Thought about the argument of a couple days ago when I heard the report of the suicide bomber with the pregnant woman in the car this morning on NPR. Disgusting.

On the one hand, I'm outraged that Iraqis use tactics of such -- mark this post, I can't find a string of words bad enough. Not surprised, though. (I was more angry than surprised the first time.) The loss of soldiers' lives is a tragic waste. The blatant manipulation of the rules of warfare and the psychology of combat to produce an American slaughter of civilians is as base, maggoty and wretched an abomination as any gang of common criminals has committed.

I have no doubt that the object is to create panic among coalition troops that will result in wholesale shootings of hapless refugees. The war cannot be won, so, looking ahead, the object is to win the peace by making sure of Iraqi resentment and mistrust. Killing American soldiers was just an additional "treat".

Nevertheless -- though I know you may disagree -- it does my heart good to know that Americans erred heroically on the side of humanity, even though it cost them their lives. That will be of precious little comfort to their parents and children, but it's all the comfort there is.

Now -- how to fix the checkpoint problem...? There has to be a way. Get people out of the car at a designated spot far enough away?

Incidentally, it would be a mistake to think that the woman must have been there either in ignorance or against her will. Either could be true, and likely it's one of those, but remember Medea.

Regards--
Mary Anne