Getting Tough With Iran

Mexico 3 Iran 1:

NUREMBERG, Germany, June 11--Symbolism rarely trumps soccer at the World Cup, but it came close today, as Iran played its first game of the tournament in this northern Bavarian city--a politically isolated country playing in a place that echoes darkly with history.

The score, a 3-1 defeat by a masterly Mexico, did little to relieve Iran's fraught role at this World Cup.

After a scrappy first half, the Iranians seemed to lose their composure, allowing Mexico to score back-to-back goals late in the second half. For the tens of thousands of sombrero-waving Mexico fans who outnumbered Iran's cheering section, it was an afternoon to yell Bravo--as in Omar Bravo, the forward who scored two of Mexico's three goals.

I have to admit that I took no small pleasure in watching the Red, White, and Green clean up on Iran today. Viva Mexico!

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports on the struggles of a group on the fringes of American society:

Adam Chilenski has endured the put-downs for more than a decade. The 26-year-old health-care attendant in Columbus, Ohio, says friends still chide him about his favorite pastime. His dad thinks it's "a little peculiar." This week, Mr. Chilenski even made up a fake doctor's appointment so he could leave work early and join others who share his passion. "I told my boss I had to get my foot checked for an ingrown toenail," he says.

Mr. Chilenski is not a Trekkie, or a comic-book geek. He's an American soccer fan.

And he probably gets less respect than either of the aforementioned bizarre subcultures.

What A Country!

As I type this, I'm sitting in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport listening, via the 'net, to my compadres interview Michael Yon on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. Somewhere Yakov Smirnoff is smiling.

Lots of colorfully attired World Cup fans (especially the Brazilians) and lots of soldiers passing through DFW today.

Today on the Northern Alliance Radio Network

Join us today on the NARN, starting at 11 AM with me from this fine Internet site and John Hinderaker from Power Line discussing all the news that's fit to rehash. But with the fresh perspective of hindsight and relentless second guessing. Ah yes, the advantages of end of the week broadcasting.

The war in Iraq will no doubt be prominently featured with the recent elimination of murdering thug Zarqawi and recent allegations of Marine misconduct in Hadditha. Lending his highly qualified perspective to this will be Michael Yon, who's joining us at 11:30. He's a former Green Beret and occasional blogger imbed with the United States Army. Perhaps most famous for Gates of Fire, his account of a firefight in Mosul, and this photograph capturing the spirit of US military service and sacrifice on the battlefields of Iraq, Michael continues his journalistic work at his web site.

At noon we'll turn to the world of cinema and be joined by Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter. He'll give his erudite thoughts on all the summer blockblusters and busts and tell us what we have to look forward to in the months to come.

Following that Mitch Berg, King Banaian, Captain Ed Morrisey from 1 - 3 PM.

It all starts at 11 AM central on AM1280 the Patriot, streaming on the web here. And this is a listener friendly format, anyone wanting to sound off can call 651-289-4488. Don't you dare miss it!

Grim Satisfaction

Steven, a man who knows of what he speaks, e-mails to share his feelings on the news of Zarqawi's demise.

Here's an excerpt from my book that explains exactly how I feel about our killing of Zarqawi:

Death from Above

We're at work. We're standing, eyes glued to one of the screens on the wall above us. Different images flicker elsewhere on the wall, but the one we're interested is grainy black and white video, transmitted live. We're watching because an indicator on the screen says the operator has designated a target. A moment later we get the word - a weapon has been released. Someone is about to die.

This scene has repeated itself many times over the last few days. It's one of few experiences that I've found is not diminished by repetition.

Am I remorseful? Do I feel for the men who, in a matter of seconds, will cease to exist? The place in my heart that would be occupied by remorse is scarred by images of a hostage slaughter house. The part of my mind that might harbor compassion is imagining a makeshift video studio, where Al Jazeera cameramen drank tea to the sounds of innocents' life blood gurgling in their windpipes.

The people we watch die are blissfully unaware. What are they discussing on that street corner? What is he thinking as he drives that car? Do they, for the split second before impact, wonder at the sound of wind, rushing over the stubby wings of the warhead? Even if they do - even if they hear the missile, homing inexorably from a vehicle so far away they never saw it, their brief shock is nothing to me. The searing flash, the concussion that separates their body from their soul bothers me not a bit. It is merciful.

It is not the weeks or months-long separation from friends and family, being held like livestock for a bargain that will never be struck. It is not the desperate sickness that invades the heart, knowing you will never see your family again. It is not the terror of knowing your captors consider you most valuable when your head is severed, dangling from their bloody fist in a television commercial for evil. It is not the grinding by of countless hours of loneliness and fear.

It is quick. It is better than they deserve. Far from regret, I am grimly satisfied at my role in this process.

Maybe it shocks you that I can appreciate beauty, love my family, and calmly contemplate killing men. It shouldn't. The understanding of good and evil and the willingness to act in the differentiation between them is fundamental to those more appealing characteristics.

I'm still me.

For Today, No "Ifs," "Ands," Or "Buts"

I've been watching CNN this morning do everything they can to throw a big soggy blanket over the news that Zarqawi has been dispatched with. Most of it involves some version of "Yes, Zarqawi is dead, but..."

Will this end the insurgency and the violence? Of course not. Is it a key turning point in the war? Possibly, but at this point I don't think anyone knows for sure.

What do know is that this guy was a sworn enemy of the United States and an evil SOB. Taking him out is good news and at least for one day, we should celebrate it thusly.

UPDATE: Video of the strike now available from CentCom.

Daddy/Boy Night Live Blogging

My baby mama is going out tonight for a movie so JB is taking care of the boy for the first time solo.

Btw, just for yuks sometime at work in mixed company, mention that you are going to babysit your kid at some point. Make sure you use the word babysit. Then wait for the responses from your gal co-workers. As far as I'm concerned, when his primary caregiver is not around, it's babysitting. Take it up with God if that sounds old fashioned to you or something.

6:37 Mommy has been gone for 3 minutes and he's already crying. I need a cocktail.



6:42 Ahhh...that's better. Perfect time for a G&T. Is there a bad time?

6:51 I changed him and gave him the nook. That oughta work...for about five minutes. What channel is the Cup on?



6:55 The nook is out. Now he's chomping on his hand. Whatever. Damn this is a good cocktail.



6:58 What else is on tonight? I've been watching the second season of Entourage on Charter In Demand and all the old Band of Brothers...but what else? Emeril? Look Who's Talking? Little House? What about the damn Military Channel? "Secrets of Archeaology"? I don't think so. And of the History Channel (come on something war related) Modern fuggin' Marvels?

7:03 Thank God for that ceiling fan. It keeps him entertained while I freshen up this cocktail.

7:09 The nook is going back in (is it possible for you to keep the thing in your mouth for more than 2 minutes a time boy?) These two month olds are fussy beasts!
Time to dial up an episode of Band of Brothers. What an amazing series of shows. Wow. This is the Bastogne episode. Compared to the men of the 506th, even a guy like me would be considered a wuss.

7:18 He's crying again. Damn. Might be time for the first bottle.

7:35 Yup, he needed the bottle. About ½. Couple good burps too. Mommy will be so proud. Blogger's down. POS.

7:37 Easy Company is taking it's first casualties of Bastogne. What a hell.



7:38 He's crying. Let's get the other half of that bottle in him and see what happens. Diaper time. He just loves getting' that diaper changed.













7:50 Maybe a little time under the mobile. Yes! He's diggin' it.



7:54 What's going on with the game? SOMEONE TELL ME A SCORE! Jeez, Mark Messier is STIFF on camera. Not his element.

8:06 I need food. And a beer. Do I have any of that sweet, sweet Hamms left in the beer fridge? Lord I hope I do.

8:08 Another bean burrito is necessary. I hope he holds out under the mobile while I choke this down.

8:10 You know, I like them fancy boo-teak beers as much as the next Elder (Anchor Steam Liberty Ale anyone?) but this Hamm's is just delicious.



8:11 "Not a lot of great opportunities this period". No crap. This game is pretty boring. I'm going back to the BOB. He's starting to fuss. Blogger is down again.

8:15 I'll tell you a little secret about the Elder. He's Jewish. No kidding. He converted a couple of years ago after a long heart-to-heart with Medved at Jasperwood but hasn't told our family. I promised to never tell, but I lie sometimes. He's not ashamed or anything, he just worries how the family will take it.

9:11 Lordy. Carolina is up by 5 goals. I just spent the better part of an hour putting the little crapper down. He took ANOTHER bottle and while I administered it, I sneezed. This sent him into a fit of howling that seemed to never end. What? What do you want? I chucked him over my shoulder for a little walk and that seemed to do the trick. He's snoozing away now and with any luck will continue to do so until Mommy returns.

There Is Unrest In The Forest

Paul e-mails from Colorado:

I was scrolling down the page and saw a entry that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It was a tale of a young lad who was boarding a poor scared little baby raccoon and nursed it back to health and then return the little creature to Mother Nature. I have to say it would have made somebody from PETA feel tingly in their no-no spot. As I scrolled to the end of the entry I was shocked that it was by J.B. I thought you hooked up with your old lawn jockey buddy and hit the chronic while listening to "The Trees" by Rush in the old lawn truck. I should have known if you had done it you would have been like Mr. Burns when he became green and used all of nature's creatures for industrial fuel and byproducts. Shine on you crazy diamond!

Ain't That A Kick In The Head?

In these times of division and strife, if there's one thing that can bring red-blooded Americans of all persuasions together, it's a little good ol' fashioned soccer bashing. Appropriately enough, Foot got the ball rolling this morning:

There exists a most virulent strain of pathogen that has victimized most of the world. Happily, our fair nation has yet to contract this vile disease in any major way. Yet there are those who, every four years or so, come out of the woodwork to loudly decry our immunity and wish that we Americans would join the rest of the world by succumbing to this insidious ague.

I am, of course, talking about soccer.

Tim Parks detailed aspects of the "sport" that I find particularly disgusting in an article on the World Cup in today's Wall Street Journal:

The competition was born out of cheating. Soccer had been officially included in the Olympic Games in 1908. Players were supposed to be amateurs. England withdrew from the sport in 1920 when this was clearly not the case. In 1924 and 1928 Uruguay won the tournament with professionals masquerading as amateurs, at which point the only possible response for the offended pride of the other competitors was to acknowledge a fait accompli and get FIFA to set up a competition for professionals.

This did not end the cheating. I know of no other sport where bad faith is so endemic, condoned and ritualized as in soccer, where lies and deception are ordinarily the rule. Every refereeing decision is contested, even when what has happened is clear as day. A player protests that the ball has gone over the line when everybody has seen that it hasn't. Passed by an attacker in full flight, a defender grabs his shirt, stops him, then immediately denies that he has done so. Unable to pass a defender, the striker runs into him and promptly falls over, claiming he has been pushed.

Nor are refereeing decisions always convincing. To help Korea, co-host of the last World Cup, see off Italy and Spain, referees had to bend rules to the limit and some distance beyond. During the Turkey-Brazil game in the same competition, an angry Turkish player kicked the ball at the Brazilian Rivaldo, who had recently been voted best player in the world. Hit on the knee (by the ball!), Rivaldo collapsed, pretending he had been violently struck in the face. The referee sent off the Turk, eliminating him from the game. Afterward, Rivaldo claimed his deception was a normal part of football. The organizers, who had said they would be tough on dishonesty, fined him $7,000 -- a day's pay at his level -- but wouldn't suspend him for even one match.

If you're not cheating in soccer, you're not trying.

But in fairness to those American soccer fans out there (all six of you), I will take a moment and offer my predictions for this Friday's opening day of World Cup "action."

June 9, 12PM ET Germany v Costa Rica at Allianz Arena

Germany will dominate the game from the start to the final, seemingly arbitrary whistle from the referee. The Deutschland strikers will keep the ball on the Costa Rican side of the pitch for most of the contest and scoring opportunities for the Costa Ricans will be few and far between. A complete blitzkrieg blowout for the host squad.

Final: Germany 1 Costa Rica 0

June 9, 3PM ET Poland v Ecuador at Veltins-Arena

This will be a hard-fought, back and forth battle, which could go either way. The teams are so evenly matched that it likely will come down to the play of the goalkeepers. The Poles have an ever so slight advantage in this area and it should be just enough for them to emerge with a victory.

Final: Poland 1 Ecuador 0

Caught World Cup fever yet?

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

The site looks like it was designed in 1999. Some of the sections haven't been updated in years. And their politics appear a little questionable. But it's hard to go too terribly wrong when the name of your web page is Beer And Hockey.

Kids Say The Darndest Philosophical Things

Last night, after pizza and ice cream, as we walked outside into a warm sprinkling of rain, my niece pondered:

"What if the world were a chicken tender and the rain was like salt?"

Not bad for a four-year old. Not bad at all.

Three Blind Mice

Steven e-mails to report on a brush with fame (or more like infamy?):

Today I went to a discussion at the [name removed to protect the innocent] School hosted by the Panetta Institute. The Institute is named for Leon Panetta, who used to be Clinton's Chief of Staff. He started the show off by explaining that the Institute existed to interest young people in public service. He said polls showed that disturbingly few youths wanted to go into public service. (He didn't hazard any guesses as to why that might be.)

The other members of the panel were the crook Tom Daschle and the "why can't we all get along, middle of the road, Republican in name only" Jack Danforth. From that group was supposed to issue a balanced discussion on whether we could enjoy both liberty and national security.

At one point Daschle said that he was shocked lately to see how many Americans were willing to trade their liberty for security. He was referring to the Patriot Act, but it struck me that he'd built an entire senate career on those people, ones who were happy to pay higher taxes in exchange for government programs. He even mentioned the need for government health insurance, without showing any sign that he was aware of the contradiction.

Danforth mumbled platitudes about how shocking it was that public discourse had become so unfriendly, and that partisanship had become so fierce. He indicated that it was worse now than it's ever been. It's not that I expect him to remember the Civil War, or the Lincoln Douglas debates, but something ought to have led him to qualify his statement.

Leon and Daschle griped about the "insane" tax cuts and the national deficit.

At the end, Panetta asked us - military officers all, except for a couple [name removed] School faculty members - what we thought we should do in Iraq - stay the course, while people are being blown up and violence is raging and everybody hates us - or withdraw to Kuwait, where we would be safe, and could be handy if needed, as recommended by Rep Murtha.

I was the first to raise my hand to answer. I said that, first of all, I objected to the way he stacked the deck with his question. Then I said that if the Panetta Institute was looking for kids who were interested in public service, they ought to go to Iraq. There are thousands of them there, and I saw them serving the public every day and doing a fine job of it.

Then I told him that there were places in Washington DC where he'd be in greater danger than are 90% of the people in Iraq. I reminded him that the terrorists are in Iraq as opposed to being scattered across half a dozen different nations, and that we are killing them there, which is a far better thing than having to hunt them down in other nations or deal with them here. Applause was building as I said these things, so I figured that meant I must be done talking, but right before I sat down, I told him, "And if you see Mr. Murtha, you can tell him I said not to do me any favors."

In his closing, Panetta said that he wanted to talk to people who've been to Iraq. He said he really wanted to get their perspective. I stood about 10 feet from him, talking to people who were thanking me for what I said, but he didn't take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about my perspective.

It sounds like Panetta really wanted to get the perspective of people who already shared his perspective about Iraq.

UPDATE-- Steve e-mails again to add:

By the way, Daschle said he was also concerned by how Americans no longer rely on newspapers for their news. Bloggers, he said, don't have editors to check and double-check their facts like reputable newspapers do.

I wonder, was he talking about the New York Times?

He doesn't seem aware that newspapers are in decline precisely because they are no longer reputable, and that if anything will force them to clean up their act, it'll be bloggers, with whom they'll have to compete.

A Helping Hand To A 'Coon

Last night as I left for my nightly walk, I saw a small bundle of fur on our driveway. Inspecting a little closer, I realized it was a baby racoon.



He had been sleeping in the driveway. He was pretty scared but I needed to find out if he was injured. As I approached him he backed up into the trees.



I went to my car and grabbed a hooded sweatshirt to carry him in, knowing that these little critters have some serious claws. I carried him into the house to a very suprised wife, who sadly would not let me take a picture with the 'coon and our 2 month old (they have shots for rabies, right?)



For a minute I thought he might make a good pet. I grabbed our picnic basket and put him inside so he wouldn't be so scared. He responded by piddling.



After a cursory inspection of his limbs (and after he turned down a saucer of milk) I determined he was fit for a return to the wild. I hauled him back outside.
(My wife's flat refusal to raise baby raccoon in addition to our human baby had a little something to do with it too.)



He scampered up into the woods and hopefully found his mama. I had to shoo away a feline that was eyeing the little guy for dinner, so I hope he made it.

Good luck baby 'coon!