17 August 2008 - message sending

“Finally a war that really sends the message home!” exulted partisans of the message-sending theory of war today. Explained Theo “Towering Authority” Rist, “Optimal outcomes for Russia involve minimal changes in the situation on the ground, thus the rationale for aggression must be to enhance the truly frank exchange of information. Unless they, like, annex Georgia or something. That would kind of bust my theory.” The American president reinforced this view in a speech. “Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st Century,” declared the master of irony from his bully pulpit.