The Difference Between a Q and an N

As most astute reporters, academics, policy wonks, and other experts have been saying all along, the press is reporting that IraN was the one helping al Qaeda, not IraQ!  Geesh!  Had we known that, then we coulda taken care of this long ago!  Now, if you ever looked at a map of the Middle East BEFORE September 11, 2001 (as Ambrose Bierce said, "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography" - too much truth in that!) you'll see that it can be confusing.  Most of my D and F students in world history struggled to figure out if Iraq was the one on the left or the right.  I can see how George got them mixed up.  Since they're both spelled the same and are so close together, it doesn't matter anyway, right?  Also, it's hard to tell the two Middle East members of the Axis of Evil apart for several reasons.  One, the U.S. supplied weapons to both nations in the 1980s while they were at war with one another.  Two, the U.S. has historical connections in supporting oppressive regimes in both countries.  Three, Haliburton and its subsidiaries were &*(^%!# doing business with both countries when legally they weren't supposed to in the 1980s and 1990s!

On a much happier note, I would like to wish my friend Chris "Lefty" Brown a very happy, healthy, and celebratory 33rd birthday!!!  Check out his blog, folks, you won't be disappointed.