quarterly-report.com Political Commentary by James R. Audet

The 21st Day
April 13, 1999  (President Thomas Jefferson's Birthday)

The McGuffin of the second Star Trek movie, "The Wrath of Kahn," is something called the Kobayashi Maru test.  This was a tactical simulation given to Star Fleet cadets during the course of their training.  The crew of the Enterprise called it the "no-win" scenario.

Cadets were presented with a dilemma.  An unarmed merchant vessel had strayed across the boundary between the Federation and its enemy, the Romulan Empire.  The vessel was stranded because of mechanical failure.

A humanitarian rescue would require the cadet ship to cross the boundary.  Such a violation would be an act of war.  The cadets were instructed that the Romulans would react to the incursion with same dispatch as the North Koreans did when they seized the U.S.S. Pueblo in 1968.

In an about twist, reality imitates art.  Kosovo has become the no-win scenario.  In the 21st day of the War with Yugoslavia, NATO has escalated the bombings to include the civilian infrastructure of Yugoslavia such as electric power stations, oil refineries and bridges.

In much the same way, the Administration launches its spin masters day after day to defend the absurdity that ground troops are not necessary.  The NATO allies are the angels of death: bombing is the sole option they have to enforce their will on Milosevic.  Their aim is to make the entire citizenry of Yugoslavia refugees.  Meanwhile, the red, blood and blue men of the United States Congress dutifully stand behind the Instant Liar.  They accept Clinton's recklessness and blind themselves to the imminent humanitarian crisis - larger than they can imagine - as easily as they have ignored the present one that pleads with them to respond.

Kirk was allegedly successful after his third try at the no-win scenario.  He called it a test of character.  Indeed.  The way he found to win was to cheat.

This is the soldier's code of the Commander in Chief.  Lie and cheat to get your way.  It is the code of a coward.

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