Easy enough for me, I suppose, to sit in the comfort of my own home, thousands of miles away from the theaters of war, and enjoy reading this kind of thing from the front:

So we are up in the mountains at about 0100 hrs looking for a bad guy that we thought was in the area. Here are ten of us, pitch black, crystal clear night, about 25 degrees. We know there are bad guys in the area; a few shots have been fired but no big deal. We decide that we need air cover and the only thing in the area is a solo B-1 bomber. He flies around at about 20,000 feet and tells us there is nothing in the area. He then asks if we would like a low level show of force.

Stupid question. Of course we tell him yes.

The controller who is attached to the team then is heard talking to the pilot. Pilot asks if we want it subsonic or supersonic.

Very stupid question.

Pilot advises he is twenty miles out and stand by. The controller gets us all sitting down in a line and points out the proper location.

You have to picture this. Pitch black, ten killers sitting down, dead quiet and overlooking this about 30 mile long valley. All of a sudden, way out (below our level) you see a set of four 200' white flames coming at us.

The controller says, "Ah-- guys-- you might want to plug your ears".

Faster than you can think a B-1, supersonic, 1000' over our heads, blasts the sound barrier and it feels like God just hit you in the head with a hammer". He then stands it straight up with 4 white trails of flame coming out and disappears."

Cost of gas for that:

Probably $50,000

Hearing damage:

For certain.

Bunch of Taliban thinking twice about shooting at us:

Priceless

For which I thank Blackfive.

For the narrative, that is.

I thank the guys in the field for the fact that I can sit here, comfortably in my own home, thousands of miles from the theaters of war, and relish the distance between me and the dangers faced every minute of every day over there.

It is thanks to them that we are able to sleep well here, our families safe and sound, our liberties taken, alas, too much for granted in a hostile world.

And thank them I do, each day, and pray for their safe return.

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