Here we go again. U.S. military forces are put on the defensive because of what might be an unfortunate mistake in prosecuting the war against the Taliban.
When are we going to learn that fighting wars under unrealistic rules of engagement is a waste of time and precious resources?
A reasonable case can be made that the U.S. should not be conducting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Similarly, a reasonable case can be made that such operations are necessary for the defense of the U.S.
But once the decision is made to commit military forces, no reasonable case can be made — particularly given the enormous difficulties faced— that U.S. Armed Forces should be constrained from winning the war by unrealistic rules of engagement.
If we are unwilling to stomach to do the dirty business that is necessary to win such wars, then we have no business getting involved in them in the first place. The defense summation in Breaker Morant brilliantly frames the issue in the context of Britain’s involvement in the Boer War:
After all the mediocre bowl games over the past several days, it’s time to turn to the basketball season. A good way to start is with one of the best hoops scenes in the history of cinema, Jimmy’s winning shot from Hoosiers. Enjoy.
Somehow, it’s comforting to know as we move into 2010 that analysis of The Big Lebowski has moved into academic circles.
Of course, these emerging academic treatments have a ways to go before they can rival Rob Ager’s work on the film, the first installment of which can be viewed here.
Meanwhile, if you don’t mind some pretty salty language, enjoy the clip below of the Dude and his friends discussing what to do about his rug.
Happy New Year!
Below is the latest In the continuing series of excellent scenes (previous here and here) from the outstanding television mini-series of Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Lonesome Dove.
In this one, Tommy Lee Jones as Capt. Woodrow F. Call delivers one of the most frightening beatings in the history of cinema to a scout for a U.S. Army troop who attempts to take by force a horse from one of Call’s men. That’s Houston’s Danny Kamin playing the part of the U.S. Army Captain who directs his men to gather up what’s left of the scout after Call is done with him.
The title to this post — which is Call’s brief post-beating explanation to the dumbfounded townsfolk of the reason for his rather drastic action — is my wife’s and my favorite line from the movie.
Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove is one of the best Texas novels of our time. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was later made into a wonderful television mini-series, which starred Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones as the iconic former Texas Rangers, Gus McRae and Woodrow Call.
One of the best scenes from the mini-series — and arguably one of the best scenes ever produced for television — is the scene in which Gus dies after being badly injured in an Indian ambush. After searching for his missing friend, Call finds Gus in a doctor’s office after Gus has had one of his gangrene-infected legs amputated. Rather than have his other infected leg amputated, Gus elects to die.
Two old friends — played by brilliant actors at the top of their game — have a final conversation. Television has never been better. Enjoy.
Robert Duvall — in his classic role of former Texas Ranger Gus McCrae in Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove — reminds a bartender the importance of good customer service.
Still one of the finest endings in the history of cinema. Charles Dutton as Rudy’s mentor Fortune, Jon Favreau as D-Bob and Ned Beatty as Rudy’s father steal the scene.
As our own country confronts the difficult issues involved in conducting war, it seems appropriate to recall the closing defense argument in one of the all-time great lawyer movies, Breaker Morant.
