"For almost six years the Bush administration and the Republican Party have been telling us that aggressive anti-terror measures have significantly damaged the Al Qaeda terrorists. But Wednesday's New York Times carries this headline: 'Bush Advisers See a Failed Strategy Against Al Qaeda.' Talking Points simply doesn't know who's telling the truth here. Both the Republicans and the Democrats are using Al Qaeda for political reasons, so it's hard to get the truth. The end game is the 2008 elections. Since the left has opposed nearly every anti-terror measure, they're seen by many as soft on terrorism. But now the left is saying that Mr. Bush has blown it, that his policies have actually helped the terrorists. So if there is another attack on American soil, both parties are going to blame the other. The terrorists themselves must really be enjoying this bizarre dance, but I'm not. I'd like to know if the hundreds of billions of dollars the USA has spent fighting Al Qaeda and others have been wasted. I'd like to know if Osama and his killers are really prospering. And I'd like to know exactly how the left would neutralize bin Laden. Unfortunately, I can't get clear answers on any of those questions. Very disturbing."

For answers, The Factor was joined by two of America's foremost terror experts. Former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer asserted that Al Qaeda remains a force to be reckoned with. "We have damaged Al Qaeda in terms of their leadership capabilities on the surface, but they have a tremendously effective program of succession. Al Qaeda is still in operation. I am a lifelong Republican and I am getting awfully sick of being manipulated by the White House." But Peter Ziehan of Stratfor.com argued that Al Qaeda has been significantly degraded. "Look where they were in 2001 - international finances, the ability to move anywhere, operations in multiple theaters. If they are still that strong, why haven't they carried out a meaningful attack in over five years?" When The Factor asked both men to grade the administration's handling of Al Qaeda, Scheuer gave a D-, while Ziehan handed out a far more generous B-.

News Link: NYT: Bush Aides See Failure in Fight With Al Qaeda in Pakistan

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted for his alleged role in a ring of vicious dog fights. The Humane Society's John Goodwin reported that dog fighting is a vehicle for big-money gambling. "These indictments describe Michael Vick as having $23,000 in cash that he handed over to someone after a dog fight. There was another dog fight in Houston last year where they fought for $100,000." Goodwin went on to describe some of dog fighting's savage practices. "A fighting dog might have a litter of five puppies, and the ones that don't show enough aggression to other dogs are killed. Only the ones with the most aggression go on the organized dog fighting circuit." The Factor pointed out that Idaho and Wyoming are the only two states where dog fighting is not a felony, and condemned anyone involved in the activity. "The whole thing is barbaric, and anyone who would take part in this is a sadist."

News Link: Vick indictment

The Factor next welcomed Dave Ollila, who videotaped part of the ordeal when his Delta flight was held on the runway for four hours. "We were told more than ten times," Ollila complained, "that we would be leaving in 'five to ten minutes.' People were agitated, uncomfortable, and we didn't get out of that unhealthy situation until the police came to escort us off." Passenger advocate Kate Hanni reported that Congress is considering laws to deal with long delays. "We have legislation in both houses, but it's weak and it's been watered down. Certain members of Congress have made promises, but then it doesn't show up in the language." The Factor implied that some politicians may be influenced by campaign contributions. "If you're a passenger and you can't get off the ground in two hours, that should be it, and people should be taken off the plane. But the airline industry is very powerful, and they don't want to be sanctioned and fined if people are sitting on the runway for four hours."

News Link: Airline profits up, even as service goes down

Tory Bowen claims she was raped three years ago in Nebraska by a man named Pamir Safi. "I was at a Halloween party with my sorority sisters," Bowen told The Factor. "I had a drink and the next thing I remember is waking up with vomit encrusted in my hair, an unknown man on top of me and inside of me. I believe a substance was given to me." Victim advocate Wendy Murphy protested that Judge Jeffre Cheuvront actually banned certain words from the trial. "He said Tory and other witnesses could not use the word 'rape,' could not describe the guy as an 'assailant.' This is judicial censorship - a citizen has a fundamental civil right to testify truthfully." The Factor supported Tory Bowen's pursuit of justice. "Safi had two prior rape arrests, but no convictions. This is a troubling case on many different levels."

News Link: Mistrial in Rape Case With Banned Words

Dennis Miller joined The Factor with his thoughts on comedian Jon Lovitz' brutal beating of fellow comic Andy Dick. "Andy's surname," Miller quipped, "is an apt description of him as a human being sometimes. He was chiding Jon and Lovitz, the sweetest of all men, just had enough and took him out. I think Andy understands on a deep level that he has a messed-up life." Miller also commented on JetBlue CEO David Barger, who defended his company's sponsorship of the Daily Kos convention. "If you're a businessman, you're supposed to know your audience. At some point you're going to have to sell tickets on the right side of the aisle on the airplane, and this guy has shown his cards, and now we know where he's at politically." The Factor condemned hatred on both sides of the spectrum. "I say there is no difference between Nazi sites and the Daily Kos. They revel in hate, and remember that JetBlue was the only corporation that stepped up to give this hateful web site money."

News Link: Andy Dick vs. Jon Lovitz

Finally, Internet specialist Mary Katharine Ham reported on the rise of violent "girl fights" on numerous web sites. "Men like to watch women beat the tar out of each other and rip each other's clothes off. Sex sells, fights sell, and this is a combination of both. And they're permissible for posting on You Tube." Ham also warned about a popular web site that may be a lure for predators. "This a very freewheeling chat site where teens talk to one another has about 600,000 users. But it has some connections to a mogul who is involved in hard core porn."

News Link: Video: girl brawl

Your e-mails covered a variety of recent segments. Some excerpts:

Ephraim Freed, Waynesville, NC: "Chris Benoit was responsible for his murderous actions. However, the case is also an indictment of the corrupt wrestling industry."

Cheryl Percy, Greenwood, IN: "The wrestler Billy Graham was right, people are responsible for what they do. It wasn't the drugs."

Joe Branciforte, New York, NY: "O'Reilly, let me get this straight: You want everyone to discontinue the use of their cell phones while driving because a 17-year old caused an unthinkable tragedy?"

Lou Cherniss, Hua Hin, Thailand: "Bill, you constantly say you have no spin. I beg to differ. Do you feel labeling those who criticize you 'far left' is not spinning?"