SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:16 P.M. ET:

SCARE – From Newsmax:  "As concern about the threat from the Islamic State (ISIS) on U.S. soil grows, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely says that he recently learned from a source that Arabic documents were found at the Texas border that could be linked to that group or al-Qaida.  Vallely told J.D. Hayworth on 'America's Forum' on Newsmax TV Friday that he learned about the documents 'from our intel team down on the border.'   He explained that 'one of our intel team members . . . reported that some documents were found on the Texas border this week in Arabic.'...Former CIA officer Bob Baer told CNN that he's been 'told with no uncertainty' that 'there are ISIS sleeper cells in this country.'"  Not to worry.  Eric Holder is on the case.

AN ALLY? – From London's Telegraph:  "Human Rights Watch reports that Saudi Arabia has beheaded 19 people since the beginning of August. Some confessions may have been gained under torture and one poor defendant was found guilty of sorcery. Yep, sorcery. That might sound archaic, but we are talking about a regime so very concerned about offending God that it has even banned certain names for being 'blasphemous.' Sandy, Linda and Elaine have been proscribed for cultural reasons (seriously)."  I've always been suspicious of women named Elaine.  I'm so glad Saudi Arabia is zeroing in on this (choke).

OBAMA ORDERS POLICE REVIEW – From Fox:  "President Obama has directed a review of federal programs and funding that allow state and local law-enforcement agencies to acquire surplus military equipment, a senior administration official said Saturday.  The review will include whether the programs are appropriate, if the agencies are getting enough training and guidance to use the equipment and whether the federal government is sufficiently auditing the use of the equipment.  The president hinted Monday that a review was likely in the aftermath of an unarmed Ferguson, Mo., teen being fatally shot by a police officer, which was followed by local law enforcement using military equipment to try to control the ensuing protests and riots."  This was inevitable.  If well done (unlikely), the review could be useful.  It will probably be politically correct.  Caution:  Some of this military equipment may be excessive, and in untrained hands.  But some of it might also be very useful in the event of a terrorist attack.

August 23, 2014