The Billiken's Bluff

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had

Celebratory Kalashnikov Fire.

A U.S. soldier at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, takes down an older image, to display the latest image purporting to show the body of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, who was killed Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Thursday, June 8.



What interests me is the frame.

Someone decided that a wood frame surrounding a blown-up picture of Zarqawi was the most effective presentation tool for this press briefing. I understand the need to show a photo of a dead Zarqawi. Facial recognition as proof, for public record. But it was agreed upon that it would be more effective to show this picture surrounded by a wood frame, like a painting hanging in a hall, than to present a plain print-out of Zarqawi. It was decided that it looks more professional, grave, familiar, convincing to frame the picture.

Picture it. Zarqawi was killed and some general/spokesperson called a lower-level subdorinate in:

"Ok, do me a favor print out a 36" x 28" of the Zarqawi facial death shot. And make sure to use the standard frame, you know the one with the polished oak veneer that we use for the larger press conferences? Great thanks."

Or maybe,

"God Damn it, this is huge, a complete political/PR windfall. We have to capitalize on this. Listen you have to get a frame for this. We have to make this look presentable." "...???" "I don't care where you get it from, use the frame from the General Schwarzkopf in the lobby, or go out of the Green Zone, down to the market and get a one."

Or maybe the military is a well-oiled killing machine and they have a real-time inventory of supplies. Decisions that were made, systems that were set up years ago made from the 133rd floor sky scraper or 133rd bunker floor below sea level. Years in advance. Wars that were planned as military defense contracts were inked in the 80s. As soon as Zarqawi or any "war on terror" (for you N.Dot, I do it for you!) villian is deleted an auto-replenish system kicks into effect. A wood frame is allocated for the subsequent press briefing, email conference meeting invites are sent out to the proper distribution, and a seperate order is placed through a supplier in Malaysia for an additional wood frame to be drop-shipped to Baghadad for the next such photo-op.

This is amazing to me.