A tsunami of outrage is sweeping across the globe over photographs of German soldiers posing with a human skull. Calling for an immediate investigation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised severe punishment for all involved. No doubt there soon will be demands to abort the whole mission because of this incident, even though there is no proof that the soldiers are responsible for the death of the unfortunate person. The skull actually appears to have come from a mass grave in Kabul, and if this turns out to be the case it is very likely the victim was killed by our enemy.

Speaking of our enemy, one cannot but wonder why there are no similar eruptions of outrage when they engage in posing of their own. As we know, they love to show off for the world to see on the internet the freshly chopped heads of their victims whom they decapitate. And yet when their work hits the wires there are few calls for investigations, apprehension, and severe punishment.

It is truly paradoxical that while liberal politicians and media can't wait to aim their ire at minor transgressions of our side (such as Abu Ghraib), they completely overlook the intrinsic brutality of our enemy. This misplaced outrage is a symptom of the profound moral confusion of our times. The sooner we get rid of it, the sooner we'll be able to prevail over our ruthless and vicious foe.

Vasko Kohlmayer  10 26 06