THE TENSION: Wed Open Thread

Pandering to the mainstream media and proving why his poll numbers are low with voters in his party, Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday faulted the Bush administration for misleading Americans into believing the conflict would be "some kind of day at the beach," reports the Washington Post (AP). Correct me if I am wrong, but I recall the president repeatedly stating the U.S. project in Iraq would be a long one.

With the rapidly approaching first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the mainstream media unleashes an all out blitz of coverage. Who wants to remember that mess? Having lived in Hurricane Alley since 1969 (until recently), I am here to tell you I've lived through quite a few storms (including Katrina) and not one of them have I ever celebrated the anniversary. I simply cannot understand what's going on in Louisiana. I wish someone would tell me why the liberal bastion that is Democrat run New Orleans allowed the disaster to happen. Furthermore, I want to know why we keep hearing of social fallout from the storm. I thought the Democrats had all the answers for those sorts of things. In any case, here's a sampling of stories in today's news: Bush: Katrina Recovery Will Take Time, Reports Document Post-Katrina Failures, Phonebooks Highlight New Orleans Changes, New Orleanians heap most Katrina blame on US govt

Here's a story flying below the radar. The Cybercast News Service is reporting that Texas sheriffs say terrorists are entering the U.S. from Mexico. The chief law enforcement officers of several Texas counties along the southern U.S. border warn that Arabic-speaking individuals are learning Spanish and integrating into Mexican culture before paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States. The Texas Sheriffs' Border Coalition believes those individuals are likely terrorists and that drug cartels and some members of the Mexican military are helping them get across the border.

Reuters reports that the Dutch have arrested 12 on US plane bound for India. It will be interesting to see the list of names of those in custody.

Updating the plight of Fox journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, Reuters reports that the U.S. will not bow to militants holding Fox journalists. Reuters video.