Monday, June 4, 2007 | 7:07 a.m.
Once upon a time there was a ruler who relied on his team of wizards for his information. He listened to his other advisers, but he believed only his wizards told him the right stuff. So when his wizards told him that there was a vile, evil ruler in a land far, far away he believed them. And when they told him that this dictator had weapons up his sleeve, and down his pants, and that he sat on weapons during the day, and slept with them at night, he believed that too.
So when this ruler told his people that this tyrant was a danger to them and had to be attacked, the people shuddered in fear and agreed that we should go to war against him. The war was a success because the ruler's valiant military easily defeated the rogue's army. But there were surprises ahead.
The wizards had told him that the people in this country would welcome our troops, and instead they quickly became hostile. The three major groups in the country fought constantly, with bombings, kidnapping, rape and murder toward one another. Years went by and no real improvement happened.
There was talk, proof some said, of mishandling and corruption, and still the ruler maintained his positive attitude, sustained by members of his tribe who gave him fawning, unquestioned support. When people spoke out against the war, they were vilified and personally attacked by members of the tribe, who were distinguished by their constant waving of the flag, and the slogans plastered on their cars "to support the troops."
These tribesmen always believed the sunny forecasts by the ruler and his wizards, and they denounced as traitors anyone who saw things differently. I wish I could tell you that the war ended successfully, but it's a fairy tale. It couldn't happen in real life, could it?
Richard J. Mundy, Las Vegas
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