HE SPEAKS – AND HE TAKES OFF...A GLOVE – AT 11:08 A.M. ET:  President Obama has spoken out about the Christmas day attempt on an airliner over Detroit.  A C+ statement, but at least it's something.  From The New York Times:

HONOLULU, Hawaii — President Obama declared for the first time on Saturday that a branch of Al Qaeda based in Yemen sponsored the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an American passenger jet, and he vowed that those behind the failed attack “will be held to account.”

We knew about the Al Qaeda link a week ago.

"Held to account?"  I want that spelled out.  Does it mean a summons?  A lawsuit?  An air attack?  Being made to stand in a corner?

“We’re learning more about the suspect,” Mr. Obama said in the Saturday address.

I love "suspect."  Okay, Obama probably uses the term for legal reasons.  But just once, only once, I'd like to hear him slip and say "jihadist."  There, was that difficult?

Mr. Abdulmutallab had studied Arabic in Yemen in 2004-05 before going to school in London and becoming increasingly devout in his Muslim views. He returned to Yemen in early August, according to the Yemeni government, and reenrolled in an Arabic school there, remaining in the country until early December. Some officials in the United States and Yemen suspect the school enrollment was a cover to train with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

As we said, jihadist.

Mr. Obama defended his policies as tough but reasonable, and called for an end to the sniping that both parties have engaged in since the Christmas episode. “As we go forward, let us remember this — our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other,” Mr. Obama said.

I wish he'd send a note to that effect to some of his supporters, with their merciless attacks on President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

He added: “Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let’s summon the unity that this moment demands. Let’s work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe.”

Fine, Mr. President, but a whole branch of your party doesn't believe we're at war, believes terrorism is our fault, and is threatening to try to block funds for your surge in Afghanistan.  It's not your enemies who are a threat to this country, sir, it's your friends.

January 2, 2010