Alert issued after communications among senior alqaeda operatives intercepted indicating plans for a major attack were underway and calling into the question in the narrative the group is on the run. Columnist Brett Stephens and Matt Cominski join me with more. On friday the u. S. Closed the consulate in pakistan which ive been to which is the safest part of pakistan. Are we watching the comeback of alqaeda . We have been watching it for a month but now we have noticed. This last week is one, the alqaeda core, central pakistan led by ayman alzawahri and he is active. Number two, we have seen that the alqaeda affiliates, after alqaeda in pakistan they moved to yemen and moved to north africa and moved to syria. But syria and yemen has been the most dangerous one. Paul this is the source . Exactly. He named this afal yacht as number two that prompted the alert over the week. Paul what makes them dangerous. A lot of people say dont worry about this, these are local franchises. They are really not threatening us. They are preoccupied with the governments of their countries. That is all. We dont need to be as concerned as we do with the alqaeda core . We need to be preoccupied with the sophistication and reach and ambition. That is what weve been seen. Affiliate in yemen was trying to bomb western jet liners oh over detroit several years ago. So this has been going on for some time. Alqaeda in north africa tried to take over mali and would have succeeded had it not been for french intervention. Paul is mali really a threat to us . You could have made the same argument as afghanistan, a remote middle country in the middle of asia but its a threat that it provides a secure base that alqaeda can plan and plot. That is the issue. Now, the biggest threat increasingly is syria where we have literally thousands of fighters affiliated with a front and other alqaeda ideologically linked groups that are gaining strength. They are gaining expertise. They are gaining and creating sanctuaries. Paul and presumably hard to penetrate . They are importing jihadis from europe and going to perpetrate things. Paul we were told the syria isnt our fight, its irrelevant to our security. Its over there, its the middle east. We need to withdraw from the middle east and pivoted to asia because we have been stirring the hornets nest there . We are told what happens in syria stays in syria but its moved into iro destabilize the government. Paul there is an alqaeda cell. Hundred prisoners escaped last week. Us a pointed out one day it will hurt us. We are paying the price for not doing anything. Paul iraq was defeated in 2008. Its gaining strength because we are not there. What about the argument that this global alert about embassy says an overreaction. This is political response to the criticism the president got about the disaster when americans were killed in benghazi and this is really not as threatening as they say. This is mostly just frankly political selfprotection . Overreacting to terrorist threats is always the right thing to do. Imagine if we had another consulate destroyed as the embassies in tanzania and kenya were destroyed in 1998. Hundreds of dead. People would be demanding to know why we didnt take the next precautions to make sure especially if we felt we had intelligence that could have prevented this. So the idea we are overreacting to terrorism is an idea that seems persuasive. Paul do you credit the Obama Administration with doing the right thing here . We dont know what fully happens. There was a meeting of 20 senior alqaeda leaders by some sort of chat last week. But what they were responding to or provoke on. Paul we give them the benefit of the doubt . That is the role of the president in times of war. The president spent all year doing victory laps around alqaeda, he said poor alqaeda was on the way to defeat. We could resend the authorization for the use of military force. That we could treat alqaeda as essentially as a nuisance threat. Very quickly in the ten weeks since he gave that speech calling for an end on the war on terror, alqaeda continues to have the ability to act globally. Paul there is a disconnected that seems to be going on in the world where we have the alarms and drones in yemen and then at home, were debating whether we want to have surveillance anymore. Its on both sides. President obama has not fully defended his own policies. Paul how do you explain the disconnect . People are tired of this war. Its been 12 years in the making. People think it would be great to wind it down. Paul cold war went on for 40 years and we didnt say oh, well, lets give up. Look at the history of the cold war, became exhausted with it. They saw detente its built of the same story. Unless you have a visible look at the threat, you will want to wind it down. Paul a story that nobody in washington wants you to know about it. How white house is engineering an obamacare bailout to members of congress. The details are next. Its not a candy bar. 130 calories 7 grams of protein the fiber one caramel nut protein bar. Does your dog food have . The fiber one 18 percent . 20 . New purina one true instinct has 30. Active dogs crave nutrientdense food. So we made purina one true instinct. Learmore at purinaone. Com could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. Yep, Everybody Knows that. Well, did you know the ancient pyramids were actually a mistake . Uhoh. Geico. Fifteen minutes could save you. Well, you know. Why let erectile dysfunction get in your way . Talk to your doctor about viagra. Ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Do not take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pai it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Side effects include headache, flushing, upset stomach, and abnormal vision. To avoid longterm injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. Stop taking viagra and call your doctor right away, if you experience a sudden decrease or loss in vision or hearing. This is the age of taking action. Viagra. Talk to your doctor. Paul last week we learned a plan was in the works to exempt members of congress and their staffs from the heavily law they passed for everyone else. This week we learned how they are going to do it with white house releasing legal Details Behind the obamacare bailout. Joe rago and kim strassel are here with more. Joe, what is congress and administration up to . In 2009 they adopted a rule that said that they would lose their federal healthcare coverage and move into the obamacare exchanges. The idea they would get firsthand experience with what their constituents are going through and play by the same rules. Paul then Chuck Grassley made a bill adopted by democrats and passed but they made a mistake. They didnt decide how to fund that . The problem is, the members who make 174,000 a year and some of their better compensated aides because they make too much money. They would be exposed to thousands of dollars in new healthcare costs every year. Paul because the coverage they currently have is richer, you get 5,000 or n subsidies . 10,000 for a family, a lot of choices, very well functioning program. Paul its a very good plan. Exchanges, in d. C. There is three options in the federal program. Paul so members in the staff were saying wait a minute were going to take a pay cut because we going to have to pay for own hell. How is this working now . What they are saying, congress didnt actually kick themselves out of federal program. They are going to remain in the federal program for the subsidy and get the healthcare coverage and Insurance Plan in the exchange. So they created really an illegal funding stream for congress. Paul this isnt in the law. They are reinterpreting the law to make it happen . What they should do is pass, if this is such a big program for the chiefs of staff and legislative councils, they should give them a pay raise. Make up for the lost compensation. Paul how do you explain this politically . Joe rago has been the only person in washington paying attention to this. Joe is in new york, that is probably the reason. But republicans and democrats are ducking and covering. Dont put me on letter protesting it. What is going on here . The media only is interested in controversies. Right now everyone in Congress Agrees this assault right thing to do. Its a real problem especially for republicans. They have been complaining about obamacare and particular about the waivers that the white house has been giving to every entity that comes along. Saying everyone should live under the ravages of this law. Here they are selfdealing. Giving themselves an out and nobody wants to talk about it. Not republicans because their own staffs were unhappy about this. They are preferring it would all go away. You have dave camp saying this is wrong. There should be no waivers for us. For the most part republicans have remained silent. Its a big missed opportunity. Paul its an opportunity to define obamacare and problems . They messed up. Democrats messed up. They rushed it through so fast. They didnt even know that something that hurts them and their staff was in it. So isnt that a metaphor for what the law is going to do for the rest of america . That is right. Also for republicans to simply stand up and say, look, this is going to be terrible for everyone else. We should have to live under this, too, because that might in fact cause some rethinking whether we should keep the flaw place. Paul is there any way to challenge this other than politically in congress . This is unilateral interpretation, executive interpretation that the administration is doing. Can anybody do anything to sue . I dont think so. This is is a political issue. Its good one for republicans, i think. They have had a lot of trouble changing the Affordable Care act. Here is an issue, democrats looking out for number one might be willing to sign on. Paul to sign on and make other changes in the law, perhaps for a years delay . Sure. That is one option. How about helping all the low wage workers that cant find a fulltime job because it defines the workweek as 30 hours. They are not getting any unilateral fix out of the white house. Lets make this universal. Paul any beeping out of the republicans when they come back . There are a few that are out there but most of them have saying this is happy what is given to their staff. Paul when we come back. Could it be president obama calls for a smaller role for the federal government and you the taxpayer in the Mortgage Market. Is it a step in the right direction . [ kitchen counselor ] introducing cascade platinum. Its triple cleaning formula delivers brilliant shine that finish gel cant beat. It even helps keep your dishwasher sparkling. New cascade platinum is cascades best. To fly home for the big family reunion. You must be garths father . Hello. Mother. Mother traveling is easy with the venture card because you can fly any airline anytime. Two words. Double miles this guy can act. Wanna play dodge rock . Oh, you guys and with double miles you can actuay use, you never miss the fun. Beard growing contest and go win whats in your wallet . Private capital should take a bigger role in the Mortgage Market. I know it sounds confusing for people that call me a socialist. I think i saw some posters on the way. I believe in the free market. I believe our housing system should operate in a limited Government Role and private lending should be the can backbone of the Housing Market. Paul there is president obama to reform the Nations Housing system. Speaking in phoenix one hit by hardest by the crash. To bow down fannie mae and freddie mac that should come as welcome news that guarantee 85 of all new mortgages. Im joined by mary kissel and james freeman. So appreciate the irony he recognized it himself . Any time this president says he wants private investors in investing in mortgages, that is big step in the right direction. I think look. Market crashing in 2007, were in 2013, fannie mae and freddie mac are making money again. This is the time to reform because the longer they make money, the harder it is going to be convince congress or white house to do anything. Paul congress will want to take the money and spend it on something else. Isnt it a step in the right direction, get rid of fannie mae and freddie mac and you have public risk, taxpayer risk and private profit. If he gets rid of it that is a step in the right direction . As the step in the right direction. But there are plih that you have a bill in the house and bill in the senate that are pushing in the same direction. I think what you saw from the president was an attempt to get in front of that, in caboose and he wants to get in the front of train. Paul do you see any problem with this proposal . Are we finally moving in the right direction on what has been frankly since the crisis a nationalized Housing Market . Its the right direction. There is a problem. The difference between the house which gets rid of fannie mae and freddie mac and doesnt replace them with anything except a free market. The plan mr. Obama is backing still has taxpayers on the hook. Big step forward is thestors tae first loss. Paul in the senate bill . In the senate bill which the president has now endorsed this week. There is some room for taxpayers but under the president s plan but clearly, yes, a step in the right direction. The taxpayers will be at risk in either plan. House bill gets rid of fannie mae and freddie mac but it leaves something called the federal Housing Association in place, fha, and it is broke as of today. The house goes a long way to reform the institution. When you put the government behind the Mortgage Market, even if you are partying it back it has a habit biting you back. Paul the Housing Market has started to come back. Prices are up about 12 according to case schiller in major areas. Investment is growing in doubledigits, is that an opening politically to get this done in congress where you can get rid of fannie mae and freddie mac . I think may be the only window where you have a Housing Market that is coming back to the extent that politicians are not afraid to make a change. You have memories fresh enough from the financial crisis that people still remember why we need to get rid of these mortgage monsters that requi huge taxpayer bailouts. Obviously if last years election had gone differently, final bill may have been different. This is the opportunity you had to be encouraged to see president s remarks this week. Paul the Housing Builders and real stores and housing industry complex is very influential and wants to retain these federal guarantees . And they have influence over both parties and this president. In the speech you heard conflicting goals. Private investors in the Mortgage Market not taxpayers but in the very same speech he said, but we have to make sure that first time home buyers have the opportunity to buy homes. We need the 30year mortgage. You know what, well see what comes out of it. Paul its not perfect. When we come back, hits and misses of the week. Good job still running in the morning . Yeah. Getting your vegetables every day . When i can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] couldve had a v8. Two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. First wait till summer. Then get the cars ready. Now add the dodge part. The dodge Summer Clearance event. Right now get 0 financing for to 72 months and no payments for 90 days on all dodge vehicles. Paul time for the ever popular hits and misses of the week, james . Paul this is miss to Actor Matt Damon who set a record in the an yals of hollywood had i pock create. He is preeminent celebrity blow hard in fighting against reform of Public Education and lauding the benefits of the Public Educational system in this country. We learn he is sending his children to private schools. He says its because Public Schools are not progressive enough. Amazing, but not so amazing we see this out of hollywood. Paul matt is invited on this show any time he wants. Really big miss, Alex Rodriguez the only baseball to appeal his suspension for using performance enhancing drugs. Ego is not a problem if ethics are. Its all about arod, never mind the reputation of the game. Paul spoken like a nonyankees fan. I think a hit goes to jeff bezos the super billionaire for purchasing the Washington Post as he did this week for a song, 250 million. It shows that he has faith in content faith in a great brand and great title. Maybe he can provide the innovation to renew this paper. Paul remember, if you have your own hit or miss, please them to us and be sure to follow us on twitter. That is it for this weeks show. Thanks to my panel and all watching. Im paul gigot. Hope to see you right here next week. On fox news watch. This is an overreaction to benghazi. One thing ive tried to do as president is not over react. President obama makes a post prime time appearance commenting on key issues and terrorist threats face ourg nation. Was this right venue to make news. Washington post gets bought by amazon billionaire jeff bezos. How did the read yeah react to the news. What would it mean to the future of the newspaper business. We have a republican chairman understandably miffed. Folks are against