Why is nobody talking about today’s biggest outrage? Am I the only one who came across the story that the US is prepared to forgive, support, and work with the UN’s Mohamed ElBaradei!? That’s right, in a complete turnaround, “U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will offer support for ElBaradei’s candidacy as director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

What!?

For more than two years now, the U.S. has been the lone voice of reason against this monster of deceit and appeasement. We’ve held the line as he’s pedaled his lies and trickery. Why, only last year we were tapping his phone in the hopes of ousting him! Remember?

Apparently, people don‘t remember the misdeeds of “Baghdad Barry.” Let me refresh your memories. This is the guy who, back in January of 2003, a couple of months before the Iraq war, said this:

By December 1998 — when the inspections were brought to a halt with a military strike imminent — we were confident that we had not missed any significant component of Iraq’s nuclear programme.

While we did not claim absolute certainty, our conclusion at that time was that we had neutralized Iraq’s nuclear weapons programme and that there were no indications that Iraq retained any physical capability to produce weapon usable nuclear material…

…To conclude: we have to date found no evidence that Iraq has revived its nuclear weapons programme since the elimination of the programme in the 1990s. However, our work is steadily progressing and should be allowed to run its natural course. With our verification system now in place, barring exceptional circumstances, and provided there is sustained proactive cooperation by Iraq, we should be able within the next few months to provide credible assurance that Iraq has no nuclear weapons programme. These few months would be a valuable investment in peace because they could help us avoid a war.

Yes, that guy. That’s who we’re forgiving and cuddling up to right now. You need more evidence? Here are some Greatest Hits from his big anti-American tirade at the UN in March, on the very eve of the war:

The IAEA has now conducted a total of 218 nuclear inspections at 141 sites, including 21 that have not been inspected before…

…Based on available evidence, the IAEA team has concluded that Iraq efforts to import these aluminum tubes were not likely to have been related to the manufacture of centrifuge, and moreover that it was highly unlikely that Iraq could have achieved the considerable redesign needed to use them in a revived centrifuge program…

…After three months of intrusive inspections, we have to date found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapon program in Iraq…

…However credible this assessment may be, we will endeavor, in view of the inherent uncertainties associated with any verification process, and particularly in the light of Iraq past record of cooperation, to evaluate Iraq capabilities on a continuous basis…

He never got the chance, thank god. And the way he just dismissed our evidence about those aluminum tubes, even though only a month before Colin Powell had revealed on the UN’s floor, “Most U.S. experts think they are intended to serve as rotors in centrifuges used to enrich uranium,” well, it’s a wonder that we’ve never prosecuted the so-called “inspector” for war crimes!

Then again, we’re a merciful people. But that doesn’t mean we have to hop into bed with the guy. He has a proven track record of treachery and weaselosity and US-bashing. I’m not saying he’s a member of al Qaeda or a secret tool of Tehran or anything, but let’s not ignore the possibility that he might be a member of al Qaeda or a secret tool of Tehran or heaven knows what else.

We ran a three year campaign of denouncement and espionage to bring this guy down, after all. We even tried to reason with him. And time and again he played right into Saddam’s hands with his ridiculous statements about Iraq probably having absolutely no nuclear weapons capabilities or programs. As though it was somehow his job to go around inspecting this stuff and disregarding the intelligence of the United States of America if he thought it wasn’t airtight.

And now… what’s happened to us?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t forgive ElBaradei. We’re a Christian nation, and we forgive people, even guys named “Mohamed.” But to support him? The next thing you know we’ll be apologizing to him! Can you imagine that? “Oh, sorry Mr. Baradei for insulting you and spying on you - it looks like you were right all along about Iraq and were just trying to tell us so. Our mistake. Now, can we shine your shoes with our tongues?” Don’t laugh - that’s the way we’re headed.

Maybe the Bush administration is filled with more virtuous people than myself, people who can overlook misdeeds in the name of diplomacy and charity. But that’s not me, and I suspect that that’s not most Americans. Sorry, Baghdad Barry, but I can’t forgive. Not now, not ever.