My role on the friendly fire podcast requires that I be prepared to speak

authoritatively on matters historical, political and military across a great scope of time, culture, and conflict.

It should be apparent to longtime listeners that, despite a critical commentary success rate

of close to 95%, I'm often wildly speculating from a geopolitical education I got

from looking for pictures of boobs in Time magazine during the Carter administration.

My understanding of strategy and tactics is derived largely from running thousands of possible assault and defense scenarios of both fixed positions and fluid battlefield environments in the long-running

conflict between Gai Joe and the Cobra Commander.

Much later, I cut my diplomatic teeth arguing in favor of Pax Americana with Kefia-clad

West German undergraduates on a bus from Cadiz to Albifera.

When I say that my role on friendly fire requires it, what I mean is that it doesn't

strictly require it. I just talk that way, which is to say authoritatively from the hip with scant supporting evidence and a great reluctance

to be wrong.

My co-hosts were and are too busy larping their fan fanfick about Captain Picard's body grooming to interrupt

me or even be listening to me, so I run unchecked like a stallion of mostly rightness.

I frequently come in for criticism from nerds and wankers who should start their own podcasts if they know so much more than I do about Black Hawk Down.

Sure, I whine a little bit at not being appreciated by everyone universally, but it has never

inhibited me in the slightest from assuming everything is understandable and that I mostly understand it.

Now the Irish Troubles, arguably, started in 1968 the year I was born and ended in 1998,

the year that Celebrity Skin by Whole was released.

So just based on my education above described,

I should be able to lay it on really thick here.

And I could, but something has changed in me recently and certain of these generations spanning sectarian

...