Moira Breens applauds American arrogance:

I went round and round with a friend in early October on the subject of American “arrogance”. His assumption was that they hate us because we are arrogant, and we are arrogant because we do such things as lob missiles at whomever and wherever we please. I argued that the paltry missile-lobbing was wrong not because it was arrogant but because it was ineffectual – it accomplished nothing and its ineffectuality earned contempt. It isn’t American arrogance that’s the problem, I claimed, it’s American shuffling aw-shucksness that gets us into trouble. (I don’t want to be arrogant, but I think current history is supporting me in this argument.)

Hey, Saddam. ‘Got a joke fer ‘ya. Ready?

— I despise you, infidels.

Yeah, whatever. Ready? “Knock Knock.”

— Don’t be silly. I already know it is you, big Satan.

C’mon. Don’t ruin it. Say, “Who’s There?”

— No. This is absurd?

Say, “Who’s There!” Go on, you’ll like this one, I promise. Just try it.

— Fine. But this is quite stupid… Who is there?

Why, you know damn well who it is, Brotha! It’s the world’s most deadly military! And we done brought you a big ol’ can o’ U.S. whuppass! Yeeehaaaaaaaahhhh!!!

— That is not funny. Not even a little bit.

Aw, c’mon. It’s a little funny…

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