“Did you see what bush did today”?

“Ya, I read the text of his speech.”

“Well, he’s doing it without the support of anyone. Congress doesn’t support him and the rest of the world doesn’t support him. What’s he up to? He’s gonna screw things up, I just know It.”

I walk out and start the barbeque, being careful not to singe the hair off my hand this time. Burgers for me and a piece of salmon for her.

“I’ll tell you what he’s up to, he’s trying to prevent the death of a few million people and possibly our way of life. And as far a congress goes, I’m sure there is information that Bush knows and congress doesn’t because they can’t keep their mouth shut.”

“Oh sure that’s what they say, but you know there’s something going on here. The rest of the world can’t be that stupid. I just find it funny he can’t get any support. How can you believe what they say? It just doesn’t feel right. What do you feel?”

“The rest of the world is not a target.”

The burgers are about ready to flip, just before the oozing blood stage. Red meat should be rare. Ecoli has been around a lot longer than the ecoli scare. I’ve probably built up a tolerance anyway. I pace back and forth in front the Grill Master.
I think about Bowser harping on the wedding party tragedy and get annoyed once again. He seems to want to blame someone but I feel he may be failing to realize that we as a country share in the responsibility. That was an American flight crew, an American plane and American ordinance. We all feel like crap when we kill innocent people by accident. We shouldn’t hide behind the convenient fact that we have no direct control over the situation. If you want to blame someone blame me because I sure as hell feel guilty.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about how I feel about it all day. I don’t like it. Logically it seems like the right thing to do. I having a big problem with the fact that as far as I know, this will be the first time we will be attacking another country. Before, we fought to defend ourselves against an attacker or to defend the freedoms of others. Now were defending against a possible attack.”

As I pace back and forth on my deck past the smoking barbecue, eating my burger, scenarios play out before me. The thought of going to war with Iraq is about as pleasant as thinking about putting my dog down.

We bomb the hell out of all military targets until there are no more. Iraqi soldiers lay down their weapons and beg for mercy. We roll in to Baghdad amongst the cheering throngs of happy Iraqis eagerly awaiting their new democratic government.

Or

They don’t lay down their weapons. We are greeted not by cheers, but by bullets. House to house fighting ensues. Enemy soldiers fire from occupied homes. Do you use tear gas or a grenade?

I’m praying for the first scenario.

“Honey? You wanted blackened fish. Right?!"

As I watch my flag furrowing slowly in the evening breeze, bathed in sweet golden light that kisses the tops of evergreens and alder, I wonder.

What is my country about to do…