Head Shot

Well, as I and others have blogged, Rachel Marsden, she of the dubious resumé and criminal harassment conviction, has debuted in the op-ed pages (subscription req'd) of the National Post.

Under the headline "Don't call Guantanamo a Gulag," Marsden spews thusly:

Some artist uses a crucifix as a swizzle stick in a vat full of urine, and Christians just roll their eyes. But suggest flushing the Koran -- or even dog-earing a copy of Fodor's Guide to the Islamic World -- and the folks who cheered in the Arab Street on 9/11 take it as a green light to riot and blow up more innocent women and children.

Never mind that, even before that controversial issue of Newsweek hit the stands, people in Afghanistan, where deadly riots ocurred, were already stirring over political and other problems. Even the Pentagon had said as much. What's more, Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai confirmed it on CNN.

None of the facts stop Marsden. In true Ann Coulter-style, but without the twisted wit, she blathers on:

While there may exist a few incidents of serious abuse, merely having people pose for pictures in undignified positions isn't a severe form of "torture." (Here in North America, some would say, that's called "holidays with the family.")

I don't know about Marsden's family sojourns but mine sure didn't involve beatings, bludgeonings or having my genitals bitten off by the pooch. (Here's the evidence from Abu Ghraib. Be warned: It's not pretty.)

Furthermore, Marsden conveniently forgets that 100 (or more) prisoners died in U.S. custody.

It's apparent to any close observer that the Post's editors did not think much of having Marsden join their ranks: She does not merit a portrait-byline or National Post email address, does not make the website's list of columnists and received no promotional push.

Even so, she gets prime real estate in a national newspaper. Can this guy or this one be happy about sharing it with her?

Well, at least Marsden's not a plagiarist.

If I were a really sharp young conservative commentator or blogger, like this guy, or this one, I would be really angry that Marsden got such a shot to her career.

The question is, why?

UPPITY DATE: The eloquent Kevin Michael Grace has more.