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Coolness under fire I was just watching SkyNews and they showed a briefing for the Arab press by the Iraqi Defense Ministry: a rather humble low tech affair compared to the slick US Defense Department or UK MOD counterparts.
The spokesman in Iraqi military uniform was pointing at a large map of Iraq and giving the upbeat Iraqi version of the military situation when suddenly a bomb or cruise missile exploded very nearby, shaking the room and making the venetian blinds next to him jump about… several people in the room were clearly terrified and almost all flinched expect the spokesman, who continued his briefing without so much as batting an eyelid.
I cannot but admire his sang froid.
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He knew that his American made Depends(adult diapers) were up to the task.
Nick
While it would be impressive to continue the briefing, it might be more shrewd to cut it short and leave the building.
At least he’ll get plenty of practice giving briefings under fire before he is removed from power.
I’m not surprised.
Has anyone else noticed, that the US’s much praised precision seems to be allowing them to hit, with pinpoint accuracy, places the Iraqi government is no longer at?
If they have a mere smidgen of tactical sense, they are already operating out of mosques, schools, hospitals… and bombs nearby are something to snicker about, not run from.
It is indeed a useful insight: just because they are our enemies, and the enemies of the world (even if much of the world is too blind/naive/cynical to realize this), does not mean that they are stupid, or cowardly, or filled with other character flaws. Evil is bad, but not (necessarily) dumb.