Ave Dubya!

Jerry Pournelle on the President's visit to Baghdad

And indeed I believe it all. Power is a heady thing. Having the mightiest army in the history of the world not only under your command, but cheering you as worthy to lead them -- lead them ANYWHERE YOU CHOOSE -- is no small thing.

Nor do I mean this to demean the President, or his action in visiting the troops in the field in a place that might not be the front line, but was not far from it. That took both courage and a sense of style, and a sense of what is appropriate. Aurelius did that kind of thing. Commodus did not.

But note that those troops will follow him anywhere. And pray that Bush will "be led to wise decisions and right actions," or in the older prayer, "to truly and impartially administer justice." Because they will follow him. Anywhere. He has been proclaimed as worthy to lead them.

There are days that I wish that I made a career of the Army.