Sunday Partiots--Happy Cinco de Mayo

From the discovery of an abandoned van in Times Square by a vendor to the arrest of Faisal Shahzad by federal authorities, it took 53 hours. The operation to capture the suspected terrorist included the NYPD, the NYPD's Anti-Terrorism Unit, The FBI's Anti-Terrorism Unit, the Transportation Security Agency, Customs, Army intelligence and the CIA as well as other units of Homeland Security. It was an extraordinary and successful operation. Did anyone besides the Obama Administration applaud the effort and the amazing degree of coordination? Absolutely not.

Instead, we were treated to a day-long parade of Republicans attacking the Administration's efforts. What was an amateurish, lame bomb attempt became a raving success for terrorists. The same occurred with the Gonad Bomber. Another failed attempt by someone without adequate training ,once the Republicans started hollering, became a terrorist success. As retired General Eaton said last night on MSNBC,"The Republicans are attacking the integrity of our national security." He went on to say that this response didn't help morale any at the various law enforcement agencies. He also said that at least the military and law enforcement agencies knew President Obama was " fighting the war on terrorism with honor."

On such occasions, it used to be unpatriotic to publically criticize a country's efforts in such matters--especially within minutes of a successful conclusion to the affair. Incredibly, there was no lag time in the Republican blasts at the Administration--not even a nanosecond. John McCain wanted the American citizen denied his miranda rights. Rep. King lamented the intelligence agencies were not consulted even though someone made the arrest of 8 Pakistanis in Pakistan at the same time. Eric Cantor used the occasion to attack the Obama's foreign policy (aka American's foreign policy) as naive. Senator Cornyn said the administration had just been lucky. Torture enthusiast Marc Thiessen claimed that mirandizing Shahzad had deprived the government of useful intelligence, despite the fact the accused spoke before and after being mirandized and gave away the store. Charles Krauthammer proudly exclaimed that the whole episode gave Gitmo another two years lease on life. Rep. Hoefstra, now candidate for governor of Michigan, claimed that with the FT. Hood shooting that terrorists have changed their tactics by using single players and this increased the threat against the country.

And honorary Republican Joltin' Joe Lieberman demanded that there should be a law that strips such suspects of their American citizenship. This was his anyone "affiliated with terrorist groups" idea. Since citizen or non-citizen can't be denied their Miranda rights, the logic of this escapes me. I guess they won't be able to vote.

The only issue on this whole affair concerns how the no fly rule only kicked in at the last minute. The first two levels of it were not observed but at stage three it worked and Shahzad was pulled from the plane. Drudge is trumpeting that he had been let onto the plane as if this was the grave breach of security. He was immediately hauled out of an enclosed space instead of NYPD and the FBI chasing him through a crowded JFK. Your call. Chase or lull him into thinking he got away. And if he managed to depart to Dubai, he would have immediately been arrested because alerts had already out.

I recall how the Bush administration cowed the Democrats into agreeing to almost everything it wanted on the terrorist issue and that this was one area where criticism was considered out-of-bounds. But consider the record. The Bush Administration had foreknowledge,had identified the potential 9-11 terrorists, and had even traced their money. But 9-11 happened. Here,the Obama Administration had an empty van filled with explosives and no identity of the owner. 53 hours later, they nailed him. And, yes, the law enforcement agencies have learned alot since 9-11. Why didn't political Washington have the courtesy and class to thank them?

Unfortunately, you have to conclude that Republicans, who have fled the field of responsibility, really do want another terrorist attack on the United States under Obama's watch. Yesterday was so bad that the voice of reason from the Right came from Glenn Beck, who said Shahzad should be mirandized and the constitution observed even if it were in convenient. The terrorists have learned one valuable lesson: they no longer have to plot successful operations, just send amateurs and the republicans will give them the propaganda victory they want. The Republicans remind the world we are a divided country.

Meanwhile, I hope the administration has its eyes on Dick Cheney who is visiting the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia on private business. Will we see some October surprise cooked up by Valdemort?