"Tension is rising between India and Pakistan, and if shooting breaks out between these two countries the world will have yet another crisis created by Muslim terrorists. It's obvious to sane people that American intelligence agencies must continue to stay ahead of the terrorist killers and disrupt plots like Mumbai should they be directed here. To do that, information from captured terror suspects becomes vital. But President-elect Obama, who has committed himself to an undefined no-torture policy, is having some difficulty finding someone to head up the CIA. The far-left wants the CIA to go by the Army Field Manual, which states that POWs who refuse to answer questions may not be exposed to 'unpleasant treatment.' If Obama orders the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies not to employ any tough interrogation methods, many people are going to die right here in America. I believe Barack Obama understands the danger Muslim terrorists pose to the world, and I believe he will not destroy the CIA's ability to break down terror suspects. The USA should never torture, but coerced interrogation at the direction of the president is vital when lives are on the line. Of course the loons will never acknowledge that - they don't want anyone to do anything 'unpleasant' to terrorists."

The Factor welcomed two guests with opposing views on coercive interrogation. Democratic Congresswoman Anna Eshoo urged the Obama administration avoid any form of tough questioning. "The Army Field Manual is appropriate," Eshoo stated. "This has been put together by the top people in our country and there is broad support for it." But Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra argued that harsh techniques are sometimes necessary. "When you are looking at the kind of threat we are facing with terrorists, you need to be able to use coerced interrogation. President-elect Obama is getting briefed every day on the threat that is out there, and last week he saw what happened in Mumbai when you have bad intelligence." The Factor challenged Congresswoman Eshoo with a chilling scenario: "Suppose Barack Obama comes down on your side and bans all kinds of interrogation that is unpleasant. Then suppose 10,000 Americans are killed during his administration? He's through."

News Link: Obama CIA pick withdraws after far-left backlash

To continue on national security, The Factor welcomed political strategist and former Bill Clinton advisor Dick Morris. "The pressure the left is putting on Obama," Morris said, "is similar to the pressure that forced Bill Clinton to rescind the ban on gays in military as his first action." Morris vehemently criticized Obama's choice of Eric Holder to be Attorney General. "When we arrested Zacarias Moussaoui before 9/11, we couldn't open his laptop computer because Eric Holder would let us do it. He said the computer wasn't germane to an immigration arrest. The appointment of Eric Holder will have more to do with the next terrorist attack in the United States than any other move Obama could make."

As The Factor reported previously, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is allowing atheists to put up an anti-religious display next to traditional Christmas symbols at the state capitol. Seattle radio host Kirby Wilbur denounced the display and the governor. "This is a statement, not a symbol," Wilbur averred. "It's an attack on religion and people of faith are pretty upset. But the reaction is not as strong as it might be elsewhere because we are the second least church-going state in the union." The Factor described Governor Gregoire as a weak and craven leader. "This is one of the worst political moves I've ever seen - either she's too dumb to understand what this is or she believes Washington State is so secular progressive that no one will care. This is insulting."

News Link: Atheist sign next to Nativity at Wash. state capitol

Three people have been arrested in California, accused of torturing and virtually enslaving a 17-year-old boy. FNC host Greta Van Susteren elaborated on the brutal crime. "This young man was taken from his abusive father," Van Susteren reported, "and put in foster care. He wound up with his aunt, who abused him along with two other people. This is an indictment of the foster care system, and this is regrettably not unusual. The state didn't make a reasonable effort." The Factor urged Van Susteren to keep track of the young man, who was the victim of a "totally bizarre, out-of-control situation."

News Link: Details of shackled teen's escape

The Factor invited Dennis Miller to weigh in on the emerging Obama cabinet. "It's nice to see that Joe Biden is allowed to speak again," Miller quipped. "For a while they kept him on a short leash because he was making as much sense as Laurence Harvey in 'The Manchurian Candidate.' Some of the picks are okay, but I'm not sure I like Stedman Graham (Eric Holder) as Attorney General. Then there's Governor Janet Napolitano at Homeland Security. The last time I drove through Arizona on I-10, the illegal aliens had their own lane. And at commerce we have El Diablo, Bill Richardson. But there's no commerce to keep an eye on any more." Miller also commented on his early Christmas shopping, saying "I got my kids a DVD called 'Somali Pirates of the Caribbean.'"

Internet observer Amanda Carpenter reported on the trend of web videos showing animals doing bizarre and amusing things. "This is the modern version of 'America's Home Videos,'" Carpenter opined. "People love to watch cute and furry creatures, but this is certainly not the worst thing. Of all the things on the Internet, I'm not too concerned about the fact that the shrimp on the treadmill is getting 2-million views. For some people it's escapist, and it's the kind of thing a grandmother can e-mail to her grandchild and not feel bad about it."

News Link: Video: Shrimp running on treadmill

News Link: Video: Cat jumps into mirror

Wednesday's Patriot: 56-year-old actor Patrick Swayze, who is waging a courageous fight against cancer. And the Pinhead: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who complained about malodorous tourists who invade the Capitol in the summer.

News Link: Harry Reid thinks Capitol visitors smell

Brian Foster, Bowling Green, KY: "How else are atheists to be heard unless they do things like this?"

Tyler Cole, St. Augustine, FL: "I'm an atheist and believe if you take our sign down then everything must come down."

Dr. Seymour Shlomchik, Boca Raton, FL: "Mr. O'Reilly, there you go again, riding your horse into a battle against those who don't agree with your standards of Christmas. You are obsessed. Your face gets red and your blood pressure rises. You narcissistically feel you have the power to control or punish those who do not conform to your wishes."