BACK IN THE DAY                                                                                                                          (when a former movie star faced down a flaky barbarian)

Presidents have different styles of handling crisis situations. Some, like our President today, prefer to use fine sounding word pictures (these don’t do much, but politically they sound firmly impressive, and that makes all his advisors feel good about themselves). Others, prefer taking….calculated action….instead, even if folks on the sidelines are yapping all sorts of cautionary advice, or making negative comments about taking such actions.

These old cartoons of mine, drawn back in the day, tell the story of how a former movie star faced down a flaky barbarian. And while, at the time, they were somewhat derisive of his style of action, I have to admit the old boy knew what he was doing because….the flaky barbarian….backed off.

DAY ONE: News Item: “Libyan Air Force and US Navy jets engaged in close encounters over the Gulf of Sirte today. No shots were fired.”

HOT LEAD IS OKAY….BUT RHETORIC….IS MORE FUN!

DAY TWO: A naval exercise….is always….a good maneuver.

“NOW HEAR THIS, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING….COL.GADAFFI HAS KINDLY VOLUNTEERED SOME OF HIS NAVEL AND MISSLE RESOURCES AS - LIVE – TARGETS FOR THIS EXERCISE. LET’S SHOW HIM OUR APPRECIATION ….SHOOT THEM UP GOOD! THAT IS ALL”

THREE: Oscar nominee for….best production….1986

“MESSAGE FROM THE CINC, ADMIRAL…IT READS, QUOTE ….CUT….PRINT…. AND THAT’S A WRAP….UNQUOTE. OUR NAVY LEXIGRAPH DECODES IT AS MEANING….SECURE FROM BATTLE STATIONS….RETURN TO BASE….SIR”

DAY FOUR: When you’re hot….you’re hot!

“MR. PRESIDENT….WE HAVE SOME NUT JOB ON LINE THREE…CLAIMS HE WAS CO-PRODUCER ON THAT LIBYAN THING….WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU’D BE INTERESTED IN A SEQUEL….KEEPS BABBLING ABOUT CALLING IT….MARE NOSTRUM II….SHALL I PUT HIM ON HOLD….OR TRANSFER HIM TO CASPAR?”

Well, those were the good old days, when diplomacy wasn’t just about flapping one’s gums, but aimed to make its point with bared teeth and perfectly delivered growls. Unfortunately, the flaky barbarian involved was just too flaky to pay attention to that, so he went on to cause everyone, including us, a lot of trouble.

We should have put him down back then when we had the chance.

C’est la vie.

CENTURION .