THE INMATES HAVE SEIZED THE ASYLUM - AT 7:16 A.M. ET:  Apparently, releasing CIA interrogation memos, and the backlash that resulted, hasn't deterred some of the nuttier appointees of the Obama administration.  Get this one, as reported by the Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Washington -- The Obama administration, already on treacherous political ground because of its outreach to traditional adversaries such as Iran and Cuba, has opened the door a crack to engagement with the militant group Hamas.

The Palestinian group is designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization and under law may not receive federal aid.

But the administration has asked Congress for minor changes in U.S. law that would permit aid to continue flowing to Palestinians in the event Hamas-backed officials become part of a unified Palestinian government.

COMMENT:  Now, get the logic here:  The Obamans are saying that aid would not flow unless the Hamas members of the Palestinian regime agreed to American requirements that they recognize Israel, renounce violence and agree to follow past Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Say what?  So they'd be Hamas members of the Palestinian government, but would have to renounce fundamental Hamas principles.

Really?  Hamas would appoint members to the government who renounced Hamas beliefs?  Even Democratic members of Congress who swear by Obama were reportedly dismayed.  And one Republican, the terrific Mark Kirk of Illinois, said, this was akin to supporting a government that "only has a few Nazis in it."

This is foreign policy, Obama style.  The signal it sends is the worst:  Just hold on a little longer, Hamas (and your Iranian financiers), and America will cave. 

We'll follow this, and add it to the long list of concessions by the United States that we're already following. 

You know, this guy Osama bin Laden - maybe an invitation to Washington, a trip to Disney World, lunch at the Pentagon to view the 9-11 memorial.  Why not?  You've got to engage.  You've got to engage.

April 27, 2009