Geronimo Loved Head Shot

May 4, 2011

I was disappointed this morning to see the negative reaction from certain Native Americans objecting to the usage of "Geronimo" as a code name for the Ossama raid. Some spokesperson for the Apache tribe made the point we wouldn't have used the name Mandela, or Ghandi, to identify the raid. True, but then we wouldn't have named the raid after Justin Bieber either.

Here's the difference: the real Geronimo would have had Mandela and Ghandi for lunch (not to mention Justin Bieber), and I mean that literally.

The G-Man was no peace-nik, or wimpy politician. He was one of the most fearsome warriors who ever lived. As I read it, from his autobiography, the guy loved nothing more than to go to Mexico every summer and kill everyone he met. Unlike Ghandi, Goyathla had some strong prejudices which he pursued with extreme prejudice. That's how he spent his vacation. It was fun for him.

As for maligning the Apaches, I've pointed this out before—we didn't name an attack helicopter after them because of their beadwork. These guys were worthy adversaries. In their day we actually feared them. It is a form of respect when, to this day, soldiers refer to hostile territory as "Indian country."

I believe Geronimo would be proud of this association. He would have loved the tactics and the head shot and he would have enjoyed tipping a few with the warriors when they got back to the base.

"Yo. Who's Justin Bieber?"
—Geronimo