Like I said above, it’s always amusing to visit the alternate universe y’all have going here.

I make a serious of factual comments, am replied to with nothing but unsupported, sneering assertions and insults … and the denizens promptly engage in an orgy of self-congratulation.

It’s hard to pick my favorite bit of windbaggery. Perhaps Rick Ballard (with no apologies or shame over being caught in the blatant distortions of his previous comment — classy, Rick!) showing his ignorance of how Iraq’s clerics and political parties interact? (Hint: No party claims Ayatollah Sistani as its head either, but he’s the most powerful political figure in the country.)

Or perhaps Buddy Larsen’s bloviating about “a determined, united front” being what wins wars? (Hmm, was it being more united than Japan that got them to surrender to us in World War II, or was it the A-bomb? A poser, to be sure!)

I think what I’d have to go with, though, is Buddy’s heartfelt cry that if I’d just pretend like the rest of you that the emperor is wearing clothes, we’d all get through this just fine.

Funny, I remember back when seeing our enemies accurately for what they are was something you guys praised yourselves for. Now, though, it appears the ability to stick your heads in the sand and pretend everything is hunky-dory is even more deeply prized.

Incidentally, I’d still like to know why just about everything Roger said about the “Neurotic Iraqi Wife” blog was wrong besides the URL. Did you really read the blog before recommending it, Roger?