Greetings Nephew,

Eben stopped by my porch on his way back from school today. He’s got a lot of AP History tests to grade this weekend as school’s about over.

We got to talking about the twists and turns of war in Iraq because his oldest son, Bill, is in the military over there.

“Here’s a case in point.” Eben said “In April Bush  gave up trying to calm down Falluja and told our General Kermit to put an Iraqi General, Latif, in charge. Even issued Latif’s Iraqi militia some of our US clothing and military boots.”

“Then,” Eben said, “the administration  bragged Falluja was pacified.”

“Using Iraqis to fight their own!” I spouted, “Thought we didn't want civil war there! Appears to me Bush & Co.  meant to save face with this poppy cot scheme and shafted Gen. Kermit in the process by making him do it.”

“Well,” Eben went on, “Things calmed down all right, at least on the surface. Instead of fighting Americans, the rebels now had fellow Iraqis who’d assist or at least look the other way. Naturally, Falluja was soon a safe haven for anyone anti-American. And as a bonus, some of the militia made extra cash selling their US  boots to the highest bidder.”

“So now,” says Eben, “Our tanks are back around the city and General Kermit says he may have to send in our troops again and quick.”

“Big surprise,” I snapped. “But surely not to the General. Even Kermit the frog could figure a photo op for Bush & Co.  showing wolves in sheep’s clothing wouldn’t mean the pack’s really pacified.”

For Eben and I, Nephew, and probably for Gen. Kermit, the upshot of this face-saving debacle will be more American lives when our troops move back into Falluja. We just hope one of them's not his son's.

In closing, Nephew, this callous scheme gives me a clue why Bush & Company’s called a bunch of Mayberry Machiavellis.

 Yours truly,
Great Aunt Maggie Pye