"The real story behind the MoveOn smear attack on General Petraeus is far left financier George Soros. He has given millions to MoveOn and other Internet sites that smear conservatives and traditionalists. The far left billionaire has bought politicians, journalists, and Internet character assassins. He wields tremendous power in this country, so much power that 24 Democratic senators were afraid to condemn MoveOn for it's outrageous attack on General Petraeus. Those senators include Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd, and Harry Reid. Not only that - some loons are actually supporting the attack on Petraeus. Elements at NBC News, who parrot far left propaganda incessantly, insist the ad is a legitimate form of dissent. The New York Times was happy to discount the ad more than 60% for MoveOn, and far left blogs are thrilled that General Petraeus was smeared. All of those people are disgraceful. Even if you disagree with the Iraq war, a general decorated for valor fighting on a vicious battlefield does not deserve to be smeared. George Soros and his far left puppets are anti-military. They believe our forces are oppressors, corporate tools, instruments of evil. Soros is the real Wizard of Oz, the man behind the curtain, and he has succeeded in terrorizing much of the Democratic Party. George Soros is trying to buy the presidential election of 2008, and he just might do it."

Columbia University, which stood by when leftists shouted down and assaulted the Minutemen, has extended an invitation to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Columbia grad student Reed Werner, a military veteran, denounced the school's president Lee Bollinger. "I'm a proponent of free speech and I enjoy a healthy debate, but my objection to President Bollinger's invitation is that this will give Ahmadinejad legitimacy. Vets find this offensive because Ahmadinejad is sanctioning and sponsoring the killing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. This equates to Columbia hosting Hitler in 1937." But sophomore Alejandra Aponte expressed her desire to hear Ahmadinejad speak. "His visit is very welcome in the spirit of the university. Students should have access to the world around them, to be allowed to question. This visit will be a test of tolerance."

News Link: Columbia invites Iranian prez to speak

A federal court has ruled against Yale University, which tried to ban military recruiters from the school's "career day." Attorney Tanya Acker explained that Yale objects to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward homosexuals. "The issue in this lawsuit," Acker said, "was that the military does not abide by the university's non-discrimination policy. The military is officially promulgating discrimination, and this is a principled stand against discrimination." The Factor reminded Acker that Yale's attempted ban was clearly illegal. "Yale doesn't have a law unto itself. There is one law in this country, and that is 'don't ask, don't tell.' That's why Yale lost the lawsuit."

News Link: Yale loses military recruiter case

As The Factor reported previously, Green Berets Cpt. Dave Staffel and Master Sgt. Troy Anderson have been charged with murdering a terrorist in Afghanistan. Former Navy lawyer Timothy Susanin gave one possible reason for the prosecution. "What struck me are some words from the prosecutor, who said he recognized that the terrorist was an enemy combatant, but the Green Berets should be tried because the terrorist was 'under the control of friendly forces' and should have been captured." But after investigating the case, Fox News military analyst Col. David Hunt reaffirmed his support for the soldiers. "These guys did exactly the right thing. They followed a very bad guy, then shot and killed him. This causes men in combat to look over their shoulders." The Factor questioned the judgment of General Francis Kearney, who is unilaterally pursuing the case against the two men. "He doesn't seem to have any support from the rank-and-file, and nobody's backing him up. It looks like General Kearney is a villain here, and if he is I'm going after him."

News Link: Green Beret trial update

Thousands of prostitutes travel the country, check into hotels, then advertise for customers on the Internet site CraigsList. Former prostitute Norma Jean Almodovar defended the hookers and their marketing strategy. "The Internet is a great place for prostitutes to advertise their wares. And as long as it's these are sites where kids can't access them, what's the problem? Women go from one city to another and 'travel the circuit.' It's good for the clients and also good for the women, who get to see other places." But The Factor countered that what's good for hookers is not necessarily good for the public. "Most towns don't want these ladies there for a variety of reasons. It attracts a bad crowd, there are health reasons, a lot of them are unstable, and the police have an obligation to keep them out."

News Link: Craigslist home to prostitution

Featured Book: Cop to Call Girl: Why I Left the LAPD to Make an Honest Living as a Beverly Hills Prostitute by Norma Jean Almodovar

Geraldo Rivera began his weekly analysis with Dan Rather and the former anchor's lawsuit against CBS. "He has a good case," Rivera contended, "based on his contract. He had a specific clause saying he would be a regular on '60 Minutes,' but they iced him from '60 Minutes.' Based on the contract, I think he has a winner." Rivera also sarcastically proposed a novel solution to the O.J. Simpson case. "All the guys around this case are sleaze balls. I say the way to resolve this is to take these eight people, put them in an octagon cage, and let them kill each other."

News Link: Rather sues CBS for $70 mil

The Factor welcomed "TV Icon" Johnny Crawford, who played the son of "The Rifleman" from 1958 to 1963, and who looked back fondly at his child stardom. "It was a job I enjoyed very much," Crawford said, "but I was actually shy and withdrawn when I wasn't performing." Crawford also talked about his current passion, singing with his own big band orchestra. "My family comes from a musical background and I inherited a stack of 78 rpm records from the dance band era. I continued to keep that interest and formed a band."

Friday's Patriot: Bill Gates, whose foundation is donating $280 million to various health organizations to fight tuberculosis. And the Pinhead: Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University, who sees fit to host Iranian president Ahmadinejad, even though his campus bans ROTC. The Factor described Bollinger as "one of the most cowardly university presidents in the country."

News Link: Bill Gates donates $280 mil to fight disease

Many of you wrote about Iran's President Ahmadinejad's request to visit Ground Zero. Some excerpts:

Craig Bomben, Seattle, WA: "Why am I the only one that gets why Ahmadinejad wants to lay a wreath at Ground Zero? It is because he wants to honor the terrorists who killed all those Americans on 9/11. I am disappointed in you, Bill. You should know this."

Hilda Cash, El Sobrante, CA: "Call me a harridan, but no one in the present Iranian government should be allowed outside UN property."

Amanda Jennings, San Angelo, CA: "I applaud the NYPD for refusing to allow the Iranian president to visit Ground Zero. I am disgusted that Columbia University will let him speak, but still bans ROTC."