Our black cat died at sunset on Friday the thirteenth. Just then it started to rain. My real life often lends itself to overused literary metaphors. It was an assisted departure, as the nearly 23 year old cat was so clearly on her uncomfortable and imminent way out. The vet…
For a long time now, I've been deeply frustrated and annoyed by the ongoing use of the term "war" to describe the situation in Iraq. Pardon me, but the "war" in Iraq ended several years ago, when all of their troops surrendered. What we have there now is a military…
Paul Rieckhoff, who has already served in Iraq, describes the crushing burden of the newly instituted 15-month tours of U.S. soldiers of Iraq: The current force level in Iraq is unsustainable, and is breaking the back of our armed forces. Like so many other choices made by the Bush Administration during…
There I was, minding my own business, when WHAM! I was damned to hell. Thankfully, my salvation is being actively prayed for, so maybe, just maybe, I still have a chance. OK, well, perhaps "minding my own business" is a bit of truth-stretch. I was actually stirring a pot, just…
Some people just don't get it -- that invading Iraq was a bad idea. John McCain is one. Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton is another one, though she does at least have a plan to end the occupation. It really amazes me that such otherwise smart people still declare that invading Iraq was a…