(Brosz is gone. Please forgive my intrusion, I'm just getting lonely here.)

Then he lost it.

"Why aren't the middle aged guys strapping on bombs? They are very cynically ... identifying the most troubled young people, those who can be molded, and cynically turning them into rebels," Peters said."

This sort of thing comes up regularly. "Why doesn't Arafat, or OBL, or whoever, come out fighting instead of hiding behind whatever he hides behind??!"

If you notice, the leadership of any movement ain't on the front line. It's not their job. The President of Ford Motor Company isn't bolting on bumpers, Dick Cheney didn't muck mud, GWB ain't on the front line (never was). On 9-11, as a matter of fact, GWB was hiding in Wichita, or some damned place.

And every kid on every side gets pumped up. Remember Basic? There was no one tougher, stronger, smarter. Advanced. There were no better teams, just don't let the war be over before we can finish it.

American kids were saying that. (Americans who went on to get their butts kicked. And to kick a few, probably harder.) Every kid on every side says that.

Why someone thinks they make a point about the cowardly leadership on the other side not being in the trenches is beyond me. It's ridiculous on the face of it, identifies the author as a biased maroon, and insults the reader.

I don't know what else he wrote. If it's in the same vein, no sense. I read the comics already, and they had pictures.

A wise man once said, "Anyone with teenaged boys knows why old men start wars for young men to fight!"

Except for that it's probably a thoughtful, insightful article, as splendid addition to mans body of knowledge and opinion.

Arf