The geniuses at Powerline

If you don't visit Powerline regularly, you are depriving yourself. Today, John Hinderaker posts something about the beauty of UN relief efforts. I'm kind of funny about what constitutes a relief effort. So I use this test: did some person in need directly benefit from whatever is being called a relief effort? If they received shelter, food, water, or medical care, I'd consider it and everything in the chain that got it there "relief". I'd have trouble considering diplo-meetings "relief". But, of course, these are the same folks who were unhappy when Bush didn't talk to the press about the disaster until umpteen days later. Because suffering Indonesians, Thais, Sri Lankans, and Indians are concerned with what the President has to say about a tragedy, as opposed to the physical relief he ordered before he even approached a microphone. Parenthetically, I'd note that Kofi Annan took one day longer than Bush. Nobody said boo. These people will never get over themselves.

Then check this from Powerline. If Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was indeed captured, or is on the verge of it, it would indeed be a splendid moment for the people of Iraq and the cause of peace.

Anyone who watched The Two Towers will remember the scene where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli approached the pile of burning Uruk-Hai and Orc carcasses. There was an Uruk-Hai head on a pike, with several others off in the distance...it's a little sick, but it might be funny to see the beheader of Iraq's own head on a pike in the same square where Saddam's statue was ripped down. Take a picture and make posters of it, as it would be nice for free Iraqis to see such a thing as they enter polling stations.

And note to any interrogators of Al Zarqawi--gentleness is not required, spare the details, but just assure us when the time is right that you got the goods from him, and that it hurt. You can't kill Americans for free.