When I saw Thailand on the prison list; I knew that the MSM had got the story wrong once again. There are a number of countries, Thailand is one of them, that are taking the offensive on Al Qaida. They are not pulling the covers over their faces like the wimpy europeans.

These countries are allowing the CIA to question their Al Qaida prisoners in their local prisons. This allows the CIA to piece together the world-wide operations of Al Qaida. This is important as an Al Qaida technique is to run a terrorist operation in one country from another.

MSM wants you to believe that we are in this terrorist war by ourselves. But there are 103 countries cooperating with us in killing or capturing Al Qaida. Almost all signed on after we liberated Iraq. They realized Bush was serious about going after Al Qaida. They knew Clinton wasn't.

I AM NOT A NUMBER, I AM A FREE MAN!

I'm gratified that "...rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." Clearly these fellows need to be kept somewhere, much as we kept the old Nazis, where they could do no harm, and where we might extract information. Torture? These people aren't sophisticates. You isolate them for a couple weeks. Wear them down mentally. Wire them for sound. Spike their OJ with some Everclear, and toss a compadre in their cell. You won't be able to shut them up.

On the other hand, I'm disappointed since this was my screenplay idea for season six of 24. Russian guards are the best. They're preconfigured for cruelty, work for vodka, and they don't like Moslims.

Hmmm....The Schizoid Man as the best episode? It's not bad, but there are several that are better--for instance, the ones with Leo McKern as Number 2 (Chimes of Big Ben and the two penultimate episodes), It's Your Funeral, and Many Happy Returns.

Take my comments with a grain of salt; my personal favorite is frequently cited as one of the worst episodes by lots of people: the western Living in Harmony (mostly because of Alexis Kanner's acting job as The Kid.).

Great googley moogley, I need a life.

i like Chimes of Big Ben, and of course the obvious choices are the last two episodes, but Schizoid Man is all about an elaborate mind-fuck. They bring in another #6 to try and confuse our boy into thinking that he's not who he thinks he is. By the end of the episode even i get confused about who is who and what is what. It also contains a quote that i always think about when i'm at IHOP. "flapjacks are my favorite dish. flapjacks are my favorite dish."

Yes, i bet i'm weirder than you, Victor.

Schizoid Man is also my favorite episode. I also like the finale. Talk about a mind-fuck! McGoohan had to go into hiding because people were so upset over it. My brother was an extra on the movie A Time to Kill. He ate lunch with McGoohan one day. As they ate, my brother said to him, "My brother Chris has every episode of The Prisoner on tape. He recorded them from A&E. He's a big fan of your show." McGoohan, without looking up, said, "They're a strange lot, aren't they?"

cool story.

i feel the urge to write McGoohan haiku.

Victor?

Yep, that's a great story. I wonder what Mr. McGoohan referred to when he said "they" though? The episodes, or the fans?

And "Living In Harmony" is more of a mind-fuck, IMHO, for both the Prisoner *and* the viewer. Bet those folks who tuned in a bit late the first time it was ever broadcast were wondering, "WTF?"

Be careful about who you're trying to out-weird, annika. Remember I consort with rats :~)

A McGoohan or Prisoner haiku contest? Sure, I'm in. We can have two prizes: The Annika Prize, which I'm sure will be a date with Annika (all expenses paid by the winner, because you're a starving law student), or something from her store...I'm not sure which...and the Victor Prize, which will be an unopened DVD copy of the Crispin Glover version of "Willard" if I can find that copy my bro mailed to me, not knowing I got a copy the day after it came out. Be careful to limit winners to CONUS--that show has lots of overseas fans who know how to use Google.

how about no prizes except bragging rights.

But McGoohan was in several great things. Silver Streak, one of my bro's favorite movies. he did a couple of really good Columbo episodes. he was creepy as the warden in Escape From Alcatraz, too.

Hey, it's your contest, kiddo. Tho you may be missing out on the opportunity to scam a lobster dinner out of some sucker.

I liked Ice Station Zebra, myself, as well as his cameo in The Simpsons.

Dont forget his best movie roll as Longshanks in Braveheart.