O. C. Register poor-mouths the military

The Orange County Register whines today about (a) the use of reserves and National Guard in Iraq, (2) stop loss orders, (3) wear and tear on equipment and (4) a shortage of firing range bullets -- all because of the Iraq war. Poor babies. What if it was World War II and people had to give up tires, gasoline and beef and all the healthy men between ages 18 and 39 were in the military. Then whining would be justified.

Arnold's veto pen

The LAT reports today that Arnold vetoed 22 percent of the 965 bills that the legislature presented to him. Incredible.

Credit to the LAT, today only

Today's opinion pages include a piece by Niall Ferguson arguing that the House's resolution on Armenian genocide amounts to posturing and is irresponsible, and a piece by James Kirchick claiming liberals ought to give Clarence Thomas a break. If only this were a trend.

LAT: Pollution on the hoof

According to the LAT today, livestock emissions are a leading source of greenhouse gasses. Is the LAT serious? Surely this editorial is a spoof. Nah, the LAT editors don't have that kind of humor, or any at all.

LAT on unlawful combatants

LAT reporter Julian Barnes writes today that Blackwater and other civilian security firms operating in Iraq may be considered unlawful combatants under international law, the same as suicide bombers, roadside bombers and snipers. The issue is unresolved according to an anonymous official within the Defense Department, the LAT says.

Practically speaking, there is an enormous difference between a man or several men (or women) engaged in protecting a State Department official and a roadside or suicide bomber. But there can be no doubt that someone will argue that they are the same. Such an argument shouldn't be allowed to carry the day.

And, the LAT shouldn't quote an anonymous official except in unusual circumstances. In this case, the anonymous official likely has a motive for speaking with a LAT reporter. Likely, that motive isn't a positive one.

Terrorist surveillance or eavesdropping

The LAT argues this morning that Bush must "come clean" about how much privacy Americans are sacrificing in the war on terror. The phrase itself suggests something nefarious has happened. The LAT and most liberals undoubtedly believe that's the case but so far no American has come forward to report that his or her private communications have been intercepted by NSA.

The LAT ignores that for the NSA terrorist surveillance program to be effective it must be secret. It should be obvious that if a terrorist knows his phone calls or e-mails are being intercepted by NSA that he will stop communicating in that way. It should be obvious that if what the NSA is doing is revealed to all Americans that it also will be revealed to terrorists.

A way must be found to continue the NSA's critical program -- the object of which is to protect Americans and America's allies -- without revealing the program's details. (Too much already has been revealed, thanks to the NYT.) The administration has revealed to the intelligence committees and Congressional leadership the details of the program. That should be sufficient.

Arnold's sore arm

The Orange County Register reports today in an editorial that California's governator has so far signed 454 bills and vetoed 41. He has 470 additional bills to consider before Sunday night or they automatically become law. That's a total of 965 bills and that's ridiculous.