[Wolfstar]

The operative word is 'IF'. And the eye of the beholder determines what a photo says to any individual. 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. However, the point of the thread is for you to make up your own mind as to the meaning of the contrast between the before and after shots. It's the kind of subtle news that you won't get from TV or radio talking heads, or columnists who want to tell you what they think. In other words, it's an opportunity for you to think for yourself.

[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.