"Grunts on the line, where the enemy wants them dead, still goof off - even knowing that by letting their guard down they might die."

"The old saying that war is a racket has taken on an even more shameful meaning."

"Of course, it's imperative that we stabilize Iraq and quickly reduce our armed role there."

"Fortunately, it's still not too late to develop a comprehensive global strategy to eliminate our real enemy."

"That's what supporting the troops is really all about - making sure American grunts get the right stuff!"

"Our generals talk a good game about taking care of their grunts, and the majority of our Beltway politicians bay with moralistic fervor about how they, too, support the troops."

"We citizens don't need to know every detail of every military operation in this new kind of war. Nor should the media tell us and hence our enemy."

"In order to drill into young men the need to stay alert and stay alive, I used to punish offenders with my fists, boots and rifle butt, and with stockade time."

"Modern American war is as easy to script as a B movie."

"It's human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn't banging loudly on the door."

"If a policy is wrongheaded, feckless and corrupt, I take it personally and consider it a moral obligation to sound off and not shut up until it's fixed."

"Writing with you is the only thing that keeps me alive."

"War is the ultimate reality-based horror show."