Surprise visit? I don’t think so:

A suicide bomber killed 19 people and wounded 11 outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Tuesday during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility and said Cheney was the target.

The blast happened near the first security gate outside the base at Bagram, killing 19 people, said Khoja Mohammad Qasim Sayedi, chief of the province’s public health department. Gov. Abdul Jabar Taqwa said “18 to 20 dead bodies” lay on the ground after the blast.

Someone actually asked me last night if I knew what Dick Cheney was up to. I didn’t (of course) but the Taliban apparently did.

a purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said Cheney was the target of the attack.

“We knew that Dick Cheney would be staying inside the base,” Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone. “The attacker was trying to reach Cheney.”

Officials say that Cheney was not in the immediate area of the attack.

The Taleban have claimed responsibility for the attack and said that Mr Cheney was their intended target. However, American forces said the explosion was not a threat to the Vice-President, who was about a mile away at the time.

So I guess the question now is how did they know? Was it a tip from our side? Are Afghan nationals in the government or employed around the base responsible? Or did the Taliban observe an increase in activity and pull something together at the last minute? It looks like officials in Pakistan knew about the trip so you have to wonder about that. Just how many people knew about this “surprise” visit?

Liberal blogs and forums are already filling up with comments like Suicide Bomber Misses Cheney…Damnit, Too Bad They Missed Cheney, Cheney Unhurt; World Disappointed., and Maybe Next Time. There’s open regret that Cheney wasn’t killed.

Too bad. Had the lunatic succeeded, he would have been doing us a service. It didn’t seem to bother Cheney much, though. He was actually smiling for photos a bit later on, despite the deaths of and injuries to those who fell in his stead.

These comments have Michelle Malkin (and many reasonable Americans) asking “Which side are they on?” but we know the answer.

The Jawa Report: I’d like to know how the Taliban knew Cheney’s itinerary.

Ankle Biting Pundits: It’s entirely possible if not probable that the MSM will make a bigger deal out of the fact that VP Cheney’s flying around in an airplane named in honor of Strom Thurmond. In any instance, the democrat reaction to this should be interesting. I’m sure they don’t want anything to happen to Cheney……at least not until they impeach him first.

The Truth via Pontifications: The President could get a hang-nail and the Taliban will claim credit for it.

Rhymes With Right: Let this serve as a stark reminder of the nature of those we fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world. And be aware that many of those opposed to the war are going to reveal their true colors in their response to this attempt on the life of the Vice President.

Captain’s Quarters: The Bush administration sent Cheney along with high-level intelligence officers in order to conduct a presentation of the evidence we have collected of terrorist activity in Waziristan. Reportedly, we identified locations and support networks for al-Qaeda and the Taliban forces that will conduct their spring offensive in the coming weeks. Identification of these sites makes it very difficult for Musharraf to shrug off our warning, as does the high level of the visit. It’s the final warning to get something done, or suffer us getting it done for him.

Clarity & Resolve: Maybe they’ll salvage some points with Allah anyway for spilling so much blood.

Bullwinkle Blog: Had they been successful a bunch of Lefties would have been very happy. Nancy Pelosi probably came closer to orgasm than she has in 30 years when she heard the news.

Reason Magazine: While the fact that the killer didn’t get near his target, this isn’t exactly the sort of report that inspires confidence either

NewsHog: So the big question is - in the middle of a “secrecy-shrouded” trip to the region, who told the Taliban where Cheney would be? The most likely informants would be inside the Musharaff regime or Karzai’s office, surely. Could this be a warning from the ISI after Cheney tried to get tough and threaten Musharaff?

The Moderate Voice: What matters is that five and a half years after the U.S. declared war on the international global jihad and invaded Afghanistan, the Taliban is re-emergent and regaining control of parts of the country, while Al Qaeda has rebuilt its power structure and network of training camps just across the border in Pakistan.

W. Thomas Smith Jr. emails:

Dear family and friends,

Sixty-two years ago today, AP photographer Joe Rosenthal snapped a photo of five U.S. Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

The 37-day Battle for Iwo (February-March 1945) was only in its fourth day when the six Americans raised the colors.

As the flag went up, thousands of Marines and sailors across the island began cheering, as did sailors witnessing the event offshore. Ships’ horns and whistles began blowing. From the main deck of USS Eldorado, a beaming Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal turned to Marine General Holland M. ‘Howlin’ Mad’ Smith and exclaimed, “Holland, the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.”

Rosenthal’s picture, which would become the most famous combat image of the war, ultimately won a Pulitzer.
Here it is [link]

Three of the six men who raised the flag would soon be among the nearly 7,000 Americans killed during the battle.

An unbroken line of those Marines on Iwo has continued: Survivors of the battle returned home to train new Marines. The newly trained Marines trained the next generation, then that generation trained the next, then the next, and so on.

Today, the descendents of those Marines who fought and died on Iwo Jima - having gone through the same boot camps at Parris Island and San Diego and wearing the same eagle, globe, and anchor - are now fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other corners (some unknown) of the world in the war on terror.

Semper Fidelis

All is not well in Iran:

Local Police Commander Colonel Qasem Rezaei told IRNA that the terrorist attack was perpetrated by “saboteurs” who detonated a car bomb near a bus belonging to Zahedan’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

The bomb was placed in a car parked on the side of a road. Armed men in two motorcycles opened fire on the moving IRGC bus as it approached the car and set off the bomb, according to an eyewitness.

Wikipedia has more on the Revolutionary Guards.

I’ve been too busy to follow the news the past couple of days but that’s not a problem since not much has been happening. I know this because the few times I’ve turned on the news they’ve been talking about Anna Nicole Smith. All must be quiet in the rest of the world. This is really good news.

This whole Anna Nicole Smith thing has presented those of you seeking fame with an excellent opportunity. In fact, becoming famous has never been easier. With my plan you can become famous in minutes. No talent or intelligence is required and possessing either could actually limit your chances of becoming famous.

Let’s get started. It’s a simple two step process.

Step 1 - Call a 24 hour cable news network. Start with Larry King, anyone can get on that show, and work your way down to Greta Van Susteren. Do not call MSNBC as appearing on this network will not advance your cause. You cannot become famous if people don’t actually see you.

Step 2 - Claim one of the following

1. You are Anna Nicole’s Baby’s daddy.
2. You dated Anna Nicole.
3. You slept with Anna Nicole.
4. You served drinks to Anna Nicole (and boy was she wasted!)
5. You know Howard K. Stern.
6. You slept with Howard K. Stern.
7. You slept with Anna Nicole’s baby’s daddy and you will reveal his name on a TV special or in your upcoming book.
8. You cleaned one of Anna Nicole’s hotel rooms.
9. You slept with someone who cleaned one of Anna Nicole’s hotel rooms.
10. You worked in a fried chicken joint with Anna Nicole.
11. You worked as a hotel concierge and were required to deliver methadone, gravy, and condoms to Anna Nicole’s room every four hours. Don’t forget to add that she was both sweet and really wasted.
12. You slept with someone who bought fried chicken from Anna Nicole and they said she was really nice and down to earth in that way that only people who work in West Texas fried chicken joints can be.
13. You collected and or froze the sperm of Anna Nicole’s baby’s daddy.

These are by no means the only claims that will get you on television. They’re just a start. You can come up with your own. Just remember that your claims do not have to be true as long as they’re entertaining.

I guess I have to come clean and admit that I’m yuppie scum. I love Starbucks, overpriced restaurants, and Perrier. Don’t get me wrong I’m just as happy with brisket and Shiner Bock (If not happier) but I like my bottled water.

I don’t like sending my hard earned dollars to France though. I think it’s time to follow James Saxton’s lead.

So from now on we’ll stick to Italian, Canadian, and Mexican (Topo Chico rocks!) sparkling waters.

War is all about sacrifice

That’s a screenshot of the announcement that is streaming on his site now. You can watch live video at BarackObama.com. I guess Oprah got shafted.

It’s offtopic but tragic enough to post here:

Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith is dead, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Smith, 39, collapsed at a south Florida hotel and was taken to a local hospital, according to news reports.

TMZ.com had reported that Smith collapsed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood just after 2 p.m. ET.

I can’t say I’m shocked that she checked out at age 39 in an Indian casino. But on a more positive note J. Howard Marshall just got his first lapdance in 12 years.

Look for the tabloids and other media to go after Howard K. Stern with a vengeance.

Gawker: Please God, don’t take Anna Nicole. Not after she’s given us so much.

TMZ: In October 2006, Anna Nicole Smith’s mom, Virgie Arthur, told Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News that after the death of Anna’s son, Daniel, she was concerned that Howard K. Stern was the one in line to inherit Anna’s millions. “If Howard Stern marries her and she ends up dead, then who does the money go [to]? Danny’s not there,” Arthur said.

Randinto commenting on YouTube: Anna Nicole Smith now represents America in every way… off balance, kooky, drugged up, not based in reality, hooked on tragedy and now… finished

Klaus and Sunny: Poor Anna Nicole. I think this is very sad. And Nancy Grace is a harpy. And Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead are gross.

Larry King: She had some class.

The left repeatedly insists that you don’t need your SUV (family size is irrelevant), that the environment is more important than convenience, but skimp on their personal jet privileges and there will be hell to pay:

The Department of Defense yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that puts limits on the size of the plane she may use to travel across the country and restricts the guests she can bring, The Washington Times has learned.

A congressional source who read the letter signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Wilkie said it essentially limits her to the commuter plane used by former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, which requires refueling to travel from Washington to Mrs. Pelosi’s San Francisco district. A second source, in the Bush administration, confirmed the contents of the letter.

The Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi’s staff was pressing the Department of Defense for an Air Force aircraft large enough to fly nonstop to San Francisco. She also has pressed to be able to include other members of the California congressional delegation, her family members and her staff on the plane.

I wonder what they’re worried about:

The IRGC Navy and Air Force started military exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman on Wednesday.

Salami said that the specialized military exercise code-named ‘Saeqa’ has been designed to boost air defense and counter-attack in the face of any possible offensive against Iranian airspace.

He said that the new generation of missile systems have been employed to boost defensive and deterrent capability of the country.

Salami said that TORM1 has a 12 km range which can be increased to 20 km, adding that the air defense shield is capable of rapidly tracing down 47 targets and engaging with eight objects simultaneously.

Assuming that it’s both operating and able to see the target…

But that doesn’t stop reporters from peeking in the family’s windows:

Nowak’s family is declining media interviews but released a statement from their home in Rockville, Maryland.

“Lisa is an extremely caring and dedicated mother to her three children. She has been married for 19 years, although she and her husband had separated a few weeks ago,” the statement said.

“Considering both her personal and professional life, these alleged events are completely out of character and have come as a tremendous shock to our family,” the statement said.

“We hope that the public will keep an open mind about what the facts will eventually show and that the legal system will be allowed to run its course.”

The Associated Press reported that there had been signs of problems before Nowak’s arrest. In November, police were called to Nowak’s Houston-area home after a neighbor reported hearing the sounds of dishes being thrown inside, AP reported.

Her husband works at NASA Mission Control. They have a teenage son and young twin daughters.

AP reported there were no lights on at the brick, two-story Nowak home on Tuesday. Newspapers and mail sat on the dining room table, and toys were scattered on the floor, AP said. Nowak’s husband could not be reached, AP reported.

She’s back in Houston. I guess the media will be spending a lot of time in Clear Lake.