The 101st Airborne Division has named one outpost in Iraq "Forward Operating Base Shell" and then another, "Forward Operating Base Exxon." These military refueling outposts are basically desert gas stations.
The New York Times does not approve of these names, my friends. A bitter reporter whines that the Pentagon shrugged off concerns that now might not be the time to mention the names of foreign oil companies while on Iraq soil. An Exxon Mobil spokesman said the names don't bother that company. "I think the 101st was being pretty creative in naming things after what reminds them of home, and I think that's pretty neat," said Exxon Mobil.
So the Times reporter ran to Jan Stuart, head of research for a Dutch investment bank. Jan complains that the name shows a mind-boggling degree of insensitivity. "There is little doubt the Americans will win the war, but you have to wonder how people who are so insensitive are going to win the peace," says Stuart. What's mind-boggling is that liberals can't see that those spilling blood to defend freedom have earned the right to call their gas stations whatever the hell they want. Blood for oil, remember?
Finally, military flights have begun at a captured Iraqi airfield, which Coalition forces have renamed "Bush International Airport." You know the only military landmark that would have been named for one previous President would have been the local red-light district in Baghdad. But Bush International Airport will be a major re-supply base and transport hub for American forces.
Now after all, what's in a name folks? In this case pride, lots of pride.