Interviewed on ABC's "This Week" this morning, US House Speaker John Boehner threatened to plunge the nation into a catastrophic debt default:

"We're not going to pass a clean debt limit increase," he said. "I told the president, there's no way we're going to pass one. The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit. And the president is risking default by not having a conversation with us."

But of course, President Obama can't negotiate with Republicans on this because this is economic terrorism, and you just can't negotiate with terrorists. I mean, if the Teabaggers manage to kill Obamacare in exchange for passing a clean budget and debt ceiling increase, what do they demand be sacrificed the next time the debt ceiling approaches? Social Security? Medicare? Abortion rights? Where does the extortion end?

No, with Boehner threatening default—and the irreparable economic calamity it would bring—the only option remaining to the president may be a Predator drone strike. Perhaps that's why Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel suddenly recalled defense workers?