The Likeable Barney Fife

Millions of Americans enjoyed the Andy Griffith show when Don Knotts played the hapless Barney Fife. Barney was tough on crime but nobody in his right mind believed he knew what he was doing.

Some Republicans argue that Bush is great at fighting terrorism but perhaps they could explain the following as reported in Democracy Arsenal:

Even if Nasrallah is killed, there will, apparently, be hundreds more. This, from the newspaper Al-Masri al-Youm (translation of the first sentence):

Health offices in Alexandria (Egypt) found that 128 newborn babies were given the name "Nasrallah."

Don't worry guys. These are the birth pangs of the "new Middle East."

In 2001, we faced 5,000 to 10,000 terrorists at the most; these were people who lived on the fringes of their societies. In late 2001, after the 9/11 attack, we had the sympathy and support of the world. Even Syria and Iran were trying to help us. Before Bush blundered into Iraq with his ridiculous neocon supporters who dream of empire, we had al Qaida utterly on the run. Now, because of Bush's cowboy diplomacy, his general stupidity, arrogance and incompetence, we face a far greater number of disgruntled people these days largely because Bush is better at making enemies than making allies. Let's hope people see Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and his other top advisers for what they are: failures. We need a Congress that will make the will of the American people clear: clean up your act, or resign.