perfidy

Today marks the 229th birthday of the US Marine Corps.

Serving Marines and former Marines gather on this day to raise a hot toddy to toast the Corps. Even veterans of long ago wars and disconnected from fellow comrades might hoist a drink on this day, even by themselves. See some pics from Iraq of the USMC celebration here. They don't get the rum there, but they do get the pleasure of the Black Watch Regiment's company.

I could riff on the capabilities of Marine units, the deeply ingrained sense of Corps history and honor, and the very real bonds between Marine veterans of all ages and conflicts. But I won't, because I wasn't one and am therefore not fit to tell the tale.

I will simply sum it up thus: chicks dig them, men want to be them, and hippies are scared of them. High praise all 'round.

Happy Birthday, Marine Corps. May your next year be as full of ass-kicking as your last.