Will he ever shut up?!?!

This is copied from Glen Reynold's Blog

Glenn Reynolds writes:

"AUSTIN BAY SENDS THIS EMAIL FROM IRAQ:

I must respond to those who "want a breather" or wish "to take time out" from the war.

There is no time out in war. Occasionally soldiers get R&R, but that means someone else is pulling guard duty or running patrols. I see Mickey Kaus says "we need a break" and Peggy Noonan is worried that the American people want a breather because current history is too "dramatic." I read Peggy's essay and I get the distinct impression her brilliantly conceived column springs from her own personal weariness-- maybe I'm wrong, but she explicitly tells us she's on vacation. Over at andrewsullivan.com, Andrew Sullivan wrote (linking to Noonan) that he had expressed similar thoughts ("Americans are drained"). I appreciate their openness and honesty; I hope they'll appreciate mine. I enjoy thoroughly Sullivan's commentary, and I'm certain he would be the first to say he can climb in his Cape Cod hammock and blog because soldiers put on their helmets and slog-- and don't quit. Perceptive, honest Americans like Noonan, Sullivan, and Kaus understand that quite well. I make the point as a reminder, a useful reminder. Believe me, the hammock is far preferable to the helmet. I would love to be in my hammock in the Texas Hill Country right now (95 degrees in Austin is far cooler than 119 degrees in Baghdad). But this is helmet time. We --the lot of us, all Americans-- are a long haul war, a constant test of will requiring consistent, insistent effort.

I see that effort given every day here in Iraq. Check the photo you ran of those two young soldiers from the 81st Brigade (Washington State National Guard). I snapped it, at sunset, right after they had returned from a patrol. I see the same vignette every morning, every evening. The smiles break out despite the fatigue-- and then the troops buckle up and do it again. Blood, sweat, toil and tears: that's not simply Churchillian poetry, that's the price of victory, and it's the product of spine. This peculiar war will take years to win, long, focused years of trial and error, mistake and success, but a breather, a time out?

"Time out" is a mirage of the chattering class. Credit Peggy's and Andrew's antennae for culling out the driving emotional angst behind the chatter. Hate to say it, but the call for "time out" Noonan fears may be another case of Baby Boomers who can't separate Hollywood war from the real thing. Hollywood wars end in a couple of hours. Real earthly hells have no intermission. In current GI lingo, "the enemy has a vote" (the enemy can exercise his will, and act). Take a break and the enemy votes. On 9/11 our enemy went to the polls. We were either going to work, eating breakfast, or lollygagging in bed.

Before I head off to a meeting, let me play history prof for a second. I see several analogs between 1944 and 2004. Fact is, I started a column on that subject before I left for Iraq, but long nights on the ranges at Ft Hood spinning up for deployment left it a sketch. Imagine calling for "Time Out" right after D-Day, which broke Fortress Europe, or during Saipan, which broke the Japanese "inner ring" island defense (many in the Japanese military thought we'd never pay the price to break it). Hey, FDR, we've made the deep offensive penetration, can we take a break? The analogy has weaknesses, as do all historical comparisons. That being said, I think we're in the strategic exploitation phase of this war, a hard, difficult, prolonged exploitation phase, one that requires more hammers and bricks than it does rifles and bombs.

However, we're winning. We can't quit.


Indeed."

Ditto,
K~

I just realized I never told y'all about the Par 3 Tourney at TreeTops. It was great. Too many darn people though. They need to sell about HALF the tickets that they currently sell. The problem is, unlike a PGA event where there's a bunch of golfers working through the course...here there's just 4 playing 9 hole Skins, so you got everybody and their Aunt Betty trying to follow the foursome each hole.

And let me tell you, some of these old ladies are just down right RUDE and obnoxious when they're trying to get a view of Phil Mickelson's buttocks. On day one, we stood in line for autographs, and I will never do that again as long as I live. The people (fans) down right disgusted me. Friggin' Vultures I tell you! And some of the things the parents told their kids to do to get autographs!?!? What a shame. Both me and my friend Scott were pissed.

I got to tell you though, that Phil Mickelson is something else. I'm sure he's a Christian, I'll tell you why in another forum if you wish, but we'll just leave it at that here so as to not make a 7 page post. OK, so I'll say this...I think he has the joy that only Christ can give. Well...it's either that or the $28 Million he's won in earnings since turning pro...not to mention his fat endorsements and his HOT wife. OK, so he's got A LOT to be happy about...but he could still be Christian!!!

I did end up with his and Lee Travino's autographs. It'll be something cool to hang on the wall in the Den. The tourney was cool. The format was cool. The course is something to behold! It was awesome being within arms reach of those four (Couples, Zoeller, Mickelson & Travino). I got it all burned onto disc, so if you want, we can check it out sometime. There are two distinct times you can hear me saying "YOU 'DA MAN!" Hehehe. You always wondered what caliber of idiot said those things....now you know!

The format is nice, because it is WAY laid back. The got all the guys wired with mics and they are constantly cutting up and giving each other crap. Particularly Fuzzy Zoeller. That guy is a classic. He alone was entertainment enough to justify the $50. Travino is quite the character as well. But it's nice just to see those guys out being guys, like us when we golf...(minus the shanks into the woods).

With that said, outside of something crazy special happening, I don't think I'll go again. It's just a LOT of work and a LOT of money ($4 beers, $4 hotdogs) for as little as you get to see. A PGA tour event is another story though...I'd still like to see one of those.

OK, I REALLY gotta Go.
God Bless,
K~

Well that took a long time. Not for lack of trying, but yes Virginia, I've been busy. Can you believe I have only golfed once since my last post? It was a terrible sight. Maybe that's why. But with your prayers and a little luck, I may be able to go this Wedensday. And with ALOT of prayers, maybe I'll break 100.

Bethany is doing pretty good on the potty (with #1 anyhow). Her main hang up will end up being her & Deb's laziness about it. But I'm hopefull. Am I talking about urinating and bowel movements for entertainment purposes here? I need much help.

This summer has been great. Very cool (temperature wise). I love these kind of days where in the middle of July the temperature tops out in the lower 60s. I feel kind of bad, because we can't get Bethany out to the beach much, but mild days and cool nights in the middle of Summer is simply Heavenly. The last two days have been scorchers though. 82 and 85 respectively. That's just too dang hot, and I can't take it for much longer.

Just got off the phone with Marcusthebronco...looks like we're on for 9 holes on Wednesday.

Well, I better get off here and back to work since I really don't have anything interesting to say. If you get a chance, check out www.tonguetied.us This is where FoxNews.com get's a lot of their fodder for their PC Police columns. I gaurantee you some stuff that will make you shake your head. Just more proof that Liberals are truly out of their minds. (Love you Mike!).

Hey! Write me, eh?
Later,
K~

Had intended on blogging a little today, but got a little too busy. I got a lot to tell y'all about the Par 3 tourney, etc. I'll try to get on here tonight...if not, tomorrow for sure.

Later,
K~