So I'm reading a generally positive review of the new Christopher Hitchens book in The New York Times, and I see this in the first paragraph:

Although more than a dozen of these articles appeared before 9/11, "Love, Poverty, and War" is nonetheless overshadowed by that day and by Hitchens's response to it. ... he suggests that "it is civilization and pluralism and secularism that need pitiless and unapologetic fighters." This book, in the main, shows him quite ready, indeed eager, to join the fray.

And my first thought, naturally, is: Oh yeah, Hitch? The recruiting office is that way. Why don't you sign up?

But that's unfair, right? After all, Hitchens is 55 years old.

Then I turn to the Metro section. Folks, here's the commander of the rear detachment of the New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division:



The story says that

When the 42nd moves into position next month, it will become the first full Guard division in its entirety to deploy into combat since the Korean War.

... The division is expected to remain abroad for at least a year, commanders say, protecting four northern provinces that include Kurdish areas where residents have long been friendly to American forces, but also Saddam Hussein's hometown, Tikrit, and the oil city of Kirkuk, where a dozen Iraqi Army soldiers were killed on Wednesday.

I think that commander, Colonel Russell Catalano, might be about your age, Hitchypoo.

So? What are you waiting for?

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UPDATE: Whatever the relative ages of Hitch and Colonel Catalano, I think it's safe to say that the colonel has a few years on the 35-year-old Jonah Goldberg.