| "I was a civilian advisor to the military. We |
| went & saw Saddam. We were impressed." |
| |
| Another quiet American confessing to stealth. |
| Time: just before closing. Place: a bookstore |
| |
| in an upscale suburb, in late Summer. We |
| talked quietly until closing. Regretfully, we |
| |
| exchanged names. I closed up, went home |
| & wrote about him in my weekly column |
| |
| in the regional Harte-Hanks daily. Quietly, |
| another quiet American came back, stood, |
| |
| staring grimly at me, another quiet American |
| caught doing what quiet Americans do: War |
| |
| via intermediaries, dictators who invariably |
| betray, haunt, defy, discredit, disgrace us |
| |
| in the world's unblinking eyes. |
