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At the Chow. It is a nice one here. Occasionally referred to as the 'Golden Corral.'
On the TV two human talking-points-generators are debating about a war they know nothing about in a country they have only seen on a map or on TV.
I don't know why they are called 'strategists'--neither one of them could design a decent ambush.
As the politicians make logic defying statements. (See Senatorial Logic) and toss out focus group tested talking points the work in Iraq goes on.
It is this morning and I'm sure there are a couple thousand wet Soldiers and Marines still out on patrol. They will spend the next two or three days tromping through mud and puddles. Their feet will welt up with blisters and rot.
The strategists get their make up spray painted on--the big networks do that.
The mechanics who keep the machine going will be on their backs in mud under Humvees.
The strategists put on lavalier microphones and sit on a lighted set.
Tonight, a Corporal of Marines, probably 22-years-old will call over a radio for illumination rounds to light up an area of suspicious activity.
The strategists perform their role as talking points generators--but neither of them know what they are talking about.
The mechanic can fix 15 humvees in a week, the grunts know every person, car, kid and dog in the AO of their outpost, the Corporal knows how to do the job of his Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander.
If you asked the strategists how to secure an AO, they couldn't give you an answer without saying, "The polls show..." as if a random sample of people who own telephones know how to secure an AO, let alone an entire country.
The anchor wraps it up. The human-talking-points-generators say "thanks."
I step out into the rain. My next stop in my journeys will be muddy. I will be surrounded by real strategists, but we will not be debating on Fox News. They will be fighting a war. I will be doing the best I can to capture them on video tape and praying they live to see themselves on TV--where the real strategists will be seen and heard.
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