TROUBLING TIMES COMMENTS

THE MEDIA IS HAVING A"FIELD DAY" WITH THE KILLING OF 4 U.N.PEACEKEEPERS IN LEBANON THE OTHER NIGHT. FOLLOWING KOFI ANNANS CONDEMNATION OF THE"APPARENTLY DELIBERATE ATTACK ON THE U.N. OUTPOST", NEAR THE ISRAELI BORDER. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS INDIGNATION IS MR. ANNAN HAS KNOWN HEZBOLLA HAS BEEN SETTING UP MISSLE LAUNCHING SITES IN OR NEAR U.N. BUNKERS FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. THIS IS OBVIOUS FROM THE ENCLOSED PICTURE OF U.N. AND HEZBOLLA FLAGS WAVING FROM THE SAME OUTPOST. THE PICTURE TAKEN IN 2002 IS COURTESY OF "HARRYS PLACE" WEB SITE. WITH OVER 1500 MISSLES BEING FIRED AT ISRAELI CITIES INDISCRIMANTLY. THE U.N.COULD EXPECT NO LESS.
XXX
THE STORIES ABOUT THE ALLEGED PRIVATE "OFF THE RECORD" CONVERSATION BETWEEN U.S. SENATORIAL CANDIDATE AND LIBERAL WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST DORA MILBANK ARE AT THE LEAST BIZZARE.
NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CAN BELIEVE THAT A CONVERSATION INITIATED BY MICHAEL S. STEVENS COULD BE CONSIDERED OFF THE RECORD. REPORTERS MEET WITH POLITICIANS FOR ONLY ONE REASON. TO GET INFORMATION FOR A STORY. MR. STEVENS "DISSING" PRESIDENT BUSH AND CLAIMING HIS RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN IS "LIKE HAVING A BIG RED "R" ON HIS CHEST" SOUNDS MORE LIKE A MAN TRYING TO BE A REPUBLICAN WHILE REALLY WANTING TO BE A DEMOCRAT. THIS IS A MAN WHO SEEMS TO LACK THE COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS, AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T DESERVE THE VOTES OF MARYLAND REPUBLICANS. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS MR. STEVENS!