The Iraq War is a classic exercise in the law of unintended consequences. The latest example: American citizens are dying in the "homeland" (hate that word) because of it. Follow the chain of causality:

1. The US Army scoops up every available pair of night-vision goggles, manufactured or planned, to use in Iraq.

2. None are available in the US for dometic purposes.

3. Although the National Transportation Safety Board has encouraged the use of such equipment since 2006 to reduce the risk of deadly nighttime crashes during emergency medical flights, air ambulance services have been put on waiting lists of a year or more in deference to the military's needs.

4. And thus, the dying:

> The shortage came into focus last month after a helicopter used by the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics' Med Flight program slammed into a bluff, killing a doctor, nurse and pilot. The chopper had no night vision gear.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=759518

My friends (presumptuous, huh?)

What the heck is it with John McCain? Remembering that one should always keep his enemies close, I have subscribed to McCain's email list to see what the man is up to, and based on his latest missive, he's up to telling us one thing while doing another -- which is itself evidence that he wouldn't as president offer a real change to George W. Bush. McCain (or his mouthpieces) write:

>  This is a change election. But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change; between going forward and going backward.

> The right change recognizes that many of the policies and institutions of our government have failed. The right kind of change will initiate widespread and innovative reforms in almost every area of government policy from energy to taxes to government spending and the military.

So, many of Bush's policies have failed. So we must have change. But based on his specific pronouncements ranging from domestic to foreign policy, the McCain "change" amounts to: More of the same.

The guy isn't a change agent. He couldn't even make change for a buck. Unless, of course, he's simply lying to win office. But that's not a change from the current regime, either.

To paraphrase a line from the NPR comedy quiz show "Whaddya Know?": McCain should sit down and let someone else have a chance -- for a change.