The coffee is prepared in such a way that it makes those who drink it witty: at least there is not a single soul who, on quitting the house, does not believe himself four times wittier that when he entered it. ~ Charles de Secondat Montesquieu

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Was McCain Right?

Does this make Baghdad safe? No, but it makes it safer, and the momentum appears on the side of the Iraqi government. The remarkable change has come even with half of the surge troops yet to arrive. What’s the difference? Strategy and rules of engagement. General David Petraeus has made a big difference already, and given enough time, could leave us with a stable and functional Iraq.

Blue Crab Boulevard (Gaius) Iran To Free British Hostages

Well, hopefully the Iranians won’t renege on their promise, anyway. Mad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced he was “pardoning” the captured British sailors and marines and would allow them to leave Iran. Damned nice of him to grant them a pardon for Iran’s piracy, isn’t it. But hopefully, they are going home soon.

Sister Toldjah The Pelosi Syria visit and the three Republicans’ Syria visit: The differences and why they matter

Nancy Pelosi is there to represent the Democratic party’s interests – and her own interests, which are, in no particular order, power, power, and power – thrown in with a mixture of defiance and callous indifference to how the actions of her and her “delegation” may affect US/Syrian relations (which are already strained as it is).

Stix Blog (Stix) The War on Terror is over

So now the GWOT is a no-no. Maybe we should just bend over and drop our drawers for Islamists. How about we have all females wear the Hijab and never go to school again. This is what our enemy wants, and will stop at nothing to bring about a global Umma.