More from the real War on Terror

Pakistan's army is active in the Northwest Frontier Province, hunting down Taleban and al-Qaeda fugitives (BBC News.) Too bad Mr. Bush was so concerned about the non-threat in Iraq that he couldn't be bothered to track down the real terrorists behind 9/11. Notice the deal proposed for the terrorists that surrender:

On Monday, President Pervez Musharraf said several hundred militants could be sheltering in the remote tribal area.

He issued an ultimatum to the fugitives, whom he described as foreigners, to surrender.

"We have given them the option that if they lay down their arms we will not hand them over to any other country," he told tribal leaders in Peshawar.

Surrender, and we won't hand you over to the Americans. One of the criticisms of Senator Kerry is that he is soft on terrorists--he doesn't support the death penalty for terrorists, etc. Other countries are refusing to extradite fugitives that we want in cases involving the death penalty. So if we insist on the death penalty, we are guaranteeing that some of the bad guys will never be brought to justice in the United States. By pretending to be tough on terrorists, we end up being softer on them. I don't expect the average Republican lawmaker to be able to understand this.

Father, let me dedicate All this year to you
In whatever earthly state You will have me be
Not from sorrow, pain, or care Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer: Glorify Your name.
--from New Year's Hymn by Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864 (alt.)