As Steve Earle said last night, I believe with all my heart you can sincerely pray for all of those in harm's way and still oppose this war.

Some people aren't so sure.

If I have this conversation one more time.....

Forget whether or not Arnett's firing was fair. Just be glad the Newsday staffers are safe.

But it's not all good news today. Very sorry to hear about the BBC cameraman.

My friend Jim Rupert is in Jordan for Newsday; while another, the Washington Post's Monte Reel is embedded with the 82nd Airborne.

Still another, Dan Ephron, is Newsweek's Jerusalem correspondent.

Needless to say, I hope they're all ok, and I look forward - more than ever, this year - to seeing them in September for our annual reunion.

Yet who knows what might have passed under the bridge before we can all share a beer again? By Labor Day will our forces have subdued Iraq and moved on to Bush's next "crusade"? Will Congress have been forced into yet another 'emergency' military budget bailout? Will any Democrat other than Howard Dean have the guts to take a stand and question the moral, ethical and legal justification surrounding the war?

In any case, it's never too early to think about freezing your ass off in a cornfield. Roll on January 19.

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