O has 'no sense of what he wants to do in the world,' says military expert

President Obama is “chronically incapable” of military strategy and falls far short of his predecessor George W. Bush, according to one of Britain’s most senior military advisors.
Sir Hew Strachan, an advisor to the Chief of the Defense Staff, told The Daily Beast that the United States and Britain were guilty of total strategic failure in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Obama’s attempts to intervene on behalf of the Syrian rebels “has left them in a far worse position than they were before.”
The extraordinary critique by a leading advisor to the United States’ closest military ally comes days after Obama was undermined by the former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who questioned the President’s foreign policy decisions and claimed he was deeply suspicious of the military.
Strachan, a current member of the Chief of the Defense Staff’s Strategic Advisory Panel, cited the “crazy” handling of the Syrian crisis as the most egregious example of a fundamental collapse in military planning that began in the aftermath of 9/11. “If anything it’s gone backwards instead of forwards, Obama seems to be almost chronically incapable of doing this. Bush may have had totally fanciful political objectives in terms of trying to fight a global War on Terror... but at least he had a clear sense of what he wanted to do in the world.
The dithering over intervention against President Bashar al-Assad has empowered the Syrian ruler, undermined America’s military reputation and destabilized the Middle East, said Strachan.  “What he’s done in talking about Red Lines in relation to Syria has actually devalued the deterrent effect of American military capability and it seems to me that creates an unstable situation, because if he were act it would surprise everybody,” Strachan said. [Source link]

Cartoon: Gary McCoy

[Cagle Cartoons]

Of course: Obamas' luxury vacation was 'for the People'

In what can only be described as a remarkable sacrifice for the public good, the Obamas’ extended vacation in Hawaii was staged entirely to showcase for the public what happens when you allow too much income inequality, writes Keith Koffler --tongue-firmly-in-cheek -- at White House Dossier.
"According to White House advisors close to the president – not close, as in standing next to him all the time, but who have a close relationship with him, at least professionally – the Obamas planned and executed their exorbitant excursion to Hawaii for no other reason than to show Americas how disgustingly well the disgustingly rich live and to drum up support for Obama’s agenda to close the income gap.
“The president and Mrs. Obama this year wanted to just take a three-day weekend at a Ramada Inn in Philadelphia,” said one White House source. “But they felt that, for the good of the country, they must head to Honolulu so people could understand what’s really going on with income inequality."

Progress Notes for Patient 540463, OBAMA, Barack, H.

1/15/14: I will have to consider a renewed course of a mild sedative for patient, who is again showing symptoms of paranoia. When I entered the family room of his private apartment, my heart dropped. There he was again face down on the hideous brown sofa, beating it with clenched fists. He looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes. "Bastards!" he said.
"Which bastards, Majesty?" I asked gently.
"Senators of the Intelligence Commitee--dumb as a sack of  bricks-- now reckon the Benghazi attack was preventable. I had an important fund-raiser to  attend next day and I needed my sleep...preventable? My ass."
"Why don't you roll up a sleeve, Excellency, and I'll give you something to calm you down."
"Excellency?  That's 'Majesty' to you, Rink, and don't you forget it."
"I'm so sorry, Majesty," I said soothingly and plunged a shot of Ativan into his arm."Yikes! he cried and almost immediately calmed down. I quickly tippy-toed out of the apartment. ---Dictated by S.H. Rink, M.D.

Dim Crims: Naked angel arrested

A naked woman wearing a pair of angel wings was arrested early yesterday after police spotted her walking on an Arkansas street.  Christine Lawrence, 47, was busted for indecent exposure after a pair of Mountain Home Police Department officers responded to a 3:20 AM call about “a female walking down the middle of the road with nothing on besides angel wings,” according to a police report.
The police report does not indicate why Lawrence was promenading in her birthday suit, though yesterday happened to be her birthday. More details here

Progress Notes for Patient 540463: OBAMA, Barack, H.

1/14/14: Patient is angry today and his ire is mostly directed at Israel, which he says has been rude about John Kerry's efforts to negotiate peace.  "What seems to be the trouble, Your Majesty?" I asked. [as noted before, I often address patient as a monarch, when he's insecure. It soothes him.]
"The zionists are frustrated that have to negotiate with us, before they can get face-to-face with other parties," declared Patient, "and they accuse Kerry's efforts of being aimed at securing a Nobel Peace prize,  rather than insuring Israel's future security."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Majesty," I replied. "Perhaps you should give Bibi Netanyahu a call and exercise some of your famous diplomatic charm. Patient  almost glowed with pleasure at my flattery. Mission accomplished---Dictated by S.H. Rink, M.D.at my 

Lefties question woman's cancer chronicle

 A pair of columns questioning a woman's very public battle with Stage IV breast cancer are lighting up the Internet. Former New York Times executive editor Bill Keller and his wife, writer Emma Gilbey Keller, both wrote pieces on Lisa Bonchek Adams, who is chronicling her fight via Twitter and her blog. Emma Keller's column (with a headline that compared Bonchek Adams' social media postings to "funeral selfies"), posted last week, was removed from The Guardian's website yesterday amid all the furor; Bill Keller's column was published in the Times yesterday. Both Kellers weigh various questions that seem to come down to this: Is Bonchek Adams engaging in "TMI"? And would it be better for someone like her to opt for a peaceful, quiet death instead of "heroic measures"?  More. [BJS]

Allen West takes aim at Obama and 'henchman' Holder

Allen West rips Obama and Holder: "This is my...message to white Americans. How long will it be before “you people” realize you have elevated someone to the office of president who despises you? [Obama] and his henchman Holder... are the most vile and disgusting racists." Read more

Dim slebs: Bieber raided at dawn

Eleven L.A. County Sheriff's patrol cars reportedly entered Justin Bieber's gated community looking for evidence linking the singer to an egg-throwing incident involving a neighbor.
Sources tell TMZ that Bieber, 19, was being held in his garage as deputies executed the warrant for a search. This comes just a few days after a neighbor called police claiming that the singer pelted his home with eggs.

Israeli minister dismisses Kerry's peace efforts

Israel's outspoken Defense Minister, Moshe  Ya'alon, has said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who recently completed his tenth trip to the region in less than a year on the job, "turned up here determined and acting out of misplaced obsession and messianic fervor" for a peace deal.  Ya'alon added: "In reality, there have been no negotiations between us and the Palestinians for all these months --but rather between us and the Americans. [Source]

Global warming scam unravels

LC's Australian contributor, B.H, reports: " I heard one of the warmist grant snufflers talking on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation this week explaining that the record cold in the northern hemisphere and record ice near the South Pole was actually global warming-- caused by a "changing jet stream". The scam really is starting to unravel.

Cartoon: Nate Beeler

• [Columbus Daily Dispatch]

Progress notes for Patient 540463 OBAMA, Barack, H.

1/13/14: Patient was in a strange mood during our routine consultation this evening. He studied my face closely, then said: "I guess there's no way you would consider shaving off your beard? "No." I replied," It's  part of my persona  and suddenly appearing completely different might deeply disturb some of my patients."
"Oh well, said patient, "it was worth asking." He suddenly took on a more cheerful tone. "Michelle's coming back from Maui before Wednesday. So I won't need to have you staying over."
"Ms. Jarrett is the one who controls my presence or absence," I said, "So perhaps a word with her is indicated?"   Frankly, after several weeks of patient's tribulations, I will be glad to be rid of the moron.---Dictated by S.H.Rink, M.D.

Barack Obama's Diary: Michelle calls again

Dear Diary: She's coming home! As I was eating my Froot Loops my iPresidentophone screeched the police siren sound that I have assigned to Michelle. "Hello, my sweet." I said. She said: "Long story short, I'll be back on Wednesday and I want that bearded shrink out of our quarters by then."
"But, sweetie, i've told you that Dr Rink not in our quarters. He just has a bunk elsewhere in the White House, so he can  be called upon quickly if I have a panic attack."
"Oprah says there should only be room for one beard in the White House and with Rink and Carney that makes three."  I didn't have  the heart to argue the point any further. The relief that she would no longer be publicly humiliating me was overwhelming. "I have missed you so much, sweet giant," I said and immediately regretted it. "Sweet giant? She said. "Just you wait until I get home, you miserable little..." and she hung up.

Dim crims: 'Burglar' falls asleep in victim's bedroom.

A California man has been charged with burglary after he was found sleeping at the foot of his victim’s bed, authorities said.  Ruben Diego Ortega, 20, of Santa Ana, was arrested Saturday after a homeowner told police he was sleeping in his room with his wife when he felt something touch his leg. The unidentified victim then got up and found him sleeping at the foot of his bed, according to a statement issued by the Santa Ana Police Department. The homeowner told police he recognized Ortega from the neighborhood. Hours later, the victim realized some property was missing from him home — a PlayStation and cellphones — and went to Ortega’s nearby residence to confront him. He retrieved his property and then called police to report the crime, police said.  Ortega later admitted to entering the home after spotting an open window. The suspect said he was crawling out of the house with the stolen property and must have fallen asleep, police said.