Iraq -- A Compound Phrase for Irony and Agony.

As you are all probably aware, Newsweek Magazine recently published a story alleging an incident of Koran desecration at Guantanamo which turned out to be suspect.

White House spokesman Scott McLellan was appalled that a large organization dedicated to Constitutional principles like the First Amendment could act on inaccurate information and proceed to put lives at risk. "The report has had serious consequences," he said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

I would say that indignation works better when you have not committed the same offense, to a magnitude of power unfathomable. It seems that one of the great MIA's in the War on Terror has been irony, because Scott McLellan clearly has lost all sense of it. Acting on inaccurate information?? Putting lives at risk??? Damaging the image of the US abroad???? Indeed, perhaps Mr. McLellan knows something we don’t. Perhaps he knows that irony is confined to a secret detention center and is right now standing on a box in a corner, hooked up to the power supply with a garbage bag over its head. Or that irony is being smothered in a naked pyramid pile right along with paradox, satire, sardonicism, and, oh yeah, honesty.

But of course, bullshit still stands around, taking souvenir pictures, smiling, and giving us all a hearty thumbs up.

Meanwhile, my good friend and colleague Chris Bray, an amazing grad student, Teaching Assistant and all-around great intellect, has been recalled to active duty and will probably be going to Iraq in a few weeks.

Ironically, his dissertation work focuses on, among other things, some confluences between imperialism and racism.

Good luck, Chris, and in all earnestness, God Bless.