"Did you know that more than 100,000 illegal aliens are in US prisons after being convicted of felonies? Did you know that Iraqi civilian militias are murdering thousands of people every month in that country? Did you know that American Marines are being investigated for killing unarmed Iraqi women and children, and the charges might have validity? All of that winds up on the desk of Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense. Every day it is a new threat against this country or a new attack. Who would want that job? Thursday and Friday, I will try to get some answers about very complicated and vital questions. As you know, we're living in dangerous times, and Secretary Rumsfeld is one of those charged with keeping us safe. Some say he's the right man for the job, others say no. But there's little doubt about where he stands."

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Guest: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sat down with The Factor for an exclusive interview. He first reacted to a report that US Marines killed innocent Iraqi women and children. "The command in Iraq," Rumsfeld explained, "came across the information, is investigating and is proceeding under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Needless to say, we have to take allegations of that type seriously." The Defense Secretary also detailed exactly what is expected of the National Guard troops that will be sent to the Mexican border. "They're going to go down there not to arrest people, but to add technical capability to what the Border Patrol has. They will have rules of engagement, and the state governors will be in charge of the National Guard." The Factor questioned why Secretary Rumsfeld seemed defensive about the deployment. "Americans want the National Guard there under your control and the President's control, armed to the teeth and saying we're not going to have any more drug smuggling and illegal aliens coming across."

Continuing in a second segment, Donald Rumsfeld expressed optimism about the war in Iraq. "The terrorists tried to stop elections and they have failed, they tried to stop the drafting of a constitution and they failed. They're now trying to stop the formation of a new government and they're going to fail." Secretary Rumsfeld also declared there is no civil war in Iraq. "There is sectarian violence, and the only thing that can stop it is a unity government and a reconciliation process that reaches out to all elements. One of the first tasks of the government will be to deal with the militias, and they're making progress. I'm not saying it's a pretty picture, but our guys over there are doing a superb job." The Factor suggested that the success or failure of the Iraq policy remains up in the air. "It's cost the United States taxpayer about $400 million. If the stability of Iraq, if it happens, means Al Qaeda will be weakened, I think it's worth it. If we pull out of there, Iran will be the dominant player in the gulf and it will be a nightmare." There will be more of The Factor's interview with Secretary Rumsfeld Friday.

Guest: Fox News military analyst Col. Oliver North

Congressman John Murtha has claimed that US troops slaughtered Iraqi women and children "in cold blood" last November, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is charging the Pentagon with a cover-up. Fox News analyst Col. Oliver North denounced both Democrats for playing politics. "It's unconscionable that Murtha and Pelosi would decide they are going to make a political issue out of this. The people who know about this investigation are not talking, nor should they. This is not My Lai, which was a cover-up." The Factor predicted that this incident could have explosive repercussions. "What we understand is that a number of officers involved in this alleged occurrence have been relieved of their command - there were dead civilians and something terrible happened. If this is true, you know everybody who opposes the action in Iraq will take this and ram it down the administration's throat."

Guest: Heather MacDonald, Manhattan Institute

More than 100,000 illegal aliens, most of them from Mexico and Central America, are in US prisons. Heather MacDonald of the conservative Manhattan Institute elaborated on the crisis. "Gang crime is going through the roof, and it's being driven by illegal immigration. 8-year olds and 10-year olds are being recruited into gangs. The gangster rap culture is so strong, and there's a denigration of academic achievement in the Hispanic population. The Hispanic teen pregnancy rate is the highest in the country, and there's no greater predictor of welfare and crime rates - without a father you're basically creating a criminal."

Guests: Brian Lowry, Variety & Belinda Luscombe, Time

The best-selling book "The Da Vinci Code" has been made into a much anticipated movie. After seeing the film, The Factor donned the hat of no-spin movie critic. "If you liked the book, you'll most likely enjoy the movie. If you didn't like the book, you'll hate the movie. If you didn't read the book, you might be bored because the movie is too long. But the movie does not take cheap shots at Christianity." Two full-time critics panned the movie. "You have a pretty good future as a film critic," said Variety's Brian Lowry. "It is disappointing, boring, and somewhat long." Time's Belinda Luscombe agreed that "The Da Vinci Code" is not exactly scintillating. "I've seen more interesting paint dry. It just doesn't have any fun or pace, and your faith would have to be a feeble little animal if this offends you."

Guest: Father Carl Schlichte & Jeff Lang, the Knights of Columbus

As The Factor reported Wednesday, a radical student publication at the University of Oregon has run caricatures that depict Jesus in a state of sexual arousal. University president Dave Frohnmayer refused an invitation to appear, but Father Carl Schlichte said he was not surprised by the cartoons. "Oregon has a long history of anti-Christian and anti-Catholic sentiment. So my first reaction was to just move on." But Jeff Lang of the Knights of Columbus pledged to fight the anti-Christian bias. "Students have come to us for support, and they've filed an appeal. We've given them all they need to take it as far as they want to take it. Everyone is waiting for Dave to act like the leader of the university. The Factor once again denounced President Frohnmayer. "This publication, using student funds, went out of its way to demean Christianity. I'm furious, because this is a violation of the taxpayer and a besmirchment of the university, and Dave Frohnmayer is hiding under his desk."

Many of your e-mails dealt with that anti-Christian publication and the Mexican Foreign Secretary's threat to sue the USA. Some excerpts:

Barbara Bowers, Atlanta, GA: "Bill, I agree with boycotting Mexico if they sue us. The motto should be: Just say no to Mex-i-co!"

Mike Haley, Anchorage, AK: "O'Reilly, your warning to Mexico will surely elicit many emails accusing you of arrogance. Ignore them."

Jean Domko, Salmon, ID: "I am sickened by the sacrilegious depictions of Jesus published on the campus of the University of Oregon. If we Christians do not speak out against this, we have only ourselves to blame."

Muhammed Ali Khalil, Australia: "As a Muslim, I want to convey my anger at the way the image of Jesus has been insulted at the University of Oregon."

Adam White, Eugene, OR: "As a student here, I know the Jesus images were a reactin to the outrage of Muslims over the Muhammed cartoons, not an attack on the Christian faith."