The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.

Out on a Limb
“New Data Reveals al-Qaida-Linked Groups Among Most Active Terrorist Groups in the World”–headline, University of Maryland press release, Oct. 16

Answers to Questions Nobody Is Asking
“I May Run for White House, Says Chelsea Clinton”–headline, Independent (London), Oct. 18

Apology Tour
“The foreign student arrested over an attempt to blow-up the New York Federal Reserve on Wednesday cited an extremist publication as inspiration for his deadly plans,” London’s Daily Mail reports:

Quazi Nafis, 21, reportedly learned how to make a bomb from an article published by al-Qaeda in the magazine “Inspire.”

The magazine contained a piece titled, “How to Make a Bomb in the Kitchen with your Mom,” telling readers how to construct a detonating bomb with everyday household items. . . .

An American, 26-year-old Samir Khan, from North Carolina, was the driving force behind the publication and penned the piece on making a bomb at your mom’s kitchen table.

Remember Samir Khan? As the Charlotte Observer reported at the time:

An official from the U.S. State Department has called the Charlotte family of al-Qaida propagandist Samir Khan to offer the government’s condolences on his death in a U.S. drone attack last week in Yemen, according to a family spokesman.

“They were very apologetic (for not calling the family sooner) and offered condolences,” Jibril Hough said about the Thursday call from the State Department to Khan’s father, Zafar.

The phone call came a day after the family released a statement through Hough that condemned the “assassination” of their 25-year-old son–a U.S. citizen–and said they were “appalled” that they had not heard from the U.S. government to discuss their son’s remains or answer questions about why Khan was not afforded due process.

To be sure, it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission. But why is the Obama administration apologizing for killing terrorists?

For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”