Posted on 08/29/2002 1:18:55 PM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
It was way back in 1971 that American International Pictures released what was possibly the worst movie of all time. "The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant," which starred Bruce Dern and ultra-liberal radio DJ Casey Kasem (who's real-life skull is bigger than a pregnant weather balloon) possessed a plot line that was less than subtle. Mad scientist Bruce grafts a second head — of course obtained from a psycho-killer — onto the body of an idiot. The blood-thirsty, double-noggined moron then runs rampant over the countryside, whacking and slicing and presumably having arguments over whether to have chicken or fish for dinner.
That's all you need to know about this flick, with one exception. "The Incredible Two Headed Transplant" is most noted for the trailer that promoted the movie, the infamous maxim, "kill the head and the body will die!" As an aside, some will claim that this line was coined by Hunter S. Thompson. I stand by my assertion that Thompson got it from the film.
No matter. The point is that this slogan applies very well to our current situation in regard to Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Wars are generally won or lost in one of three ways. First, you can vaporize the place and all it's inhabitants. This is probably a bad idea, mostly because every time I endorse it I get fired by editors.
The second method involves the use of overwhelming conventional force. Blow an enemy to smithereens, and you win. Of course, such a strategy also involves a lengthy occupation, the deaths of your own men and the loss of valuable infrastructure. Such is to be avoided.
The third, most effective tactic, comes straight from..."The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant." The best way to leave an enemy babbling and confused is to take out the guys at the top. Eliminate their best minds and the authoritarian figurehead and you are well on your way to victory. Those who reside under a totalitarian regime are usually prohibited — under penalty of death — from engaging in original thought. Whack the folks who give them their marching orders and the mop-up is relatively simple.
So yes...the applicable doctrine as applied to Saddam and friends should be "kill the head and the body will die." This seems to be the operational plan contemplated — and rightly so — by the George W administration.
I am impressed that W is largely ignoring the whining of the media and Congress in regard to the Iraq threat. Congress wants to be in charge of when and where an attack takes place, but Bush is having little truck with that nonsense. There's a reason that a President — the Commander and Chief of the Military — has the legal authority to bust-up an enemy without the approval of Congress. Congress would never make a decision, instead wondering how such a move would play in their home districts and whether or not they could snag defense contracts that would increase jobs and buy themselves votes.
There's also a reason that a President doesn't listen to the press. Most media conglomerates are far to the left, and care only about putting a Democrat in office. We recently saw just how unbiased the national media can be when they "reported" that Attorney General John Ashcroft had been "rebuffed" (that's what the Washington Post said) in his attempt to gain greater leeway in terms of issuing wire-taps and surveillance on suspected terrorists. The judge who denied the request cited 75 cases in which the Justice Department had submitted fraudulent and erroneous claims in order to spy on innocent citizens.
What the Post didn't mention once — and most other media outlets largely ignored as well — is that 74 of the 75 doctored requests occurred during the Clinton years, and were submitted by Janet Reno and friends. The one remaining case began in the Reno years and was in process when Ashcroft was appointed. The media further failed to report that the judge publicly praised Ashcroft for his attention to legitimate motive and for cleaning up the mess he'd been left.
Why doesn't the President doesn't pay heed to the press? Easy. They would suggest we send a formal request to both the UN and Saddam and maybe Barbra Streisand, asking if it would be ok if we shot the Baghdad Butcher in the head, and if so, what might be a convenient time?
You'll note that neither George W nor Dick Cheney has come right out and used the words "war" or "invasion." The phrase they have used is "regime change." Wisely, they know that Iraq is loaded with opposition to Saddam, opposition that currently does not have the power to overthrow a man who rules with an iron fist and murders any who are suspected of dissent. But, send that man to a better life and the house of cards will collapse.
Wait and see. I suspect our present lack of definitive action is simply a bid for time, a period when our side is gathering human intelligence information, attempting to pinpoint Saddam's patterns and deciding when the moment for the hit will be clean, quick and final.
"Kill the head and the body will die." Sometimes even liberal Hollywood gets it right.
Can't remember the title, but the "other head" was Ray Milland, wasn't it? Was it "The Thing with Two Heads"?
Why, oh why did I click on this thread...now I can't get the image of the cheesy monster with the Captain Video helmet combined with a gorilla-suit body out of my head.
Ray Milland's a bigot that's dying and he transplants his head to death row inmate Rosie Greer.
Man they don't make'em like that anymore!
No, they make them with 150 million dollar budgets, and they stink every bit as much. I'm willing to bet good money that Eddie Murphy is walking around H'wood right now pushing a remake of that turkey. With his usual $20 million price tag, naturally.
At least the old 50's movie people knew they were making cheap turkeys in the first place.
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