The Cool Blue Blog

Setting an example

Tikrit’s ISF participate in free Iraqi elections

TIKRIT, Iraq – One of the most impressive elections-related events occurred the day before voting began for the rest of the Iraqis carving a piece of their own history.

The soldiers of Tikrit’s 201^st Iraqi Army Battalion, Iraqi National Police and the Emergency Services Unit lined up at polling sites throughout the day to cast their vote in Iraqis first free election in decades, many for the first time in their lives.

The Iraqi Security Forces have spent the last few months preparing for the elections, rehearsing possible situations, training on their assigned weapons and conducting individual and collective training with their Task Force Danger counterparts from Task Force 1-18 Infantry.

They set the example for the rest of the area so that the polls were safe for elections and that the people of Tikrit would not yield to the empty threats of the insurgent to stay away from the polls.

The example the Tikrit ISF set for the people of Tikrit and their vigilance throughout the elections allowed for successful elections to be conducted without any incidents of attacks on polling sites, voters or election officials.

The elections are the culmination of Task Force 1-18 Infantry’s efforts to train, equip and inspire confidence in their Iraqi Security Forces counterparts.  The message from the elections in Tikrit is clear; the people of Tikrit understand that freedom is too important to be left in the hands of terrorists.

One Tikrit resident expressed the importance of this event by saying “being able to give my opinion on how my country should be governed is an opportunity that no one in my family has ever had, this is a great day.”  (Story by Capt. Michael Prudhomme, Task Force 1-18 Infantry)

The Daily Dish

I don't know why it is difficult for everyone, at least in this country, to proclaim yesterday's election as a defeat for Islamists, anti-Democratic forces, and terrorists because that is what it clearly was. Yes, I understand that this was a first step and there are many important steps yet to be taken before Iraq is truly a functioning Democracy. But it must also be recognized that the threats the terrorists made to intimidate voters failed to materialize. They promised rivers of blood. Didn't happen. They promised 400 suicide bombers. Didn't happen. They declared unilaterally that voters would be infidels. Most importantly, no one could know beforehand that these were empty threats and despite the danger, voters came anyway. Even in Sunni areas, where voter turnout was lower than other areas, people voted. What's more, the terrorists showed they did not have the organizational ability to pull off a "Tet". They could do nothing to stop millions of Iraqis from voting even though they tried.

So why is it so hard to make them suffer a PR defeat as well? Why is it so important to some to give them hope that maybe they still have a chance? Why was it so important for Sen Kerry, for instance, to say, when asked if the election made Iraq less of a terrorist threat: "No, it's more.  And, in fact, I believe the world is less safe today than it was two and a half years ago." The Europeans, whom Kerry adores, were more generous. Jaques Chirac proclaimed the election a "great success for the international community"; the same international community Sen Kerry claimed he was in tune with. Hell, even al Jezeera thought the election was more significant than some elected leaders in our own country. The New York Times and Reuters were able to acknowledge the victory while many on the Conservative Left remain deaf to it. (UPDATE: NYT reports take a downward spin here and here). And most importantly, the rest of the Arab world paid close attention and are discussing the implications. So why is it so hard for the allegedly freedom-loving opponents of the President to unite with him on this issue and make it their issue too? As one reasonable member of the Democratic Underground said (sometime after I blogged about it here) "This short-sighted "the enemy of my political oponent is my friend" obsession is not only going to alienate voters, it's going to destroy an otherwise great opportunity to spread democracy around the world." The fact is, I remain unconvinced that those on the Conservative Left want to spread Democracy. And that's the bottom line.

In contrast, Friends of Democracy reports from the streets of Iraq: "Elections are a turn towards civilization"; “The elections are the battle for freedom  against despotism and independence against occupation”; "For the first time, we have an opportunity to give our opinion in all justice and equality and without pressures". And Arthur Chrenkoff offers up that latest edition of Good News from Iraq.

In North Korea, more signs indicate that the Stalinist regime is crumbling from within.

Kuwaiti forces take the initiative against terrorists.

In an ominous turn of events, Abbas tells a London Arab daily that next week's meeting is not a renewal of negotiations between the PA and Israel, as "circumstances have not yet ripened for peace talks" and additionally seeks closer ties with Moscow. The latter wouldn't be as concerning had Syria not done the same thing recently.

More bombs explode in Spain.

Qatar considers selling al Jazeera.

Terrorist suspect Abu Rideh is freed on bail in Britain.

CNN requests seance to get Rodney Dangerfield's opinion on the passing of Johnny Carson.

A woman in Germany faces being severed from her unemployment benefits for refusing to take a job as a prostitute.

A man outfits his mother-in-law's wheelchair with a jet engine. Lookit granny go....

Bush lied; People...um... Voted!

Freedom's Purple Finger

The following was submitted by a kind reader.

Freedom's Purple Finger

 

I think I will find a factory to produce 8 million purple rubber covers for fingertips

embossed with the word Freedom and an Iraqi flag

and with these purple fingertips, Iraqi men, police and soldiers

will use their triggerfingers to defend their land from terrorists

who threaten peace and freedom.

Iraqi women will use their purple fingertips like thimbles

to sew the fabric of their families lives back to prosperity again

and sew many brightly waving flags to keep Iraq free.

Iraqi children can dip their fingertips into the deep purple ink of education

and build futures never dreamed of before this Purple Finger Day.

American soldiers and civilians, too,

might wear these purple fingertips to celebrate Iraqi Freedom

and push away the terrorists before they come home to stay,

and some may choose to give Saddam

a Purple Finger, too.                        

by Joyce, still a Democrat-free to vote

'All I hear on TV is, "freedom, success, democracy"'

I wandered over to the Democratic Undergound to see if they had yet discovered the emerging Democracy in Iraq. Well they had.

And they are besides themselves with worry:

One writer lamented:

How Do We Fight Against The MSM's Iraqi Election Propaganda?
What's our strategy? All I hear on TV is, "freedom, freedom, freedom, success, bush was right, things are going to well, freedom, success, democracy, success, freedom..."

How do we fight against that? How do we show Americans that in the grander scheme of things this election is meaningless & Iraq is still a disaster, and at the same time detach W's name from being synonymous with "freedom and democracy"?

Yes, well that's a problem. I suppose one thing that hadn't occurred to the author is that they could be happy about and support the idea of freedom and Democracy. That way it wouldn't be just the President that was for such concepts but instead all Americans. But that's too much to expect given that it appears that the idea of freedom and Democracy is not their chief concern.

Another writer advocates that they should just ignore the news:

Turn the teevee off. It's not hard. No 'news', no 'information'. Just watch shows for entertainment...

Turn the teevee OFF.

Which is pretty much what the Conservative Left has been doing for a very long time now; ignore the news and make up the story you want to be true. Hell, CBS even thought they would combine the making up the news part with the watching the news part in order to reinforce their own map of reality.

The original writer was at least swift enough to see the hole in that particular piece of logic:

Well that's all well and good, but while you turn the TV off...millions of Americans are keeping it on. That's the problem.

Well, yeah. But at least you can maintain your particular world view without having to adjust to the pesky facts.

On another thread, a writer observes:

Saddam had elections Only he was running against feeble old women and if you voted against him you risked death.

We're much better at propaganda, though. When we fix an election we make it look like a close race. That way it looks legitimate.

Well, actually, Saddam ran unopposed. You could only vote yes or no. And no only if you had a few excess body parts or extra family members.

And the current race in Iraq is not between two people but instead a bunch of parties which will serve as a "Congress" to draft a Constitution. But being informed doesn't seem to be a priority to the DU.

Another simply chooses to believe that the whole media (including Reuters and the BBC if you can belive that) is part of a conspiracy to help Bush:

Ok, how about a million dollars for the 1st MSM strory that does not lie? Never happen. Our media is FAKE.

Well if that's the case, then how do they even know there are terrorists in Iraq at all? I mean the war may not have even occurred and Saddam is still in power and is really Santa Claus, benevolent and humble benefactor who serves his people.

But again, it is more likely this individual absolutely believes the "MSM" when the news fits his or her preconceived notions and disbelieves it when contradictions occur.

One individual, out of all the stuff I read, had a decent perspective on things:

Congratulations to those Iraqis who voted especially those in areas which were under threat of violence. The human spirit and determination required in some cases is always respectable.

Sadly I have very low expectations that these elections will lead to any real change on the ground for the many Iraqis in terms of economics (record unemployment), security (both related to the insurgency and related to the ongoing high rate of crimes), and the situation that will arise if/when the new government wants to dictate actions of hte US Military (eg to pull out of a particular area, or to pull out of the country altogether). THis is but one event, albiet one with the potential for historic importance, in what must be a chain of many, many more events if Iraq is really moving towards stability, self-governance and democracy.

I can quibble but, why? At least he accepts the facts on the ground and sees the potential.

Hey! Who let him in?

Daily Dish

The first sentence of a Reuters report today reads "Millions of Iraqis turned out to vote  Sunday, defying anti-U.S. insurgents determined to drown the  historic poll in blood." But if the "insurgents" were merely "anti-US" what would Iraqi voters have to be concerned about? Why would voting defy the insurgents, after all it's Iraqi's who are voting not US citizens. The fact is the anti-Democratic forces the Iraqis defied were anti-Iraqi terrorists, in addition to being anti US. There were attacks mounted by terrorists and Zarqawi claimed responsibility for all of them. But the fact that upwards of 70% came out to vote in spite of this demonstrates the impotence of the anti-Democracy "movement" while at the same time affirming the Presidents belief that the power of freedom is more compelling than the promise of safety through fascism. By voting in the face of fear the Iraqis have bought what we could never give them: hope for the future and taking claim of their own destiny. For though our brave soldiers could stand up and be willing to fight and die for the ideal of freedom for others, the Iraqi people had to take what was given and make it their own. And they did.

The struggle for political freedom is ever thus. People standing up en masse to the forces that would rule and smother their lives and taking back control of their future regardless of the cost. And for those who say that Iraqis came by this too easily, that it was America who paid the price not the Iraqis, I simply point to all of the Iraqi civilians, politicians, policeman and soldiers who died at the hands of the terrorist sociopaths. Yet still they kept coming. Thousands volunteered for positions in the police force and the military despite being killed by suicide bombers. Millions came to vote despite threats of death by terrorists. And one thing that must be obvious even to the terroists blinded by ideology and crving more blood, they would need to kill 80% of the population to get what they want. Millions stand in the way of mere thousands.

The terrorists likely will attempt retaliation, but the old barn door is open and that mare is gone, baby. The vote has happened. A council has been elected by the Iraqi people and the only ones disenfranchised are the terrorist-fascists. Too bad, so sad. MoveOn. You lose.

Reversing earlier predictions, the tune of the Conservative Left is already adapting to the new reality. To them, there can be no victory: it was impossible for Bush or the Iraqi people to win. Even if Saddam was let out of jail, replaced as dictator and the US withdrew, Bush would be wrong. If Bush followed the prescription of Senator Kennedy and withdrew all of our troops tomorrow, they would eventually say we abandoned Iraq like we did Afghanistan after the defeat of the Soviets. Since there is no way to satisfy them, they are irrelevent to the discussion and real people have long ago stopped treating them as if they were adults.

Update: New information revises the election participation estimate down to a bit over 60% mostly due to lower than originally estimated turnout in Sunni areas. This is still better than the majority of elections in the US. Ironically, as I write this, the DemocraticUnderground is completely silent about the budding Democracy in Iraq. I guess they are so underground that they missed the emergence of a Democracy.

The separatist Free Aceh Movement in Indonesia has dropped its demand for full autonomy in exchance for greater self-determination within the Indonesian political process. Combined with the report yesterday that the first order of business was relief efforts makes me believe that these are reasonable people looking to actually resolve problems not simply cause them.

In Britain, the government defends its homeland security proposals.

Israel is giving peace a chance and offering to withdraw its troops from the West Bank. Palestinian police will take over security there.

An Iraqi arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting an al Qaeda suicide attack in Iraq said he was sent on his mission by Osama bin Laden himself

A spherical roving robot designed to detect and report intruders has been developed by a Swedish start-up company.

Introducing the fantasy coffin makers of Ghana.

Peace Day

DIYALA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING, BA’QUBAH, Iraq – The Diyala Provincial Council January 27^th hosted a Peace Day - an event aimed at quelling violence in the province and encouraging participation the upcoming elections.

Prior to the start of the meeting, a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device exploded at an intersection about 200 yards from the building, wounding four Iraqi Army soldiers and killing one.

The event drew a crowd of about 65 local government leaders, sheikhs, clerics, former Baathists, and other Diyala Province residents.

On hand to field questions and grievances were Diyala Deputy Governor Ghassan Abbas Jassim, Interim Electoral Commission of Iraq Director Amer Latef, Diyala Police Chief Col. Adel Muhlan Ghidan, and Diyala Province Military Advisory Committee President Mohammad Hamad Al Obaydi.

In hopes of separating them from hardened terrorists, local insurgents were encouraged to attend and were offered an opportunity to apply for amnesty for all crimes except murder. Several took advantage of the opportunity and signed pledges of non-violence.

3^rd BCT Commander Col. Dana J.H. Pittard also attended the event and addressed the gathering.

Daily Dish

As I sit down to write this, it is 13 hours until the polls open in Iraq. Many have talked about what it will mean to the Middle East and North African Arab (and Persian) nations as the "street" sees the poitical freedom they have been denied by their governments take root. Certainly the huge gamble undertaken by the Bush Administration lives or dies by its ability to be transformative. But how does the spectacle in Iraq affect those of us in the US and the West in general where we take the ability to vote freely and without harrassment for granted. The press gave short shrift to the elections in Afghanistan where people came out to vote despite being threatened with bodily harm and death by anti-Democratic Islamic terrorists. But they can not, and have not ignored the elections in Iraq. So I wonder, as the epic drama unfolds on our televisions and in our newspapers and computer monitors, if free peoples everywhere wonder what they would do if the simple act of voting threatened their life or that of their families. Do they wonder if they would have the courage to go to the polls? Do our politicians wonder if they would be so quick to run for office if the threat of assaination were constant? I admit to thinking about these things as I see what has occurred in Afghanistan and now Iraq where murderous power-hungry sociopaths threaten and murder to quell the "permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul" that is political freedom. Do the free peoples in the world think about how precious and fragile their liberties are? Do they sense, deep down, that the simple act of voting, a right which has been paid for in blood, is something more than just an inconvenient duty. Do the roughly 50% of eligible voters in this country who ignore the political process altogether feel just a little guilty? Perhaps the drama of elections in Iraq will not only ignite a desire for political freedom in places where regimes deny it, but also cause some to reexamine that which they take for granted. Because even the dimmest of us must realize that there is a difference between avoiding the polls due to apathy, and avoiding them because you fear for your life.

The anti-Democratic forces in the Press do all they can to convey the impression that the most dire conditions are present in Iraq even to the point of manufacturing images that will reinforce the narrative. Certainly voting will be dangerous, but the more the press exaggerates the danger, the more heroic the ordinary Iraqi will appear if voter turnout his high. And how high is high enough for the results to be considered legitimate? Considering that we in the US get around 50% participation generally, with 60% participation in the last election considered darn good, it would seem that some think it has to be better in Iraq than here, which is, of course, silly. The anti-Democratic elements in our Press will also cover every individual who is pessimistic about Iraq and US foreign policy in general even to the point of misrepresenting who it is they are interviewing. Giving undue coverage to unserious politicians and academics doesn't help the situation either. And, of course, they will amplify any Iraqi politician who will reinforce the narrative they have decided represents reality.

But as the minutes count down to the most historic event in the region, with all security measures in place, we take a minute to cast our eye about and realize that the voting has already begun. And those of us who applaud the hegemony of freedom, celebrate.

Japan pitches in as relief teams fan out and begin work in Indonesia's Aceh province. As the talks between the Indonesian government and rebels progress in Helsinki, the focus is on relief efforts not politics, which to my mind bode well that they have their priorities straight. Such is not the case over in Thailand where countries are arguing over who will host the new tsunami warning system. Meanwhile, actress Sharon Stone is championing an effort to fight malaria though not with DDT; that would probably be a little too much for Hollywood sensitivies. And unusual events "unheard of in the history of seismology" have been recorded in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, with more than 120 such events being recorded since the December 26 earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale. Uh oh....

Elections in Iraq, relief efforts in Southeast China, unrest in Sudan, the possibility of a politiical accord in Israel, are all in the news today yet look at the number of stories that Vice-President Cheney's attire at the Auschwitz ceremony generated. CBS: "The vice president looked like an awkward child amid the well-dressed adults." And we are to consider these people serious observers of world events?

Charges of conspiracy to provide support to al Qaeda and Hamas are filed in the Eastern District of New York against Sheik Mohammed Ali Hasan al-Moayad and Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed. Both men were arrested in Germany two years ago and extradicted to the US.

A man who confessed to prior knowledge of the 9/11 attacks, arrested on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in October, 2001 and held in the Guantanamo Bay facility since, was released to Austrailia where he was promptly released. "His first priority is to get reacquainted with his family." Well that's nice. Meawhile, Islamists recruit in Angola.

The first flight between China and Taiwan in 56 years takes off.

The UN supports Hamas. But don't dis the UN or the rabid left will verbally torture you.

A billboard blitz “thanking” Hollywood for the reelection of President Bush will be unveiled early next week.

A public defender is fighting for topless sunbathers. OK, so maybe there are some good lawyers.

 

 

The Playing Fields of Diyala

The Playing Fields of Diyala

The Duke of Wellington once said that “the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton” – a reference to the belief that competitive sports contribute to the formation of a nation’s character. In this country the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and USAID’s Office of Transitional Initiatives (OTI) are teaming up to ensure that the battle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people is won on the playing fields of Diyala.

They are cosponsoring a series of reconstruction projects that will transform dilapidated sports clubs, soccer fields and gymnasiums into new, modern facilities whose use will certainly enhance the quality of life in the province and may contribute to the new democratic character of this country.

Daily Dish

Two days to go until the elections in Iraq. Enthusiasm is growing. Political debate is occurring despite the danger. In Iraq, everyone is talking about the election all the time. And even Sunnis are lining up to vote. Its becoming more and more clear that the anti-Democratic forces are doing nothing more than attempting to sweep back an ocean. Meanwhile, more Zarqawi associates get bagged. He must be feeling lonely with only minions around. Everyone knows minions aren't great company.

The Belmont Club examines the various theories about the motivations of Islamic terrorists and the politics of activism.

Islamic militant group Hamas swept nearly two-thirds of the seats in the first-ever Gaza Strip council elections, unofficial results showed on Friday, dealing a blow to President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian security forces widened their control in the Gaza Strip on Friday under orders from President Mahmoud Abbas to prevent attacks on Israelis. For its part, Israel is limiting its presence in Gaza. Meanwhile, a Global Anti-War group seems to only be against the US making war. But what do I know.

World gathers to honor US liberation of  Auschwitz. Right, like you'll ever see a headline like that.

Indonesia has offered autonomy to its separatist province of Aceh, but has refused to allow the tsunami hit area to secede and form a separate nation.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that it was imperative Iran not develop nuclear weapons. He also said that any solution with Iran over concerns it could use nuclear material to make weapons should be resolved by diplomacy, not force. But how does an adult who is also a national leader not realize that the two goals may not be compatible? Other serious adults will have to decide which priority is utmost; not allowing Iran to get nukes, or diplomacy. Speaking of unserious people in high places, Ted Kennedy delivered what was billed as a major Foreign Policy speech to an audience at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In his speech, Senator Kennedy claims "The insurgency is largely home-grown. By our own government's count, the ranks of the guerillas are large and growing larger." Why he believes that the insurgency is largely homegrown is unclear since he fails to back up his assertion with any evidence. In fact, there is a host of evidence that contradicts the Senator's claim. Some of which is here.

On the Homeland Security front, reports of  black marketeers in Nicaragua trying to sell SA-7 shoulder-fired missiles capable of downing commercial aircraft is disturbing. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has affirmed that deportable aliens should be removed from the United States, a decision which gives wider authority and latitude to the Executive Branch of the Government to do just that.

Russia moves against Islamists there.

Air strikes in Darfur kill 100. The UN doesn't know what to do. Arab states remain on the sidelines. "Hey, it's black Christians getting killed by Muslims. What do we care? Islam is the religion of peace."

Drugs from Canada has a whole new meaning.

The Infinite Cat project. Sissy purrs.

In Waltham Mass., an 85 year old woman sovels out her entire neighborhood and is ready for more.

New Mexicans will soon enjoy the Right to eat Enchiladas.

The American Nazi Party Adopts-A-Highway.

The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center has named an asteriod after Douglas Adams. And anyone is free to hitch a ride through the universe on it.

Women without men, and men without willies

Dean Esmay of Dean's World snagged a real gem, in my opinion. What follows is admittedly a long exceprt of a really, really long essay. And after you finish here, go there and read the whole, long thing. You'll be glad you did.

"...To my mind, the greatest threat to democracy today is women without men, and men without willies. Both vote more often than everyone else... and people striving to build real houses need to stop and ponder."

I laughed a little at the mental image of the people he was talking about, for we all know them.

"I'm not trying not to be funny here. It's a serious thing. This brood represents a large part of American society that has lost sight of their House... a bunch that takes the existence of prosperity and security as granted as a little girl sleeping in her mother's arms in church. And they've lost sight in part because they don't know where it came from, and in part because they think they're above it. They have pretensions of being civilized above democracy, sort of like the French... only ... and here's the rub... there ain't nothing above democracy that is permanent. Regular people know that.

"But war has a place in a woman's heart that goes beyond mere politics. A woman's hatred of fighting runs just as deep as a man's love for it. Only difference is, men have done a better job of channeling that into less deadly arenas, while still keeping the real thing in reserve when needed. Women still ain't figured sports out.

"A mother, as you know, will defend her brood more viciously than any man. Put her cubs in danger, look out. A man can't match a woman for sheer meanness when the kids are at risk. Right?"

I nodded.

"Problem is, while she'll give her neighbor a cup of sugar without blinking, she's far less apt to send her husband over next door to fend off thugs attacking her neighbor's house. It's in her nature to rebel against sending her men-folk to the edge of town, let alone the next county, or godferbid, across the sea, to defend her nest. She's not dumb, she can make the connection, she just don't want to. She'll paw around at the ground, clench her fist and shake it at the heavens, postpone and postpone, hoping God will relieve her of this worry. But she won't act preemptively.

"So in the end, she's more apt to wait 'til the front gate's been knocked down, the front door kicked in, and she's retreated to the basement in one corner, sheltering her cubs... before she finally decides to get mean. 'Course, by then, it's too late.

"That's why both a man and a woman make up the true House and why the true House is crucial to a surviving democracy. They decide together."

After a pause, "It would help if both voted," he said with a sigh.

"You see, most politicians are natural-born cowards, and the vote is how they get their oil checked. Politics is more emotional and less rational today because more man-less women and pecker-less men vote. Politicians just reflect the mood of the times. They woulda been on the wrong side in Gomarrah, too.

Taking another peanut, "Against an enemy who ain't gonna quit, and who will kill or be killed, in their heart of hearts mothers only see two options.

"One, wait 'til they get up on the porch... and I just described how that works. Well, terrorists already done that, in New York and Washington. Only this is where a type of woman is apt to water down just what it is to be an American. A gal down in Prescott figures that would be last place the terrorists would come to kill, so, whether she likes it or not, a little voice tells her that "America" don't include New York anymore. Arizona's home. That's called "parochialism" until a sophisticated lady thinks it.

"Well, once you admit that to your own heart, there's no question who's holding all the cards. The terrorists don't have to blow up Phoenix in order to get that woman to start re-ordering her loyalties. All they have to do is cause the re-location of her men.

"In a complete House, there's a counter-balance to this impulse. In cases of security, the husband always carries the trump, just as the wife does in other situations. Although a woman might stomp and screech, I never saw a home break up because of a husband or a son voted to go past the front gate to defend the House... or to help a neighbor.

"But a lot of American houses, all doomed to fall in a generation or two anyway, for other reasons, don't have that balance anymore, so they can't see the stakes. Those are the ones who worry me.

"I'm not demeaning women in general, as most women still won't succumb to that nagging little urge to remove America from their House. But you better believe a woman in Omaha, seeing her son march off to Iraq, secretly wonders if it's all worth it, since the terrorists seem to want to blow up places she don't really care that much about anyway. Imagine my mother if they'd blown up the Playboy mansion in Chicago.

"All I'm saying is that, in a pinch, with all the cards played, a mother would no more voluntarily send her son off to defend a neighbor than a lawyer would give a refund.

"And for looking down the road, you better know moms with ten-year olds today are looking there to. Which leads to the other option moms secretly lean to."

"What's that?"

"Incinerate 'em. The whole damned lot. Just like Phil Sheridan and George Custer. A good Injun is a dead Injun.

'In victories he was swimmin', he killed children, dogs and wimmin', but the General, he don't ride well anymore.'

"Johnny Cash wrote that.

"It's been proved time and again that when people become so removed from violence as to no longer be able to see its curative power in the face of Evil or certain death, once they've used up their sparse arsenal of non-violent tools to do battle with Old Clootie... the over-civilized will usually try to bribe him or talk him to death... they almost immediately lunge to the extreme and go nuclear.

"Nope, there's a lotta ways to win this fight, but none of 'em include not putting some mother's son at risk, and too just many women hate that, and politicians don't know how to handle that...."