SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:53 P.M. ET: 

WARNING – From Fox:  "The State Department is warning American businesses operating in North Africa of an increased risk of retaliation by militants over the U.S. military campaign against the Islamic State. The warning, which is specific to Morocco, is contained in an Oct. 7 dispatch -- obtained by Fox News -- from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and its Overseas Security Advisory Council.  While no specific plot or credible intelligence is cited, the message warns that: 'As the U.S. Government extends its anti-ISIL efforts, there is a heightened risk that U.S. private sector and civilian interests may be targeted.'"  I hope this is taken seriously.  We have many, many "soft" targets in the Mideast, especially in the oil-rich countries.

NATURALLY – From Hollywood Reporter:  "As the Ebola virus continues to dominate the headlines, producer Lynda Obst and director-producer Ridley Scott are bringing the deadly pathogen to the small screen with a limited series for Fox TV Studios based on Richard Preston's 1994 nonfiction best-seller The Hot Zone.  For the past year, the pair quietly has been working on the property, which they optioned two decades ago and never let lapse, hiring Jeff Vintar (I, Robot) to adapt. But the project became incredibly timely a few months ago when the current outbreak — the deadliest manifestation of the disease to date — began to emerge in West Africa. Ebola has ravaged several countries in Africa, killing some 4,400, and has since spread to the United States, claiming one victim in Texas."  Two talented producers.  Might be good.  I hope it's responsible.

THE PUBLIC IS RIGHT – Douglas MacArthur once said that all military disasters begin with two words:  too late.  Apparently, the American people agree.  From Fox:  "With ISIS now moving on Baghdad, majorities of U.S. voters think President Obama 'waited too long to take action' against the extremists, and disapprove of the way he’s dealing with the group, according to the latest Fox News national poll.  By a 57-34 percent margin, voters say Obama 'waited too long' to take action against ISIS.   That’s almost identical to the negative rating the president receives for his handling of the Islamic extremist group: 57 percent disapprove vs. 33 percent approve.  A majority of Democrats approve of Obama on ISIS (56 percent), while larger majorities of independents (65 percent) and Republicans (81 percent) disapprove.  Nearly four in 10 Democrats think Obama waited too long to act on ISIS (39 percent), and a large 80-percent majority of Republicans and 58 percent of independents agree."  It is remarkable to note the extent to which Dems have remained loyal to the captain of their Titanic.

JIMMY'S UPSET – From Reuters:  "US democracy watchdog The Carter Center has closed its Egypt office and says it will no longer monitor the country's parliamentary elections due to an increasingly restrictive political environment.  Egypt's parliamentary elections should be held within six months of the presidential election but a date for the polls has yet to be set. Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was elected as president in May.  The Carter Center cited the mass arrests of Muslim Brotherhood supporters, the passage of a law that severely curbs the freedom to protest, and moves to tighten the application of a law governing civil society organizations."  Strange.  Hamas doesn't seem to bother Jimmy Carter.  Nor does the Muslim Brotherhood.  I guess the Egyptian government is just too pro-American for our Nobel peace laureate.

October 16, 2014