[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[dighton]

Southern Mesopotamia, where the Tigris and the Euphrates flowed, first separately, then united, towards the Persian Gulf, was more beguiling in history than in fact. Here were Babylon and Nineveh, here Sennacherib had fought his battles, here indeed, some said, had been the Garden of Eden at the start of the world. But it was a fearful country now. .... In the summer it was indescribably hot, in the winter unbearably cold. In the dry season everything was baked like leather, in the wet season 10,000 square miles were flooded, the waters gradually oozing away to leave malodorous wastes of marsh. Fleas, sand-flies and mosquitoes tormented the place, and its inhabitants lived lives of ignorant poverty, enlivened only by sporadic excitements of crime or brigandage, the illusions of religion and the consolations of sex.

Is this the land of dear old Adam (one British soldier wondered),
And beautiful Mother Eve?
If so dear reader small blame to them
For sinning and having to leave.

-- James (Jan) Morris, Farewell the Trumpets.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

He may yet abandon the gun and enter into peaceful politics but he said he is prepared too, if necessary, to turn his forces loose against the US and Britain if they overstay their welcome.

I'm not entirely certain this barbarian chieftain understands the extent of the gulf between Saddam Hussein's power and the power of the United States.

I think it's just about time we have a demonstration. Pick the most dangerous of these pipsqueaks who say they'll fight us if we "overstay our welcome" and simply wipe him and his followers out. Then invite the rest to keep their stinking mouths shut.

[sackofcatfood]

And so it begins. ..

The war isn't even over and the dictators are already lining up.

[1066AD]

Years ago at university I read Gavin Maxwell's "A Reed Shaken by the Wind", describing his time amongst the marsh arabs. It was a fascinating book (I still remember it !), and the draining of these marshes is yet another crime committed by SH & crew.

[RLK]

This dude is one sharp sonofabitch. He could be a good allie or big trouble.

[holyscroller]

I can see the script writers huddled over their computers already. I wonder how many movies will be made about this guy? He sounds like a Raiders of the Lost Ark type.

[anymouse]

An Iraqi version of the legendary Swamp Fox? :)

[Arkinsaw]

I would advise him to change the name of his group from Hizbollah. I suspect this is why he did not receive an invitation to the big meeting. Our guys probably don't want any confusion on this point and decided to leave him at home.

[El Gato]

Known as the Lord of the Marshes, his exploits earned him a reputation that is a cross between Robin Hood and Lawrence of Arabia

Sounds more the "Swamp Fox" to me. (General F. Marian of South Carolina, one of the inspirations for Mel Gibson's character, "The Ghost" in "Patriot".

He was alarmed by a US proposal last week to maintain four permanent bases in Iraq. "I have the same feelings about this idea as would every single guerrilla fighter round the world who does not want a foreign power over him," he said.

He's been listening to too many reporters. SecDef Rumsfeld has stated that we have no such intentions, although it is possible that we might want access to one or two airfields for a time, under arrangments similar to those we have with Japan, Germany, England, etc. It could hardley be said we are "over" any of those countries. And if they, the new Iraqi goverment doesn't want to make such arrangements, we'll leave. Rummy said words to the effec that "It's not as if we don't have other choices in the region"