Ghost Troop Home Page April Fools Part 3

September 4, 0700, email to Clarence Page

I enjoyed your column in this morning's Chronicle, where I publish most of my signed op-eds (otherwise I am a ghost writer). I am a former Army intelligence officer and public affairs officer, and on April 3, the Chronicle ran my op-ed, "Visions of Stalingrad: Claim Victory in Iraq Now." Not to brag, but I pretty much called the whole thing correct then. You were absolutely correct in saying that when you have to keep your prophetic rep going you're sure to blow the gig at some point.

I only write prophetic pieces (I call them intelligence analyses) on military topics that I understand. In 1992, after Desert Storm, I published an op-ed for the Chronicle "Success of Desert Storm being judged unfairly " in which I predicted that, had we pushed forward in 1991, we would have landed in Vietnam. Later that year I wrote "Somalia intervention not as simple as it seems," which predicted that broadcast atrocities and guerilla attacks would make that mission a loser. I didn't publish another prediction until this year. With war looming I always do my duty and give the public my best analysis. It's not hard: I don't work for money, and I don't give a damn if it takes me a decade to feel confident enough of my arguments to risk the embarrassment of calling it wrong in print. It's not a successful strategy for a career as a columnist, I know, but it's the only way to go as an analyst. Please take a look at my piece, and tell me if you think the Bush folks should have listened to the Cassandras like me.

I'm no military genius, but I know what the hell I'm talking about (I was a general staff officer and Desert Storm Volunteer), and I know a hell of a lot more than President Bush, who chose the wrong fight in the wrong place. Believe me, we do have a major intelligence crisis in the military – and it’s between the commander in chief's ears.

Regards, Captain Eric May, MI

PS: Again, a very good piece, Mr. Page. I hope you like mine.

September 4, 0730, email to Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

I thought your editorial today standing up for women was courageous. Bravo. I recall two op-eds you ran in recent years by a similarly brave writer who defended women while the government was targeting them. I really appreciate the intellectual integrity of the Chronicle for publishing such opinions as your editorial today or the op-ed in the 90’s. Y’all are my heroes, and I shall see that you get your just deserts for your intellectual courage anon.

Captain May

PS: Say hello to Sheila Jackson Lee for me.

Ghost Troop Home Page April Fools Part 3