As far as I can tell no one has killed Osama Bin Laden. No one has captured him. And I’m bettin’ he hasn’t quit either. I’m pretty sure ‘bout all this, since I kinda keep up with (what passes for) the news these days.
 Now I could be wrong.
 I mean the Government (and our military leaders?) have a habit of catchin’ people and not tellin’ anyone about it (for awhile).
 I ‘spose they do this for any number of reasons? Or they’ve (finally?) learned the hard way that it’s best not to blab about “high-value captures” too soon?
 After all, they’ve seen (and felt) what damage the “press” (TV, radio, papers) can do to them most any time they have some small success out there on the battlefield. Soon’s they get back to the relative safety of the nicely lit, conveniently air-conditioned briefing rooms? The press has a field day on their  “battlefield”.
 Every sensitive matter that can be brought up is shouted out as a question. Answers are not only expected, they’re demanded (in the name of “openness”). Reporters “rights” exercised in the name of a free press and the peoples right to know (cost be d***ed!).
 In these modern times (Only in America) this “openness” claimed by the press as their prerogative is amazingly (dangerously) tolerated by us. Partly ‘cuz liberal congressional “leaders” (and networks and anchor persons) encourage it. And maybe, just maybe because there are so few parents with sons and daughters dying because of it?
 By that I mean there really aren’t that many folks actually fighting these wars. Not when you figure there are over 300 million people in America (not countin’ illegals). The biggest contribution to the “war effort” asked of the rest of us? “Keep Shopping!”
 The fact that this openness often leads to giving away our advantages on the battlefield to the enemy..., is ignored.
 Despite the certainty that it can and too often does, cause loss of American lives. Somehow this has been relegated to a “non-issue”? Mostly because the press can’t (won’t) see beyond their liberal blinders, and hell-bent pursuit of the “story” (personal glory). These costs are acceptable to the press (and the rest of us?).
 Once those briefings start, if there’s no satisfactory answer immediately forthcoming? By the end of the week the military will be made out to be noncooperative, too “secretive” or just plain bumblers. By the end of a second week likely as not the “detainee” will be found to be victim of some violation of his civil, legal, moral or religious rights. Outrageous!!
 All this bothers the h**l out of me! But it’s not what I started out to talk about (sorry, I’ve done it again).
 I mentioned Osama in the first sentence. I did that for a reason. He’s merely a symptom of what’s wrong with this war we’ve been fighting (for too long now). We’re no longer fighting to win (and I do believe we started out to?).
 No matter how you cut it, there is no way we could fight any enemy, this many years and not win! Not with a half trillion dollars (per year!) spent on our military. We’ve “been after” Osama all this time. But we don’t have him, And we don’t have victory!
 We’re not pursuing victory in war! Why?! You know why..., Politics and Money!
 If this were not the case? Explain One Thing to me (and yourself).
 Recall the mad cow disease scare? For some reason that escapes me, we had to know where carrier “Number One” (one single cow) came from!
 How in the world did we track down (After the Fact) that one cow? Right back to Her stall?! But we did! Our government scientists, intelligence folks and others found That solitary Cow!!
 But Osama eludes us!? His followers continue to kill Americans. We can’t win this war?
 Nope! Long as we let the politicians (and money) run our wars, we won’t. The politicians gain stature, power and influence (one way or another). The defense conglomerates grow richer by the month (and year)!
 No one! Not any politician, strategist, general (or you) can convince me that a country that can track One Cow (!) right to her barn stall, is incapable of locating (any) one person, anywhere in this world. Keep in mind, this isn’t some podunk law enforcement agency doin’ the huntin’! It’s a multi-trillion dollar war machine!!
 “I Don’t Know About You..., I believe this war is now being “fought” the same way Vietnam was in it’s final years. By the big shots, for the money!
 Cal Teeple, still found three stools down. Or At: www.wayneindependent.com/cal Or at: calteeple@gmail.com Founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium, he’s still found three stools down, where he may be ignored, accosted or contacted.