On hope and idiocy

Two articles for those who are interested. This one, in my mind, provides a very real glimpse on why the U.S. is failing in their current foreign policy. It's about how sky marshals are under threat of being suspended if they don't heed the sky marshal dress code.

No, I'm not making this up. A dress code for undercover agents.

This is the kind of intractable mindset that, in a real war, can get you or those around you killed. Yes, our people are our most important resource. Yes, these are front-line soldiers on the war of terror. But God help them if they don't wear a sport coat while on duty.

It seems like each day there is more from the current U.S. administration on how the war on terror is being won. Or how progress is being made. As a contrast, this article provides a snapshot of how life on the international stage was back in the early 1990s, immediately after the Cold War. It describes KGB-guarded borders turning into round-the-clock block parties, and American soldiers being hugged by complete strangers, just because they were American soldiers.

Now I know why the term "progress" is so vague.

It will be our generation at the plate the next time a chance like that comes around. Let's hope we don't blow it.