Sir, I believe you will remember me as the bald man in black who addressed you this evening in front of a couple of hundred people. You had been bestriding the panel like a Colossus, throwing out statistics in areas they didn’t even know were subjects. It’s so easy to bullshit civilians, wouldn’t you agree?
Do you know, Colonel, I’m glad I sat there for half an hour before I asked a question – you had just smiled as you dispatched another dozen feeble peace freaks without breaking a sweat when you turned an bring-it-on smile my way. I’ve got to give you credit, you were as glorious as Goliath, and I know everyone was scared. Well, almost everyone. When you finally just threw the gauntlet down, proclaimed yourself embedded media (impressive) and right hand man of God the Father in matters military, I though it was time to get my sling and five stones.
I stood up to talk to you, because I think that makes for a better showdown, don’t you? I told you my name, rank and background, making sure to contrast that I had gone from Intelligence to Public Affairs, while you had gone from Intelligence to Psychological Operations. I explained for the civilians what the two of us already knew, that public affairs is for informing our citizens, while PsyOps is for misinforming our enemies. You nodded confidently in agreement, because you thought me to be a brother hawk by this point…
“Sir,” I asked, “on the basis of what you are seeing from the war in Iraq, would you say that the Department of Defense is currently conducting public affairs for or psychological operations against the American People?”
You smiled at the easy question. “Public affairs, of course!”
“Sir, I answered, I believe that the public affairs
campaign became a psychological operation the night the 3/7 Cavalry got blown
off the
You were struck stone silent for a while and you blanched, colonel. It speaks well for you that you didn’t lie, even though no one there but you and I had sense enough to understand your answer. “You’ll understand after it’s all over” was all you said.
I already understand, colonel. The president has instructed the military to call this an operation security issue until he feels that he can let the public know. I believe, sir, that we must call that treason. I have self-activated my commission, and I remind you of your oath to the constitution. We must get to the bottom of this.
I left after asking my question. No hard feelings, sir. I left a copy of my essay “3/7 Cavalry,
tragedy and travesty” with a note and my phone number. Please call at your earliest convenience, or
come by and see me. I sit out in front
of the
Captain May
Ghost Troop Home Page April
Fools Part 1