’s strategy (if indeed what follows is his strategy) is being embraced behind the scenes—but Strategy Page seems to think that Israel has played its hand fairly well: The success of the ceasefire in Lebanon hinges on a condition that Lebanon and Hizbollah both insist will not happen. Hizbollah is supposed to disarm, but says

That UK terror plot that’s been all over the news?  Sullivan remains unconvinced that such a thing even existed.  In fact, Andrew appears to be leaning toward the position that the whole thing was a bit of cynical political theater—a thesis that would require Bush to control Tony Blair, the British press, and MI5 (which, to be fair, is hardly a stretch if the Jews can control the media, Hollywood,