How Will Kerry Insult These Guys?

Among the most common targets for terrorist attacks in Iraq has been the new security forces. Nevertheless, volunteers for the jobs continue to sign up at a brisk pace. Are they overly optimistic, as Kerry accused Allawi of being? Or are they puppets of George Bush, as Joe Lockhart says? Or, are they brave heroes.

When the first mortar shell hit, the recruits cheered defiantly.

They were seated in the bleachers of an indoor basketball court at the Police Sports Club, about 800 prospective members of the new Iraqi police. Among them were four friends -- Jawaad Jabri, Alaa Aboud, Adel Finjan and Raed Sudani -- who later described the scene.

When the second mortar round fell five minutes later, they said, no one cheered. Jabri ran to the top of the bleachers and stared out a window at a smoldering crater. "The next one's for us," he told Aboud. "They're getting a fix on our position."

After another five-minute lull, the third shell struck, shaking the gymnasium, they recalled. A police colonel walked to mid-court, the friends recalled, and announced: "This building is no longer safe. Please exit immediately. Go home to your families."

I guarantee, every one of these guys is taking a much greatest risk than John Kerry ever did.