Ezra's Essays

Category: War

  • MUSINGS — Volume II

    There was such a demand for the first volume of the essay called Musings, that a second one had to be produced forthwith. A large part of the demand came from me. It seems to me that there is a plethora of thoughts that pervade my musings and ponderings now that driving is done only…

  • MILITARY MATTERS – MUSIC, JUSTICE AND PRECISION BOMBING

    These matters having to do with the American military come to mind largely as a result of our ill conceived, pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. The holding of prisoners at Guantanamo for more than two years is also a significant consideration. The American Army has now held prisoners from Afghanistan and from Iraq for a substantial…

  • A CASE OF GROSS DISAPPOINTMENT

    On Sunday, May 2, 2004, the New York Times reported on its front page, “Kerry Struggling to Find a Theme, Democrats Fear.” John Kerry has been planning to run for the presidency for years. For virtually all of 2003 and through the early part of this year, he has been engaged in the Democratic primary…

  • BITS AND PIECES – PART II – “Piling On”

    When an essayist collects miscellaneous items for a Bits and Pieces essay, it is inevitable that some of the items have to do with thoughts we would all like to avoid. For nearly two years now, for example, the United States has been engaged in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This sort of adventure inevitably…

  • HOW I BECAME A PROTESTANT

    It would be a great source of regret it any reader were to conclude from the title of this essay, that this is a religious piece. Banish the thought. Quite to the contrary, this vignette is an Army story. When we reach the latter stages of this inquiry, there will be a denouement that will…

  • BITS AND PIECES – PART I

    From time to time, there are some shorter subjects that demand the attention of the essayist. To devote a whole essay to these transient items would probably be more than they deserve. On the other hand, to fail to comment on such items would be a significant injustice. And so what we have here is…

  • MORE BITS AND PIECES: THE DOG THAT CAUGHT THE CAR

    A correspondent of the New York Times has drawn together his work and the work of dozens of his colleagues. He is Todd Purdum who ordinarily serves in the Washington bureau of the Times. His book is called, “A Time of Our Choosing.” It has to do with the American war in Iraq. A memorable…

  • A THOUGHT OR TWO ABOUT HORNETS OR WASPS

    Much is being said this week (March 21, 2004) about disturbing a hornet’s nest. There was Richard Clarke’s charge that the Bush Administration was so obsessed by Iraq, that it paid no attention – or minimal attention to Al Qaeda. The hornets or wasps stung people all week with the Commission on September 11, 2001…

  • BECAUSE THE RIVER’S WET BUT BEALE STREET DONE GONE DRY – W.C. Handy

    Last year, the United States Congress voted to declare the year 2003 the “Year of the Blues.” This took place while unemployment benefits ran out, while the U. S. was snarling at Iraq, while most of the Congress was seeking re-election and while the economy was limping along. But in the end, as someone who…

  • FRIDAY NIGHT FOLLIES

    On Friday evening, the 13th of February, 2004, after all the press corps had left the White House Press Room, there appeared as if by magic, a two inch pile of paper having to do with Boy George and his lack of service in the Texas Air National Guard. The Friday in question was the…