My take on the appropriateness of the Operation last week:

When I was a kid I went to a Quaker School, and, because I was small and Jewish, I got beaten up regularly by some of my classmates. The Principal and the teachers didn't care too much about that UNTIL I HIT BACK. Then I was the 'bad guy' for not 'turning the other cheek' as it were. I was suspended from school for three days for punching a kid who regularly tortured and hit me even in front of the playground supervisors. They didn't do a goddamned thing, but one day, I took a swing and knocked this asshole right into the mud and got yanked - literally- up to the Principal's office. I was in sixth grade. So he's going off on me for my violence and nothing I can say placated him, and he suspended me like I said for three days.

So when I came back to school, I gave notice that I would be leaving for the following academic year which was just fine with my parents, and I made an appointment to see the principal. When he asked me all snotty what I wanted, sneering, I told him that it just so happened that I had seen him at the New Hope Motel with his secretary, Mrs. P. a couple of weeks before that in the late afternoon and just wanted to say that I was really really sorry that I hadn't gotten off my bike to say hello.

He was a big man and when all of the color drained out of his face, I actually got scared for him. I thought he was gonna die or something.

Anyway, I thought I would tell this story again here - it's been a few years since I told it last, and in light of those who say that maybe they should have taken bin Laden prisoner, I would submit that a pre-emptive stike works every time. I never ever had to worry about that prick principal again, and we'll never have to worry about that prick bin Laden again.

I'd say you did the right goddamn thing, and good for you!

They were a bunch of fucking hypocrites. You said exactly the right thing to that asshole principal too.

And your story really fits well with bin Laden.

Recommended.

First off, were there really assholes like that at a Quaker school? Somehow I don't connect bullying with what I know (which isn't a lot) about Quakers.

And secondly, did you actually see the principal at the motel with his secretary or were you just running a bluff? It's a cool story either way, but it would be even better if you unwittingly struck a nerve.

Newtown Friends School, Newtown, PA right next to Bill Cosby's unfortunate son's school, George School

and on edit: New Hope Motel, on what is now called Old 202 south of New Hope, owned at that time by the Shapiro family.

Frankly, I was surprised that the principal of a Quaker school would tolerate bullying on the grounds.

And I am envious of you. I would have given anything to catch my HS principal slipping into some motel to do the horizontal hokey pokey with his secretary.

Period.

would have gotten from him. Just my opinion.

I'm sure the CIA could interview him if necessary. :D

WTG! Loved your story.

pre-emptive one not so much... An eye for an eye mentality... Never a winner in any dispute... It goes on and on.... So from a different point of view, one where we followed recommendations for a real investigation into 9-11, and followed through with a trial... and let victims see justice first hand and not more death is where a change in the pattern of concealing what was going on and making it more transparent could of played out... Clearly we had the upper hand and we clearly we had the capability to do the job, but we took the short cut, and buried the truth along with Osama bin Laden...

I want to live in a civilized world. Or at least one that tries to abide by some rules of judicial engagement. Not assassination squads because "he deserved it". And I don't give a god damned who says what about it. That's my goal for civilization.

Our sanctions killed how many innocent Iraqis? Does nobody see this thing in context?

Here's the old "I beat up the grade school bully and he never bothered me again" --therefore anything is justified when confronting criminals.

This line of flawed reasoning is getting boring. :thumbsdown"

The only reason I wasn't suspended was because my mom threatened the school with lawyers.