fun to shoot 'em

I heard a rumor today that FOX purchased Al Jazeera. My first reaction was to laugh, but it is not a joke. That is to say, it was not told to me as a joke. Whether it is true is another matter. I don't know what to make of it if it is true.

In other news (got this from Reuters):

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who led troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, made the [following] comments at a conference Tuesday in San Diego. "Actually it's quite fun to fight 'em, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling," said Mattis. "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said during a panel discussion. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

Well, Mr. Mattis, this is a relief. So many women in abusive relationships will be thrilled to be informed of your ethical insights. I suppose now any good red-blooded blue-clad inner city cop is perfectly justified in walking down the street and shooting down anyone who looks like they might just possibly be a wife-beater. It will be easier for the police, of course, if the recipients of the bullets are different-looking, or immigrants from a foreign culture.