By Mort Malkin
The satire for a complete essay on the Middle East could easily be assembled from reports out of Afghanistan and Pakistan. But, this mini-piece concerns the recent Wikileakage based on documents, diplomatic cables, emails, films and recordings from the US Army and other such deep throat sources. Apparently many of our actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past few years have been less than angelic.
The satire come in with the reaction of the Obama administration. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gives the official response that the leaked material is old and has been available to the public for years. Barack Obama, president, then repeats the White House talking points — he doesn’t say the leaked texts are not true. The Wikichronicles provide details of civilian deaths, free-fire zones, and drone strikes based on “intelligence” obtained from local Afghan tribes and relayed to South Dakota, Missouri, and Nevada where the buttons are pressed. Many documents seem to have been classified and stamped High Embarrassment. Next, the Pentagon says no matter what, the whistle blowers will be prosecuted. Wickileaks may base their defense on being historians who have merely researched the public record. They will surely call Robert Gibbs as a witness. The judge may well ask why isn’t the Department of Justice going after those responsible for civilian deaths, instead of condemning the messenger. Gadfly would file an amicus curiae brief.
The Catskill Chronicle 
Aah, the magic happens…
Gadfly Replies
Dear Mario,
Glad to see someone is reading and enjoying the Gadfly column. A question for you: How does the establishment in Sugar Notch, a town that doesn’t hesitate to raise the property taxes, feel about extending the federal tax cuts for the megarich? Those billions could cover thousands of small town deficits.
Whether on a federal level or a local level, the folks who are elected or appointed somehow consider themselves authorities or, at least, officials who can do whatever they wish. We need to remind them that they’re public servants.
Peace and power to the people,
Gadfly
Dear Mario,
Thanks for the opinion on the essay. I had sent a previous reply which is probably posted somewhere, but in my Luddism I can’t seem to find it. It will no doubt appear as if by cybermagic.
Peace and freedom to embarrass those who need it,
Mort
Great satire Mort. I have my own wikileaks project going in Sugar Notch. Not only did they finally come out and say the budget was $20K, they raised prop. taxes and want to try and raise pers. income tax rate too, if legal. Oh, how sweet it is.