Nothing it does suprises me--from its attempt to invade Canada during the War of 1812, to its invasion of the Phillipines at the end of the 19th century, to its attack at My Lai, to the shooting down of an Iranian airplane, the US consistently demonstrates its arrogance and belligerence at every turn. It's as though the US military believes that it runs the world.... Hey, wait a minute--it DOES run the world. Well let us hope that the world will soon grow tired of the US and inflict a nice, deep bite on its ass.

And yet, despite the real danger as exemplified by the U.S.S. Cole, the naval commanders on the ground showed courage and character and refused to give to what we can assume to be rogue members of Iranian's Republican Guard the inflammatory incident they seemed to be after.

This, far more than the nuclear stockpile, is a praiseworthy example of "peace through strength". These commanders deserve our highest salutation for patriotic service.

Meanwhile, rogue members of the U.S.'s Republican old guard tried, according to Christopher Beam, to laugh Ron Paul off the stage of the South Carolina debate for tying in the Gulf of Tonkin just as historian Walter Russell Meade did. Let us hope we can all stand as fast between those from each side who would stir up a pointless war as these brave Navy officers and men did.