Before/after pix: top Pentagon brass at White House today; worth 1000 words

Yahoo News photos via AP & Reuters ^ | 3/5/03 | Wolfstar

[Mike Darancette]

These men spend their whole careers perfecting unreadable faces.

But they are men with wives and children and friends that will go in harm's way. They know that their's is a terrible responsibility and such a look of sober thought is exactly what I would expect and demand.

[Reactionary]

It is war.

We're going to roll over them with such speed and force that they won't know what hit them.

That tinpot North Korean dictator better pay close attention.

[Wolfstar]

What is this, a tea reading convention?

No, today was decision-making time. See the Drudge Report site. Also, the President has asked for TV time next week.

Go with God, Mr. President and our wonderful folks in the military. You have this American's wholehearted support, love, pride and tears.

[Mister Baredog]

No joy, man. No joy.

The joy will come when we see the Iraqis dancing in the streets and tearing down Sadmans pictures and statues!!!!!

[Mister Baredog]

the President has asked for TV time next week.

Where is that from, is this true?

[savedbygrace]

The second picture doesn't seem to be there. Could you try posting it again?

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

What do the photos say to me?

Photo #2 shows 2 men with faces that look absolutely normal for the situation - i.e. neither of them are talking to anyone or looking anyone in the face at the moment the photo was taken.

Photo #1 shows 2 men at either end of the photo with normal faces. They obviously can't hear the conversation of the other 3 men. The 2 men towards the middle who are facing the camera and laughing have just heard Ashcroft say something funny. Perhaps he is telling them all the "French Jokes" he read off of FreeRepublic earlier in the day.

[Howlin]

Oh man.

[MortMan]

You're right, in one respect. The IS no telling what went on in that meeting.

But the top brass doesn't spend its time perfecting unreadable faces - they spend their time training themselves and others to do their jobs - diplomats require unreadable faces; warriors require indomitable wills. (IMO)

[MHGinTN]

Amen, Wolfstar. Selah

[Lacey]

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill ~ (1868)

[Brandybux]

... the eye of the beholder determines what a photo says to any individual.

Fair enough.

To my eye, the grim looks on the faces of Meyers and Franks says they are getting ready to order fine young Americans into harm's way very soon.

I'd have let this pass, except for the memory of these very kinds of faces after a meeting with "the Boss." My eye, informed by those memories, sees this — some guys who got put in their places hard, and sat through some really nasty questions, with some nastier followup when they didn't have satisfactory answers.

Now, if I'm correct (no claim that I am, you understand), we're left to speculate on what and why they just got reamed (supposing those are "I've been reamed" looks on their faces). My speculation is that all those vaunted contingency plans have turned out to be day dreams, that when something like the Turkish parliament throws a curve, our military planners have come up with nada, zip, zilch, nichts, nisiquira una cositita.

[xzins]

Maybe...just maybe....the h’ors d’ouvres were disgusting.

[TADSLOS]

They probably bumped into Helen Thomas in the hallway.

[cajungirl]

Hope you are wrong!

[Brandybux]

Oh, I also hope I'm wrong. But, I just can't get away from the impression that those faces are the ones you see on people who have just been given a viscious wedgie by the Chief, who was expecting from them what they evidently did not deliver.

[nfldgirl]

I am very aware it is nothing to laugh about, however most of todays brass are paper pushers and personnel pukes. War makes a mess of their ordered lives, and BTW life isn't fair.

I work near-n-around some of "today's brass" and frankly, I couldn't disagree with you more. From where I stand/sit/engage on a daily basis, what I see are leaders of incredible dignity, honor, decency, intellect, courage, strength, and more. Leaders who are passionate, engaging, with a profound sense of duty and commitment to those in their charge, in particular, and to the defense of our country.