Everything’s going to be all right in Iraq after all

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — (Nov. 1, 2006) — Multi-National Forces – West received an exponential boost in power when action films stars Chuck Norris and Marshall Teague visited Camp Fallujah Nov. 1.
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The service members who attended the assembly at the chapel looked ecstatic when Norris and Teague arrived there, chanting “Chuck, Chuck, Chuck …” and the troops broke into an uproar when the living-legends entered the building.
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Norris and Teague will see more than 10,000 troops in their four-day volunteer tour of Al Anbar Province and Kuwait, said Rachel M. Tischler, USO director of entertainment.

Norris also spoke about how he already had ties with troops deployed to Iraq.

“We communicate to a lot of troops out here through our Web site,” the Walker Texas Ranger star said. “I’m a spiritual leader to 10 platoons here in Iraq.”

The master of the roundhouse kick also mentioned what will stick out to him the most about his visit.

“I’ll remember the smiles on the faces of the troops. They’re great kids out here,” he said. “These troops are motivated to win this war.”

Nothing can stop us now. But seriously, Chuck Norris is all that and a roundhouse kick.

Pretty funny video from Japan

Beats Entropy has a funny video from Japan, in which aerobic cheerleader types teach key English phrases to use when being mugged. Sound incomprehensible? The video itself becomes more clear as you watch it, but the cultural implications lie forever beyond our feeble ken.

UPDATE: Tom Maguire has a link to a genuinely cool (though long) Japanese video.

UPDATE II: …and DaveinTexas ponies up an outstanding example of the extremely abusive Japanese game show.

WaPo swings and misses

The Washington Post had an article today entitled, “Losses Color a Patriotic Town’s View of the Iraq War.” The article is intended to take fairly benign statements from the populace of Prattville, AL and create a scenario of falling support and discouraged patriots. Of course recruiting hasn’t dropped off, and nobody in Prattville was really anti-war, so the WaPo had to struggle mightily to create their sad little diorama. All in all it’s just another election hit piece, but I particularly like this little exchange:

Petulant Voters vs. Republican Zombies

Over at AoSHQ the war has been raging for a month. Dissatisfied conservatives are threatening to punish the Republican Party by withholding or throwing away their votes. Their point is well taken – there are many issues and scandals where Republicans have performed poorly and in contradiction to fundamental conservative principles. Surely the vote is the only means of conveying our unhappiness and motivating the Party to correct its course.

On the other hand, the more steadfast Republican commenters note that allowing Democrats to take control of the House and/or Senate is not likely to improve the government’s performance on conservatives’ favorite issues. With Reid and Pelosi poised to assume leadership of their respective organizations, this threat cannot be taken lightly. While conservatives may feel that their representatives haven’t pushed hard enough to promote their causes, they are unlikely to enjoy the legislation promoted by a party that is moving in the opposite direction.

Both sides offer excellent arguments in what has often been a very vigorous exchange of views. But for me there is one issue that has decided my position, one perspective that means that I’ll be voting and voting Republican tomorrow.