"the al-Qaida type"

Nobody ever accused this vice president of being liberal, but he's sure liberal with his language. On Wednesday, he chose to put his own personal spin on Ned Lamont's victory, over incumbent Joe Lieberman. According to the Associated Press, Dick Cheney claimed that a win by the Democratic challenger will only serve to embolden and inspire " the al-Qaida types" who want to "break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task."

One obvious question for Mr. Cheney is--what is an "al Qaida type, and what does he, or she, look like? Do they have any distinguishing characteristics? a birth mark on the forehead, perhaps, as with that biblical chap Cain? A double chin? Are they Arabs? Israelis? Asians? exclusively, or predominately? Also, might we expect to find an "al Qaida-type" lounging in a pair of Blonics, or in Calvin Klein boxer shorts? And, where, in a five star hotel in Beverly Hills, or maybe in what remains of a five star hotel in Beirut or Baghdad? Maybe even in a college dormitory in Berkeley, or, better still, might we expect to see one shopping for lingerie in Target, or Victoria's Secrets?

Oh, and while we're at it, why not ask the esteemed vice president what a "dissenter" looks like, and if, at some point, they, too, might misconstrued as an "al-Qaida type?" More importantly, when Mr. Cheney suggests that the "will of the American people" might be broken by those who question his vision, and that of the commander-in-chief, as to how best to prevent future terror attacks on our soil, is the default position one that suggests being contrarian compromises our national security? To the contrary, the inability to go against official governmental policy is antithetical to everything the framers of the Bill of Rights intended. Further, it must be asked,which "fight," in particular, is the vice president so consumed with, and which "task" is he so concerned with completing? Can it be the task of rebuilding Iraq for which his Halliburton, and other fortune 500 American contractors, are destined to make billions?

Very impressive phrase, "al Qaida type." It seems Mr. Cheney missed his calling; he should have been a casting director.