On The Third Hand

Friday, 25 Jan 2002

Short Stuff

• Speaking of Australia (below)... I know we here in the Northern Hemisphere tend to ignore our mates 'Down Under', but I do think this would be just too drastic a solution to the problem. Though I'll admit it would be nice to be able to visit friends in Brissy and Sydney... by speedboat. [Link via Tim Blair]
• I've added Kesher Talk by Howard Fienberg to my blog list. This is another one I had forgotten to link earlier. Mea Culpa.
• After reading this article in NRO about the priest on trial for pedophilia, it occurs to me to ask why the Bishops involved in abetting his behavior are not also being charged. I know that priests and ministers have privileges under our laws for confession and suchlike, but this person's superiors were actively putting him into positions dealing with children after they knew he was a pedophile. Surely that is not covered. The only way we will stop religious institutions from abetting (and covering up) things of this nature is to punish those who actively help the abusers continue to abuse.

Australia Day

I'd like to wish any readers from Oz a good Australia Day. Yeah... I know it is the 25th by my dating, but at the time I'm posting this, it is the 26th over there!

Clarification on Mark Steyn

Regarding Mark Steyn's article that I referenced yesterday: I did agree with his take on the UK punditry and their cluelessness about Guantanamo Bay. I did manage to ignore something in the article which a reader (rightly) protested as follows :"While I agree with his opinions on anti American 'wine bar'journalists, he's got down to the same level in regards to the role of the RAF inAfghanistan. They did a lot and still do."

He is right, and that brings me to comment on various bloggers and American pundits who are continually attempting to negate the very real, and very much needed, support from our British allies. Without the support of the RAF -- especially their air tankers -- we would have found it impossible to mount the air strikes necessary. Yes, we probably could have done it without their help. Eventually...Maybe... It was our absolute superiority in the air and all those bombing strikes that demoralized the Taliban so totally. Without the support of the RAF, the Taliban might well have lasted months longer. In any war, logistics are one of the most important (and most underrated) reasons for winning or losing.

In addition to the RAF, the SAS people on the ground were, and still are, doing valuable (if necessarily underreported) work with our Special Forces and with the Afghans. Their military stands by ours, and I, for one, am damned grateful that they do.

Sure we could go it alone, if we absolutely had to, but we'd have a damned difficult time of it. And if we continue to ignore and marginalize those who stand by us (and not just the British), we richly deserve the title of "arrogant Americans".