Actually mine is bigger. That's why I have to use chafing gear. The cynic
in me arises once again. A small tribute to someone like Thom devolves ad
nauseum into sandbox rhetoric. Now boys and boys...the ladies being to
intelligent to take part in this . . . .a small lesson in real politik.

Carlos Marighella, a Brazilian, writes a small tome entitled "Mini Manual
For The Urban Guerrilla". In the 60's a group of would be revolutionaries,
Tupamaros, put it's precepts to use in Uruguay. Uruguay, up til then known
as the 'Switzerland of the Americas" went from one of the four most
democratic countries of the Americas (the others being, at the time US,
Canada, and Costa Rica) on a down hill slide and almost but not quite into a
permanent military dictatorship.

The Tupamaros were small, under equipped and underfunded. They had almost
zero support. The strategy was to turn the freedoms of a democratic (Small
"D") nation against itself in a judo like manner. The tactic was
irrational acts of violence, no two alike. The victims were . . .anyone
and no one of any great importance.

All this was lumped under the term "Cycle of Repression". Here's how it
worked. An act of senseless violence was carried out. Say a bomb on a bus.
Lots of bodies. Some propaganda then released claiming the police were
impotent to stop further acts. Next maybe poison in a town's water supply.
More propaganda. More acts followed each unrelated as to place, time,
victims, or methodology. The population demands the police and other
authorities protect them. Police say 'fine but we're going to have to
suspend a few civil liberties.' Maybe roadside searches of vehicles, maybe
curfews. A few more acts of violence occur. Population gets very vocal and
demanding. Police say 'fine but we're going to have to temporarily suspend
a few more civil liberties. And so on . .. after a while along with some
other deeds designed to show the Tupamaros supported the population, the
police and the military drifted into the role of 'oppressors'. People would
forget who was the real enemy. The democratic government was now seen as
totalitarian. Cycle after cycle of violence bred more 'repression' until
the population supported the revolutionaries. Least ways this was the plan
according to Senor Marighella.

. . . . it almost worked in Uruguay.

Now 9/11 and the Department of Homeland Security . . . . . . ..

Not necessarily a bad thing . . . .as long as the cycles don't re-occur. As
for me . .. . I'd stay away from Friday night High School basketball games
in Kansas.

"The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize."

It's a new world out there folks, there are no front lines. And you wonder
why I don't care about eight or ten nukes? Welcome to my style of military
service.

Cheers . . .and don't sweat it . . .just go sailing!

MST