I alternate daily between believing the conspiracy theory explaining the War on Iraq (that it is motivated by a mixture of War for Oil and a wish to finish what GW’s daddy started) and believing the no less unattractive theory that it really is an ass-backwards extension of the War on Terror.

The latter theory holds that while hiding out in Air Force One and their various bunkers, GW and company woke up to the reality of what WMDs could do to Washington, New York and the power they hold dear (it would be awfully hard on the billionaires if Wall Street were buried in radioactive rubble, after all). So they’re attempting to achieve non-proliferation of WMD’s in the only way they know how, by mounting a posse and shooting at things. This regardless of the fact that their notion of who the “good” and “bad” guys are seems to have been formulated while on a bad drug trip (we pick on self-interested and therefore relatively predictable Saddam first while ignoring the fanatics in charge of Pakistan and India, not to mention loony North Korea?).

Somehow neither of these theories rings true, but the alternatives seem even more unlikely. I’m not looking forward to events of the next few years, but I *am* looking forward to reading what the historians have to say about them afterward. (May we all live to read those books!)

No candidates for Gollem? Insofar as a conflicted conscience goes, how about the American public? Polls swing up and down wildly, we have the largest pre-war anti-war movement, yet strong pro-war sentiments despite universal certainty the war will provoke terrorist reprisals and regional instability. I think the country is practically schizo.

Elliptical trainers are eerie. I wish they’d at least design them in a nice pastel shade or with art-deco daisy decals or something.

As Boromir–very compelling, considering the blatant power grabbing, transparent tactics and single-minded patriotism. Then there’s the fact that Boromir got taken out of the picture early on.

So if we can hold off Paul Wolfowitz — my candidate for Wormtongue — for another month, we may get the whole summer to solve the problem peacefully. Will that happen? The military will go when he says go, even if it’s 120 degrees with moonlit shining through the gas clouds (it’s worth remembering that the Germans relaxed because the Allies nearly “missed” a critical tide & weather window for the D-Day invasion.) And then there’s the question … after ten years of stupid embargo games, what are the odds that six months will find common let’s-at-least-agree-to-live-together space for all the factions involved? Always, hope.

JRR commented once that LOTR was not a depiction of the Second World War, or anything else but an extension of his scholarly efforts. Some archetypes do seem to rise out of our literature into reality, though … it’s not really a good fit, but Boromir might be closer for our current leader … the father/son issue, the fixation on protecting Gondor at any cost.

Can’t see the man as a warrior, though (:{/})

But otherwise, I think Kip nails it on the head.

(I’m not referencing a particular one, I just imagine there is)