Literal Barrage

Looks like we might not need to decline Frawnce’s help in administering post-Saddam Iraq after all. Jacques seems to be taking care of it for us.

He can’t possibly be that stupid, can he?

Take a peek at this account of the 1st MEF in Safwan and tell me you don’t get chills (good ones, mind you).

It seems to wrap so much of this conflict up into one nice package. Iraqis: cautiously optimistic. Americans: not about to let Saddam slither away again.

On to Basrah, then Baghdad, boys.

As I’ve mused on the issue further, I can forsee one other, very large advantage to a surgical strike.
By not being forced to destroy Iraqi infrastructure, we will reduce the need for U.N. “asistance” in rebuilding Iraq. “No thanks, Jaques, mes “amis”. We’ve got this one covered. We’ll take it from here.” We might also avoid the creation of a large refugee problem, which reduces Turkey and Jordan’s ability to demand concessions from us and a post-Saddam Iraqi gov’t.

It is now clear to me why I always found that Old Navy lady (Carrie Donovan) so creepy. Who knew she had dictatorial ambitions?

Some have suggested that we also watch Dame Edna very closely. I’d have to concur.

I’ve been pondering this since late last evening and coming across Jonah Goldberg’s post regarding a “Rout” in The Corner has reinforced my opinions.

The strike against the senior Iraqi (that’s “Iraqian” for all of you Curtis Sliwa fans out there) leadership was a bold tactical move that may very well end up sparing hundreds, if not thousands of Iraqi and Allied lives over the course of this conflict. From this perspective, it was an opportunity too good to miss.

However, I’ve taken to wondering how this will affect the coming months in Iran. The more I’ve pondered the question, the more I’ve come to think that the whole “Shock n’ Awe” campaign was to serve a dual purpose. The first, and most obvious purpose was to cow the Iraqi brass into mass defection/surrender (Fox News has taken to calling it “capitulation.” Holy euphemism, Batman!). The second effect that it would have (will?) would be to demonstrate to the “Arab Street” and, more importantly, the Iranian people, the overwhelming might of the coalition forces. By executing an end-around and avoiding the SnA attack, the US seems to have emboldened the citizens of Baghdad. I saw footage of them out and about this morning, on their way to work or to the market, which is in stark contrast to the past 48 hours. There’s a feeling that all of our talk of SnA may have been just that: talk.

My wife (and NPR reporters beyond measure) are of the opinion that the more Iraqi infrastructure we can retain, the better. I can see the logic in that, but, at the same time, I can’t help feeling that a dramatic bombardment campaign would do wonders for the intrasigence of the “Arab Street” and their thuggocrat masters. An opening salvo taking out the vaunted leadership almost feels like cheating, and I’d have to say I almost see that sentiment being subtly expressed in the Arab press.

The one big advantage that I do see in such a strike is being evidenced by the North Koreans’ near total silence for the past two days. If we can reach out and touch a leader at the drop of a hat, then no teetering dictatorship is safe. If I were Kim Jung Mentally Il, I’d be watching my closest advisors extremely carefully.

I seem to have forgotten some significant players.

The Only “Christian” In Baghdad is not to be outdone by his fearless leader:

Yasser, although not a “Socialist”, seems to take a cue from our previous luminaries:

Gorby’s got ‘em:

Pol, Ho and Che must not have gotten the memo.

Now, I know this theory is a little rough around the edges, but, be that as it may, I still think we ought to keep an eye on Will Farrell, just in case.

If anyone has been reading my blog for any amount of time, you may remember my best friend’s sister Diana was killed in a car accident last August.

She was a wonderful young woman in all ways. In order to remember her, a 5k run called “The Diana Run” has been set up.

See dianarun.org for full details. If you’re from the central New Jersey area, consider participating in or sponsorship of this event. I know that it will mean a lot to her family and the money will go to sponsoring other young people in pursuit of international missions.

Thanks.

This morning’s commute was a rough one, as “peace activists” decided to stage a march from the Liberty Bell to the Federal Building. This had, how shall we say, an adverse effect on my overall commute time. It seemed to back traffic up just about everywhere, but most noticeably on Broad Street, my primary route to work.

So, as I’m sitting in the car, thinking “Stupid hippies! If Rizzo was still commish, he’d have the Brute Squad down here, crackin’ some skulls!”, I hear the local news report that the protestors were hoping for “about a hundred” people to be arrested by the Philly P.D. The newscaster then reports that things didn’t quite go to plan.

The Federal building, being Federal property, gives proper jurisdiction to the U.S. Marshalls, who showed up in force and hauled the protestors off, while the Philly P.D. merely stood by in an “advisory role” (read: got a good laugh at the protestors’ antics).

I just keep getting the image of Tommy Lee Jones slapping some plasticuffs on some Dirty Hippies™. It is to laugh.

This is ripped directly from The Corner over at NRO:

NOT SHOCK AND AWE-ING, JUST SHELLACKING [Jonah Goldberg]
Pentagon says this is merely more opportunistic target-whacking not the full tilt boogie for freedom and justice.

Priceless.

Here’s my question:

Does Pearle Vision have some sort of discount for tinhorn third world dictators? They must get the same catalog in the mail. Take a look:

Maybe they have the same HMO.

[UPDATE]
Fidel, too?

Is there some sort of International Socialist Optometrist Society I’m unaware of?
[UPDATE]
Papa Kim gets in on the action:

Thankfully, Fidel dumped his older ones:

There must be some Image Solidarity Movement amongst “Socialist” dictators.

Or maybe they’re all trying to look like Kissinger.

[UPDATE]
Of course, President Jiang was a trend-setter too:

And Wen Jibao is looking to continue the trend: