No, this is not about a hotel chain.

The western as a film genre has all but died out, but the motion picture canon includes a number of westerns. Until I saw The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Shane and Clint Eastwood‘s Unforgiven were my two favorites. Now I have three, but I know those aren’t the only great ones. There are many others, including flicks featuring the great John Wayne and even a few with the Gipper.

So, today’s open thread–what’s your favorite western?

I’m with Michelle Malkin on this one…. if you do nothing else today, go to this website and start reading the truth about Saddam’s ties to Al Qaeda. The “Lie” from the Democrats and our beloved news media is about to be destroyed.

Over at the Jawa Report, the first of many smoking guns coming direct to you from the filing cabinets of Saddam’s regime. Direct links between bin Laden and Saddam’s government in a memo dated four days after the attacks of 9/11/2001.

Below is a translation from Arabic to English of CMPC-2003-001488 document that was posted on Pentagon Website regarding the pre-war Iraq documents. (http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/products-docex.htm#iraq).

Text of the document in English translated from Arabic.

In the Name of God the Merciful

Presidency of the Republic
Intelligence Apparatus

To the respectful Mr. M.A.M

Subject: Information

Our source in Afghanistan No 11002 (for information about him see attachment 1) provided us with information that that Afghani Consul Ahmad Dahestani (for information about him see attachment 2) told him the following:

1. That Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan are in contact with Iraq and it that previously a group from Taliban and Osama Bin Laden group visited Iraq.

2. That America has proof that the government of Iraq and Osama Bin Laden group have shown cooperation to hit target within America.

3. That in case it is proven the involvement of Osama Bin Laden group and the Taliban in these destructive operations it is possible that American will conduct strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

4. That the Afghani Consul heard about the subject of Iraq relation with Osama Bin Laden group during his stay in Iran.

5. In light of this we suggest to write to the Commission of the above information.

Please view… Yours… With regards
Signature:……, Initials : A.M.M, 15/9/2001
Foot note: Immediately send to the Chairman of Commission

Shouldn’t this be the lead story on NBC Nightly News, Dateline, TODAY, the Olbermann Report, etc., etc., etc.? If our news media were truly interested in serving our national defense interests, they would pay people to translate these documents as quickly as possible.

Would any responsible President not have attacked Iraq after 9/11 knowing what we thought we knew at the time about the connections between Iraq and al Qaeda. Even the 9/11 Commission conceded there were ties. I can’t believe there is even a debate still going on about whether our pre-emptive attack on Iraq was warranted. The more truth that comes out from Saddam’s own files, the better.

**UPDATE** – The American public obviously agrees with me….

On the third anniversary of the start of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, majorities of Americans feel that the Iraqi people are better off today and the United States is safer.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

I’m glad to see that American and Iraqi forces are on the offensive against terrorists in Iraq.

U.S. military commanders say the operation was largely carried out by Iraqi forces based on tips from other Iraqis.

Coalition forces have dubbed the assault “Operation Swarmer,” which is an operation consisting of about 1,500 soldiers in all, including the Iraqi Army’s 1st Brigade, 4th Division, the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.

The assault is a combination of air and ground operations involving more than 200 tactical vehicles and more than 50 aircraft also participated in the operation.

According to the Coalition Press Information Center, initial reports indicate that a number of enemy weapons caches have been captured, containing artillery shells, explosives, IED-making materials, and military uniforms. Troops also captured several people, according to CPIC.

The thing that those who protest against the Iraqi Theatre in the War on Terror are in denial that we are in a world war against Islamic terror and fascism. American and coalition forces must strike pre-emptively whereever and whenever is necessary.

This offensive comes at a crucial time as the blogosphere is reporting Al-Qaeda chatter is at pre-9/11 highs. (h/t – GatewayPundit)

The level of “chatter” by al Qaeda operatives is currently as high or higher than in the months prior to 9-11, and the question in many parts of the U.S. and European intelligence communities is not if al Qaeda will strike again, but when. Much of the thinking centers on the near-term. This is also reflected in current corporate security alerts being circulated among elite business establishments.

There are several factors that point to al Qaeda at least having a plan for an imminent attack. The first is the January appearance of Osama bin Laden himself after months of silence. The second is the repeated warnings and boasts from bin Laden, Zawahiri and on al Qaeda web sites of impending action.

Several analysts I have spoken with believe the leadership of the historic al Qaeda would not raise expectations of an attack, especially at a time of intense competition with Zarqawi’s operation for the mantle of carrying out international jihad, without something important afoot. The risk of losing credibility is too high. Zawahiri is already viewed as the person carrying out action, while bin Laden and Zawahiri have been left in the roles of elder statesmen, respected but no longer operational in the field of battle.

One corporate risk analysis group reported something else of interest: A March 10 posting on al-Hesbah website, known for posting al Qaeda messages, carried a message from the Global Islamic Media Front. The message gives a final warning to the United States before carrying out what it said would be two devastating attacks. The second attack would not be launched until after Washington had time to respond to the first one, the message said.

Perhaps the Iraqi offensive will keep al Qaeda off guard, perhaps not. But I’d rather have a President willing to use American force against our enemies than one from a political party who thinks our military is the enemy.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Here’s some interesting news from my always reliable Log Cabin “Republican” insider…

First, the never-took-flight Congressional candidacy of former Log Cabin National Field Director Jeff Cook is about to end. Sources tell me Jeff may leave the race as early as today. I have contacted the campaign and am awaiting a response.

Second, word has it that a group of former Log Cabin leaders across the country as well as former LCR major donors are going to put up a alternative slate of Board Directors at the upcoming LCR convention. This is an idea I had been talking about with some colleagues at the end of last year, so I’m glad to see someone has taken the initiative. I have offered my support for the alternative slate so we can, once and for all, put the “Republican” back into Log Cabin.

We need this organization to represent the millions of gays who are Americans first and not in bed with the radical anti-American agenda of the Gay Left organizations.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Well, lookie here…. (via Log Cabin Republicans).

President Bush has appointed Log Cabin National Board Member Troy Benavidez to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA). “Log Cabin congratulates Troy on this well deserved appointment,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero. “Troy will be a valuable member of PACHA. His voice as a Latino gay conservative will provide important guidance for the Council.”

“I’m honored to be appointed to PACHA,” said Benavidez. “Much work still must be done to get this epidemic under control and to provide assistance for the hundreds of thousands of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. I’m proud to be a part of this effort and I thank the President for selecting me to serve on the Council.”

Benavidez has valuable experience that makes him uniquely qualified to serve on the Council. He has served on the boards of both New Mexico AIDS Services and the Samaritan Counseling Center, a faith-based counseling center in New Mexico. In addition, he brings to PACHA 13 years of experience working in government at the state and federal level.

I….can’t….compute…..this….news. Bush hates gays and minorities. My…brain…is….about…to….explode.

*puts down The Advocate*

Okay, all is fine.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

So forgive my cynicism if I don’t buy the Human Rights (& Abortion On Demand) Campaign’s reason for crashing the White House Easter Egg Roll on April 17. This from their email trying to recruit volunteers….

Every year thousands of families gather at the White House Lawn on the Monday following Easter to participate in a great American tradition – the White House Egg Roll. On April 17th, 2006, when the White House lawn is opened to families for the Annual Easter Egg Roll, we want the first 1000 families onto the lawn to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families. The Egg Roll is a big media event, so we have an amazing opportunity to reach homes across the country with positive images of our families participating in this great American family tradition.

If you want to help America see the love of your family, if you want to help America become a more equitable place, if you want your children to have all the same legal protections that children of heterosexual couples do – sign up today to participate at http://www.familypride.org/eggroll

The question I have for our friends on the Gay Left…. why didn’t you think of this idea when Bill “Gay Messiah” Clinton was President? Bill & Hill would have flung open the gates for the gays, wouldn’t they? I mean, never mind Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and signing DOMA in the middle of the night (but touting it on Christian radio stations in 1996)… Clinton was as much our first “gay President” as he was our first “black President”….wasn’t he?

Hear me now, or hear me later… I see nothing but disaster for this effort. You and I both know which gay activists are going to show up to crash the gates. They won’t be ones America will be comfortable seeing on their nightly news. I wonder who will clean up the mess of used condoms being thrown with plastic Easter eggs?

Nothing good will come of this, mark my words. But just like Democrats, the Gay Left can’t help but repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot and take the rest of us down with them.

– Bruce (GayPatriot)