To Much Thinkin' Hurts The Brain

So much has been happening in the world and there is so little time to blog about it. Firstly (I already miss you E, nobody did my work better than you did), I want to pontificate for a moment on the crimes committed against some of our Iraqi prisonersby our soldiers. There are bad people, foolish people, down right stupid people everywhere. The military is no different. In my branch of Uncle Sugar's war machine, we usually refer to them as the "Ten Percenters". Very roughly, it is statistically probable that you will find about 10% idiots in any sample group. Apparently, the Army likes to put its Ten Percenters into reserve MP Brigades. It is an undeniable fact that those fools committed crimes. It has brought shame to all of us who wear the cloth of the nation. Their actions are absolutely inexcusable. Not just those who committed these acts but their ENTIRE chain of command, maybe up to the President. Unfortunately, most of the world will measure against these crimes. The real measure of our character is how we proceed from here. The crime is committed, it will always be with us now. We will carry it like all the other shameful episodes in our history such as the genocide of the American Indians, slavery, the despotism of Lincoln, the decimation of the Filipinos, the oppression of the Nisei and the scores of other happenings that have shamed our nation and dimmed the light of liberty during our existence. The test is, as it always has been, how we pursue justice for those who were wronged by us and how we ensure it will never happen again. That's what separates us from the animals we overthrew in Iraq and it even separates us from our brothers and sisters who committed these heinous acts. That is what we should measure ourselves against.

On a lighter note, I just recently heard that my four striper boss who is currently deployed to the Sandbox has earned himself a bitchin' nickname, in combat no less. How cool is that! (actually, I am very relieved he is safe, he is way too close to retirement to be drawing fire!)

On a brighter note, this weekend is the 140th reenactment of the Battle of Spotsylvania! Whoohooo! I gotta get the rust off my bayonet and polish it to a brilliant shine. I like to have a bright and shiny bayonet. Fourteen inches of shiny cold steel glinting in the sun intimidates the hell outta the Yankees! (maybe it is jus' cuz I like shiny things) I had to have my Bride take my brogans to the leather repair shop, they have kind of blown out. I should have done a realistic period field repair on them to add authenticity to my impression but I just don't have the time. I am really looking forward to getting out of this unpleasant century and getting back to the basic pleasures of life: Shooting Yankees and sippin' white lightening from a mason jar of dubious cleanliness. Will post an after action report after we have sent the invader scurryin' home to momma.

TO THE TYRANT NEVER YIELD