Wednesday Already?

Of course the break is flying by...doesn't it always?  We'll be in a dead run once break is over and headlong into finals time.  Ugh!

Today I went to Target.  Some people think Disney World is the happiest place on earth.  Until I can take my family and go next year, I'm going to put my vote down for Target being the happiest place on earth.  I needed to go there today, not only because our family stockpile was devoid of paper towels, toilet paper and garbage bags (what kind of military guy allows his arsenal of paper goods to dwindle like this!?), but also because I needed to find my center.  I was feeling discombobulated.

Somewhere between the Easter candy and the sporting goods, it hit me.  I realized why I was feeling so weird...I'm blaming it on the media.

Watching the news coverage of the Iranian President's decision to "pardon" the British sailors really threw me for a loop.  The multi-media, multiple orgasms were enough to make me seriously question my sanity.  Where in the world are we headed when someone can be labeled magnanimous for having a moment of lucidity?  If this situation weren't so deadly serious it would make me laugh out loud.

You have a group of military personnel with UN orders conducting normal operations in Iraqi waters.  Their ROE, though not completely defined through news reports, appear to have been edited by a last minute order to their ship...not to engage.  They are taken hostage and held for days.  When the British ask the Iranians for the exact GPS coordinates of their personnel upon capture, the Iranians give them coordinates in Iraqi waters!  When the British point this out, the Iranians present a second set of coordinates to support their allegations against the sailors.  Are you kidding me?  We're giving the Iranian President kudos for that?  Rather than saying, "Our bad" and returning the military personnel when they were too deluded to doctor their numbers the first go 'round, we have to watch the dink dance while two sides negotiate for the innocent personnel's release.

I'm incredulous at the gushing news reports of how fabulous it is that the Iranian President 'pardoned' the British sailors and promised their release.  Maybe the analysis of this incident for what it is will be forthcoming once the sailors are safely back in their own country?  Are we really not going to break down this incredibly calculated move for what it is?  Is no one willing to put into writing the playbook that is emerging? 

I'm waiting.

If not, I suppose we'll break it down here.

For now, I'm headed to bed.  Hubs just went and covered our hydrangeas.  It's cold tonight!

Big day tomorrow maybe.  I'll post more around lunchtime.

Comments

[Butterfly Wife]

I completely agree with you. In the civilian world around me seems to think that there was nothing wrong with what the Iranians did. I clench my teeth and attempt to explain, then change the subject out of fear of screaming at them.

Good post about the subject. Thanks.

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 04/05/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.

[stacy lee]

Tell M2 that this Easter Bunny was so funny, that you could not help but not be scared.

P.S. Offer is still on for May if you want.