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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Sunday, March 6, 2005
I was attempting to sleep the other night, despite my Sainted Wife Barb watching the news on our bedroom TV. In that semi-lucid state, listening to a story on the latest insurgent attack in Iraq, I heard a woman's shrill and arrogant voice proclaim this assault showed how desperate the insurgents had become. Annoyed, angered even, I uttered a derogatory epithet and the heartfelt suggestion that said speaker get herself to an even warmer clime post haste. Not having lifted my head from my pillow. I thought my rudeness was being directed towards this person:
Barb laughed at me.
The speaker was actually this person:
Call me bipartisan if you must, but I'm past tired of hearing politicians and other lower life forms - White House prevaricators, public relations flacks, media pundits - spin the insurgent attacks into acts of desperation as if this would somehow be more positive. Of course, they're desperate, you bleating sacks of gas. They are, after all, fighting the most powerful military force in the world. I'd be desperate. You'd be desperate. Anyone with even the most basic brain function would be desperate.
What alarms me - even more than this inane spinning - is that these desperate insurgents are actually pretty good at killing our soldiers, Iraqi policemen and soldiers, Iraqi officials, and Iraqi civilians. Over 1500 of our American soldiers have died in Iraq since the invasion was launched. Since last June, and *just* since last June, as many - probably more - members of the Iraqi security forces have died. Of course, neither our leaders nor that darned liberal media dwell overmuch on Iraqi deaths; they simply aren't as relevant as American fatalities.
Another alarming bit of information is that these insurgents are killing our American troops faster. According to the LUNAVILLE blog [www.lunaville.com/blogging], it took 295 days (1-9-2004) for US military deaths in Iraq to reach the 500 mark. It then took 242 days (9-7-2004) to reach the 1000 mark. My math might be off by a day or two, but it seems to have taken only 177 days for American military deaths to reach and pass the 1500 mark (3-3-05). These disturbing figures become no less disturbing if we characterize our foes as "desperate."
I am not a member of the "Get out of Iraq now" crowd, as much as I wish that were possible. Yes, we were misled into this war by a commander-in-chief and his associates who were either - take your choice - lying or incompetent or fanatic. Yes, we broke Iraq more than it was already broken by invading. Yes, we did damage to our country and the world by our actions. None of that changes the sad truth that we are in Iraq and that our leaving Iraq too soon could not possibly have a good result.
Personally, I think Bush and his gang should spend their lives in prison for their actions, but, as a nation, we're stuck with the consequences of the actions and, as such, have an obligation to see this thing through. It would be swell if we got more help from the rest of the global community - and I think we might have had we not reelected Bush - but, unfortunately, that's another situation with which we're stuck for the time being.
Are there some good things happening in Iraq? I'd be remiss to deny that I was moved by the images of Iraqi voters going to the polls and, in many cases, risking their lives to do so. I would be thrilled if the winning parties live up to their statements about creating an inclusive government in which even the minority parties have a voice. We barely have that in our own country.
However, sugar-coating the continuing warfare in Iraq, putting spin on other dangerous situations in the region, attributing real problems to mythical liberal bias, these things do not address the troubles in a meaningful manner or contribute to the vital task of resolving them in an ultimately peaceful way. So enough with the generals and the politicians and the pundits throwing around that word "desperate" like it was the political equivalent of "delicious ice cream sundae."
I'll elevate "desperate" to a good thing when the insurgents are out of bullets and bombs and reduced to attacking the U.S. and Iraqi forces with rude gestures and maybe derogatory comments about how fat our mothers are. Now that's desperate!
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back soon with more stuff and it'll probably even have something to do with comic books. Will wonders never cease?
Tony Isabella
<< 03/05/2005 | 03/06/2005 | 03/07/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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