What Fresh Hell

As if we haven't heard enough about Osama and the gates of hell from Senator McMaverick, we've now got the Baptist minister entering the contest to become the GOP's biggest anti- jihadi crusader (er, probably a bad choice of words):

Asked whether the American commanders on the scene were right in not attacking the Iranian boats, Mr Huckabee said he backed their decisions, before warning Iran: "Be prepared, first, to put your sights on the American vessel. And then be prepared that the next thing you see will be the gates of Hell, because that is exactly what you will see after that."

This is a ritual that must be endured, I suppose - a political inversion of the competition on the Democrat side to determine who, if elected, promises to pull the fastest Iraqi reenactment of the helicopter scene from the Fall of Saigon.

Sure - those idiots that were harassing U.S. warships were very close to ending up bubbling downward in an oily heap to the sea floor.

But there's an old folksy nugget about speaking softly when it comes to projecting foreign power - one that apparently isn't considered until you win the big stick of the American presidency. Except the Democrats seem to have it reversed - loudly tell friend and foe exactly what you plan to do - while carrying ... well, you can figure out the rest.

(Bonus points for anyone who knows the reference in the post title - without using Google. Honor system.)