Israeli Policy

Today's cartoon about Olmert's confusing policies is a twist on a classic cartoon punchline. The cartoon was Pogo, drawn by Walt Kelly. Pogo. Kelly drew a Disney-like cutesy comic strip but which delivered often heavy political and social commentary. An obvious influence on Dry Bones.

Kelly's classic punchline was "We have met the enemy and he is us." Kelly's genius was to paraphrase a then-famous quote of "We have met the enemy, and he is ours", which was a message from Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of the U.S. naval forces at the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. These days nobody remembers Perry or his quote. And I fear, only cartoonists remember Walt Kelly and his creation, Pogo Possum.

Below is a recycled use of the Pogo punchline (as printed in 1971).

If you want to learn about Pogo Possum and Walt Kelly, check out the official Pogo website.