Operation Mirage

Bush is not the only leader emerging as damaged goods in regards to the Iraq crisis.

Chirac has shown himself to be as pig-headed and as implacably bigoted as Bush.  Sure, he’s been here and worked here in the States, but his attitude reveals him to be anti-American.  Not just against the invasion of American culture globally, but wholly against American business.

Certainly, one can’t fault him entirely; Chirac is charged with protecting his nation’s interests.  But is he doing so by damaging ties so badly, by not pushing to find a middle ground?

Frankly, Chirac dropped the ball by not promoting a win-win, multilateral acceptance of Operation Mirage.  Under this schema, the UN would have established a de facto occupation of Iraq ostensibly to protect the UN inspectors.  All interested parties would have retained their rights of interest in the spoils of war, particularly France.

Now France will be unwelcome at the table if and when the U.S-led “party of the willing” begins an invasion.  More lives will be threatened and lost than if Operation Mirage had succeeded.

How is it Chirac could not (or would not?) persuade Bush that it’s in the U.S. best interest not to be the front man on an invasion, that it would be better if the U.S. took a supporting role?  Or is it that Chirac is as lacking in skills of persuasion as Bush?

Was this entire concept aptly named, a mirage in truth after all?

4:19:46 PM    comment []

Trying not to think about it

Yeah, you know, about that 800-pound-gorilla-like thing breathing down the back of your neck.

Just act like it’s not there.  Try not to trip over it.

Even though it takes up every bit of floor space, sucks up all the oxygen in the room, ignore it.

Of course the problem is that it won’t go away; it’ll still be there, squeezing in on you.

There’s no getting away from it, no place to run.  It’ll follow you like a shadow, attached like the dry skin on the heels of your feet.

Try not to make it worse – don’t flinch when the phone rings unexpectedly.  Don’t make eye contact with the rest of the family when the doorbell rings.

Go on about your business, nothing to see here, move along.

There’s no war today, not yet.

And no reason at all to be concerned, just yet.

I’m sure your son will call any time now.

1:57:26 PM    comment []

Top o’ the morning to ya

Feeling a little green?  I can relate.  My daughter was in a bit of a twink trying to find the right thing to wear to school on St. Paddy’s Day.

She’s too young for this obsessive-compulsive behavior, worrying at the age of nine about the right clothing to wear.  At her age I just grabbed the next thing in the rotation in the closet.  Not my daughter.  We’ve had tears on too many occasions about her wardrobe – which sends me off in a rant.  If she can’t buck social pressure now on clothes, will she cave in on far more important issues when she’s older?  I’m pretty blunt about it with her, asking her that very question.  She gets a bit of spine, but it lasts for a week.  Then next week we’re at it again. (Thank goodness there's no holiday next week of any kind...)

The little guy could care less.  He’s just tickled it’s St. Patrick’s Day, as if anything more exciting than Corned Beef with Cabbage and Potatoes would come out of this pseudo-holiday.  Green-schmeen, just dress me – that’s his attitude.  Thank goodness.

The big surprise this morning?  Hubby decks out in a green sweater, asks, Is this okay with these slacks?  Sheesh.  I wondered where my daughter “got” her weirdness about clothes. 

Begorrah!

9:11:26 AM    comment []