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New section focusing on the first Gulf War...

The Turkey Shoot

“Gulf War (1): Send Dan Quayle”

The essay title (1) refers to the fact that this is the first essay on this topic, not that this is about the first Gulf War since when Leonard wrote this, the first war was just starting and no one could have conceived of a second…think how they spoke about WW I before they new there would be a WW II. Leonard actually wrote this the week before August 2d, 1990 – the “D-Day” of Operation Desert Storm. The essay is purely about the ridiculousness of the war (and that war was a lot less ridiculous the then current one!). About the “ultimatum” and the countdown to the war, Leonard writes, “In my opinion, Losing Face is preferable to losing and arm, a leg, an eye, or your life, but I’m a retro peacenik.” Ultimately, of course, George the First did indeed lose face – the main reason George the Second lied his way into a second war post 9/11.

Another great quote given the current situation in Syria, “Aren’t you glad to be in bed with Hafez-al Assad, who brought us Pan Am 103?”

New word: Wild Weasels = jet aircraft equipped with radar guided missiles, usually for the destruction of enemy anti-aircraft batteries.

What ever you think about the Gulf Wars, this is a cool picture of F-4Gs with "Wild Weasel" packages:

New learning: Dan Quayle was VP of the US during the first Gulf War…Dan Quayle was VP?