Monday, June 08, 2026

Muslim Big Shot to USMC Officer, 1904: "Your President Is Mad!"; USMC Captain (Saluting, with Utmost Delight): "Yes, Sir!"


As talks with Iran continue, it is time to dwell briefly upon an epic adventure movie starring Sean Connery that came out a few years before the Ayatollahs' revolution. Filmed 50 years ago by John Milius on a script loosely based on the Perdicaris affair of 1904, The Wind and the Lion features one of the most patriotic, pro-American battle scenes ever filmed (at YouTube, divided in two parts below): after part one, be sure not to miss the last few seconds of part two as the marines bring the battle to an end, when this brief dialogue takes place. 
  • Capt. Jerome, USMC: Captain Jerome, United States Marine Corps, and you are my prisoner, sir.
  • The Bashaw of Tangier: You are a very dangerous man, Captain, and your President Roosevelt is mad.
  • Capt. Jerome, USMC: Yes, sir!
  • And speaking of Theodore Roosevelt, check out the 1975 dialog in which the TR character foresees the arrival of Donald Trump (from the post A Grizzly! Congress's Wittiest Senator Lays Bare an Awesome Description of Donald Trump, Echoing 50-Year-Old Sean Connery Epic Movie's Striking Prescience).
    • Theodore Roosevelt: The American grizzly is a symbol of the American character: strength, intelligence, ferocity. Maybe a little blind and reckless at times... but courageous beyond all doubt. And one other trait that goes with all previous.
    • 2nd Reporter: And that, Mr. President?
    • Theodore Roosevelt: Loneliness. The American grizzly lives out his life alone. Indomitable, unconquered — but always alone. He has no real allies, only enemies, but none of them as great as he.
    • 2nd Reporter: And you feel this might be an American trait?
    • Theodore Roosevelt: Certainly. The world will never love us. They respect us - they might even grow to fear us. But they will never love us, for we have too much audacity! And, we're a bit blind and reckless at times too.
    • 2nd Reporter: Are you perhaps referring to the situation in Morocco and the Panama Canal[?]
    • Theodore Roosevelt: If you say so... The American grizzly embodies the spirit of America. He should be our symbol! Not that ridiculous eagle — he's nothing more than a dandified vulture.