America has held a dominant position in the world since World War II ended. We could do anything we wanted, and we often have. And that is not a good thing. Because bureaucrats and politicians who find themselves able to use ultimate power often do bad things with it. And that is why they should never be trusted with it.
The souk. Narrow alleys with their centuries of history pressing in on the marketplace shops. The scent of spice, of dust, and camel dung overwhelming your senses. Taste the sharp mint tea, the iced melon, the orange blossom water. Witness the dazzling, bewildering, astounding array of wares that confuse the eyes. The chant of the muezzin droning over the babble of many languages, rising and falling at all hours of the night and day in this sleepless, restless place.
In the Goblin Souk, you will find stories of genies, lamps, and wishes both granted and unfulfilled. Beware the Souk. You may leave with more than you are prepared for… or less…
Raconteur will be releasing Goblin Souk this weekend. While we are waiting for it to come out, you can always check out the anthology that started the whole affair. Goblin Market, sporting a cover so good it will never win a Dragon Award, it is full of amazing stories of spectacular creatures and interesting trades. Be careful what you bring to the goblin markets. You never what will come up for sale. Maybe even you. Included is my own story, Goblins in the Marketplace, in which the first trade between Captain William Carter of the Texas Rangers and the Faery Joanna is revealed. Check it out if you’ve never read it before. You may be surprised what you like. And maybe crack it open again if you already have it. Enjoy an old friend in preparation for the arrival of a new friend.
War! War! What is it good for? That was an old saying back in the 60s and 70s, aimed at the Vietnam War. Which everybody knows wasn’t a real war. Congress didn’t declare it, and we didn’t win it, so it couldn’t possibly be a war. Right?
Twenty years ago, when we went to war with Iraq, there was no real debate. Americans were 60% against going to war with Iraq, but the news coverage was at least two thirds in favor of it. And the one third against was carefully managed so it couldn’t win the argument. And it worked. A constant thrum of pro war propaganda on all news channels and the newspaper shifted public opinion enough that we supported war with Iraq.
I’ve seen the same thing in the news over the last week. Even the lefty mainstream news has been parroting many of the pro war points, even as they’ve been preaching their standard Trump Evil message to the believers. Fox News has been positively rabid in their support of bombing Iran. And honestly, who DOESN’T want to bomb Iran? Yes, yes, I know that bombing a country is an act of war. But Americans have been taught for literally generations in school and news that you can bomb someone without being at war with them. It’s crazy, but it’s a bloody matter of truth in our popular culture now.
But you know what? There’s been debate over that over the last week. Debate over war. Debate over bombing AS an act of war. Across the political divides, off the main news channels and newspapers, there’s been a HUGE and LOUD debate over this whole thing. And the people have been clear.
No forever wars.
And that is making a difference. It is being heard. It is changing the narrative. In a way it wasn’t allowed to make a difference twenty years ago, when the news could simply silence dissent by not airing it. Or five years ago, when the government “asked” social media to silence it. Today dissent is heard, it’s loud, and I find that to be amazing.
Healthy. Good.
Midnight Hammer is just an awesome name for an operation. Especially one that ends up punching holes deep into the mountain atop a nuclear research facility. It started with some B-2 stealth bombers flying over towards Guam in what turned out to be a very effective strategic feint. Things get interesting after that, because everybody lies in war, and one never knows exactly what is true and wasn’t it.
What we understand is that seven B-2s flew directly from America, pausing along the way to refuel at need, arrived in Iran where they linked up with probably between fifty and one hundred F-22s and F-35s. They said around 125 aircraft were involved. I’m assuming a certain number of them were tankers and communications or radar craft. But over 100 aircraft is an impressive number. Many major national air forces cannot fly that many at once. We did it on the other side of the world.
The fighters escorted the bombers in, watching for aerial or surface defenses, as at least one nearby sub fired over two dozen surface to surface missiles into the area. The fighters opened fire to suppress any defenses, then the bombers dropped their deep penetration bunker busting bombs, and everybody flew away without ever being detected or fired upon if our knowledge is accurate.
And the really impressive thing? No word about it got out. Nothing at all. Operational Security held throughout the entire operation. It was a complete surprise to all the enemies of America. And it was a message I think, to all enemies of America. Much as Israel’s campaign against Iran has been a message to them. Don’t make us do this to you. We can. We just don’t want to. Don’t make us drop the Midnight Hammer on you.
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