https://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2008/03/19/josh-marshall-and-the-mafia/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 02:13:07 -0400<![CDATA[Is it even worth commenting on Josh Marshall&#8217;s overheated post about McCain&#8217;s supposed &#8220;gaffe&#8221; about the relations between Iran and Al Qaeda in which he informs us McCain is &#8220;Unfit to Serve&#8221;? I don&#8217;t read Marshall much but have not noted him to be a Middle East scholar so I am not surprised he is not up to speed on the intricacies of the shifting Iran/Al Qaeda connections that don&#8217;t always track with conventional Sunni-Shiite dichotomies. He may learn a few things here. But I am surprised he hasn&#8217;t learned the basic lessons of that great American classic &#8211; The Godfather. Al Qaeda and the Iranian Mullahs behave very much like Mafia families. When it&#8217;s convenient for the families to ally against their enemies, they do. When their enemies are vanquished, they kill each other. Is that too much for Marshall to understand &#8211; or shall we buy him another ticket to Pacino? [Somehow I think he doesn&#8217;t want to hear it.-ed. Somehow I think you&#8217;re right.]]]>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:10:32 -0400<![CDATA[Roger L. Simon]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-l-simon/2008/03/19/josh-marshall-and-the-mafia-n215416