Air America's Ron Reagan on/off the mark
Air America Radio's Ron Reagan was
on and off this week, in his remarks criticizing Arizona Republican Congressman John Shadegg for suggesting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's children might become
terrorist targets for kidnapping, due to the
upcoming Manhattan trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM). Here are some excerpts from Mr. Reagan's comments, with my remarks:
- "...planting the idea of kidnapping the mayor's daughter in any wayward nutjob's head [involves potential risk to innocent people]..." - Mr. Reagan, you are correct to strongly criticize Rep. Shadegg for his comments, but do you really think that no "wayward nutjob" (read Radical Islamist terrorist) had thought of this possibility already? I would be quite nervous to be in New York City during this trial, as every new day will bring with it the possibility that some terrorist will blow himself up, with the hopes that this act will contribute to the chances of KSM's release. A more likely scenario would be the threat of blowing up various sites unless their demand for KSM's unconditional release is granted. Just think: "There is a bomb somewhere in the Empire State Building. Unless you release KSM in two hours, we will detonate it. You do not have enough time to find it on your own. When we knew he is safe, we will give you further instructions as to how to disarm the bomb." Is this so out of the realm of possibility? Does anyone think they have not considered this option?
- (In response to Rep. Shadegg's apology to Mayor Bloomberg, issued through the AP) "...as apologies go, that was really weak and transparently insincere, a little like retracting a front page error at the bottom of the obit page." - I agree completely. If you are going to make the statement on the floor of the House, have the guts to issue the apology there, too, or call the person whom you offended. I strongly agree that apologizers should be as open with their regrets as they were in making their remarks to begin with. Issuing a statement to the AP just does not cut it.
For Ron Reagan this week, one thumb up, and one thumb down.
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While I agree that "wayward nutjobs" don't need any suggestions or encouragements to hatch their terrorist plots, I have to say that I am not at all nervous about the prospect of being in New York during the trial. If you ask me, KSM is a has-been in the terrorist world anyway, and while he might still be symbolically important, I think they're just as likely to blow something up during the trial as they are at any other time. The whole "unless you release KSM we will detonate" thing sounds too much like Die Hard or another Hollywood action plot to me. Maybe I'm jaded or naieve to the danger, but I certainly never go about my day worried about terrorist threats to New York.
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