Looking out for you and me. Well, not so much me.
It’s okay that all of us breathe polluted air outside around the clock. But should people chose to have the “wrong” kind of bodily contact in their bedroom, it’s reassuring to know that lawmakers are there to protect us.

Another misunderstanding in the “War on Terror”:

An OU [Ohio University] officer on patrol saw a bike in a busy area of campus early yesterday that sported a sticker reading, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb.
Buildings were shut down. The Columbus Division of Fire’s bomb squad drove down to investigate. Authorities used a high-powered water spray on the bike, and then pried it apart with a hydraulic device.
Hours later, police learned that the sticker referred to the Pensacola, Fla., band This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb and had nothing to do with the bike’s contents.
The ordeal not only cost graduate student Patrick K. Hanlin his bike, but also earned him a misdemeanor charge of inducing panic.
. . .
The officer found the bike about 5:30 a.m. outside a campus snack shop. Hanlin later identified himself as the owner of the bike — what was left of it, anyway — and explained what the sticker meant.
Despite his cooperation, OU spokesman Jack Jeffery said yesterday afternoon that the student was charged criminally.
. . .
Fire officials cordoned off a large section of campus and closed down four buildings while they investigated. It took them three hours to determine the bike was not set to explode.
Hogan said the bike was in a fairly high-traffic area of campus, but the buildings affected had not yet opened for business when it was found.

Until I read this piece, I had never heard of the group “This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb.” So I can relate with the official not recognizing it. But is this response–particularly the criminal charge–warranted?
A little common sense here: are there any instances of actual terrorists clearly labeling their bombs prior to detonation? And how many people do you suspect were induced to a “panic” at 5 a.m., at least prior to the bomb squad showing up?
I understand the need to view the unknown with suspicion. But at some level, officials must use their discretion. Somewhere up the line, someone has to distinguish between a “that’s odd” situation and a “we’re all about to die” situation. Given the circumstances of this case, it’s hard to justify an assumed threat level much higher than the former. ID labels don’t fit the profile of your typical bomber.

National Review:

Although many of our friends have sincere doubts about the [Dubai Ports World ports] deal, we have yet to hear a compelling argument against it. So it is with regret that we say the deal should be jettisoned. That seems to be where the trajectory of this controversy is headed anyway, and the sooner it happens the less painful it will be for the administration. There are many more important issues on which Bush should, nay must, spend his dwindling political capital, the war in Iraq foremost among them. To realize this is to prioritize, not to panic.

One thing we can appreciate about conservatives: how they always advocate policy based on principle, not polls.

A retired couple attempting to pay off their credit card debt has their payment frozen and are investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Terrorists apparently prefer to live debt-free.
As AMERICAblog notes: “Living in a police state? Priceless.”

President Bush, this morning:

You know, sometimes it’s hard to get rid of history, and short-term history shows that the United States and India were divided.

Ahhh, that pesky history. Always getting in the way.
If only things were different. If we could only wave our shock and awe wand over a region and magically transform a region. You know, make people forget all about their culture, biases, feuds, and beliefs. If we could only get them to instantly abandoned their world view, and see the world the way we want them to. That would be great, wouldn’t it?