Whack-a-mole (Recipe for Disaster)

Senator John McCain: So, General Abizaid, we're moving 7,500 troops into Baghdad, is that correct?

General John Abizaid: The number is closer to 3,500.
[. . .]

McCain: And where are these troops coming from?

Abizaid: Uh, the troops, the Styker Brigade, is coming down from Mosul.

McCain: From Mosul? Is the situation under control in Ramadi?

Abizaid: Uh, the situation in Ramadi, is better than it was two months ago.

McCain: Is the situation under control in Ramadi?

Abizaid: I think the situation in Ramadi is workable.

McCain: And the troops from Ramadi came from Falluja, isn't that correct?

Abizaid: I can't say senator, I know that --


McCain: Well that's my information. What I worry about is we're playing a game of whack-a-mole here. We move troops from -- It flares up, we move troops there. Everybody knows we've got big problems in Ramadi and I said, "Where you gonna get the troops?" 'Well we're going to have to move them from Falluja.' Now we're going to have to move troops into Baghdad from someplace else. It's very disturbing.

Whack-a-mole Recipe:

Ingredients
Lots of Lies (ripe)
Compliant Media
Aggrieved Population
Troops
False Optimism

Mash the Compliant Meida with ripe Lies about how things are looking up as you move Troops from one area with an Aggrieved Population to another. Let set and fester. Layer with Lies until they out number the TROOPS body count. Sprinkle False Optimism on top to taste. Serve with chips and a smile.