CARSE: Yes. They are doing the same thing that the United States is doing in Iraq. They want to install an alien system through the region … they want to control it.

INDC: Ok. Some would argue that, left to their own devices … and actually this has of course happened in Rwanda and looks to be happening in Sudan ... um, that there’s been be a lot of sectarian violence, mass starvation, genocide, civil war … a lot of violence that these countries haven’t been able to sort out on their own. What would you advocate as a solution to …

CARSE: First, first of all … the solution is not us. The solution is themselves. Secondly, who provides the money? Where the money flowing? Who provides the weapons? Who provides the ideology? And is more intervention the solutions for the past interventions which led to the situation we have now?

INDC: So you think that ethnic and religious rivalries are caused by the West?

CARSE: Absolutely! Like the state system in Africa is so arbitrarily set … and it’s arbitrarily … it’s actually set by the colonialists to create strife. To get people divided. To get people together that don’t even speak the same language, who have completely different histories, completely different everything.

INDC: So, at this point if … intervention was removed from certain countries, you think that these ethnic (divisions) would be worked out peacefully

CARSE: Not under the conditions of a continuous drain of resources, you know. This is why I say reparations. Isn’t it time to say, you know, here, we stop, we finally try to stop exploiting you? Trying to, uh, stop taking all your resources, using your land , using your, uh, water, using your fishes, eat whatever you have? And … uh, let them sort it out. It may take awhile, I mean if you think … I’m a European, if you think, I mean, how many wars did we need to get to the bad situation where we are now? And how many wars does America need to get somewhere else than what it is?

So why aren’t they allowed to have their wars?

INDC: Ok, thanks. What nationality are you?

CARSE: I’m German.

INDC: Ok, thanks.

To review Carse's foreign policy prescription for Africa - give the people (governments? tribes? factions?) large monetary reparations for past Western colonialism and rapacious business interests in Africa, step out of the way, and then just ... let them "have their wars."

After all, violence in Africa stems exclusively from the involvement of the west. Or does it?

In its vulgar form, nationalism claims a biological basis for its persecution, oppression, exploitation, and enslavement of others. This is the case with two African nations, Sudan and Mauretania. In those countries there is established a dichotomy between Arab and African, between Islam and African Religions. This division is sharpened by appeals to biology, to physical looks, though many times I have been unable to distinguish the so-called Arab from the African. It is a South African type problem where the so-called Colored, robbed of his or her African culture and unable to speak an African language, is called better than the person who has retained his or her language and culture, even though they may look exactly alike. This is a problem of racism. Sudanese and Mauretanian societies have made the enslavement of Africans a racial issue, complicated by the cultural question in its basest form, naive nationalism.

"Hands off Sudan." After all, Rwanda was left to its own devices, and we all know how well that turned out.

Although disease and more killings claim additional lives in the refugee camps, the genocide is over. An estimated 800,000 Rwandans have been killed in 100 days.

Right Carse?

Ja. "... why aren’t they allowed to have their wars?"

Today's lesson: Not all "peace" activists are anti-war.

UPDATE: Human Rights Watch disagrees with Carse.

(Via GR)

Did you enjoy this interview? Do you think that my interviews with members of the anti-war movement serve the public interest? If you do, SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM by giving to the trust fund set up for the children of Captain Dan Eggers.

No PayPal? Send a check made out to Rebecca Eggers to the following address:

INDC Journal
1260 21st St NW
Suite 803
Washington, DC 20036

It was awkward, but he apologized for cutting off the interview, and then I apologized for castigating him over selling out the 11th-hour defense of Western Civilization from the nexus of Islamofascism and destructive weaponry over a niche issue that just finally happened to touch his life ... and all was good. And then we went for one of those new Starbucks smoothies.

Yum!

UPDATE: Iowahawk boils down Sullivan so you don't have to!

(Ft. Myers New-Press)

(Ft. Myers New-Press)

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

His widow, Rebecca; the couple’s sons, William and John; and Eggers’ parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters gathered at a solemn funeral Tuesday morning with at least 70 other relatives and friends in a clearing at Arlington National Cemetery.

“He loved the Army so much,” said Margaret Eggers, fighting to hold back tears. “This is very fitting.”

Six dark horses slowly pulled a black wooden caisson and its flag-draped casket down Eisenhower Drive then wheeled right on to York Drive.

A lone drummer tapped time, the solemn notes muffled by two rows of tall oak trees. The casket team, wearing ceremonial dress blues, brought Eggers’ remains forward and placed the heavy coffin on a chrome frame.

“I spend a lot of time reminding them their daddy taught them certain things so they remember,” she said.

Please consider giving:

If you don't have a PayPal account you can send a check made out to Rebecca Eggers to:

INDC Journal
1260 21st St NW
Suite 803
Washington, DC 20036

“He was a James Bond type of guy who had to infiltrate other people,” said father William Eggers. “We don’t really know what he was doing there.

“It was all confidential, and he kept it that way.”

... in retrospect, there were some early indications.

Dan in Afghanistan (NBC2/WBBH-TV)

Like the time that he taught me to rappel off the back of the football stadium after school. He brought his gear, strapped me in, hooked me up and ran down to hold the safety lines, then yelled, "go, go, go!" I remember him looking at me with that wacky kidding/serious tone in his voice, saying matter-of-factly, "Ok Bill, this is the part that you have to do correctly, or you'll die." The football team practicing that afternoon just scratched their heads after watching a few guys drop off the back of the stadium. I was scared; he just loved it.

Or when Dan had the stones to lean in and sarcastically ask our perverted gym teacher, "Like what you see?" after catching the guy inappropriately leering at girls that he insisted on helping "stretch out" before class. It turns out that Dan would show a much stronger brand of the same moral courage when he stood up against the hazing of female cadets during the first year of gender integration at the Citadel:

His uncompromising character pushed him to speak critically of the school he loved in 1997, recalled Craig Belsole, Eggers' best friend at The Citadel.

Eggers and Belsole said they reported their concerns to an officer at the school but were told to keep quiet or lose their military commissions. School officials said at the time their commissions were threatened earlier for disciplinary problems that had nothing to do with the women.

If Dan reported it, I have no doubt that the allegations were true.

And another good indication of Dan's future vocation might have been when we were shooting fireworks off of a friend's roof and a neighbor that lived across a wide canal began yelling profanities at us because of the noise. Taking decisive action, Dan went downstairs, loaded a ziplock bag full of fireworks, put it in his teeth, dove into the canal and swam across to the neighbor's dock, where he climbed out and lit a four-inch pyre of firecrackers under the man's window as we looked on in amused disbelief. Needless to say, we didn't stick around for the police.

Whip-smart (later fluent in Arabic), extremely tough, kind, and imbued with an extremely quirky, active sense of humor that put others at ease, I have no doubt that he represented America very well. It's a damn shame that he died, but I'm also certain that he died doing exactly what he loved to do, and I'm thankful that he gave everything to protect me from terror, especially given my current city of residence. I haven't seen Dan in 10 years, but I'll miss him all the same. He was a great guy. Thank you, Dan.

Dan leaves behind a wife and two children.

Dan and his father (NBC2/WBBH-TV)

UPDATE: Another of Dan's high school friends pays tribute (Note - his anecdote about rappeling describes a separate incident from the one that I mentioned).

Hmmmm ... I'm starting to think that my goal of $1,000,000 was a little too ambitious. Maybe I should also revise downwards my request for $1,000 apiece from my core of regular readers. In fact, maybe I'll even go a little further and point out that PayPal accepts donations in increments as low as, say, $2. As a reminder, the best of my original journalism is listed here.

Furthermore, let's get more specific about the costs. A 30+ picture post that brings in up to 20,000 viewers costs between $35-$80, depending on traffic and whether it needs a few minutes of Kinko's photoshop work (as the WWII posts did). My ego likes to be stoked by getting lots of eyes on my photography, but consider the fact that I've done at least 12 picture-heavy posts ... I'd estimate that I've spent at least $600 in the last 6 months, just on bandwith and supplies for these pictorials.

If you would like to help defray the costs, it would be most appreciated. Obviously I don't do this to get rich, but it would be nice if it wasn't quite so expensive. If Andrew Sullivan can pull six figures in his pledge week, is it crazy to think that a tiny fraction of the 6,000 people that have passed through here in the past two days could perhaps muster $1 or $2 apiece every six months to offset the costs that I pay to bring you these pics? I've spread around $75 to my favorite blogs that have had pledge drives in the last year.

I'm not looking to make money here, and I certainly want to keep doing the photo pieces, but I have to admit that it's a little confusing for me to think that my regulars don't seem to believe that the widely-appreciated (expensive) moonbat joke reels, or the fact that I waited in the rain and got Michael Berg to possibly admit that he thinks a government conspiracy killed his son, are worth depositing a dollar in my Paypal account.

I know how annoying pledge drives can be, so this is my last request. Thanks to the two of you that have already given in the past couple of days. I'm done.

After I mentioned the phrase "legal action", there was a noticeable difference in the tone of the meeting. She promptly excused herself from the room, documents in hand. She didn't return for 20 minutes.
...
He stated that signs unaffiliated with the school would not be allowed to be posted. Anticipating this line of reasoning, I produced for him pictures I had taken the day before of many signs not affiliated with the school posted all over the walls. Included among them a picture of a movie poster for "Alamo", with which I asked him if the school was affiliated with Touchstone Pictures?
...
Just as I could see I was breaking through to them an angry woman in her thirties came up to me. She called me a racist, yelling and screaming as she really got in my face. I didn't know who she was, but that didn't matter -- I stood strong. I calmly asked what she objected to, and she ripped the signs out of the hands of a student standing by her. She began the same rant I had just heard from the students: how I was a racist, etc. She then claimed that I wouldn't dare put up a sign about black or Jews, and if I ever did I would get my ass kicked (it sure does feel good to know that everyone is concerned for my safety). I explained point by point why I disagreed. She told me I knew nothing about Islam, because I am not Muslim and she is.

On the sign saying "End the Arab Occupation of Jewish Land" she said "what if instead of Arab it said nigger!" I told her that wouldn't make sense because black people aren't occupying Jewish land, and that Arab was not a racial slur.
...
Her response: "It isn't a racial slur, it's honesty!" Even though they both start with 'h' and end in 'y', "hypocrisy" does not equal "honesty". In fact, hypocrisy is a form of intellectual dis-honesty.

Read the whole thing. At the end there he posts his principal's e-mail address, in case you'd like to send the man a calm, reasonable note in support of this kid's valiant efforts.

(Via Vodka)

1. Read the whole thing out loud to the family in a Crocodile Dundee accent. I had to explain away some of Jeff's lines to the kids, but at least they got the moral of the story, which was: Stay away from moonbats, burritos and Jeff Goldstein.

Yes, that encapsulates today's lesson perfectly.

2. Laughing at the Moonbats...the most fun you can have with your clothes on that doesn't involve guns.

I agree 100 percent, though I've occassionally infiltrated the moonbat community naked ... with a sidearm.

3. That is the best thing I have ever seen.

Glad that I could provide a service. And perhaps most importantly ...

4. You must be in the secret RNC slush fund to afford this much bandwidth. Hillaryous, er, hilarious.

"Hillaryous?" Yes, certainly. But do I have access to a secret RNC slush fund? Alas, no. But that's where you can help!

Stalking moonbats is not easy, nor cheap. A typical excursion can incur the following expenses:

- Hemp fiber for the moonbat blind

- A day's pay for my loyal Ghurkan batman

- Batteries for the digital equipment (typically a whole pack)

- Several canisters of Bear Spray

- Patchouli, patchouli, patchouli

- Several clips of .45 caliber HydroShok ACP rounds

- 128 MB Memory Cards for my camera

- Con-doms *

- On a busy month, 70-80 GB of bandwith

* No, sicko; I hand out the condoms as part of a moonbat breeding prevention program.

Of course, these are merely the basics; this list fails to cover incidentals, like the 10+ man-hours, plane tickets to fly in my guest commentators, the inherent risk to life and limb and the inevitable years of therapy that will be required after such extended exposure to moonbats rutting and shrieking in the rain ...

So, what am I asking? Well I detest begging, and pledge drives can be painfully tacky, but ... I was doing some math, and ... if my average daily readership would donate .... a mere $1,000 apiece, I could effectively quit my job and concentrate on moonbat research full time ... forever. Just $1,000!

Think about it! Is this original INDC Coverage worth $1,000 to you?

More Pictures From the Spanish Embassy Memorial Service

E-Mailing Kos: Part 1

An Amazing Spring Day: War, Peace and Cherry Blossoms

INDC Protests: International Answer Protests in DC

INDC Protests: ANSWER, MASSF and Jews United Against Zionism

INDC Protests: Moonbattery and Media Chicanery Outside the Supreme Court

INDC Rally: Into the Gates of Mordor and John Kerry's Pro-Choice Party

INDC Science Series: Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration, Part One

INDC Science Series: Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration, Part Two

INDC Protests: "March for Women's Lives," Part One

INDC Protests: "March for Women's Lives," Part Two

INDC Presents: National World War II Memorial Dedication Weekend
Part One

INDC Presents: National World War II Memorial Dedication Weekend
Part Two

INDC Journal Interviews Michael Berg

INDC Speaks More "Truth to Power" with "Military Families Speak Out"

INDC Presents: Saying Goodbye to the Gipper

INDC Presents: "Moonbats in the Mist"

No? How about some of my other "journalism" INDC?

INDC Q & A: Moonbat IMF Migration, Part One

INDC Journal Interviews the Instapundit

INDC Public Service Announcement: Coping With SBMS

INDC Scientific Field Report: The Shy Peeing Moonbat

The Beltway Boys Go To A Strip Club

INDC Journal Interviews Andrew Sullivan *

Original Cartoons?

INDC Presents Left-Wing Heroes: Yeeearghus Angrius

INDC Presents Heroes of the Fifth Column: Markos Moulitsas Zúniga

My Tony Robbins inspirationals?

Rage and Focus

SPIRIT OF AMERICA: The Real Shock and Awe Are These Men

Blogging guides?

E! True Hollywood Story: The "Instalanche"

Confessions of a Link Whore

INDC Journal Guerrilla Blogging Guide: Comment Spam

And perhaps my proudest accomplishment?

INDC Journal Changes Lives

Not worth a measly grand to you? Another 6 months of similar high-quality entertainment isn't worth a mere $1,000? Can you imagine what I could pump out if I didn't have a real job as a distraction? Well ... follow your conscience. If you judge that I've somehow made your life a little brighter with my efforts, and you feel like hitting the PayPal "Make a Donation" button over there on the upper-right, your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

If I can get credentials to the Democratic National Convention, I'll apply the funds towards travel expenses. If not, I'll probably put it towards replacing my 8 year-old computer and finally buying photoshop.

Of course payment is not necessary; I'm truly grateful that people are reading and commenting on my stuff. The dirty secret is, I'd go out and do this stuff if I never make a red cent. It's hard work, but it's fun. Moonbats ... are in my blood.

Support moonbat research today! Thank you.

PS - The four people that have already spontaneously given to me over the course of the last 6 months are exempted from my bleg and will forever be enshrined in the "INDC Diamond Backers Club." Gordon, Neil, Marty and Alan: Truly Selfless Shining pillars of the Best That Humanity Has To Offer.

Fresh from the wilds of Berkely, CA, Dr. Harvey Streelburg, noted moonbatologist, world famous for his ongoing first-person anthropological moonbat immersion research. You may recognize Dr. Streelburg as the scientist that "went native" in the controversial documentary "Moonbats in the Mist." Before we go any further, I'd like to point out that Dr. Streelburg's foray into the moonbat world was purely motivated by scientific curiosity, and the charges that he actively took part in the firebombing of the Lockheed Martin plant were never brought to trial. Welcome, Dr. Streelburg.

Dr. Streelburg: Peace. (giggles)

Also joining me (for real), from the famous blog The Politburo Diktat, is the Commissar, fresh from upstate New York ...

The Commissar: Man, it's Moscow!

INDC Bill: What?

The Commissar: I say, I fly in from Moscow, good comrade!

INDC Bill: Ah, yes ... Moscow. Well, I'm certain that your expertise in Communism will be of great assistance on today's safari.

The Commissar: Proud revolutionary gathering!

INDC Bill: Yes, well ...

INDC Bill: And finally (also for real), from the blog Protein Wisdom, our resident expert on mental illness and illegal drug abuse, Jeff Goldstein! Welcome, Jeff!

Jeff Goldstein: Michael Moore is fat.

INDC Bill: Ok, then. Let's get started.

In order to carefully observe the moonbats without being spotted and despoiling their natural behavior, we fashioned this oversized moonbat blind, carefully woven from all-natural hemp fiber. If you'd all like to get in, we can begin our surreptitious documentation of the swarm ...

INDC: Alright. Everyone have a good line of sight? Right. It's a bit early here, quite wet, quite rainy, but we are still seeing a reasonably robust gathering of the swarm. Note the orthodox moonbat peace iconography, not something commonly seen in these avant garde days of "Fuck Bushitler" profanity ...

The Commissar: Where is Hammer & Sickle? No Red Star?

Dr. Streelburg: Patience, man. The fiesta is just starting to bump n' grind (giggle) ... the reds come out late, dude ... (giggle)

Jeff Goldstein: It's like a giant glazed ham, only instead of ham, it's idiots in rain slickers carrying stupid signs. Where are the pineapple slices? You can't have ham without pineapple slices.

INDC: Ah! Here we have something that may be up your alley, good Commissar!

The Commissar: Bah! Communism Lite.

Jeff Goldstein: "Does holding this sign make my ass look fat?"

Dr. Streelburg: That fuckin' dude is on the Berkeley City Council, man. He just straight dropped an ordinance that establishes interspecies voting rights in city elections. Mark my words, dudes, within five years we're gonna have a fuckin' stray dog for a mayor. Heh-heh-huh.

INDC: Ah, look over here. We've got George Bush ... no, no ... wait, that's a mask, yes, it's a George Bush facsimile ... explaining his sign's flair to what looks to be a ... Macroglossius lunarius commonus and a ... Macroglossius lunarius ... caecus, or "Blinded Common Moonbat." It's important to distinguish between the caecus and the caecigenus, as the caecigenus is born blind and compensates with acutely sensitive radar. In contrast, this fellow looks as though he may have been struck blind, likely via the patchouli retinopathy that I've discussed in the previous series. I can't quite make out what they are saying ...

The Commissar: "C'mon, lemme have a hit."

Jeff Goldstein: "Check it out: If you rearrange the letters in 'Abu Ghraib,' it spells, like, 'armageddon' and stuff. Except, without the 'n'. And there's an extra 'b' in there, too, I think. But still..."

INDC: Yes, perhaps. Notice the rather sweet caretaker relationship, very common among these giving, empathic creatures. They have a rather poignant mythology about this common condition; it's said that ... when a moonbat loses his sight, "he no longer has to look into the snarling face of oppression."

INDC: Here's a fantastic example of a common moonbat defense mechanism, she's playing dead, hoping that this aggressive scientist will leave her be, though ... she doesn't seem like a full-blown ...

Jeff Goldstein: Fuck your sister.

INDC: Now, Jeff !

Dr. Streelburg: No, fuck you man! Fuck you! And fuck that chimpyshrubfucker that sent her sister off to an oppressive war for oil n' empire, man!

INDC: Dr. Streelburg?!

Dr. Streelburg: Fucking nevermind, man. Just neverfuckingmind, you know?!

INDC: Right.

INDC: Ah! Here we have a moonbat recruiting station, proof that not all moonbats are born, rather, many, if not most, are made.

The Commissar: Da, 2004 Useful Idiot recruiting drive is below quota.

Jeff Goldstein: Fuck your sister.

INDC: I tell you, there's no way that you could get me to get involved with ...

INDC: Well ... actually ... it doesn't look quite ... so bad ...

Dr. Streelburg: I know, right? Moonbat chicks are fuckin' hot, man, hot like ... like ... heat... youknowhatimsayin? (giggles) Easy, too, man. Bagfulla E and a Jim Jones smiley and the good Doctor is in, ifyaknowwhatimsayin ... (giggles)

The Commissar: Nyet. Too clean-shaven for Commissar's taste.

Jeff Goldstein: Still no pineapple slices? Pass.

INDC: Alrighty, here we have an excellent example of rudimentary moonbat logic ... It's important for the layman to realize, if you ever encounter a moonbat in person, do not attempt debate! The circular logic on this poster alone will take your head clean off your shoulders!

The Commissar: Is it "AH-boo guh-ray-ibb" or "ah-BOO gray-ub?"

Jeff Goldstein: Mmmm. Like to put you on a plate and sop you up with a biscuit...!

INDC: Yes, yes. Fear is a mind-killer; fear, the Gom Jabar and copious quantities of marijuana, my middle-aged moonbat beauty.

Dr. Streelburg: That's some fuckin' truth to power, man, truth to ... POWER! Bam-POW! Ta-da! Ta-da! How you like me na! Dude, I totally gotta remember that.

INDC: Yes ... what do you think that this gent is trying to communicate, Dr. Goldstein?

Jeff Goldstein: "Do you think a beard would make me look more, y'know, protesty...?"

INDC: Indeed.

INDC: Here we've got some more rudimentary logic from this adorable little "ancient mini."

Dr. Streelburg: I'll tell you what's fuckin' rudimentary, man, the idea that bombs and guns and ... bombs solve anything! G-ma drops the wisdom of many moons, brother!

The Commissar: (chuckles) "Five bucks and this stupid sign is yours. My feet hurt."

Jeff Goldstein: "I once had Peter Fonda inside me."

INDC: Jeff, are you referring to her ... or ...

Jeff Goldstein: Her, obviously. Notice the quotation marks. When I use quotation marks, I'm captioning. Anyway, when I bang Peter Fonda, I'm the one doing the driving.

INDC: Oh, now this is quite annoying. How in Hades are we supposed to be able to translate a sign written in Jawa?! I should have phoned Dr. Shackleford ...

The Commissar: "So, this how we apply for a Fulbright scholarship?"

Jeff Goldstein: Translation: "Free Dirty Danny"

INDC: Doubtful. Dr. Streelburg?

Dr. Streelburg: Well, my Pali is pretty durn rusty and shit, you know, but when you've seen the words "Dirty Zionist Pig-Dog" once, you've seen it a thousand times, you know? (giggles) I can't make out the rest, though the last bit says ... 'kill' ... 'the' ... (squints) ... 'Jooos.' Yeah, that last series of characters is definitely 'Jooos,' man.

INDC: Remarkable. Considering the economy of characters, quite an efficient language, I'd say.

INDC: Ah, a DC moonbat regular, our old friend with the mask ...

Dr. Streelburg: Crusading Smirky McBushitler! I'll fuckin' kill 'im, man, fuckin' ...

INDC: Dr. Streelburg! Dr. Streelburg! Someone stop him! Ah ... damn. Well, it appears that we've lost the good Dr. Heh, no doubt off to do some, uh, undercover research.

INDC: Let's take a closer look at his iconography ... fascinating.

The Commissar: Again - where is Hammer & Sickle?! No Red Star?!

INDC: More crafty moonbat deception, here. As an expert in the field, I can assure our dear viewer that moonbats are not in fact related to the monarch butterfly or the Galopogos snapping turtle.

Jeff Goldstein: That's further proof that Tyne Daly should never wear stretchpants.

INDC: Looking a bit closer at this randy fellow, I think he's caught a peek at me through the blind and ... yes, he's got very kind eyes, now doesn't he?

The Commissar: Commissar likes his umbrella.

Jeff Goldstein: "I once had Peter Fonda inside me."

INDC: Let's zoom in and have a closer look at her sign ... ok, ridiculous. Here once again, the viewer should be clear on the fact that moonbats are in no way related to bears, tigers, grass, deer, dirt, seals, flowers, rivers, pandas, bald eagles or wolves.

Jeff Goldstein: "...one tin soldier rides away..."*

INDC: She seems rather happy about it, doesn't she? Very odd for a commonus.

The Commissar: Ah, at last, Minitruth!

Jeff Goldstein: "Kind of off-topic here, but that really was the best burrito I've ever had..."

INDC: I think this fellow has the idea, that's more like it! Give 'em Hell chappie!

The Commissar: Da, "love," but just don't invade his personal space.

Jeff Goldstein: "Feh. Burritos are the rolled-foodstuff of colonialist aggression. I'll have nothing to do with burritos."

INDC: Here we've got some very typical moonbat behavior; the majority of the species is against war profiteering. However ...

The Commissar: Death to war profiteers!

Jeff Goldstein: "I'm neutral on the whole burrito thing. I mean, I think both sides make valid points. On the one hand, burritos are indeed the rolled, cheese-and-meat stuffed food of capitalist agression. But at the same time, they're remarkably tasty..."

INDC: ... many are ok with the fact that Weird Al seems to be war-protest profiteering ...

The Commissar: Da, death to CAPITALIST war profiteers!

Jeff Goldstein: "Me? I'm more of a tostada guy."

INDC: Now, this is quite interesting. These military families are mixing with the moonbat community quite peacefully. This is somewhat strange, however, especially since ...

INDC: ... many of the more aggressive moonbat species are rather adamant in their support for the forces that are killing their children.

The Commissar: But not in October.

Jeff Goldstein: "Whatever. Now, somebody mentioned tostadas...?"

INDC: For example, this moonbat's sign advocates that enlisted men shoot their officers, citing it as the only "proven method" of successful resistance to war. Make no mistake: some moonbat species are far from benign. All of the protestors seem to want to "Bring the Troops Home Now." Unfortunately, some would seem to prefer that it be in body bags.

The Commissar: Khorosho! Just like Kronstadt sailors before Winter Palace.

Jeff Goldstein: "...one tin soldier rides away..."*

INDC: This is a particularly important scene. I often get letters from angry partisans that berate me for casually throwing around terms like "commie" and "tin-foil hat brigade." Well, here I present proof that these assertions are not fictional hyperbole!

The Commissar: What rank is this comrade? He is rank, though.

INDC: Yes, the smell of patchouli, BO and damp wool is a bit strong in this weather ...

Jeff Goldstein: "I once had Peter Fonda inside me. Only he made me call him Yuri, for some reason."

Jeff Goldstein: "He made you call him Yuri? Bastard. He made me call him Yentl."

INDC: Ah yes ... gay rights and the Iraqi Resistance go together like peanut butter and chocolate! Mmmmmmmmmm!

Jeff Goldstein: "This way to the burritos, men! And to some Peter Fonda man-love, if that's your bag."

INDC: Jeff, what in God's name are you talking about?

Jeff Goldstein: ...

INDC: Right. Moving along ...

INDC: Ah, here we see something commonly known as the "moonbat rapture" which occurs at the end of a "vision quest." Judging by the age of this fellow, I have little doubt that he's retained the ability to embark on a hallucinatory journey without the aid of exogenous substances; merely closing his eyes will suffice. Amazing!

Jeff Goldstein: "They weren't lying about those burritos. Like heaven rolled into six or seven warm tortillas."

INDC: Ah! A celebrity moonbat among us! It's Rob Reiner!

The Commissar: Marty, that slogan went to eleven a long time ago.

Jeff Goldstein: "You know who likes burritos? That Sally Struthers, that's who. I once saw her eat fifteen burritos and drink a pitcher of Grand Marnier margaritas. I shit you not."

INDC: The primitive paranormal beliefs of moonbats are quite interesting; most seem to have the unshakeable belief that they can channel the will of genocidal dictators. Very strange.

Jeff Goldstein: Um, Hitler would've made you into a lampshade, you Gypsy treehumper.

INDC: Commissar, where are you going? Commissar? Commissar?

The Commissar: Must ask why she neglects Stalin.

INDC: Alright, then. At least he'll blend in.

INDC: Now, what is our friend in the technicolor dream coat singing?

Jeff Goldstein: "...one tin soldier rides away..."*

INDC: Ah, pay close attention! These mother-daughter moonbats prove that the species can look relatively normal. Be very careful, lest you date, marry or, God forbid ... breed ... with one.

Jeff Goldstein: Fuck Bush? Wow. That's quite the imperative, you misogynistic ankle grabber.

INDC: Oh my ... grand-ma-ma?!! Uh, moving on!

Jeff Goldstein: "At Woodstock, I painted my body with honey and wore daisies over my nipples. My friends called me 'Bunny the love warren.'"

INDC: I say, moving on!

INDC: Uh oh ... this Desmodius marus navius has spotted us ... and she is angry! Come on baby, hate the game, not the play-er ... Jeff? Would you kindly load the tranquilizer in case she intends to charge?

Jeff Goldstein: "Nobody offered us any burritos."

INDC: Ah ... she's confused! Moonbats have an exaggerated affinity for symbolism, and poor attention to detail, thus ...

Jeff Goldstein: "Wait, that's just a mask, ain't it...?"

INDC: Oh ... she's figured it out. Confrontation has been avoided.

INDC: My God, these Desmodius lunarias quiritatios will not cease their infernal screeching! (sigh) Such is the nature of this beautiful subspecies. Something tells me that the poor fellow on the right has to listen to a great deal more of that caterwauling back at the den, eh?

Jeff Goldstein: "Haitians deserve burritos, too!"

INDC: NOT an official member of the Greatest Generation, I'd say ... further proof that even male moonbats can live to a relatively robust, ripe old age. Believe it or not, this male is actually only about 40 years old; the repeated "dream quests," the back-to-back ingestion of depressants and stimulants, and the decades-long application of patchouli all take a startling oxidative toll.

Jeff Goldstein: "Show us your tits, hippy girlies!"

INDC: Well, I'm tuckered out, Dr. Streelburg and the Commissar are gone, and the moonbats are off to Donald Rumsfeld's house, where they'll likely be gunned down by the Secretary's killer robot sentinels. I'd like to thank two of my colleagues in absentia ...

Jeff Goldstein: "Wait, there are no burritos here..."

INDC: ... and Jeff from the fantastic blog, Protein Wisdom! Thanks Jeff! Jeff? Ah, well. The beer and burritos are gone, and thus, so is Jeff. Until the next gathering of the swarm, this is your faithful host, signing off.

FIN

If you'd like to learn more about moonbats, be sure and read the following pieces by INDC:

INDC Protests: International Answer Protests in DC

INDC Protests: ANSWER, MASSF and Jews United Against Zionism

INDC Protests: Moonbattery and Media Chicanery Outside the Supreme Court

INDC Science Series: Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration, Part One

INDC Q & A: Moonbat IMF Migration, Part One

INDC Science Series: Seasonal Moonbat IMF Migration, Part Two

INDC Protests: "March for Women's Lives," Part One

INDC Protests: "March for Women's Lives," Part Two

INDC Scientific Field Report: The Shy Peeing Moonbat

INDC Moonbat Quiz

INDC: Yes, yes, well, since September 11th, I've certainly regarded you as one of the most eloquent defenders of the realm. To start … um, you’ve written rather extensively about Islamofascism’s threat to Western Civilization; can you give me a brief summary of your position and why you feel so strongly about this subject?

AS: Well … do you have all day? (laughs) Ok …the short version is, um, that Islamofascism represents this century’s first great crucial challenge to the continued advancement of Western pluralism and Democracy. The 20th Century presented us with the challenges of ultra-nationalism gone awry, then fascism and Naziism, of course, and then the failed ideology of communism. All of these competing ideologies posed a fundamental threat to the very existence of Western Democracy, and, at times, even the concept of civilization itself, with the advent of the nuclear age. In much the same way, this generation and perhaps many generations to come face a similar do-or-die struggle against the rising tide of Islamofascism, which also presents its own unique threats and represents sort of the, the … anti-Democracy. It’s the fundamental struggle of our time.

INDC: Wow, ok, could I get you to describe what you mean by the term “Islamofascism?” For those that might think that you're simply advocating a general clash of civilizations between Islam and the West, or who might regard it as a racist term …

AS: Well, in many ways, regarding a clash of civilizations, they could be right, you see, though I'm certainly not advocating such a disaster, but … Islamofascism isn't a throwaway term that's inclusive of all of Islam. Really it represents significant elements of the Muslim world that are maniacal traditionalists and religious fundamentalists, who apply this virulent strain of belief to the political as well as religious fantasy of restoring the ancient caliphate and destroying the West … the elimination of the scourge of the infidels, the non-believers, etc. You know, basically, all of us. It’s essentially a dangerous representation of Islam, that many would argue more literally represents Muslim orthodoxy.

That’s not to say in any way that it represents every man woman and child that practices Islam; rather, it's a minority interpretation that’s alternately supported by and at war with any modernizing element in the culture. But – the fact that it is generally tolerated and often supported by more moderate swaths of Islamic civilization represents a factor that could possibly mutate the war on terror into quite a literal clash of civilizations. Our resolute action now should aim to prevent this calamity by aggressively spreading the concepts of pluralism and reform in the greater Muslim world. To some extent, Islam needs to be at war with itself; the result of that struggle will largely determine whether the Muslim world as a whole is ever at war with the West.

INDC: Which would be disastrous …

AS: Which would be completely disastrous! Utilizing little hyperbole, it could be the downfall of Western civilization itself. Definitely their civilization, perhaps ours, you name it. Assuming radical Islam isn’t stopped or at least severely marginalized by modernization and moderation of the Islamic world as a whole, and the pace of the ease of technological development remains unchecked, we quite literally face the prospect of the destruction or at least crippling disruption of Western Civilization by attacks with weapons of mass destruction. Some event is actually likely.

Islamofascism has five elements that make it particularly dangerous: demographic and political trends that favor its spread, broken, medieval societies that foster its survival, the irrational and unquenchable extremism of its political and religious motivation, the increasing ease of obtaining destructive technology and the inability of pluralistic western Democracies to cohesively and ruthlessly unite to preemptively face the threat.

INDC: Ok, brilliant, but kind of depressing. Is there any hope for humanity?

AS: Oh sure, sure. You’ve got to remember, the West still maintains large systemic advantages in the battle before radical elements can partially bridge the gap by obtaining destructive technology. A concerted application of resources towards the twin goals of aggressively destroying terrorists and spreading western concepts of pluralism and social modernization gives us our only real shot at avoiding a more destructive wider conflict, or at least preventing catastrophes that would seriously cripple our continuing charge towards realizing the magnificent potential of Western Democracy. There’s plenty of hope, but we need courageous leaders with the will and dogged determination to strategically understand and attack the threat.

INDC: Like George Bush?

AS: No, George Bush is a homophobic poopie-head.

INDC: I’m … I’m … sorry?

AS: Ah, now I see where you were going with this … I'm not sure that George Bush is the man to lead this country, Bill. In addition to his administration’s tactical errors in the war in Iraq and his outrageous fiscal irresponsibility, his support of a Constitutional amendment that would relegate homosexual men and women to the status of second-class citizens probably invalidates him as a Presidential candidate.

INDC: Probably? So, you support John Kerry?

AS: John Kerry’s no prize, but at least he doesn’t hate gays.

INDC: Well, John Kerry’s not in favor of gay marriage either …

AS: Yes, but he’s also distinctly against twisting the Constitution to endorse a discriminatory far-right social agenda, something which I consider the fundamental struggle of our time.

INDC: But, but ... I thought that the potential nexus of destructive technology and Islamic radicalism was the fundamental struggle of our …

AS: Yes, that is too.

INDC: So you consider these both fundamental …

AS: Yes.

INDC: Ok, I have to admit that I’m confused. You're saying that there are two fundamental struggles of our time?

AS: They both constitute the struggle for true pluralism and universal respect for human dignity.

INDC: And you think that John Kerry will advance the, um, greater struggle abroad? The struggle for the strategic survival of Western values?

AS: That depends.

INDC: On?

AS: Are you gay or straight?

INDC: What? I don’t see how that …

AS: Are you gay or straight?

INDC: Well, I’m straight, but …

AS: Then I haven’t made up my mind.

INDC: About what?

AS: I don’t know who I’m going to vote for.

INDC: Oh, listen, Mr. Sullivan, I’m quite aware of your column in the Advocate that pretty clearly states that you won’t vote for Bush …

AS: I thought you said that you were straight? What are you doing reading the Advocate?! Are you sure that you're straight?

INDC: I am straight. This stuff gets around, you know …

AS: Look, the truth is, I have different audiences. I can’t very well write the same stuff for my blog or mainstream publications as the material that I write for a gay publication. I had to tell the Advocate that I won’t vote for Bush! It’s all about gay street cred, you know?

INDC: Well sure, but readers of your blog seemed to think …

AS: Well, I’ve been thinking out loud! Neither of these candidates is great, but at least John Kerry doesn’t intend to enshrine fundamental marginalization of gays into the Constitution, you know? It’s a deal breaker.

INDC: But you’ve also said that John Kerry’s inability to grasp the looming threats in the war on terror is a deal breaker …

AS: Yes. Both are deal breakers. I think that I may sit home and play with the beagle on election day. You know, just sit this one out.

INDC: So, you won’t vote for or endorse Bush because he might back a Constitutional amendment that prohibits gay marriage?

AS: Correct.

INDC: Even though you know that such an amendment won’t pass?

AS: It’s principle.

INDC: And even though you've stated that you think that the recognition of gay marriage is a demographically supported inevitability that will be realized in less than a generation?

AS: Faster, please.

INDC: And even though John Kerry, by your own admission, fails to fundamentally understand or advocate strategic solutions to what you clearly define as the looming threat to the very existence of Western Civilization?

AS: At least he’s not a homophobic dickhead.

INDC: Ok … Mr. Sullivan, I’ve got to admit, I’m a bit confused by your priorities here. I understand how Bush's discriminatory stance would hit you very personally and cause some extreme distaste for the president, but given your rather steadfast previous analysis of what you define as the threat to the very existence of Western Civ, and your belief that the successful agenda of the gay rights movement is an inevitability, I find it a bit strange that you would be willing to accept the candidacy of John Kerry …

AS: I haven’t decided yet.

INDC: But your column in the Advocate?!

AS: We've been over this; that’s a gay magazine. I can’t mix the gay writing with the straight writing. Are you certain that you're not gay? By the way ... has anyone ever told you that you have very pretty eyes?

INDC: Actually, sure, all the time … hey! Wha- … what does that have to do with … Mr. Sullivan, I already told you that I’m straight!

AS: Oh please, don’t flatter yourself. (laughs) You’re much too small and hairless, for my taste. Have I ever told you about my love for bears?

INDC: I seem to remember reading something about it on your blog, but I tried to block it out …

AS: They are wonderful! So hairy and burly and (sigh) … I consider myself a little bit of a bear, you know …

INDC: Look, that’s great, but can we get back to the looming threats to civilization?

AS: Check this out, this is a picture of me and the boyfriend looking at the ocean outside our "Cub Scout" Meeting in P-Town …

INDC: That's a very nice shot. What about ...

AS: And here’s a shot of some heavy canoodling in the hot tub …

INDC: Oh, no, dude, for the love of God please …

AS: Here's a couple of the boys getting down at the club ...

INDC: Ok, great, looks like fun, but ...

AS: Some of our friends, skinny dipping in the pool ...

INDC: Oh no! CUT IT OUT NOW, DUDE! I told you, I’m straight! And even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be turned on by Ed Asner's back hair! Can we please get back to political questions?!

AS: Are you a homophobe?

INDC: No! Not at all! I have gay friends, I work with plenty of gay folks, I live in one of the gayest neighborhoods in DC …

AS: All common homophobe excuses. Why can’t I talk about this part of my life? Why is my social life as a gay man something that should be excluded from view? Kept in the closet? Hmmmm?

INDC: Ok, number one, you’ve already stated that your gay audience and your more mainstream audience require different treatments … number two, I really wouldn’t want to hear about George Will’s straight sexploits, much less your tales of hirsute man-love …

AS: That was homophobic!

INDC: Please, please, please can we talk about politics? I'm not homophobic, and I actually support the concept of some form of equal marriage rights for gays, preferably one that removes government from the definition of marriage as traditionally dictated by religion. I just don't think that discussing personal details about sexual proclivities or featuring any type of pornography is appropriate for the setting of an interview. I’m begging you …

AS: Fine. What else do you want to know, this is your last question.

INDC: Uh, ok, uh ... I'll repeat: do you honestly think that the immediate advancement of gay marriage rights is a more important issue than determining who will more aggressively prosecute a war on terror that, by your definition, may determine the continued survival of Western Civilization as we know it?

AS: I don't necessarily think that George Bush has a superior vision or ability to execute than John Kerry.

INDC: And can you specify when exactly you came to that conclusion? You do realize that a common criticism of conservatives is that they have an inability to feel empathy until an issue affects them personally ...

AS: I said "last question." Good day.

INDC: Look, I guess many of us feel a little angry or confused by your prioritization ...

AS: Good day.

INDC: Ok, thanks for the interview. Have a good afternoon.

FIN

* Yes, of course it's satire.

UPDATE: For the OTB link-fest.

Also be sure to check out:

INDC Journal Interviews the Instapundit

Fred: (Twitches, rocks back-and-forth, twitches) "Harumph. Well, these girls better not come anywhere near me; they all have deadly diseases, I'm sure."

Mort: "Actually, statistically, they are far likelier to have non-deadly venerial disease, which strikes up to one-in-four sexually-active Americans over the age of 18, depending on the type. In any case, you have a greater risk of becoming ill from eating those communal beer nuts than from incidental contact with any of these young women."

Fred: (Spits out beer nuts, twitches) "Thpth! Thew! ... Oh geez, Mort. Can we just get the food and eat it in the car?"

Mort: "Fine, fine. When the food comes, I'll ask for a box."

Featured Dancer Candy Apple: "Hey baby, want a table dance?"

Mort: "No, no, that's alright, you're very lovely, but I'm fine, thank you."

Featured Dancer Candy Apple: "How about you, baby?" (Slides her hand around Fred's chest, leaning on his shoulder) "Want a table dance, handsome?"

Fred: (Blushing, twitching, instinctively uncrossing arms, then stopping himself and keeping them tightly crossed) "No ma'am, I'm just fine, thank you ma'am!"

Featured Dancer Candy Apple: "Baby, you need to uncross these arms and relax!" (Gently tries to pry apart Fred's death grip and sit on his lap)

Fred: (Jerks away) "NO! I mean ... no, no, I'm fine! Go give your, your ... your heebie-skeebies to someone else!"

Featured Dancer Candy Apple: "Screw you Barnes! And for the record, Juan Williams runs circles around you, you predictable partisan hack!" (Stalks off)

Fred: "Harumph."

Ultimately, I wasn't deeply scarred by my childhood exposure to the enforcement arm of the Christian faith. I don't look forward to seeing my own daughter fight these battles, and I deeply hope that someday America's citizens will recognize what is gained for the nation by a strict application of the Establishment Clause. But ya gotta pick your battles. And on this one the cost/benefit ratio isn't too appealing.

I'll cede the "under God" argument, because it's not worth it, but I will not let those in favor of the modern pledge apply nonsensical logic as they celebrate this non-victory victory. For example:

1. "But, it's 'ceremonial deism!'"

The phrase "under God" was added for a very specific religious purpose, to differentiate the United States from the atheistic Soviet Union. This specific intent, combined with the coercive nature of a daily pledge, invalidates the argument of ceremonial deism.

2. "But, it's tradition!"

The phrase was added in 1954; the original, Godless pledge was already 61 years-old.

3. "But, it's not compulsive! A child doesn't have to say it!"

The idea that it's easy for a child to stand in front of a group of teachers and peers and declare that he or she is not religious is the most disingenuous and unrealistic argument that I've heard out of this entire Newdow kerfuffle. Let's be realistic; a child from kindergarten to high school would rather gouge their eyeballs out with a plastic compass rather than expose themselves to such negative public scrutiny. This concept puts undue burden on any atheistic child.

4. "Atheists and the 'ACLU crowd' should stop whining and bow to the will of the majority."

By this token, "under God" should be changed to "under Jesus." After all, while atheists make up about 4% of the population, Jews only represent 2% of America. Given America's deep Christian tradition, "under Jesus" more accurately fulfills the will of the overwhelming majority, don't you think?

As Mr. Geffen presents, there are good reasons to argue for the phrase's continued inclusion; but let's not pretend that legal consistency is among them. The reactionary dismissal of Newdow's case by most Americans stems from an inability of the majority to fathom atheism. Decades of political correctness have established the validity of diverse religions in the American consciousness, but the concept of no religion still seems strange and alien.

Those on the other side of this issue should be careful about how they frame the "common sense" argument, in my opinion.

UPDATE: Jeff G asserts his right to assign superficial values to the inconveniences* of others.

* And by "inconvenience," I mean beliefs concerning the famously light-hearted subject of religion.

UPDATE: Tman has more.

... across all occupations, the effects are greater for men than women.

I blame all those Men's Health covers.

A London Guildhall University survey of 11,000 33-year-olds found that unattractive men earned 15 percent less than those deemed attractive, while plain women earned 11 percent less than their prettier counterparts. In their report "Beauty, Productivity and Discrimination: Lawyers', Looks and Lucre," Hamermesh and Biddle found that the probability of a male attorney attaining early partnership directly correlates with how handsome he is.

Who knew? Unattractive women have it easy!

Despite graduating first in his class from NYU law school, Arthur faces signifcant challenges in his quest to attain partnership at Arnold and Porter.

My mom says that I'm good looking, but at 5'6", I'm forced to contemplate my abbreviated earning power:

Size matters, too. A study released last year by two professors at the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina found that tall people earn considerably more money throughout their careers than their shorter coworkers, with each inch adding about $789 a year in pay.

Fascinating stuff. I'm still waiting for the birth of affirmative action and diversity programs for the short, the fat and the just plain ugly, considering the fact that hardwired biological discrimination is more pervasive than racial discrimination. I demand reparations from the heightist oppressors! Short men of the world, unite!

- Vizzini

- Nigel Tufnel from This is Spinal Tap

- Mark "Rent Boy" Renton from Trainspotting

- Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

- Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld

- Michael Corleone from the Godfather (books and movies) *

- Forrest Gump

- Roland the Gunslinger from Stephen King's Dark Tower series

- Sir Lancelot from Monty Python's The Holy Grail

- Tony Soprano

- Annie from the First Wives Club **

- Gny. Sgt. Hartman from Full Metal Jacket

- Odysseus from the Odyssey

- Michael Smith from Stranger in a Strange Land

- Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings

- Jean Valjean from Les Miserables

* How could they miss this one?!

** Just kidding, though Annie from the First Wives Club would certainly be a more butch choice than DR. WHO!

Feel free to add your favorite fictional characters in the comments section ...

UPDATE: Correction, Gandalf was included in the final list.

An honor guard lines Constitution Avenue.

The 139 year-old horse-drawn gun carriage awaits Reagan's arrival.

Reagan arrives.

Larger image

As an honor guard saluted and Mrs. Reagan looked on (far right), President Reagan's body was removed from the hearse ...

... and loaded onto the carriage.

When Mrs. Reagan exited her automobile, the crowd quietly applauded and waved. One man distinctly yelled, "God bless you, Nancy!"

The procession prepares to leave.

A soldier salutes his former Commander-in-Chief.

The mood of the onlookers was palpable. While I'm sure that some were there for curiosity's sake, there was a genuine buzz of affection, sadness and respect, which is almost remarkable considering the size and diversity of the crowd.

The procession begins.

The Riderless Horse carries Reagan's riding boots.

Heading towards the Capitol. (Larger image)

As I moved towards the Capitol during the procession's 20-block journey, I could hear a traveling wave of applause follow the caisson; it was quite touching.

Several blocks later, a band formed up at the head of the procession, playing patriotic hymns and stirring dirges.

Over on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center was festooned with a tribute to the President.

Onlookers filled the rooftops along offices on Pennsylvania Avenue.

A tribute outside the Canadian Embassy.

The crowd was massive. Along the caisson's path, people lined the streets in rows that were 5 - 25 deep. Eager onlookers were perched on every trash can, bench, fountain, fence and concrete barricade along the route.

As I arrived at Third Street, the flights of F-15 Eagles made their booming run. One jet is loud; 21 low-flying fighter jets are awe-inspiring. I failed to catch the final group on film, but when one of the jets in the middle of the formation peeled off from the flight, it was stunning; the plane climbed nearly straight up until it literally disappeared into the ether.

Larger image

Near First Street, a team of soldiers prepared a 21-gun salute, the signal for President Reagan's coffin to be removed from the caisson and carried into the Capitol Rotunda.

Larger image

The entire affair was beautiful, and the attendance and affection of the crowd was really something special. Watching the antiquated ceremony and the crowd's reaction, it reminded me of what I believe to be Reagan's greatest legacy and gift to the American people: a renewed capacity for romantic optimism.

I was four years-old when Reagan was inaugurated, and by the time he left office he'd solidified my unswerving belief in the potential and relative greatness of the United States. I was never touched by the divisiveness of the Vietnam War, and the extended fears at the tail-end of the Cold War were held in check by Reagan's steady leadership and moral clarity. The man was not perfect, but he was a fantastic President because he gave the children of the 80's a sense of American idenitity that may very well carry us through our modern trials. If you wonder what helped mold this generation's romantic heroes - people like Pat Tillman and Dan Eggers - you don't have to look much farther than the lasting national confidence and patriotism inspired by Ronald Reagan's ability to communicate and inspire belief in America.

Reagan didn't just win the Cold War; he's also given many of us the confidence to fight the battles of the 21st Century.

So long, Dutch.

UPDATE: Mark the Pundit has more photos.

UPDATE: And Calico Cat

UPDATE: And many, many more from Red Line Rants.

I tell you this because I wonder if you think about the individual men and women who have paid the "ultimate price," as you so inarticulately state. Do you ever think about who these brave young men and women are? They who died for you and for country? Do you, Mr. President? My wife and I do. Your callous comment in Tuesday's news conference that "No one wants to see dead people on television" left me speechless.
...
I pray for you, Mr. President. I did this past Easter Sunday. I prayed for you to do the right thing by our country and for our soldiers. I prayed for you to become a bearer of peace -- not a pallbearer of war. I prayed that God give you the wisdom to realize there are two sides to every story. And no side is ever only black or white. After all, our "enemy" is praying to the same exact God. As Tevye said in "Fiddler on the Roof": In the world of "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth," everyone will be blind and toothless.

And the reply ...

I am writing to express my total disagreement with Alex Bellotti Jr.'s April 18 Forum commentary, "A Letter to the Commander in Chief." I have two sons. The first arrived back from serving eight months of duty as an MP in Iraq on Dec. 17 of last year. He is a reservist and this was the second time he had been called up since 9/11.

FRANK DEIBLE
Penn Hills

(Via Geek Empire)

"On a more personal and local level, I have been protesting in front of the federal building (in Richmond, VA), (since) March 19 of last year, the day the war started … and then before the war started, I stood in front of the Virginia Federal Courthouse and, um, I did it daily for awhile, and now I do it 3 days a week, and yesterday was my 155th time standing in front of my courthouse. I’ll stand there until the troops are out, or there is full sovereignty and the troops are leaving."

"It’s been very encouraging. When I first started, they’d yell, cuss, call me a communist, call me unpatriotic, they’d tell me I was French … anything they could think of, and the worst it ever got was May 1st last year, right after the president gave his mission accomplished speech. People were extremely surly, yelling 'get a job,' 'get a life,' 'read the newspaper, the war is over,' and that was a low point around that time, May 1st. But people would honk, and I’d wave at ‘em, and they’d shoot me a finger, so what I decided to do, was to uh, confiscate their, uh, showing me the finger, and I made a sign that says, 'honk if you’re for peace.' Now the only time someone honks is if they’re for peace."

The camerawoman filming the interview indicated that she needed a break, so I jumped in during the lull.

INDC Journal: "Mind if I ask you a question or two?"

LS: "Sure."

INDC Journal: "I just wanted to ask you a question from the perspective of people who would disagree with you … I’m really curious, of the people who want to bring the troops out now…"

LS: "Me! Yeah, that’s me!"

INDC: "People have different opinions on whether we should have gone in and what the rationale was, but right now, it seems ... if we brought the troops out right now, that the security situation is so bad, the country would immediately devolve into civil war and bloody violence. So, how would you advocate what you are advocating, but … still offer a solution to that problem?"

LS: "The, you know … well, the latest polls before Abu Ghraib, 58% of the people, the Iraqis, wanted us out of the country as soon as possible, and they’re saying that the polls now are between 70 and 80% of the people just want us out after the prison abuse scandal. And most of the violence has been directed at American soldiers or the coalition soldiers, and at collaborators, and so we’re actually creating the violence with our presence. And the Iraqis want us to leave, the majority of Iraqis want us to leave … and if we leave, uh, it should be, uh, our presence there with causing the violence towards the Americans and the collaborators, that’s gone, so there. Whether or not the UN goes in, I don’t, I don’t, uh … I don’t have a, uh, feeling, I just want the American troops out. We don’t need to be there anymore. We got ri- … we’re, we’re, we don’t need to be there."

INDC: "Ok … let’s say for the sake of argument, that all the violence is caused by the United States’ presence; as far as the collaborators and the terror and all of that … but as far as the sectarian violence between the Kurds and the Shias and the, and the …"

LS: "Sunnis ..."

INDC: "... Sunnis ... Kurdistan wants its own state, the Shiites are the majority population, the Sunnis are a minority and might face retribution ... I mean, don’t you think that there would be some violence ..."

LS: "Their civilization is 4,000 years old; ours is about 200. The majority of people want us to leave. They want sovereignty, they want to rule their own destiny. If the majority of people think they can handle what happens when we leave, whether or not the sides have a problem … the majority of the people want us to go! We should not second guess and try to keep ourselves in the middle of it."

INDC: "Ok … if for some reason, you got your wish, and the troops left tomorrow, and then the country devolved into a civil war where, let’s say, tens of thousands of people died, perhaps …"

LS: "Like in Bosnia, how like in the Balkans when Yugoslavia broke down! My son Bryce, right here, he was with the First Armored, and starting in ‘98, he was in and out of the Balkans for 6 months doing peace-keeping, exactly what he was supposed to do when he went into Baghdad in May of last year, but because it was so botched, he’s actually in there as a fighter, not as a peacekeeper. So if we go out and that starts up, then we could go in … either like in the Balkans … either with the UN or NATO."

INDC: "So you would advocate leaving (Iraq) and then maybe coming back in …"

LS: "Well no, I mean … if, if that happ- … no I don’t, I advocate leaving. If things work out, fine, that’s great. If things look bad, then it should be the United Nations. I think the United States should foot the bill on everything, because we're the ones that caused the problem! I have no problem with money, I just think that American troops shouldn’t be on the front lines anymore."

INDC: "What about the argument that during Saddam Hussein’s rule, about 36,000 people a year were dying because of misappropriation of UN Oil-for-Food funds, and now what, a third of that are dying a year since the occupation. How would you have advocated solving the problems (caused by) Saddam Hussein’s regime?"

LS: "We’re not the world’s policeman! Our job is not to pick and choose … why haven’t we gone after Castro, why haven’t we gone after Red China? There are a lot of other countries that are here …"

INDC: "Some would say that the political realities don’t allow us to go after China or Cuba …"

LS: "So we pick somebody that we’ve had sanctions on for 11 years! Before the war started, we were bombing, getting rid of all the anti-aircraft sites … we got ‘em to where they were just a pittance of a country and we could go in because we could easily smack ‘em around. We’re not going after Korea, Cuba, or red China, because we’ll … it will be true war, and we’ll get our butts kicked! And we shouldn’t go to those either, it’s not our job!"

INDC: "But, in the scenario where the US would have the … opportunity to change a regime that was ..."

LS: "… it’s not our job…"

INDC: "...committing genocide, you would …"

LS: "No, like Rwanda, we should have gone in there! The world should have gone in and they sat back, and it’s probably partly racist."

INDC: "I agree with that. But Saddam Hussein killed over a million people and you would …"

LS: "Well, why didn’t we go into Cambodia when Pol Pot was murdering his people? We pick and choose ... we wanted the oil! And we pick and chose that for the oil."

INDC: "I agree that economic interests … "

LS: "It’s 100% that! And to settle a vendetta between Bush and Saddam Hussein that was never settled after ’91!"

INDC: "But the biggest question I have is … you’re saying that we should not intervene in any country for moral purposes, merely (for) the sake of being consistent?"

LS: "Unilaterally."

INDC: “For example, what happened in Kosovo, where there was genocide taking place on European soil, would you …”

LS: "Wholeheartedly I agreed with it! Bryce in ’99, was in Albania on the border, and I was with it wholeheartedly because it was UN and NATO …"

INDC: "The UN actually didn’t approve of that action, because Russia (would) have vetoed it …"

LS: "But the thing is, we weren’t unilateral."

INDC: (Not bothering to fruitlessly mention the coalition in Iraq) "Ok, and if NATO had said ‘no,’ and the genocide was still taking place, would you have agreed with intervention?"

LS: "Probably not; I don’t agree with unilateral … we’re not the world’s policeman."

INDC: "So it would be fine if those people were getting killed … you would just sacrifice them instead of sending US troops?"

LS: "Which country are you talking about now?"

INDC: "No, I’m talking about in any case of genocide, where ..."

LS: "I would think that it's gonna be a world issue."

INDC: "But if the world doesn’t want anything to do with it because of …"

LS: (Getting excited) "We didn’t do it in Rwanda!"

INDC: (Not getting excited) "I agree, they should have gone in, but … let’s take the Holocaust. Hypothetical situation … Russia came out with a separate peace with Germany, Western Europe was defeated, and the Jews were still being exterminated in Europe; would you agree with America going in and doing something about that?"

LS: "We didn’t then!"

INDC: "I know, I know …"

LS: (Getting animated) "We didn’t bomb the tracks to Auschwitz in ’44, when the Hungarian, when 400,000 Hungarian Jews were being sent there! Who knows?"

INDC: "I know, my question …"

LS: "So I can’t … (getting more animated) when you’re asking me if we’d do it, we didn’t do it! So why are you … why are you asking me now, when …"

INDC: "No, so I’m saying, as a moral decision, don’t you think that it is incumbent upon the United States to stop people from being murdered? When it intersects with (other interests)?"

LS: "It’s going on every day. Why aren’t we lining up to do other countries is all I’m saying ... it’s not our job, it’s the UN’s job."

At that point I thanked him and walked away. The discussion was at a dead-end, I was afraid that his head was going to pop off and the foreign film crew had begun circling us with the camera as soon as Mr. Syverson began raising his voice.

His view particularly annoyed me, not because he was an isolationist or some sort of realist, but because he was an inconsistent selective moralist. I would have to say that the one thing about the antiwar movement that bothers me the most is the fact that they lay claim to absolute moral authority as a basis for argument, and then selectively apply it against the United States.

If Mr. Syverson was willing to criticize Roosevelt for failing to slow down the Holocaust by bombing that portion of Germany's infrastructure, and he believed in intervention to stop genocide in Kosovo, how can he absolutely argue that the US has no moral authority or responsibilty to halt the systematic murder and oppression in Iraq?

I don't pretend to believe that we can or should right all of the world's injustices, but my doctrine is consistent: if the United States has the capability and domestic political will to sustain action, then we have a responsibility to use a variety of means up to and including a military option to halt active genocide. Furthermore, if a regime poses a potential threat, controls international economic interests and is an overt, declared enemy of the United States with ties to terror ... game over.

Isolationist tendencies and concerns about Realpolitik aside, don't frame non-intervention in Iraq as a moral argument; it's a loser.

All foreign troops OUT of Iraq -
End the torture, the killing, the occupation

Money for Jobs, Education, Housing & Healthcare - Not for War!
Defend Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

We'll take a closer look at Mr. Berg's associates in a forthcoming post.

After a series of predictable and vitriolic speeches, Mr. Berg's turn at the mic was greeted with great enthusiasm.

Fortunately, Mr. Berg's speech answered at least two of my prepared questions. And since Mr. Berg's time and patience were very limited in our later exchange, I'll take this opportunity to offer commentary on portions of his prepared statement. Highlights:

Recently my son, Nick Berg, traveled to Iraq in peace, fell into the wrong hands and was murdered. I wanted and needed to talk to my parents and sister, and much of the rest of my family who have died before me. I wanted to speak to them, and hear their words of comfort, and in a way I did, by finding a poem my mother wrote after my sister died, and which I read at Nick’s memorial service. And then shortly after, I got to hear from a man in the same way, who like Nick spent some time in jail because his own government didn’t understand him, and who later on was murdered while trying to do good things. His message came to me through his written words … his came to me through a speech he wrote, and it started out “I have a dream.” If I could speak to the late Rev martin Luther King, Jr., I’d tell him I share his dream, and Nick too shares his dream.

Mr. Berg compares his son favorably to Martin Luther King. While I might possibly see the analogy, because I view Nick Berg as a courageous idealist and entrepreneur, some of Michael Berg's co-protestors might beg to differ:

It didn't seem to bother Mr. Berg that many of his comrades were so critical of his son's efforts to obtain business as a result of the war. I have no doubt that Nick Berg was an idealist, but he was also a capitalist. In a war zone. A "war profiteer."

...

And yes, this is a war, and it is racist. Of the few negative cards or e-mails I received, all used the language of bigotry. Dr King knew how, and he consistently told us how to make change, and in his many words he preached, non-violent direct action, and that is exactly what we are taking now and what we must continue to take: non-violent direct action now!

So, by that logic, because much of the hate mail that Berg received uses the "language of bigotry," he draws the larger conclusion that the war in Iraq is fueled by racism? Considering that Berg's son was a supporter of the war, was he "racist?" Or is it just the rest of us?

But there is more to do and others to enlist, there are more vigils, more protests, more letters and e-mails to write, and phone calls to make to our leaders. There are petitions to write and petitions to sign, there are ballots to cast and there are ballots to be counted without the shadow of doubt being cast on the very heart of the democratic process!

Ah, Florida. Let me ask you this, Mr. Berg: where was your outrage for the Democratic process when Saddam Hussein received 99.8% of the vote? Or is your concern only for American Democracy? If so, isn't that an ethnocentric, "racist" focus? In the United States, we had hanging chads; in Iraq, the .2% that voted against Saddam Hussein were simply hanging.

America and beyond has been in touch lately, and the American public who let Nick and me and my family into their hearts, and who in turn have entered into mine, that American (unintelligible) has a message for the media too. The message is, "We're disgusted with you! And we don’t believe much of what corporate owned, corporate controlled media says anymore!

On this point, Mr. Berg and I are in complete agreement. Sort of. If I hear Judy Woodruff use the word "defeat" or "failure" one more time, I'm going to put my foot through my corporate-manufactured television screen.

Mr. Berg went on to discuss what he wants to happen to the men that murdered his son, answering another one of my prepared questions:

"There is a topic I’d promised my daughter Sarah I’d address, and that topic is the men that killed my son. She said that people don’t think I blame the men that murdered my son. That is not true Sarah; I do blame them. They should be arrested, subject to trial in a court of law, and if found guilty, never again be allowed to practice the brutality that cost my son his life. I cannot imagine the circumstances that would lead them or anyone to any violent act, let alone the atrocity that was done to my son."

You can't imagine? Because they want you dead, Mr. Berg. Your family is Jewish. Your son was Jewish. The people who killed your son are not merely desperate political operatives, they are religious fanatics that have no tolerance for the existence of non-Muslims, least of all Jews. If they met you in a dark alley, they would kill you in less time than it would take for you to mouth the word "peace."

Another of my original questions was then answered, regarding Bush's responsibility for his son's death:

"These men purposely sped up their hate train when they saw Nick lying on the track, however, I have to hold the Bush administration accountable for denying my son his civil rights for the 13 days of his illegal detention. If they were going to take illegal action, instead of violating the heart of the Constitution of the United States of America, why didn’t they just illegally deport him from Iraq and let us prove who he was at home? Their callous behavior, in effect, tied him to the track until it was no longer possible to escape that speeding hate train."

Mr. Berg's grief and hatred of the Bush Administration causes him to draw some interesting conclusions. He criticizes the FBI (and the Bush Administration directly) for holding his son without the benefit of an attorney for thirteen days. If this is all true, given his son's citizenship, it's certainly a valid criticism. But even though the FBI determined that Nick wasn't a terrorist, and advised and offered him a flight home, Mr. Berg goes on to express that he wishes the government would have violated Nick's civil rights by deporting his son. He's essentially upset with the fact that the FBI prioritized criminal/terrorist investigations in the course of alleged civil rights violations, rather than prioritizing the safety of his son.

I have no idea if the FBI violated his son's rights as a US citizen in a war zone; it's certainly possible. But even if this is true, I fail to see how their detention of Nick "tied him to the track;" Michael Berg seems to blame the FBI based on coincidental timing. His public assignation of blame implies that the FBI caused Nick's death because his detention somehow led to the chain of events where Nick was kidnapped. (More on Mr. Berg's private assignation of blame later in the interview.)

Nick Berg was traveling alone in a country filled with hostile terrorists. His independence fueled his refusal to leave. Nick Berg chose the risky path.

"Let’s act now to stop war and end racism! And let’s keep acting until we can raise a banner of peace that says mission accomplished!"

In his concluding sentence, Mr. Berg employs (for the fourth or fifth time) the acronym for ANSWER - "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism." If there was any doubt as to Berg's previous close involvement with this far left-wing group, it was beginning to evaporate.

After his speech, I made my way into the Press gallery and squeezed myself into the cluster of reporters. The ANSWER folks were very protective of Mr. Berg and didn't seem to want him to answer very many questions. In all fairness, this seemed to stem from a sense of paternalism/maternalism/gender-neutralernalism, given Mr. Berg's previously intrusive encounters with the media that took place immediately after his son's death.

Surprisingly, many of my prepared questions were covered by the other journalists that were interrogating Mr. Berg.

An unidentified television crew first asked him why he blamed the Bush Administration for his son's death.

Michael Berg: "They held my son for 13 days, without any of his civil rights. They violated so many of the amendments that are in the Bill of Rights that are at the very core of the basic document of democracy. And then, they said that my son refused to take their plane ride home, and of course they couldn’t violate his rights by making him do that. And again, as I said in my speech, why couldn’t they illegally deport him from Iraq?

Some of the Congresspeople that we called when my son was missing and asked to help us, uh, and got back to us a couple of days later and said, “No, we cant help. We can’t violate your son’s right to privacy.”

I wish they had violated my son’s right to privacy and helped him before he died, instead of violating his civil rights … his constitutional rights to be held without being accused of anything, without having a lawyer present, without even notifying his mother and his father and his brother and sister that he was alive. I wish they had violated that right of privacy and helped. Their priorities are a little mixed up here, don’t you think?"

Unidentified Reporter: "I know there’s no … (unintelligible) … solution for your personal experience, but does June 30th mean anything to you, with the handover?"

Michael Berg: "Yeah, June 30the means that they’re going to switch around the nut and shell game again, say a few words and … as long as, as long as we're over there, I think that people are going to die. As long as Americans are in Iraq, it is a slap in the face to those people, and more Americans are going to die, and more Iraqis are gonna die, and … realize that 601, I think was the count for American military, I don’t believe that number counts my son’s death and the many other civilians, American civilians that have died over there … but there are people over there from many other countries that are dying. And for every one of them, how many hundreds of Iraqis are dying? I’ve heard the figure of 11,000 dead Iraqi civilians, 11,000 dead Iraqi civilians. How many more times the number of people that died in this country on 9-11 is that, and how devastated are we that those people in, in the World Trade Towers died, and that devastation is times 3 and a third?"

I wanted to offer up the old argument - where was your concern for the dead Iraqi civilians that died under the regime of Saddam Hussein?

Unidentified Reporter: "Did Mr. Moore contact you, Michael Moore?"

Michael Berg: "What has happened between Mr. Moore and myself is personal."

Unidentified Reporter: "There are counter-protestors out there who are in support of this war, they’re using your son’s image to promote their cause, um, they said that you are … (unintelligible) … using the issue to promote your left-wing agenda. What is your response to that?"

(Wow, BIG media covers another INDC question)

Michael Berg: "Well, my son and I disagreed very much on the war and religion, on politics in general, uh, we both respected each others' opinions, uh, but even more than our opinions, we respected each others’ committment to act on our beliefs. My son was in Iraq, acting on his beliefs. I respect my son for the fact that he went over there; I wish he didn’t, but I respect the fact that he had to act on his beliefs, and although my son has always been in support of the Bush administration and this war, every time that I went to one of these rallies in Washington, he would say to me when I would get home that night, “Dad I’m really proud of you, I don’t agree with you, but I’m really proud of you for going out there and saying and doing what you believe in.” And I think that that’s a good answer to those people out there."

An Al Jazeera reporter then asked if this is the first time that Berg has spoken publicly at a protest.

Michael Berg: "Well, yeah, I was … in the King of Prussia, PA, about April 2003 in front of the Lockheed Martin plant where, um, there were a lot of cameras in front of my face and … (unintelligible) … but, it’s the first time I’ve spoken (after his son’s death). It’s the first time that people are ready to listen. It’s a shame that it has to be (after his son’ death)."

"I’m hoping that, I’m hoping that, the tide of support for this atrocious war is shifting. I’m hoping that I can suggest a few things for people to do, to act now directly and nonviolently to end this war, I’m hoping that I can convince people that the story that they getting in the media, maybe your media, isn’t exactly true. That they need to feel in their heart just one … of the tragedies, just one of the 601 American military tragedies and many other military tragedies from other countries, from civilian Americans to foreign nationals, that have died, and of the 11,000 Iraqi people that have died ... they need to think of that. They need to feel the sorrow of 11,000 people that have died.

I want them to stop what they are doing in Iraq. I want Americans out of Iraq. I want a truly international force of people to take their place and not with their guns, but with ... to ensure the democratic process is carried out

My mind reeled; this will be accomplished by an international force without ... weapons?

"I want the troops out now! Why do I want the troops out now? Because as long as the American troops (are there) the killing will continue, they’ll be shot at as long as the American troops are in Iraq. Al Qaeda will be attacking and all the terrorists in the world will be attacking. We have to start listening to our enemies, not speaking to them."

Al Jazeera: "Is there a message that you would like to send to the people of the world?"

Michael Berg: "Yes, join with the many, many Americans that oppose this war. By the way, I just got back from England, and the support in England for the antiwar movement is far stronger than they appear in America. Please join us, no matter what country you are in, no matter what your culture, join in making your opinion known that this war, any war, is wrong, and that what we need to do is listen to each other and not just speak to each other. Our politicians need to learn how to listen. They need to learn how to listen to the American public and they need to listen to the people that they call our enemies. Our enemies are desperate and they do desperate, awful, atrocious things which I do not condone. I’m not here to condone what they’ve done, I’m here to stop them ..."

After that answer, Mr. Berg stopped taking questions, but another man insistently asked him, “Is it possible to get your contact information, to follow up?”

Michael Berg: "Who are you?"

Socialist Workers Party Reporter: "I’m with the Socialist Workers newspaper."

Michael Berg: "Socialist Workers newspaper? (Enthusiastically) Oh, yeah , oh yeah, oh yeah … (gives info) my e-mail is the best way to contact, because my wife probably will slam down the phone on just about anyone who calls; she’s still in a very emotional state. My son was a member of the Socialist Workers Party, yes he was, my son David, not my son Nick, my older son David. I supported his efforts working with the Socialist Workers Party, and I went with him to the headquarters in NY and I attended the rallies and I supported his trips to Cuba and … I don’t really want to say (gestures to me) because he’s (got a tape recorder)."

What was he afraid to say? Was it incriminating, or is Mr. Berg merely aware that his utility and mainstream image as an antiwar advocate would be tarnished by close association with a Communist political group?

After that curious exchange, an individual identified himself as a representative from AlJazeera.net and asked another question. I have no idea whether this was another blogger, independent media or what, but I have serious doubts that this guy was from Al Jazeera. Besides his Aryan-poster boy looks (meaningless in-and-of-itself) and the fact that he unprofessionally scribbled Berg’s answers on a notepad in lieu of recording them, the nature of his question leads me to believe that he misrepresented himself. You be the judge:

"AlJazeera.net:" "One question … my condolences, but … the question I have is, it’s been reported that your son was, supported the war, and believed in what the US was doing in Iraq, and bringing freedom to an oppressed country … is it difficult for you to portray the things that you’re saying, to speak out against that effort, to try and reconcile it?"

Michael Berg: "As I’ve said to many people, and this goes back years and years and years, my son and I have always disagreed on politics, religion and just about everything except for rock climbing and kayaking, but we have always agreed to disagree, and we have always respected each other for acting on our beliefs. I respected, I respected my son’s courage tremendously for acting on his beliefs and going to Iraq, since that is what he believed, … and he knows I didn’t want him to go, but I never said “don’t go” because I know he had to do what he had to do."

"Every time I came to one of these marches here in Washington, and this is my fourth one here in Washington and I’ve been in King Prussia in Philadelphia and one in Westchester, uh, every time I went he would come up to me and touch my shoulder and say dad I don’t agree with what you think about this war, but I respect you for going out and standing up for what you believe.” So no, it doesn’t hurt me at all..."

At this point, I jumped in; I really wanted to get a fair give-and-take with Mr. Berg, but it was much harder than I had anticipated.

INDC Journal: "Your son agreed with intervention in Iraq, correct?"

Michael Berg: "Yes, he did."

INDC Journal: "And you said that, you mentioned that 11,000 (civilians) have died, I believe is the number in Iraq that have …"

Michael Berg: "That’s what I’ve heard."

INDC Journal: "Yes, I’ve heard that number too. Before the invasion of Iraq, UNICEF said that 36,000 Iraqis were dying a year, so it would … seem that the number of innocent Iraqi deaths have been reduced as a result of the occupation. You don’t agree with …"

Michael Berg: "Well, I have heard that 11,000 Iraqis have died as a direct cause of the war - been shot, killed, blown up, that doesn’t say that the 36,000 who weren’t dying before aren’t still dying! How many thousands of Americans die every year that have nothing to do with the war? What kind of statistical nut and shell game is that question?"

INDC Journal: "Yes, but …"

Michael Berg: "(Becoming slightly animated) I’m asking you a question, what are you trying to do with that?"

INDC Journal: "And I’m trying to answer. No, what I am saying is, that because oil for food money …wasn’t put into the right hands … that 36,000 were dying a year … (it’s also been) said that over a million were killed because of war, genocide and the murder of political prisoners in Iraq. My question to you is, from someone on the other side of this …"

Michael Berg: "Let me ask you this, I get your question now …"

INDC Journal: "How would you have ..."

Michael Berg: "Let me ask you this …"

INDC Journal: "… changed that …"

Michael Berg: "If it’s the American presence that is preventing these other deaths, because of the security that we’re supplying, and it’s the American presence that’s causing the 11,000 deaths because of the insult that it is to the Iraqi people, and those that are associating themselves, why not put in the international force that can keep the same security without all those insults? Without those 11,000 deaths?"

INDC Journal: "I might agree … but the problem is, how can we do that?"

Michael Berg: "Why can’t we do it? We can do it if we want to do it."

INDC Journal: "Well, you think that we need to pull troops out now, correct?"

Michael Berg: "Yes."

INDC Journal: "Without providing some sort of alternate security?"

Michael Berg: "No, I think we need to … I think we need to trade our troops for a truly international …"

INDC Journal: "And how should they go about doing that?"

Michael Berg: (Becoming animated) "I don’t know how to do it! I’m not a politician! I’m not a militarist! I’m not a strategist! I don’t know how to do it, but I think that it can be done if … I think that if the American people let their will be known, that that’s what they want to be done, get out of there now, stop the killing now, that’s what will happen!"

INDC Journal: "And you think that the United Nations will be willing …"

Michael Berg: "I don’t know that the UN would be any more accepted than the United States. I think that it has to be a truly international peacekeeping force. I think it has to include Middle Eastern countries."

INDC Journal: "So someone would have to put that force together to take the place of United States troops before they left …"

Michael Berg: "Yeah, but I think it can happen a lot faster than people think it can happen if we just leave …"

Mr. Berg was done taking questions from me. According to Mr. Berg, if American troops leave Iraq immediately, the security vacuum would be quickly filled by a yet-to-be-determined international security force that includes Middle Eastern nations ... one that doesn't need weapons. Because he wasn’t "a politician," "a strategist" or "a militarist," he didn’t feel comfortable outlining how such a force would come to exist, but he was perfectly comfortable in making the demand that US involvement cease, even in the face of certain Iraqi civil war.

At that point I was replaced with another fawning reporter who asked why Mr. Berg referenced Dr. Martin Luther King in his speech.

Michael Berg: "Because I’ve always admired Dr. King, because I think that that Dr. King, of all of the protestors, Dr. King … he’s the prototype. He’s what we all need to do, I mean, I know that Dr. King got much of his philosophy from Ghandi, but … and did such a … follower, he was a wonderful follower of Ghandi, and look what Ghandi did and look what Dr. King did, and Dr. King made such a difference in this country, a difference that people thought could never happen. And the questions that this young man here has been asking me (points to me), has been asked of many freedom fighters back in the 60’s. “Oh you can’t change people, you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” but Dr. King made it happen."

At what point did I mention anything even remotely analogous to something that might have been asked of representatives of the civil rights movement? Mr. Berg seemed uncomfortable with logistics or political realities that demand a security force in Iraq; he preferred to stick with vague platitudes about love and understanding. Imagine if the US left Iraq tomorrow, leaving a note that said, “Hey Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Ex-Baathists, Moderates and Extremists – please love each other. We’re sure that you can work this out; just wait for the magical international peacekeeping force (without weapons) to quickly coalesce and help you keep the peace." Moving on …

Michael Berg: "... and I was also struck by the analogy between Dr. King in Birmingham jail … and my son in the Iraqi jail … and Dr. King being murdered by … people full of hate, by a hate train, and I think … I’m not sure if these are his words or not, it just sounds true to Dr. King … and, and my son was killed, run over by this hate train and I believe … you want to turn that off for a second?" (points at my tape recorder)

Respecting his wishes, I switched off my digital recorder and immediately turned on the one in my head.

Michael Berg: "Let me put it to you this way, I don’t think that Dr. King’s murder was solved, and I don’t think that my son’s murder was solved, if you know what I’m saying ..."

No, Mr. Berg, what are you saying?

After a brief detour into Nick's humanitarian background in the third world, the Q and A session was concluded.

After the interview, Berg took a quick picture with some ... Zapatistas? Mexican Nationalists? ... suited up and ...

... led the march to Rumsfeld's house. Dizzy from the day’s circular logic, I went home.

My impressions of Mr. Berg? His arguments lacked any logic, logistical depth or detail, and he's visibly and understandably caught up in acute grief for his son. To his credit, he is very honest about the fact that his son completely disagreed with his views; he’s in no way misrepresenting Nick Berg. I'm not going to painstakingly read into his cryptic non-recorded statements about who he thinks killed Dr. King and/or his son; I'll let you draw your own conclusions. But let's be clear on one thing: Michael Berg isn't merely a grieving father driven to criticize the Bush Administration by his recent experience; he has well-established political views, and his antiwar statements should be examined in this appropriate context. Or not examined at all ...

In tomorrow's installment, we'll examine some of the political views of Mr. Berg's fellow members of ANSWER.

UPDATE: Citizen Smash interviews one of Michael Berg's fellow travelers.

Ad #1

Ad #2

Warning: colorful profanity alert.

UPDATE: What's that you say? Both are a parody and the real deal? Oh, you wacky leftists!

"Bush in 41.2 Seconds" was done as a parody of the MoveOn.org ads. The intent was to say what a lot of liberals are thinking ("Bush lied"), but to do it in a manner that was so over-the-top it would be funny as much as ludicrous. Because it parodied both MoveOn and the idea of homespun political ads -- two liberal-minded ideals -- it was risky to run on Liberal Oasis. Still, Scher got the joke and the piece went up.
...
Then hit counts notched up further courtesy of angry conservatives who, through no fault of their own, didn't understand the context and really thought the DNC had stooped to calling President Bush "a lying sack of horseshit."

Um ... John Kerry, Wesley Clark, Al Gore and Howard Dean have been serving up similar soundbites since late last year; the only difference with this parody is that it uses slightly more profanity. Also, it's amusing how the parody of MoveOn was nearly the same as an actual MoveOn ad.

Meet Sfc. Cyril ("That's a common name!") Leuelling, a tough, old bulldog of a man that stormed Utah Beach with the 90th Infantry Division and later fought all the way to Germany with Patton's Third Army.

"You know the Higgins barges? I came down off an LCI, down the ropes on each side, into a barge, and these barges hold about 30 troops. And they take you as close as they can to the shoreline without getting stuck in the sand, ok? They lower that front end down, you go out. Well, I was a platoon sergeant, and we had men, that ... well, I've heard, "did you cry when you had to land?" And I said "No, how can you lead men into battle if you are a crybaby?" So they had some guys that was cryin' a little bit, and I don't blame 'em, I was scared too; the hair on my head was standin' straight up."

"Well after about an hour or two, we got in to up where the beach and the grass starts, up in that area, and about three hours later we was probably up in about a mile. It was more or less machine gun fire, rifle fire, mortars and artillery that was coming in from about 6 miles out. We took a few prisoners, but the fighting really started once we got into the hedgerows ..."

Thank you, Mr. Leuelling.

Emotions ran high as the ceremony concluded and the crowd began to disperse. We joined the mass exodus towards the Lincoln Memorial ...

... where I noticed another reminder of the intense security measures taken to protect visitors to the Mall. With the ceremony over and the memorial closed until later that evening, I decided to call it a day.

Meet Pfc. Gene Callahan, who served with the 17th Airborne Division at Bastogne.

"I made six jumps in England, but I was driven by truck into the Battle of the Bulge. After that, I never had to jump again because I was wounded before the Rhine Campaign. I was hit in my foot, it healed perfectly (laughs). Million dollar wound, from a piece of shrapnel, an explosion."

Paratroopers dig in outside Bastogne.

On Bastogne:

"It was a pretty rough battle. I was cold, really cold, in a winter storm. I had to wear seven undershirts to stay warm. Every time they gave me one I put one on over the other one ... but I survived it."

Thank you, Mr. Callahan.

The Memorial's fountain at dusk.

On Sunday evening, I headed over to the Memorial to watch the veterans and their families enjoy the space.

Looking towards the Pacific end of the monument.

Meet Pfc. Roland Fraser, who served in North Africa with the 112th Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 44th Brigade, 7th Army.

"We didn't really have battles. I was at Kasserine Pass, but mostly we were guarding Algiers harbor with anti-aircraft ... a 90 mm cannon. We did go up to Kasserine Pass, but we got out of there in a hurry. Where we were, it wasn't too bad."

"We shot at aircraft ... we picked 'em up on radar as they come across Gibraltar Quarter from France ... almost every night ... and then we'd have 'em on radar, and we had the harbor all smoked out so they couldn't tell where land was. We'd take care of 'em on that end. We also had the balloons up, helium balloons that would protect the harbor, so they couldn't come low enough."

An Army anti-aircraft battery stationed in the Mediterranean.

"It wasn't that bad (hard) to hit the planes because we had ... the shells were marked and we cut the fuse for a certain distance. They got within fifty yards of the plane and they were hit. (We took down) quite a few."

Before the rest of his outfit went to Germany, Pfc. Fraser came home and joined the Military Police.

"I came home. I had enough points to come home ... I don't know what or why ... they just come and told me one day that I was coming home that month."

Thank you, Mr. Fraser.

Memorials, pictures, wreaths, flowers, medals and memorabilia were strewn around the monument, typically under the pillar marked with the veteran's state of origin.

Meet Pfc. Basil Gaultney, who served with the 37th Division of the US Army in the South Pacific, New Guinea, Bogansville and the Phillipines. He was wounded as a rifleman in Manila during the invasion of the Phillipines.

Soldiers land at Luzon.

"The invasion was January 9th, and I was wounded on February 11th. Have you seen the movie To Hell and Back? That was my army experience; I finished basic training and went right into combat. I still haven't recovered (from the wounds). I was hit in my right leg with machine gun fire. I was in the hospital briefly in Manila there, and then I was flown out to Leyte and I was in a hospital there in traction for about ... I guess a couple of months, 'till my bones started to knit back. Then they put me in a cast and sent me home."

"The combat wasn't that bad, it was just grueling."

Thank you, Mr. Gaultney.

Looking east towards the Washington Monument.

The wing dedicated to the Pacific theatre of operations.

Meet Cpl. Lionel "Bud" Spencer, who served with the First Marine Division in "the Okinawa fiasco."

"It was a walk ashore, it was beautiful, nothing like the other invasions. They all held back and went into emplacements, and then it was rough as Hell, but the landing was gorgeous. I was fighting 69 days (before getting hit) ... I didn't have the brains to get hit on the first day. Coulda saved a lot of wear-and-tear."

"We had to keep order and keep everything going. We had to take 'em back to Japan and we took Koreans back to Korea. That was interesting. I'm 19, and we had a load of civilians and two of them were very pregnant and decided to have their babies as our ship rolled into the edge of a typhoon, and we ended up with two Marines delivering two babies. I have no idea how we got out (of the typhoon)."

US Marines fighting on Okinawa.

Battle of Okinawa
Dead and Missing U.S.:

Navy 4,900+

Army 4,600+

Marines 2,900+

Wounded over 36,000+

Non battle casualties 2,600+

Japanese 110,000+

Okinawans 75-140,000

"It isn't much fun to remember the nasty parts, but ... we survived. We were starving ... I was on six meals a day in Guam, and then they let me get up like 6 weeks later and they weighed me and I weighed 122 lbs. Went in at 160 lbs. Nothing unusual at all, just a regular Marine, doing exactly what he was told."

Thank you, Mr. Spencer.

The newly reinvigorated fountains of the Mall's "Rainbow Pool."

A vet looks on.

Meet Sfc. Richard Sanders, who served during the Invasion of the Phillipines and Okinawa in the Army, aka "the only branch of service."

"I signed up, and I was an amphibious driver, driving these landing craft unloading troops on the shore. Not very many interesting stories from World War Two, most of my really interesting stories are from Korea."

LSM-22, LSM-21, and LSM-19 beached at Mindanao, P.I., 22 April 1945

"You gotta understand, during World War II, we (blacks) were not supposed to be able to do anything but that (ferry supplies) ... but after that war they realized ..."

"When I came back to the States, they sent me to school for radio repair, TV repair, atomic weapons, and they realized hey, these guys can do something else! And then they sent me to college to be an electrical engineer."

Thank you, Mr. Sanders.

Facing east.

A veteran enjoys the monument.

Meet Al Farris "out of Portland, Maine," easily one of the funniest guys that I've ever met.

"I picked up a new ship, the USS Astoria, CL-90. I picked it up in Philadelphia, and as soon as it was finished, we had trials, had to break it in and then we went through the (Panama) Canal and out to the Pacific. It was a medium cruiser."

"I was there, I could see when they were doing the signing of the treaty. I was there when the damn thing was signed, believe me. The night before that we had been on a midnight run, we chased a big battlewagon out onto the strip where it got bogged down in the mud. Yeah, they got bogged in the mud, alright, right on Tokyo. They were stuck, we came back out, sat right there ... that was early in the morning, and that's when we found out, the war was over, right then. I said hallelujah."

The USS Astoria, CL-90.

"I covered a lot of battles. We got hit (by kamikazes) amid-ship. Let's put it this way, they took our library out on us, and the post office - that pissed us all off. Never heard so much swearing in your life. It was bad, it was bad. Nobody would really realize, and you can't explain it unless you was there. All you could see was planes, the sky was black, and they was going in all directions. And of course the task force was real busy, they were knocking planes down, and the one that hit us, and I believe one of our gunners hit it, but it was coming in our direction and it hit us amid-ship. Didn't stop us."

"Most of it was air-to-ship. Earlier it was ship-to-ship, but they backed off, 'cause we had so many DD's and small cruisers coming up. We were more like a lead ship, with a wolfpack behind us. We'd bring 'em out and the wolfpack would go in there and raise Hell with 'em. Plain English. I don't plan on bein' too polite on words, I say it just the way it comes out; that's my nature. I come from Maine, you say it just how you think it. We're fighters, in Maine. When there ain't no war on, we get drunk and fight each other, just to stay sharp."

A kamikaze is downed by anti-aircraft fire.

"Some of the memories stay where they are. I cry ... by myself, I don't like to bring everything out. But I did lose some of my own friends, people that I went through boot camp with. They didn't come home with me, but it's part of the deal, we all knew. There's too many things that you try not to talk about anymore. Just that I was there, and I seen the treaty being signed."

On the WW II Memorial:

"I love it. I think it's the greatest thing they ever done for us. We waited a long time to be recognized like Vietnam and the rest of 'em. We went in there and done our thing and all of a sudden we weren't even recognized for a long time. And they finally got around that we were in the war. I think it's beautiful. It's outrageous, it's about about time something of this magnitude come out for us, because there's a lot of WW II veterans that didn't think they'd be recognized; today they're getting their recognition. And I'm proud to be one of 'em."

"I came back and had a good life. I got my boy, my baby. All and all, I thank God for the chance to come back and see what we fought for. And I tell people that I'd do it again if I had to."

No doubt. Thank you, Mr. Farris.

Looking westward towards the Lincoln Memorial. Larger image

Eagles in the Pacific wing.

This is my grandmother, who represents another kind of wartime sacrifice. In September of 1942, 21 year-old William Martin, her high school sweetheart since 1939, traveled to Syracuse, NY and started training to be a Naval Aviator.

10/5/42

My Dearest,
...
A couple of days ago I did my first spin alone and what a thrill it was, bringing her out of it. I was a little nervous at first but I got over it. My instructor took me up previous to my solo flight and we were practicing spins and stalls and later I took off alone, climbed to 3,500 feet, leveled off, and had the intention of doing my spins first, but did I? No. Stalls took the place of spins temporarily and finally I said to myself, "What are you, man or mouse!" and over she went once, twice and another half, then stick forward, a little opposite, then stick back and out I came. After that one I went back and did five more.

I love you dear. P.S. I'll salute 10:00 o'clock every night and you will see it wherever you are.

8/27/43

Darling,
...
Every time I think of you as my wife, I get little chills which do a dance up and down my spine. I lay on my bunk looking at your pictures and dream of the future, then I close my eyes knowing these dreams will soon come true. Honey, I love you so much that it hurts deep down inside of me. Soon this hurt will go away and in its place will come happiness and contentment. Two little words will make the difference, "I do." Funny how two words can change a picture so much, oh wonderful words.

Billy

On October 23, 1943, Eileen Furler married Ensign Martin, the day after he received his Naval commission and pilot's wings at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. Less than four months later, he would leave the states for the Pacific theatre, where he flew an F6F Hellcat for the 19th Fighter Group based off the Essex Class carrier USS Lexington.

F6F Hellcats.

Over the next 10 months, Ensign Martin took part in action over Formosa, the Marianas, Philippine, Bonin and Nansei Islands, shooting down a total of 4 Japanese planes and destroying various ground and naval targets, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

A modern re-enactment of a Hellcat stalking a Japanese Zero.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to

For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Aircraft in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN, attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON, in action against the enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands Area, from October 21 to 24, 1944. Assigned to a sweep against hostile aircraft in Southern Luzon, Ensign Martin personally attacked and shot down one enemy plane and assisted in the destruction of three Japanese PT boats. While returning from a long-range westerly patrol during the savagely fought Battle for Leyte Gulf, Ensign Martin personally destroyed two of ten attacking Japanese fighters and, on the same flight, aggressively launched an attack against an enemy dive bomber and shot it down. By his superb airmanship and daring tactics, Ensign Martin rendered invaluable service to our forces during a period of intense aerial activity. His valiant fighting spirit and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

Ensign William Martin (L) is served a sandwich and some orange juice after being fished out of the Pacific (details unknown).

In August of 1944, his daughter Dianne, my mother, was born. From a letter one year earlier:

8/11/43

"... soon we will share a life together. We will go on thinking of each other and someday when things right themselves and return to normal we can go about the business of settling down and raising a family. You and I in a world of our own, with a few little ones to bring a ray of sunshine into our home, wherever it may be."

Pilots leaning across an F6F on board the USS Lexington (CV-16) after shooting down 17 out of 20 Japanese planes heading for Tarawa.

Unfortunately, those future plans would never be realized and he would never see his daughter. On November 3rd, 1944, the fighter that he was piloting suffered mechanical failure and crashed into the ocean.

From the Newark Star Ledger:

A letter from Ensign Martin's commanding officer, Lt. E. L. Lindsay, described his last flight to Mrs. Martin. He wrote that the Irvington pilot volunteered to take a plane that needed several hours run-in time to accompany a combat patrol flight off the Philippines. The plane was flying above the formation when it was seen to be trailing smoke and losing altitude, Lt. Lindsay wrote.

As the plane went down toward the ocean, Ensign Martin radioed his oil pressure was down and he would have to land in the water. At 50 feet above the water the ship nosed down and crashed into the waves. Although a nearby plane and a destroyer searched the area, the fallen airman was not found, the lieutenant wrote.

My grandmother was devastated, her entire life stopped.

"I wanted to commit suicide, but I had this baby daughter to take care of. The thing is ... read those letters ... look at the pictures ... we were happy, so happy. If you look at every picture of Billy, he was smiling. We loved each other so much."

She soldiered on, built a life and raised her daughter, just like hundreds of thousands of other families that faced similar loss. That's the thing about World War II that's difficult to fully grasp: 17 million Americans wore a uniform, roughly 1 in 5 adult males. 400,000 of them never came back, and millions more were wounded. This massive sacrifice is what helped save the world from fascism and cruel tyranny, defined our society and made America what it is today, by forging what has come to be known as our "greatest generation."

Thank you grandpa, and thank you, grandma.

Vets pose in front of the column bearing the name of their state.

Lookin' at the fountain.

Explaining the field of stars.

I think that the sacrifice of World War II can be exemplified by one of the letters that my grandfather wrote five months before shipping off to the Pacific:

8/19/43

Dearest,
...
At this point you realize that there is a lot more to flying than most people think and a thrill comes over you as you feel that you're a part of it. Just being upstairs, cruising around looking at the beautiful green patches that make up the earth and contrasting it with the sky of blue tinted with red and yellow where the sun peeps through clouds makes you feel, "this is where I belong."

Billy

The memorial consists of 7.4 acres of bronze and granite, built around the reinvigorated Rainbow Pool that sits in between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It's beautiful, and its final completion and dedication marks a victory over 17 years of fundraising effort and bureaucratic struggle. The designers largely satisfied critics that were worried about the disruption of sightlines between the Lincoln and Washington by building a plaza that maintains the openness of the rectangular National Mall. It's simply stunning.

An ongoing event was the National WWII Reunion celebration, held on the grounds of the Mall between 7th and 11th streets down by the Capitol. A variety of themed tents were set up, as well as a stage that featured continuous live entertainment.

On Friday, Kenneth Friendman came to pay his respects to veterans and perform a series of ritual chants.

"War is about killing. Many anti-war activists protest, but for us, war is a part of life. When a warrior gets to the playing field and takes a life, they take that soul. That life is yours. It becomes part of you. And those that don't come home, they're up there, waiting."

This is Tom Pinnock, who served as a C-46 transport pilot in the China-Burma-India theatre with the 20th Bomb Group, First Air Transport Squadron. Mr. Pinnock and his crew took greatly needed supplies from India to bases in China on a course that took them over "the Hump," otherwise known as the Himalayas. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for successfully completing a tour of 44 extremely dangerous missions.

A C-46 flies over "the Hump."

Mr. Pinnock and his crew routinely flew in low-to-no visibility weather at an altitude no higher than 18,000 feet (because of atmospheric limitations). The Himalayas rise to 20,000 feet. When these non-pressurized planes didn't crash into mountain tops, they had to contend with mechanical failure, icing, thunderstorms and Japanese fighters that would intercept the transports from bases in Burma. He was the only member of his crew to survive the war.

On one particularly harrowing supply run, he took badly needed supplies to members of the 20th Bomb Group operating out of Chen Tu, China; attempts by several other crews to complete the route had failed. Flying by instruments in zero visibility, Mr. Pinnock drew near the location of the airbase, but couldn't land without a visual. He asked his crew if they would collectively volunteer to allow him to hunt for visibility below the lowest acceptable altitude limit, and they agreed. Putting his plane in a shallow dive, he finally broke through the cover of clouds and fog a mere 100 feet off of the ground, right over a field filled with terrified Chinese farmers. "We just popped out of the clouds and scared 'em so bad they were running for their lives," Pinnock said with a chuckle.

After getting his bearings and spotting the airbase, he was forced to put his plane into a dramatic, hard bank and almost immediately land at nearly full throttle. The mission was a success, and the grateful men of the 20th Bomb greeted the resupply group like the heroes that they were.

Thank you, Mr. Pinnock.

The 1940's version of Destiny's Child?

Soon the entertainment switched from speakers and Native-American chants to WWII era performers and big band music.

This cheeky gal warmed up the audience with a spot-on ditzy blonde ingenue routine. The crowd loved it.

"Doc Scanlon and the Imperial Palms Orchestra" flawlessly pounded out some of the greatest hits of the 20's, 30's and 40's. After two intro numbers, the band finally hit Glenn Miller's "In the Mood." The effect was dramatic and immediate ...

These vets weren't too old to get up and swing. They danced ...

... and danced ...

... and danced ...

... and danced. Worn out from merely watching these old cats move, I decided to pack it in, go home and get ready for Saturday's events.

Meet Elizes and Arturo Chavez, representing two generations of Navy service. Draftmans Mate Second Class Arturo Chavez is currently assigned to the Washington Navy Yard, where he serves as a graphic designer. His father, Machinists Mate Third Class Elizes Chavez, flew Navy trainers in Corpus Christie Texas during World War II. When I asked him what he did during the war, he quipped that he was "a flunkie." Pressed to elaborate, Mr. Chavez told me, "I signed up to shoot at Japs and I didn't see a single one." I think that Mr. Chavez underestimates his service as an aviator.

A North American AT-6/SNJ Texan trainer.

Thank you, Mr. Chavez.

The first event on Saturday was a "Tribute to a Generation" at the MCI Center. The show featured a live orchestra ...

... a movie with vintage footage ...

... and a live action play. Once again, a top-notch event that the vets seemed to enjoy immensely.

Heading over to the National Mall, I spotted some members of the the Rolling Thunder veterans' group that descends on Washington every Memorial Day Weekend. They were a welcome addition the the dedication festivities, as they made a point to emotionally thank every WWII veteran that they could possibly get their arms around.

As one veteran remarked to me, "I went over to the Vietnam Memorial, and say what you will about them bikers, but ... the men, the women ... yesterday they gave me more hugs and kisses than any man normally gets in a ten-year period."

A lone protestor sighting. I asked this lady why she was protesting the celebration, and she told me that "it glorifies war," and that she is "against all war." Even the casus belli for World War II has its detractor, I guess.

I'll let an excerpt from Senator Bob Dole's dedication speech answer this charge:

What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it's a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys, and inspires Americans in every generation to lay down their lives for people that they will never meet, for ideals that make life itself worth living.
...
Franklin Roosevelt presided over a global coalition to rescue humanity from those that would put the soul itself in bondage.

Meet Cpl. John Micik, who served on an M-10 tank destroyer in General Patton's Third Army in Europe, in what he describes as "very dangerous places."

"I never expected to come back alive. I was a gunner, but you had to know everybody's job; one guy got knocked off, you had to take his place. We had three inch guns on 'em, with armor piercing shells, and boy, we hit a German tank and the top blew right off!

An M-10 tank destroyer in France.

The only thing I can say is, thank God we came back alive. I never expected to come back alive for what I went through. I got a few scratches, but I ain't gonna call 'em wounds (laughs). When we hit their tanks, we got 'em. The big (German) tanks, they (were) thinking they were the best, but we outshot 'em."

On the drive to relieve Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge:

"Oh, that was terrible. We tried to do the best that we could though, you know? Everybody was on the alert; all we had on our minds is 'are we gonna make it?' (We fought) all the way till the end of the war.

All I can say is, thank God I came back alive."

Thank you, Mr. Micik.

The logistics behind the event were impressive; millions of bottles of water, hundreds of thousands of folding chairs, thousands of volunteers and much, much more. Here members of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps hand out bottles of water to ceremony attendees.

On the way over to Section Two seating for the ceremony, an uncomfortable reminder of our modern struggle: emergency tents were deployed around the perimeter to hose down any victims of a potential chemical attack.

Section Two seating was blocked off on the south side of the Reflecting Pool that sits between the World War Two Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. Neatly aligned folding chairs, large screens and speaker towers were set up for the attendees' viewing pleasure. The ceremony itself took place about 50 yards away, at the side of the memorial that faces towards the Capitol dome.

The crowd was vast ...

... truly vast. A pleasant Spring day, the atmosphere was buzzing with emotion: sadness, pleasure, wistful remembrance, satisfaction and joy. Vets were thankful for the tribute and humbly proud of their service. Many of the families looked at their fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers with unrestrained adoration and pride.

Meet Cpl. Harvey Mayer, who served with the 5th Marine Division at Iwo Jima.

"I was on the fourth wave ... I was an amphibious truck crewman, and I had to take the supplies, ammunition, lumber, whatever, back up to the troops. I had my baptism of fire ... I had to circle around before I come in, because the beachmaster says they're still shelling the beach. But there were Destroyers over here, firing rockets."

Cpl. Mayer was in between the destroyers and the target, Mt. Suribachi.

"I says, 'I'm not gonna stay out here, I'm going in anyway!'"

Transports unload at Iwo Jima.

"There was no footing on the beach, and (farther inland) the first wave slowed up and the second slowed up, and they were caught ... in like, a killing field. You had Suribachi and the cliffs, where the Fourth Marine Division was held down. It's called enfilade and plunging fire, that's why it took a toll the first day. I got ashore and I reported to my CO, Mikey Nolan. He used to play football for the Chicago Bears, he was my CO. And I tell you, I'd follow that guy anywhere. He walked like, as if he was as big as Suribachi. He'd just walk around there (under fire), .45 in the back pocket, captain bars on his head ... I wish I could see him today, I'd shake his hand."

Finally, it was all over. I took a sergeant, his heel got blown off; I gave him a tourniquet and took him back to the ship. From then on it was moving on up.
...
We had the Japs holed up, they was withering on the vine."

Thank you, Mr. Mayer.

When Bob Dole mentioned Medal of Honor winners, this gentleman stood up and saluted. Some highlights from the ceremony:

General PX Kelley, US Marine Corps (ret)
Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission

Quoting a chaplain at a foreign grave site:

Here lie officers and men, together. Blacks and white, together. Rich men and poor, together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith, and despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted, or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination, no prejudice, no hatred. Theirs is the highest democracy.

Tom Hanks

Had this memorial been erected at war's end, the surviving participants of the second world war would have long ago gathered here to remember those lost in the conflagration. Those that survived the battlefield ... and who sacrificed comforts would have already dedicated this memorial and then gone on to live in a new, yet still imperfect world. But as we now live in the third millenium, time demands that more than the fallen be remembered in this place of national honor. Let us remember not just those that lost their lives in the war, but all Americans who were alive, conscientious and who chose to serve as best they could in the years from 1941 to 1945. It is no embellishment to say that their lives were interrupted, their futures were forever altered, their dreams were held in scaffolds, while every minute of their youth was burdened with fear and loss and uncertainty.

George Bush:

On this Memorial Day weekend, the graves will be visited, and decorated with flowers and flags. Men whose step has slowed are thinking of boys they knew when they were boys together. And women who watched the train leave, and the years pass, can still see the handsome face of their young sweetheart. America will not forget them, either.

May God bless you.

A veteran and his wife continue extended applause for the President.

Besides one or two vaguely political points (Tom Brokaw, who else?), the speeches were mercifully devoid of divisive politics.

Larger image

Meet Harry G Adams, a sailor that served as the plane captain of a Corsair Squadron in the Pacific off of the USS Boxer, an Essex class carrier.

"A plane captain is responsible for maintaining the plane to make sure that the pilot was ready to fly. I was an Aviation Machinists Mate 2nd Class. That was my responsibility, to make sure that the plane was ready to go anytime general quarters were called. I served from 1942-46. Just working on the flight deck was dangerous; every landing was a potential casualty.

A Corsair prepares to take off from the deck of the USS Boxer.

"Not like the Forrestal, but we had bad fires. A plane would come in and had a belly-tank full of high-octane gas that he couldn't unload, and when he hit the arresting wires it hit the propeller and it burst into flame, and we burned for over a half-an-hour. We were concerned with fuel going down into the hangar deck. And you had to be very careful, this all happened when we were preparing to go out to the Pacific and the planes are always fully loaded with gas and ammunition and bombs.

I was at a Naval Air Station before going aboard the carrier. A lot of people didn't realize that there were a lot of German submarines operating off the East Coast. We even lost a couple planes that were shot down by German submarines ... here they were stationed in Brooklyn, NY, and lost their lives from combat. Because they caught a submarine on the surface, and they came in to drop depth charges on them and the gunners shot them down. These were huge planes that did not fly at high speeds but could be on patrol for hours, and they were easy targets for anti-aircraft fire."

When I asked him if he had any other stories of note, he became emotional.

"No, only that ... this memorial ... should have been done a long time ago ... to honor all the guys that can't be here. I was only 17 when I was in, and I'll be 80 ... and they shouldn't have missed this. I'm glad it's up now."

Me too. Thank you, Mr. Adams.

An old Marine salutes during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

A flight of F-16's helped conclude the ceremony with a demonstration of the "missing man formation."

This concludes Part One of INDC's coverage of the World War II Memorial Dedication weekend. Please check back tomorrow for Part Two, which will feature more interviews with veterans, some beautiful shots of the memorial at night and my family's own story of sacrifice.

Some day shots of the memorial can be found at this earlier INDC photo essay and the Washington Post's fantastic gallery.

UPDATE: Part Two of this series can be found here.