A couple of nights ago, some TV correspondent covering the battle for Tripoli reported that he was embedded with rebel forces in the battle zone. Seven Arab rednecks in a Dodge pickup formed up with three more pickups - two Fords and a Chevy - and their Arab rednecks, and headed for a rocky hilltop tucked below higher rocky hilltops in the distance. One of our Arab rednecks pulled out a grenade launcher, a second helped with the ammo, and the two attacked Tripoli while everyone else stood around with automatic weapons dangling from one hand, and smoked cigarettes and watched.
At least we assume it was Tripoli. All you could actually see in the direction they were shooting at from our rocky hilltop was the higher rocky hilltops in the distance. Then another grenade launcher team ambled into action, and you could tell from all the body language with the automatic weapons and the cigarettes that the rebels were really bringing it now.
TV guy lamented that NATO wasn’t coordinating their aerial support with the Arab rednecks on the ground, so rebel forces couldn’t get out every day, but it didn’t look like these rebel forces were too worried about anybody shooting back this time.
According to the NATO website, member countries spent slightly more than $1 trillion on defense in 2010. The Arab rednecks supplied their own attack vehicles and got the weaponry for free, looting it from some stockpile.
We counted more troops - though mainly vets and more than a few reservists - at last November’s annual church Turkey Shoot here in Logano, Tennessee.
Maybe the boys ought to take Tripoli this year instead.
