Headbuts and Haymakers

Zidane's headbut shows us people don't like to be called terrorists. So what's their beef, what do they want? The Italian trash talker wanted to get under Zidane's skin, for that tiny bit of leverage enabling the Azzurri to win the World Cup. What do the other people called "terrorists" want? Why harm innocent people, women and children? The fundamentalist Muslim wants to show his dedication to God. Western Christian leaders wish to "protect their citizens" by fighting the "terrorists" over there instead of at home.

Pre-emptive war is analogous to Zidane's headbut, a bit outside the rules but no big deal if there is no referee to enforce them. The French warrior paid the price via ejection from the game. What consequences will befall the United States and its handful of allies tampering in the Middle East?

Worldwide leaders are throwing haymaker punches. One good connection and they will score a knockout. Like Max Baer in The Cinderella Man, they taunt their opponent while looking to land the sucker punch. From George Bush to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Osama Bin Laden to Tony Blair to Kim Jong Il to Alvaro Uribe to Ehud Olmert to Ismail Haniyeh, I suggest we put them all in a ring or on the soccer pitch and let them go at it. Keep the citizen's out of it, please. And quit calling the U.N. Human Rights Group “politickers for terrorism”. The people need at least one group on their side.