Guest: Writer Felice Gaer

"The former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami is speaking at the National Cathedral Thursday, and will talk at Harvard Sunday. The liberal Boston Globe, whose publisher is stepping down because of declining circulation, editorialized that Khatami is a 'partisan of a dialogue of civilizations.' Call me dumb, but I do know what a 'partisan of a dialogue of civilizations is.' I do know that Khatami is a bad guy. Felice Gaer and Nina Shea wrote in the Washington Post that under Khatami religious minorities faced 'imprisonment, torture, and even execution.' Also on Khatami's watch, Iran funded Hezbollah terrorists, harbored Al Qaeda killers, and began working on illegal nuclear weapons. But again, the Boston Globe says he's an okay guy. This is a huge problem - in America we simply will not define our enemies. The Islamic fascists released more video of Bin Laden, purportedly getting ready for the 9/11 sneak attack. That kind of footage is not condemned in the Arab world or in Europe or in Russia or in China. So let's be honest - many people are simply not going to fight terror or even recognize the bad guys. After all the trouble Iran has implemented, its former president speaks at the National Cathedral and is accepted by some in the left-wing press as an okay guy. God help us."

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Human Rights observer Felice Gaer, who co-authored the article in the Washington Post, backed up her contention that Khatami is a villain. "If he's a reformer, he should be calling on the clerics in his own country to respect religious freedom. It's ironic that this man is being asked to speak about different faiths when he oppressed those faiths in his own country. Religious minorities suffered imprisonment, harassment, and even death." The Factor denounced Khatami and his supporters in the US media. "Iran is a theocracy that oppresses religions it doesn't like, which is all religions except for Islam. I don't get why the US left-wing media has a tendency to prop up people like this."

Guest: Author Gary Hart

Clinton administration officials, and reportedly the former president himself, are demanding that ABC cancel the upcoming docu-drama "The Path to 9/11," which shows Clinton and his aides ignoring threats and passing up opportunities to kill Osama Bin Laden. Former Democrat Senator Gary Hart told The Factor that Republicans also ignored warnings. "I was one of those who warned the current administration that terrorists were going to attack this country, and they did nothing. Our mandate was to give this to President Bush, but he refused to see us." Looking forward, Hart urged the administration to shift the focus away from Iraq. "The jihad is now in Europe, the suburbs of Paris, and London. We have to know where the terrorists are, we have to infiltrate them, we have to kick down doors, and we have to cut their throats."

Guest: John Mattes, XETV

San Diego TV reporter John Mattes appeared on Wednesday's program after he was severely beaten by alleged con man Sam Suleiman and his wife while investigating a story. Mattes returned Thursday with more on his ordeal. "I'm going to heal," Mattes pledged, "and I'm going to be back investigating these people. They have a history of verbal violence, death threats and battery on their neighbors." The Factor reported that Suleiman and his wife Rosa are free on bail, despite their on-camera assault. "Suleiman is a bad guy with all kinds of beefs on his rap sheet. And his wife, we don't even know if she's in the country legally. The San Diego police told us 'we do not ask those kinds of questions.' If I were you, I'd sue these people."

Guest: Alison Arngrim, National Association to Protect Children

While many states have enacted tough laws against child predators, a few are resistant. Child advocate Alison Arngrim, who was molested by a relative when she was six, named the most egregious offenders. "California has some of the worst laws on child pornography. Possession of child porn is a misdemeanor - it's treated as a 'victimless' crime, and these are photos of human beings being raped. It's just insane. Washington has a 'pedophile diversion' program. One man was caught in the act of raping a two month old infant and they wanted to give him three months in jail and six months of therapy. And Hawaii has a very bizarre loophole - a person who is arrested for molesting their own child is issued a special set of rights. They are sent a statement giving them their options and their privileges."

Guests: Fox News analyst Juan Williams & Democratic strategist Laura Schwartz

President Bush has delivered a series of tough speeches warning that America is still at war with sinister forces. Democrat strategist Laura Schwartz explained that Republicans are playing to their strength. "This is the GOP's issue. But even though out in the heartland America feels secure, folks in New York City still live in the figurative shadow of the World Trade Center and do not feel secure enough. We're at war in Iraq and we've got a war on terror. President Bush is trying to lump the two together, and a majority of Americans don't see it that way." FNC analyst Juan Williams accused Republicans of cravenly playing politics. "You would have to be blind not to notice that all of this is happening just before the election. Why wasn't the President delivering this message before? This nation is at war with despicable terrorists, but Americans are concerned about Iraq and about the economy and stagnant wages." The Factor pointed out that the Republican emphasis on terror is understandable. "Every poll says the only area in which President Bush has high approval ratings is terror fighting. It's obvious that the GOP is going to make this the issue in the upcoming election, and it is the story of our time."

Guests: Katrina Zish, US Weekly

The infant daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes graces the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, while other "news" outlets eagerly publish photos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's baby. Entertainment reporter Katrina Zish rationalized the stars' behavior. "A lot of celebrities realize that people love to know every detail of their lives, and will try any means necessary to see their babies. So some celebrities say 'here's my baby, now leave me alone.' People out there want to see the babies and that's what sells magazines." The Factor denounced this trend as pure exploitation. "This is a deliberate attempt by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie to make Americans like them. To take your own flesh and blood and market it to bring you fame and fortune and publicity is just low, and I am outraged by it."

Many of you commented on San Diego reporter John Mattes, who was assaulted by a suspected con man while reporting a story. Some excerpts:

Monica West, Apopka, FL: "Mr. O, maybe these arrogant reporters that think they can shove a camera in anyone's face will take a lesson from this."

Harry Rhea, Haddonfield, NJ: "Mr. O'Reilly, if you need a bodyguard, I am a 240 pound Marine with 14 years of karate training. I've got your back."

Judi Driscoll, Walpole, MA: "What they did to that reporter is a disgrace. What is the world coming to?"

Nelson Luzzetti, Phillipsburg, NJ: "The reporter got what he deserved. Reporters are not police. When they confront people, even scam artists, they may get it. I don't feel sorry for him at all."