Overall, I thought it was a excellent speech by President Bush. Full transcript and video will be available at the official State of the Union web site. Feel free to leave your comments.

Update (Mac): Full transcript here.

Update (Chad):
I hadn’t planned on watching it, but there is absolutely nothing on television these days and I didn’t care to get up and actually, you know, do something. The speech was all right, but I enjoyed the reactions from Congress more than anything else. I cannot help but laugh everytime I see Sheila Jackson Leigh (D-TX) run up to shake President Bush’s hand knowing how much she opposed anything Republican. Of course she does this to appeal to Texas voters and for the life of me I cannot figure out how she remains a member of the House with the policies she advocates. Here in Dallas, we just blame the Houstonians like Heidi.

Much of the reaction to the speech was accross party lines, but there were several mentions which should not have been including matters of national security. When 70 percent of Americans support sanctions on Iran to help stop the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, every single member of Congress should stand up and appluad a tough line on Iran. Not only is it the rational thing to do, it is politics and almost everyone in the room plays politics for a living.

President Bush didn’t do what I wanted him to do, and that is address Ayman al-Zawahiri directly for his latest video. I didn’t expect him to, but it would have been nice in my opinion.

Any reader thoughts on the speech, pro or con?

The IAEA said there is no other use for a document obtained by Iran on the nuclear black market than to produce a nuclear weapon, something in which most people had already come to the conclusion that Iran was working towards.

First mention of the documents was made late last year in a longer IAEA report. At that time, the agency said only that the papers showed how to cast “enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms.”

The agency refused to make a judgment on what possible uses such casts would have. But diplomats familiar with the probe into Iran’s nuclear program said then that the papers apparently were instructions on how to mold highly enriched grade uranium into the core of warheads.

In the brief report obtained Tuesday, however, the agency said bluntly that the 15-page document showing how to cast fissile uranium into metal was “related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components.” (source)

Is this the smoking gun the United Nations Security Council will need to impose sanctions upon Iran? If this isn’t, I don’t know what is short of a nuclear bomb itself.

Elsewhere in Iran, Iran has publically blamed the United States, England and Israel for the downing of two Iranian military aircraft that crashed over the past three months.

“Given all intelligence information that we have gathered, we can say that agents of the United States, Britain and Israel are seeking to destabilize Iran through a coordinated plan,” Pour-Mohammadi said. “We knew that enemies had launched fresh efforts to make the country insecure.”

Of course they had to throw the Jews in there somewhere. Iran also blamed the above trio for attacks in Southwestern Iran. This ‘plan’ was to use electronical jamming of the airplanes’ controls. In accordance to this report, Iran is looking for a late 30s, early 40s white male with a British accent. According to Iranian press reports, the unknown man probably of British origin says his first name last and his last name first.

The jihad is all about Palestine. The jihad is all about Afghanistan. The Jihad is all about Iraq. The jihad is all about the oppressed Muslims. We’ve heard all of those lines before and we’ll hear them countless times again in the future.

What if you woke up one morning and realized that every message sent out by the press, politicians and various pundits was wrong? What would happen if you finally realized the current jihad waged by radical Islamic preachers and groups some in the local opposition are labeling as “freedom fighters” wasn’t about a fight from oppression but it was about the desire to oppress others? And of course, it’s about land and wealth.

Hamas has made a call for a rise of Muslims to “retake” much of Spain, including Seville, and they published this call on a children’s website (via LGF).

The children’s website Al Fateh, property of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, demands in its most recent issue the return of the Spanish city of Seville to the “lost paradise” of Al Andalus, as the Muslim part of Spain was called during its existence between 711 and 1492. The web magazine, whose name means “conqueror,” says it is for “the young builders of the future.”

The web magazine, whose name means “conqueror,” includes an article in which the city of Seville itself is the narrator, saying, “I beg you, my loved ones, to call me to return along with the other cities of the lost paradise to Muslim hands so that happiness may reign in my lands. Dress me, for I am the bride of the land of Al Andalus.”

“I was once the capital of the Kingdom of Seville, connected to the Atlantic by the Guadalquivir River. I wear around my neck the scarf of the most beautiful river, more than the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Nile, where gondolas and fishing boats navigate for 24 miles, under the trees with the singing of the birds,” the article says.

It is certainly correct much of Spain was once in the Greater Caliphate; so too was most of France and almost all of present day Europe. It is also true these lands were under Roman control far before the founding of Islam, and it’s no secret what religion the Roman Empire claimed as their own.

The entire present day jihadi movement is not about freeing people, but it is about oppressing people by converting them to Islam or killing them. To believe the leaders of the jihadi movement care about Palestine, Iraq or Afghanistan is to live in a fantasy world that too many people reside in. If there are people in those conquered lands that are Muslim but do not adhere to their interpretation of the Koran, the apostate Muslims are part of the new Jihadi Final Solution.

In an era where Hamas and other like-minded groups openly slaughter innocent Muslims in the name of the same diety in which they worship, it should be no surprise to anyone the spreading of radical Islam is the ultimate goal through the creation of a Caliphate state. But don’t tell that to today’s politicians, advocacy groups or media conglomerates. Don’t tell that to the governments directly in the path of the Caliphate. Thankfully for Hamas, our eyes and ears remain relatively closed and these messages from groups like Hamas are only about some war for oil, not an effort to curb the spread of jihadi militancy.

The Washington Post felt the need to print an editorial written by a convicted terrorist, Mousa Abu Marzook, arguing on behalf of Hamas. The WaPo tells us this much, but why give space to a terrorist in one of this nation’s two newspapers of record?

A new era in the struggle for Palestinian liberation is upon us. Through historic fair and free elections, the Palestinian people have spoken.

Accordingly, America’s long-standing tradition of supporting the oppressed’s rights to self-determination should not waver. The United States, the European Union and the rest of the world should welcome the unfolding of the democratic process, and the commitment to aid should not falter. Last week’s victory of the Change and Reform Party in the Palestinian legislative elections signals a new hope for an occupied people.

By “Change and Reform” Marzook means Hamas is ready to segregate schools and implement Sharia Law, something which the West does not stand for and is against our principles. Then again, it should be against our principles to allow a convicted terrorist space to write a plea for continued financial aid, aid that would, without question, result in deaths of innocent Israelis and Palestinians.

Our society has always celebrated pluralism in keeping with the unique history and traditions of the Holy Land. In recognizing Judeo-Christian traditions, Muslims nobly vie for and have the greatest incentive and stake in preserving the Holy Land for all three Abrahamic faiths.

Considering Hamas refuses to recognize Israel, the above quote of Marzook’s is nothing more than rubbish packaged in a feel-good way. Marzook represents people whom call out “death to Jews” and “death to Christians” on a regular basis, yet he tries to tell the readers of the WaPo Hamas “has always celebrated pluralism.” Sorry, I don’t buy it.

Just because Hamas was elected into power in Palestine does not mean they have changed their tune, in fact they have stayed at the status quo.

For the sake of peace, the United States must abandon its position of isolation and join the rest of the world in calling for an end to the occupation, assuring the Palestinians their right to self-determination.

Of course Marzook does not mention it was the United States who pressured Israel to follow the Road Map to Peace and advocated the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a mistake as far as I am concerned especially given what has transpired since the withdrawal. He calls for concessions, yet it is Hamas who has called the international demand Hamas recognize Israel or not receive any aid an “unfair condition.” Concessions go two ways, and Hamas had yet to make one.

Both Captain’s Quarters and The Jawa Report have more. Gateway Pundit is following the news of the international community’s aid to Hamas.

The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has apologized, sort of.

In a lengthy statement the editor-in-chief of Jyllands-Posten admitted that the 12 cartoons, one of which depicted Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban, had caused “serious misunderstandings”. Carsten Juste said: “The 12 cartoons … were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims, for which we apologise.”

Yes, there is an apology, but the statement is an apology to those offended, not that Jyllands-Posten ever published the cartoons in the first place. Why do we as a society feel the need to apologize when someone gets offended? I get offended when I get cut off while driving, yet I don’t demand an apology.

Stephen Spruiell writing in NRO’s The Media Blog this apology came after three days of attacks on the newspaper.

So Islamic terrorists get a newspaper to apologize for criticizing Islamic terrorism by threatening to carry out more acts of terrorism in the name of Islam. In what other situation could an aggrieved group wring an apology out of a critic by engaging in more of the criticized behavior?

Where’s the apology from Hamas for threatening violence against the EU for offending the cartoonists of Jyllands-Posten?

Many of those whom are condemning the cartoons make the claim Muhammed is not to be drawn, but Zombietime shows us Muhammed has been drawn centuries-over, yet there wasn’t a call for jihad when Iranians painted Muhammed.

Anthony Browne, a correspondent with The London Times, spent some time with the staff at Jyllands-Posten.

“The people I’ve spoken to today said the cartoons just welcomed Muhammad to the beloved Danish tradition of satirical humour. They are absolutely clear they will not apologise,” said Browne. “They said the Prophet received the same treatment that Christians and Christ would get from cartoonists and that it would be wrong to treat Islam any differently from other religions.”

Exactly and bravo.

Evan Kohlmann at The Counterterrorism Blog reports The Mujahideen Army in Iraq has issued a communique threatening attacks in Denmark and Norway over the series of cartoons appearing in a Danish newspaper.

“…We, along with the rest of the world, have observed the offensive and harmful blasphemy against the blessed messenger Mohammed. This wrongdoing was perpetrated by several institutions from the promiscuous countries Denmark and Norway who secretly hate Islam and its leaders… Settling for [merely] boycotting these cowards is a position of weakness that is indicative of a feeble nation that does not stand up in defense of its Prophet and the principles that it believes in. They started [the battle] and they should suffer its consequences. We call upon all our brigades in the Mujahideen Army to attack whatever they possibly can in these two countries specifically, and in other countries who repeat what they have done… Let us make our own efforts on top of Allah’s expected revenge—and hopefully, Allah will choose us to be among those who seek revenge for Mohammed in his name, as this in itself is a great honor for a Muslim.”

All this over some stupid cartoons.

. . . you actually start to get used to it and begin to pity them for believing burning your nation’s flag is a strong rebuke to you as a person. From protests in Palestine:

See what I mean? There’s a trick to it though. Just threaten to take away their money so they can’t fund their suicide bomber parades with your tax dollar then they’ll declare they’ll open relations with Iran, as if there was never a relationship between Hamas and Iran before or tell you that ceasing funding will hurt the Palestinian people. I assume Hamas means cutting off funding for their terrorist acts will hurt the Palestinian people more than they will by implementing Sharia Law and segregating schools.

Buy Danish!

Support Denmark in other ways.

Well it’s about damn time:

LONDON (Reuters) – The permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council agreed on Tuesday that this week’s meeting of the U.N.’s atomic energy watchdog should report Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear programs, a senior U.S. official said.

“(Ministers) agreed that this week’s extraordinary IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board meeting should report to the Security Council its decision on the steps required of Iran,” said a joint statement after the meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain as well as Germany.

Things could get interesting. Or Mohamed ElBaradei will come rescue the mullahs from any sanctions. We’ll see.

Senator John McCain is scheduled to appear in tonight’s episode of ’24′ like the creator alluded to in an interview a couple of weeks ago. McCain will appear in a few seconds of coverage tonight and I do not know what his role will be.

No word on whether he will come out in support of a ‘Terrorist Bill of Rights’ and push Jack Bauer to the back burner for his tactics to get suspects to confess. It’s quite likely he won’t, therefore his appearance on the show will seem to nullify his anti-torture amendment he is so proud of considering torture is used in ’24′ during times of great need; so too is that the only torture I would condone.

For this reason, and there is another Dallas Stars game tonight, I will be out of pocket until tomorrow.

Update:
Ok, I didn’t see him tonight, but I may have very well missed it. It was Stars-Sharks tonight so I missed some of the show during what I thought was a commercial. Did anyone catch him or was I misguided in my tip?

Terrorists have sent another video of American reporter Jill Carroll to Al Jazeera. Carroll is shown crying and making some sort of plea, likely requesting all female prisoners are released from prisons in Iraq. There actually have been five women released from Iraqi prisons since Carroll’s abduction, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for whatever group is holding Carroll hostage.

Dr. Rusty Shackleford relates what former hostage Roy Hallums has said that his captors would beat him to make his cries seem believable for their videos. This isn’t to say the same has happened to Carroll, but there is a very long trail of evidence hostages are beaten relentlessly by their captors in Iraq, including beating one’s feet to keep them from being able to run.

READ MORE

Update (Mac): Bareknuckle Politics has the video of the Al Jazeera report.

Update (Chad):
As Beth mentions in the comments, Carroll is seen in an Islami head scarf (hijab) which she was not in the first video. I personally don’t think this is to hide any wounds but more a psychological ploy by whomever is holding her hostage.