Exceptionalism’s fierce bane
Is self-esteem’s need to ordain
What’s best for all others,
Instead of their druthers,
And ends by inflicting fierce pain.
A tyrant named Saddam Hussein,
Immoral and finally slain—
Was better by far
Than Iraq’s evil stars
And should have continued to reign.
Von Clausewitz made it quite plain—
War’s function must not be arcane.
Attacks fueled by vanity
Are simple insanity,
The horror of leaders’ lame brains.
(6/15/14)