WP titbit via Progressive Review:
These included 40,000 very snappy “Liberation of Iraq” medals and ribbons, and three sets of 2,500 “Iraqi Bravery,” Meritorious Service 1st Degree and Meritorious Service 2nd Degree medals. . And the new medal? It’s the “Iraqi Armed Forces Wound Medal.” Unclear what the criteria are.
I don’t know what offends me more. Al Kamen’s insinuation these medals aren’t deserved since they refused to kill their fellow countrymen, and as the U.S. forces, their women and children, too; or the U.S. thinking Iraqi loyalty can be bought so cheaply.
It’s a draw. Everything about the post is completely offensive.
The Word of the Day for Apr 15 is:
: exaggerated pride or self-confidence
Example sentence:
Many have fallen into the trap of Icarus, and soar, overcome with hubris, until their pride is thwarted and rude reality hurls them earthward again.
Did you know?
English picked up both the concept of hubris and the term for that particular brand of cockiness from the ancient Greeks, who considered hubris a dangerous character flaw capable of provoking the wrath of the gods. In classical Greek tragedy, hubris was often a fatal shortcoming that brought about the fall of the tragic hero. Typically, overconfidence led the hero to attempt to overstep the boundaries of human limitations and assume a godlike status, and the gods inevitably humbled the offender with a sharp reminder of his or her mortality.
On edit: I didn’t see this article in the Antiwar.com box until after I’d published this post.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs, 16:18)
Indeed.