Aboard the USS Constellation...A day before the bombing began, hundreds of sailors gathered in the hangar bay to hear what Vice Adm. Timothy Keating, head of naval forces in the Persian Gulf region, had to say.They waited a half-hour in rows of hundreds in the warehouse-like space and listened to anthems of the jilted and righteous: "Sweet Home Alabama," "Proud to Be an American," and Metallica's screaming, pounding "Sad But True." Around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Keating flew in on a C-2A Greyhound and walked onto the stage in sand-colored fatigues to Queen's "We Will Rock You." He wore a black USS Constellation cap, which he took off and pointed in quasi-salute to the sailors before him, who cheered in response.
Whatever it takes, I guess....(although Hitchens calls the scene adolescent and implies that it merely supports an irresponsible practice of war. Maybe that's just British reticence talking. Or is it? )
And, of course, I can't help thinking of that old Cher video, you know..If I Could Turn Back Time, right?
