Yes. Let's bomb Al Jazeera. What are we waiting for?

Okay, so it's hard to ignore all the news stories talking about how Tony Blair allegedly had to talk Bush out of bombing Al Jazeera (link goes to Blogs4God and includes linkage to other resources). The same Al Jazeera that, much like the New York Times, makes up stories out of thin air to make the terrorists look better and lead the bad guys anywhere within earshot think the US is losing the war.

Some say Dubya was joking. Ask me why should we even care whether he was joking or not? I say bomb it. And while we're at it, can we bomb the New York Times? Oh, and CNN? Maybe the BBC and CBS? I'm just joking, of course. Or am I? *snickering in an evil manner*

Listen people, Al Jazeera is a propaganda outlet for the bad guys. This isn't new. So why, I ask you, should I give a rat's posterior if Bush bombs it or not?

Perhaps the people who think I should care about Al Jazeera are the same people who think I should care that some US soldiers made the terrorists wear panties on their heads? Well, I don't. I say bomb it.

There are those that disagree with me, however (shocking, I know...) and feel that:

It seems this has to have been a joke. I can't think of many more colossally dumb strategic moves than taking out a TV giant launched by the emir and HQ'd in the same country where you have a military base. (By the way, it's irresponsible of Al-Jazeera to broadcast al-Qaida messages. It's despicable to show beheading tapes. It's vile. But bombing them would be bad all the way around, not to mention attack the principles of free speech for which we fight.)

Freedom of speech? For an outlet of sheer propaganda that isn't even headquartered in the US? Excuse me, but can you explain to me how Al Jazeera gets the same rights afforded American news outlets? Isn't that like screeching about the terrorists and how they deserve rights under the Geneva convention? *ahem* THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KILL US USING ANY MEANS NECESSARY. They do NOT have the same rights as US citizens. Al Jazeera isn't a US media source that gets ANY "rights" under our constitution.

It's the same kind of thing as opposing "torture" for the terrorists. It makes my skin crawl. Yes, we should torture these asshats if it means saving American lives. Yes, we should bomb an Arabic "news"/propaganda source if it saves American lives.

Since when do we care more about being "fair" and magnanamous than winning this damn war? Since when does a wartime president have to explain every little thing to the public? Since when does a wartime president tolerate propaganda from the enemy and allow collaborators run amok in the country we love and are supposedly trying to defend? During World War II, Japanese-Americans were rounded up and put in camps. Can you imagine the hew and cry if Iraqi-Americans were treated the same way? But people, it is within the rights of a wartime president to do such things.

If it means protecting America, we should be willing to do anything necessary. And lately I've been getting more than a little sick of the namby-pamby "let's understand them" crowd. This crowd wants me to feel barbaric and backward for believing that these people are whack-jobs hell-bent on killing us and that we should stop at nothing to protect ourselves.

A good friend of mine suggested that the eastern half of America should be designated "red" and the western half "blue". After a few years, we can watch the "blue" half self-destruct as their debauchery, elitism and moral relativism takes over. Soon enough they'll come begging the "red" half for our food and for us to protect them. I can see that. I can. Can you just imagine if the "blue" among us were in charge of protecting us? Makes ya' shudder, don't it.

Sorry. I digress. I guess I just feel very thankful that Dubya the Steel-Spined One is in office instead of some noodle-necked spineless wonder like Kerry when I hear stories like this one.

Happy Day After the Day After Thanksgiving ya'll!

Update Sunday 11/26:
FINALLY. Powerline weighs in with an article by Daniel Johnson from the NY Sun:

What interests me about the conversation in dispute is why anybody, let alone a worldly-wise politician and journalist like Mr. Johnson, should be surprised by it. Indeed, I would be surprised if Messrs. Bush and Blair had not discussed ways of limiting the damage done by Islamist propaganda, whose main conduit is indeed Al Jazeera TV. It may well be that the thought of silencing the Arab network crossed their minds, only to be dismissed as too risky. If so, were the two leaders wrong to consider that option?

I don't think so. That shutting down Al Jazeera would be desirable from the Anglo-American point of view is obviously true. And if Qatar, a Gulf state that is nominally an ally of America (on which it relies for its independence), has allowed its capital to become Al Qaeda's principal propaganda base, it has no right to expect America automatically to refrain from punitive action on its territory.

Just as jamming devices were deployed during the Cold War against hostile propaganda, so more modern technologies can now be used to bring pressure to bear on the likes of Al Jazeera. While judgements about program balance are notoriously subjective, there should be no argument about our right to interdict broadcasts of Al Qaeda videos that incite terrorism or wild claims of atrocities by Western troops. Other methods could include financial sanctions and denial of access or facilities to Al Jazeera journalists.

That's what I'm saying. Liberals will say we're being intolerant barbarians. To me and others, it's about winning this war and protecting our country. By any means necessary. Not defend Al Jazeera and maintain that it deserves or somehow has the same 1st Ammendment rights as an American news outlet? Have we forgotten against whom and what we're fighting??

Side note...I've already deleted a few comments from liberals berating me for being so unenlightened - in various colorful terms, of course, since liberals can't say ANYTHING without cursing, swearing, and trying to cast dispersions on someone's character. Notice to any liberal reading this considering a vile comment or two to post: It will be deleted and you will be banned. However, if you have something interesting to contribute, even if I don't happen to agree, please do.