My views on 3 things

Since I've been remiss as of late, please allow me to charge out of the gate with several items in one post.

1. Tom Junod praising a traitor. Being a self proclaimed screaming moderate, I don't mind reading articles from either the right or the left. However, Junod's recent article in Esquire was just a bit too much "understanding" for me to stomach. Junod casually explains away Lindh's actions as those of a faithful pilgrim that just ended up with a gun in his hands in a war against US soldiers. He proclaims Lindh's innocence and praises his faith. Well I can't concur. A couple of months ago I attended the funeral of an American soldier killed in action. His name is not important. What does matter is that brave men and women are willing to fight and die for a just cause. They should be honored and the enemy combatants that are captured (even if they are US citizens) should be detained and punished.

2. Timetables for a pull-out of the Iraq War. This is a bit silly if you ask me. Why on earth would you set an arbitrary date based on assumptions that cannot possibly accurate and bring soldiers home before they can finish the task at hand. It would make more sense to set the date according to something meaningful, like a reading of tarot cards, a palm or tea leaves. That would have about the same accuracy as some politician's estimate on when the Iraq government would be ready to take care of itself. Stay in Iraq. Finish the job. Leave when the time is right.

3. National Guard in New Orleans. This city that I adore is in shambles. Somehow the mayor got re-elected and what was his first move... to declare that he doesn't have what it takes to do the job by bringing in the feds. Yes, the people that he blamed for making the mess have been invited back to finish the job. They may never recover.