10Oct06

When "second-rate" fails, from a friend in the Philippines:

"A short time ago, a deranged man took an infant hostage at a bus te rminal during the season rush. Coincidentally, TV news crews were covering the exodus of metro citizens to their vacation spots, so the entire drama was ca ught on camera. The suspect cradled the child with his left arm, while his righ t hand held a knife against the child's neck.

At long last, the city's SWAT team arrived. All opted to assume a disorganized skirmish line behind the negotiator. While negotiations proceed ed, a shot was fired. The suspect went down, but so did the child. Examination revealed that both succumbed to a single hit from a 223. The bullet was ne ver recovered, but the conclusion was that only one bullet was fired, and it, a lone, killed both suspect and hostage.

In the aftermath, it was discovered that SWAT team members had been drinking, in the precinct station, immediately before the call went out! I n an interview, one SWAT member actually admitted that they were all enthusiasti cally celebrating a birthday. Realizing the implications of his statement, he stopped talking, never finishing his sentence.

Of course, a few scapegoats (the 'usual suspects') were fir ed, but nothing really changed. Local big-shots are all still comfortably in place. This particular city is well known for illegal gambling, fencing of stolen goods , white slavery, etc. Cops in key positions are little more than bag-men for

corrupt, city officials. Not surprisingly, training was not high on their agenda, as everyone was busy maximizing their 'police discount =99 in local bordellos.

When a real call went out, all where perfectly incapable and unprepared. The result was predictable. Yes, mediocrity is a murderer!"

Comment: We've been assured by the media that personal sleaziness and incompetence on the part of government officials must be overlooked, so long as the particular officials involved are members of the media's favorite po litical party. In the same breath, we are told that political loyalty makes a suitable substitute for personal righteousness, dedication, and competence.

Only Marxists believe that! Among the just, sleaziness and mediocrity are weeded out like the cancer they are.

/John