RadSlack is back !!! And just in time.

Apparently, while we were on our bender, the world has gone to pot. It seems now it is culturally insensitive to wear a t-shirt with an American flag in an American high school; pundits smear Arizona's new law as "criminalizing illegal immigration" and now the military is considering awarding medals for "courageous restraint".:

A proposal to grant medals for "courageous restraint" to troops in Afghanistan who avoid deadly force at a risk to themselves...

Lt. Col. Edward Sholtis, a spokesman for Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who commands NATO forces in Afghanistan, said that no final decision has been made on the award, which is the brainchild of British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter.

"The idea is being reviewed at Headquarters ISAF," Sholtis said. "The idea is consistent with our approach. Our young men and women display remarkable courage every day, including situations where they refrain from using lethal force, even at risk to themselves, in order to prevent possible harm to civilians. ... That restraint is an act of discipline and courage not much different than those seen in combat actions."

I remember as a freshman in high school mouthing off to a group of seniors early in the school year. They got annoyed eventually and approached me. At that point, being severely out-sized and out numbered, I decided to exhibit some courageous restraint. They were less than impressed and stuffed me in a garbage can.

The analogy is not exact as our troops have the ability to inflict the type of damage I could never imagine. But doesn't it send a message to the enemy about our resolve? And, at the very least, doesn't it suggest that we might hesitate before we return fire? And that hesitation, in combat, can cost American lives.