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Thank you, Mr. Cheney
Anguish over the war cited in military ethicist’s suicide

What a wonderful idea to subcontract our military needs, so that "Big Time" Cheney’s pals at Halliburton can profiteer in Iraq while he and Dubya get more than 2000 of our finest Americans killed for a sham war.

A new video apparently shows private contractors shooting innocent Iraqi citizens. Meanwhile, one of the Army’s top officers blew his brains out, apparently because of his anguish about the transgressions being committed by the war profiteers so beloved by Big Time and Boy George. Here is what the Los Angeles Times said in reporting on the suicide of Colonel Ted Westhusing, a specialist in military ethics and the highest-ranking officer to die in Iraq: "In e-mails to his family, Westhusing seemed especially upset by one conclusion he had reached: that traditional military values such as duty, honor and country had been replaced by profit motives in Iraq, where the US had come to rely on contractors for jobs once done by the military." How many of those are via no-bid contracts to Dubya and Big Time’s cronies?

These are final words from the colonel’s suicide note: "I cannot support a [mission] that leads to corruption, human-rights abuse and liars. I am sullied. I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored. Death before being dishonored any more."

P&J wish only the best for Vinny Paz, a longtime friend whom we have always enjoyed and admired. Faced with financial woes, the Pazman has addressed the issue in his typical upfront, no-bullshit manner. How often do you hear someone actually admit to being "an idiot about money"?

To Vinny’s credit, he has always been a standup guy. As he points out, he does all his charity work for no fee, and doesn’t charge for an autograph, at a time when most athletes are bloodsuckers of the first water.

Two things with Vinny Paz stand out in our minds, and bring a bit of perspective to his life. When he first started in boxing, at a time when the Urinal sports section virtually ignored the Sweet Science, a press release for one of his first local fights was delivered to Phillipe. The emissary, Vinny’s charming and shy girlfriend of the time, asked if we could give some play to her sweetheart’s fledgling career.

Not much later, Vinny traveled to Italy for some fights in Europe. Having come to know him fairly well, we realized this was not your run-of-mill tomato can. He was honest, kind, and well spoken. We asked for dispatches and got much more than we expected.

Paz’s writing was so good that we printed his letters essentially verbatim, as he talked about his various bouts overseas. They were witty and enjoyable stories, coherent and informative. The kicker was how his letters were written on what appeared to be his Italian grandmother’s stationery, with scalloped edges and little flowers in the corner. We never got such a laugh as to be reading lines like, "So I caught him with a right uppercut and then pounded the crap out of him and finally knocked him out," written on paper that looked like it came from Ms. Marple.

Keep the guard up, Vinny, and hang tough like you always have.

The "Fifth Beatle" was not the bitter former Liverpudlian drummer Pete Best, or the self-anointed DJ Murray the K. To most Britons, he was a soccer player, George Best, who died last week at age 59.

Best was once called "the best ever" by the immortal Pele. A waif-like figure on the field, his skills were astonishing, and he could dance past defenders, hit rockets with either foot, and was a more-than-decent header for a rather small man. With a fiery temper and the will to win, he had the bravery and the balls to endure some of the harshest tackles you’d ever see, as that was about the only way to slow him down.

A native of Belfast, Best was denied the international stage of the World Cup that helped burnish the Brazilian Pele’s reputation, since Northern Ireland failed to qualify for the event during his brief international career. He was still voted the best British player of all time, and won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1968, at the precocious age of 22. He played for Manchester United, the New York Yankees of English soccer, during his heyday.

Thanks to Best’s sublime skills, United became the first English team to win the European Cup, in 1968. Tied 1-1 against Portuguese royalty, Benfica of Lisbon, Best scored the game winner in extra time, slipping past the defense (putting the ball through the center half’s legs en route), and rounding the goalkeeper to slip the ball home. United ended up winning, 4-1, but it was Best, chopped down throughout the match, who delivered the killing blow.

With long dark hair and mutton chop sideburns, Best was drop-dead good looking. You would place him more as a rock star, and his flamboyant lifestyle did nothing to diminish the comparison. It was this combination of transcendent talent, a glittery life, and immeasurable popularity that earned him "Fifth Beatle" status. He retired at age 28 from United, despite later appearances for lesser teams in Britain and the US, essentially cameo roles for beer and cigarette money. His name still evoked star status.

Phillipe had the chance to see Best play in person once for United, at Randalls Island Stadium in New York City, where he ruled the field with ease, despite hardly breaking a sweat in an exhibition match. It was akin to a papal visit in P.’s eyes.

Best died from the failure of a transplanted kidney, after his original organ had run up the white flag after years of notoriously heavy drinking. It is said that more people may attend his wake and wedding than the thousands who publicly grieved for Princess Di.

At a time when nitwits like Terrell Owens get press for behaving like self-absorbed clowns, Best didn’t need to self-promote. Men, women, boys, and girls admired him and flocked to him. But the star’s lifestyle eventually brought him down. As Georgie once explained, "I spent all my money on booze, birds, and cars. The rest I squandered."

Thanks for memories. You were the Best.

Marking World Aids Day in Providence this year, the GAIA Vaccine Foundation Award Symposium will take place this weekend. Here’s a rundown on some of the highlights: a symposium, including awards, films, a greeting by Mali Ambassador Abdoulaye Diop, and a keynote address by Dr. Jose Esparza of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will be held at the Smith-Buonanno Auditorium, Brown University, from 3 to 7 pm on Friday, December 2; call 401.863.6085 or 401.453.2068. On Saturday, December 3, Habib Koite and Bamada will perform from 7 to 10 pm at the VMAArts &CulturalCenter. Parking is available at the Providence Place Mall for $1. For info, call 401.453.2068.

We received this touching e-mail last week:

You guys are so irrelevant! Are you protecting your cushy jobs or what? Thank God for some people with backbone who haven’t played golf with anyone from the "in" crowd. You should hang it up, cutting edge you are not. Protect the slime that’s what you do. Go to local politics instead of beating up on president Bush, easy pickings! If you had any real integrity you would resign. You are all about fat hag jokes and local fluff, what about what is really going on?

I saw you on 10 news conference, why? Are you Guy Dufault’s buddy or not? He is in with all the right thinking sisters and brothers, so hands off? Speak up, or resign. You guys are a sham! Stand up and be counted or back slap and cover, like you have been doing.

_Joan M.

Thanks Joan, but your note seems to imply that there was a time when we were relevant. We have always been irrelevant. We continue to search for those "cushy jobs" you mention, and Jorge, at least, has not played golf since the mid-’60s. Other than that, though, you are right on.

Send charitable thoughts and Pulitzer-grade tips to p&j[a]phx.com.

The Phillipe & Jorge archives.
Issue Date: December 2 - 8, 2005
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