It appears that the link to the original BBC story, to which my little vignette below refers, is still available.
In any case, whether he liked or not, approved of it or not, it seems the JPII's
"prudential calculus" was shredded by the combined military forces and superior firepower of the United States and Great Britain.
I am going back and reviewing some of my previous tirades. This one is an imaginary scene I wrote about what should have taken place in the Vatican but didn't:
How it should've been, Feb. 14, 2003, 13:41 GMT
[scene: Entrance to Papal residence; Swiss Guards with halberts; a pompaded Tariq Aziz smiling, dressed in Guicci, pulls up in limo and gets out; Press are everywhere; Cardinal Etchgaray, looking like he's sucked on lemons, comes out of Papal residence to meet Aziz.]
Aziz: Ah, your eminence, good to see you
[Aziz attempts to hug him, but is waved off by the Cardinal]
Etchgaray: No huggies today, Monsieur Aziz.
Aziz: What is wrong? I'm expecting my photo op with the HF.
Press: [shouting] Yes. Yes. We want photo op.
Etchgaray: Sorry, there's been a change in the prudential calculus.
Aziz: How so?
Etchgaray: The HF has decided not to be in the same room with you unless certain conditions are met.
Aziz This is decidedly unusual. What conditions?
Etchgaray: First of all, under no circumstances am I to crack a smile or hug you.
Press: [sounds of gasps and hubbub]
Aziz Most unusual. Most strange. Is that all?
[Looking glum, Etchgaray pulls out a list and starts reading]
Etchgaray: First, Saddam has to unplug his people shredder. Using ground up humanity to feed his carp in the ponds around his pleasure palaces is not very nice.
Aziz This is not reasonable. Iraq is a poor country. How else can Saddam feed his fish?
Etchgaray: Second, the "Professional Rape Corps" has to be disbanded. Raping the wives and daughters of anyone who speaks a word against Saddam's mustash is not very nice.
Aziz Outrageous! Iraq is a poor country. How else can we find employment for our many young men dedicated to our glorious Saddam?
Etchgaray: Third, stop the torture...
Aziz This is an insult! Pulling out fingernails and electrocuting genitals is our time-honored Iraqi pastime. Our Glorious Hero Saddam Hussein al Tikriti cannot possibly meet such conditions.
Press: [starting to chant] We want photo op! We want photo op! Bring out the Pope!
Etchgaray: Well, I'm sorry, Monsieur, but the HF has said he will not consent to be seen with you until these conditions are met.
[The press is still chanting. Tariq Aziz gets back huffily into his limo and drives off. Etchgaray goes back indoors. The Swiss guards' plumes shake in the breeze. The Heavens rejoice.]
This is the beginning, perhaps of something but most probably nothing. But yes, I am the imfamous Oengus Moonbones, despised by some, applauded by others, ignored by most. And in the midst of this vast ocean, this unfathomable sea, whose waves endlessly churn up flotsam and jetsam, this artificial Blogoverse, I now throw out this pitiful small bottle having a message in it, with no hope it will reach anyone or that it will do the least bit of good.
