Thursday, August 12, 2004
‘Major operations to destroy the militia have begun’: The offensive has begun in Najaf. Sadr’s ‘win-win’ shrine tactics are worrisome. So is the morale of Marine grunts. But Armchair Gen. Savin Hill weighs in on the big picture of Marine tactics and strategy:
“For those not familiar with maneuver warfare -- don't be deceived by the simple name. The Marines have fully embraced this philosophy body and soul. The result? Bet nobody noticed last week that more than 2,000 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit took over from the Army's 1st Infantry Div and 2nd Armored. The Marines are taking over no less than three Army bases -- including outside of Najaf. The Marines know how to fight fluid, dynamic warfare -- and that' s why they are relieving the Army in the hot zones. Telling anecdote: a TV news report yesterday had a Marine lieutenant talking about the attitude of locals in Najaf (waving and pointing out Sadr ambushes to Marines). What's the Army doing? Getting news reports published about their new high-tech rifles and ‘smart bullets’ ... The Army still thinks firepower is the game while the Marines know the battle is won in the heads of your friends -- and by out-thinking your enemies.”
‘Sports and sex has always sold’: The Herald runs, oh, photos of red-hot sexy athletes and it’s ‘tarty.’ The New York Times tackles the issue and it’s ‘intellectual.’ ... By the way, the Times has an ‘Interactive Feature: Olympic pinups’ accompanying the article. It’s pretty boring, but how much do you want to bet it will be one of the most popular features on its web site today? And how much you want to bet the Times knows it? ... The article is kind of funny. It’s as if it’s gingerly taking steps beyond political correctness to find the nudey ‘trend’ is actually popular among young female athletes -- and so it has to find a politically correct/feminist rationale for why it’s happening and OK. Nothing to do with PEOPLE LIKING SEX AND MONEY. Oh no. Can’t be that. Must have Big Intellectual Thoughts underlying the Big Trend. ...
Update -- Northeastern’s Center for the Study of Sports in Society is getting into the act. The Women’s Sports Foundation intones:
“The Foundation believes that there is nothing wrong with portraying female athletes as feminine, physically attractive, or in ways that seek to represent an artistic study of their bodies. One might simply ask the question, is the photograph displaying the female athlete's muscles or her breasts? The answer, with regard to a photo of a naked athlete, is one that requires an examination of context.”
Ah, thank goodness. The old ‘artistic study’ and ‘context’ argument to the rescue. Now we can leer at the photos without intellectual guilt!
‘Portrait of Dubya as sucker puncher’: I thought George was a cheerleader. Turns out he was a rugby player. My opinion of him just shot up. ... Can’t believe they’re trying to make an issue out of this thin gruel. ... ‘The rest of the country should see it.’ ... Hell, they should see the biting that goes on in scrums. ... I also stole packs of gum when I was young. Yes, I admit it!!!
“For those not familiar with maneuver warfare -- don't be deceived by the simple name. The Marines have fully embraced this philosophy body and soul. The result? Bet nobody noticed last week that more than 2,000 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit took over from the Army's 1st Infantry Div and 2nd Armored. The Marines are taking over no less than three Army bases -- including outside of Najaf. The Marines know how to fight fluid, dynamic warfare -- and that' s why they are relieving the Army in the hot zones. Telling anecdote: a TV news report yesterday had a Marine lieutenant talking about the attitude of locals in Najaf (waving and pointing out Sadr ambushes to Marines). What's the Army doing? Getting news reports published about their new high-tech rifles and ‘smart bullets’ ... The Army still thinks firepower is the game while the Marines know the battle is won in the heads of your friends -- and by out-thinking your enemies.”
‘Sports and sex has always sold’: The Herald runs, oh, photos of red-hot sexy athletes and it’s ‘tarty.’ The New York Times tackles the issue and it’s ‘intellectual.’ ... By the way, the Times has an ‘Interactive Feature: Olympic pinups’ accompanying the article. It’s pretty boring, but how much do you want to bet it will be one of the most popular features on its web site today? And how much you want to bet the Times knows it? ... The article is kind of funny. It’s as if it’s gingerly taking steps beyond political correctness to find the nudey ‘trend’ is actually popular among young female athletes -- and so it has to find a politically correct/feminist rationale for why it’s happening and OK. Nothing to do with PEOPLE LIKING SEX AND MONEY. Oh no. Can’t be that. Must have Big Intellectual Thoughts underlying the Big Trend. ...
Update -- Northeastern’s Center for the Study of Sports in Society is getting into the act. The Women’s Sports Foundation intones:
“The Foundation believes that there is nothing wrong with portraying female athletes as feminine, physically attractive, or in ways that seek to represent an artistic study of their bodies. One might simply ask the question, is the photograph displaying the female athlete's muscles or her breasts? The answer, with regard to a photo of a naked athlete, is one that requires an examination of context.”
Ah, thank goodness. The old ‘artistic study’ and ‘context’ argument to the rescue. Now we can leer at the photos without intellectual guilt!
‘Portrait of Dubya as sucker puncher’: I thought George was a cheerleader. Turns out he was a rugby player. My opinion of him just shot up. ... Can’t believe they’re trying to make an issue out of this thin gruel. ... ‘The rest of the country should see it.’ ... Hell, they should see the biting that goes on in scrums. ... I also stole packs of gum when I was young. Yes, I admit it!!!
