Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Why Hasn't Obama Stopped Terrorism?
This is ridiculous to the point that I have difficulty believing it. But apparently, yes, MSNBC news anchor Alex Witt was truly expecting terrorists to lay off the attacks for awhile, as part of the universal joy that attended the election of Barack Obama:
ALEX WITT: You know, John, and it’s interesting because there are many who had such an optimstic and hopeful opinion of things, and you certainly can’t expect things to change [snaps fingers] on a dime overnight, but there are many who suggested that with the outgoing Bush administration and the incoming Obama administration there would be something of a lull in terrorism attacks. There had been such a global outpouring of affection, respect, hope, with the new administration coming in, that precisely these kinds of attacks, it was thought — at least hoped — would be dampered down. But in this case it looks like Barack Obama is getting a preview of things to come.Yes, this is guarded with the journalistic "there are many who suggested" phrase. But it seems clear to me that she's expressing her own opinion here as well.
It is left to the correspondent, John Yang, to remind Ms. Witt that many terrorists don't care who is running the United States. And frankly, I think that, rather than experiencing a "lull", I think we'll see the opposite -- terror attempts that will test the new President. Whether he cracks down hard on them, or soft-pedals them, they will respond appropriately, once they've decided -- by their lights -- what sort of leader Mr. Obama is.
(By the way, I'm not sure who Ms. Witt has in mind for her "many who suggested" that Obama's election would calm things down. But the Vice-President-Elect would no doubt disagree with her.)
Finally, Ms. Witt shows clearly where her priorities are:
WITT: Okay, John Yang there in Chicago, following President-elect Barack Obama’s Thanksgiving Day dinner having been interrupted by all of this news from Mumbai. John, thank you very much.Clearly, the story here is not a terrorist siege -- which she describes flippantly as "all of this news from Mumbai". No, the real story here is that Barack Obama's Thanksgiving dinner was interrupted.
Sorry, Ms. Witt... the President of the United States must be prepared to be interrupted at all hours of the day or night, whether he likes it or not.
(Does President-elect Obama shake his head and wonder, "Where do I get such silly-minded followers?" I hope he does.)
hat tip: Ed Driscoll.
UPDATE: ouch!
My hat's off to Iowahawk for showing the ridiculous just how ridiculous they are.MUMBAI - Ajmal Amir Kasab, the sole surviving member of the 10-man team of Pakistani gunmen that left hundreds dead or wounded after a bloody three day rampage in Mumbai, today blamed the mayhem on an "email mixup" that left him and his colleagues unaware that Barack Obama had won election as President of the United States.
"What? Oh bloody hell, now you tell me," said Kasab, as he was led away in handcuffs by Indian security forces.
Kasab, 21, apologized to Indian President Pratibha Patil, explaining that no one in his group had known about the recent U.S. election results.
"Boy, talk about having egg on the face," said a visibly embarrassed Kasab. "If we knew Bush was on his way out, obviously we would have called off the crazy random baby-shootings and martyrdom stuff, and signed on with the Peace Corps or Habitat for Humanity. At this point I guess all I can say is 'my bad.'"
(hat tip: LGF)
