I heard a woman on Denver Talk Radio this morning speaking about her son serving in the Army at Ft Campbell. His unit is going to be sent to Saudi Arabia next week. She said "if my son is killed in action while fighting these people, I say 'good for him!' I will be a very proud Mother."

This country is in the grip of reaction to the bombings, and it is taking the form of the irrational kind of patiotism that leads to the above statement. As yet, we don't know who is guilty of this, where they are, or how our troops might be employed in order to reach them. This helplessness and anger are being diverted into blood drives and showing the flag. This is no doubt a good thing, and a way of demonstrating unity in face of threat, but my fear is that we are seeing the old drum-beating and glory-preaching that precedes any war. I want to hear what that woman says if her son's death does indeed come to pass.

The grim reality of prolonged struggle is ugly and debilitating, as those of us who remember the Vietnam War can attest. What is called for is not patriotic emotion, but cold resolve. In these days of heated anger and pride, we had best keep level heads, for the flags lose much of their joy when draped over caskets.

We will and must retaliate. Let us harden our hearts for what will follow.