The sandstorm. Everybody in the news is bitching about the sandstorm. Unprecedented sandstorm. Never seen its like. Grounding choppers. Making air support difficult. Just as we're headed toward Baghdad, too. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Complain, complain, complain.
Charles thinks the Arab world will spin it as the wrath of Allah. So does an embedded 7th Cav reporter with Pat Robertson's CBN (Hat Tip: blogmate Trent Telenko):
"ROBERTSON: The Iraqis are saying it's the judgment of Allah upon the attackers. Are we finding any bright spots in it for the American troops?I dunno, the answer that occured to me was:STRAND: We are. The soldiers have so much gear that can operate in this kind of thing that they say actually some obscuring factors like this can help them. Now the thing is, the battle has been raging in Karbala, back and forth, so both sides seem to be still operating in this environment. But I understand if it does go away here in the next day or two, that we will just really smash ahead as hard as we can. You know, I must admit, the first thing I said when the sandstorm came in, a lieutenant and I were sitting in the Humvee with it roaring all around us, and I said, "It's at a moment like this that a theologian asks, 'What is God trying to tell us?' "
"I'VE GOT YOUR BACK WITH A SANDSTORM, SO THEY CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GASSING YOU. YOU'VE GOT THERMAL SIGHTS, MLRS, AND JDAMS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. GO SMITE THEM ALREADY!"Along the way, the sandstorm also extinguished several oil well fires to the south. Gee, guys, how about a little gratitude? Embrace the suck!
P.S. Bonus points for getting the significance of the title. Use the Comments section...
Wasn't that the first intercity telegraph message (Baltimore to Washington)?
Riyadh delenda est!
Maybe the title should have been "For I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds."
I think Joe had Numbers 23 in mind, not Samuel F. B. Morse. Now what is going on in that area is beyond me. Maybe it was the fererence back to Jacob, but all my commentaries are packed and he hit a soft spot.
I'm wondering to which of the Trinity does "G-d" refer? God 1 of the Jews; God 2 of the Christians; God 3 of the Moslems? [listed purely in chronological -- as opposed to merit -- order]
All three seem to have quite distinctive (though not inflexible?) rules of conversational engagement, so we need to clarify this first.
G-d is how pious Jews write the name of the deity. I presume that the author is slyly implying that the Lord is taking sides.
What hath God wrought is also, of course, the first words ever telegraphed.
When I heard about the storms, I thought two things : Merde on the French for delaying the war. Then I thought: But nerve gas and biological agents are wind blown, and won't work in a sandstorm. (they need a certain concentration to work). And I praised the Lord.
DCE: No, if I have to use that quote it will be for a very different event. Better hope I don't.
Richard: Ah, but there is Google. Looked it up, and actually you could make a good case - esp. Numbers 23:22-25.
Cassandra: We've placed an inquiry with the deity hoping for clarification.
Cato, Nancy... good call. The media have made much of this, so it only seemed fitting that the father of long distance news be memorialized.
Nancy is the one who takes the prize, however, for being right on 3 counts and leaving me nothing to wait for in terms of an answer. And yes, isn't it fortunate that things got really bad just as we hit the "red line" around Baghdad and also needed a break. Coincidence says my rationalist mind, but if the Islamozealots want to play Allah's will they may find it a 2-edged sword.
ASIDE: "G-d" conveys both respect at not writing the name, and also the sense of the ineffeable and unknowable at the center of a deity without form and beyind human comprehension.
Hmmmm. Good point. I read an interesting article about the weather (den Beste linked it). It points out that we have a weather unit dedicated pretty much solely to weather in Iraq. And their reports are classified as military secrets.
We've taken huge leaps ahead in meteorology in the last decade or so to the point that we're pretty accurate out to four or five days.
Hmmm.
War starts Friday, storm starts what, Monday? Well within predictable range. You know, I wonder if a sandstorm isn't better than, say, a new moon for our side?
Jacob
I am not politically correct. God himself is not politically correct either -- That is man's invention.
If God were dead, he would roll over in his grave to have his children put a dash inbetween the letters of his name. God is alive and he is the God of the whole Earth, and of all his children here on the Earth -- no matter what religion they have chosen to join.
What is God trying to tell us ?
He is trying to tell our troops that he is mindful of them and of the circumstances they are in. The sands of the Earth are obedient to him.
If the troops stay prayerful (a prayer in your heart when you don't have a private place to go to) and humble, he will help them to do those things that are required of them. If the troops do what is right, the Lord will watch over them. He is now. I believe it.
There are so many good sons (okay, daughters too) that are serving our country and showing the good people of Iraq and the world that they have a love for humanity. We are proud of all of you !
As a mother I told my children each day when they left home, "BE CAREFUL." Please troops, be careful. Your wives (husbands), parents, children, relatives and friends - we're all hoping you'll return home safely.
We pray for the safety of our troops (and the other coalition troops), and that righteousness may prevail in this war, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Aww, crap, the weather is impartial, the sand is blowing on both sides. There are ways for both sides to take advantage of some aspects, it will degrade capabilities of both sides in other aspects. They won't neccessarily be the same aspects. As weather changes different weapons systems will come to the fore.
I would submit that Allied forces have the advantage simply because we have a more versitile force structure. Our Apaches and A10s can't fly in a heavy sandstorm, big deal. Pull 'em into the hangers and perform maintanance. Time for a little crew rest while some of the other birds in the inventory drop from above the blowing sand.
Meanwhile the grunts, track toads and cannon cockers in the words of my war 'just say F**k it and drive on' or in the words of this generation 'embrace the suck'.
As for God? I dunno what He is doing, I merely hope He knows what I'm doing.