Also, is it a given that private extraction helicopter forces routinely carry rope?
And, not everybody can just handclimb up a rope. Or they were supposed to pull him up, I suppose. Or fly around with him dangling to someplace where they thought they could land?
All very interesting questions, and thank you GT for bringing them to our attention.
Miep, the hoist was using a rope, you can just drop it manually.
And yes carrying him to a landing spot might have been a better option than leaving him, if he could not climb and they could not haul him manually. But let’s not get too real about it all. Tripper didn’t think of it, and now can’t say why. And he’s quite right about the fog.
So, I guess Joanie paid the huge ransom, and the Rascal is back home, in the land of the free, to pursue bad haircuts.
He has no one to blame but himself, for choosing a completely inexperienced sidekick.
Anybody who works, or expects to work, in an adrenaline-soaked situation, has to train, train, train to know what to do, when the pump is in overload and the vision narrows.
Enthusiasts train until they get it right. Professionals train until they can’t get it wrong. (And still sometimes, multiple failures conspire to form a disaster, that no training can overcome.)
got the strip days late so no one will read this… but just have to comment on the cute chick in the last panel.. “cute chick” now work her into the strip.. Jeff could use a little cheering up…
antburman over 13 years ago
Delightful to take reality so seriously…. and then with such dry humour.
MiepR over 13 years ago
I’ll note also that the penultimate panel is especially nicely rendered.
MiepR over 13 years ago
Worst bitter Doonesbury comic ever.
MiepR over 13 years ago
Also, is it a given that private extraction helicopter forces routinely carry rope?
And, not everybody can just handclimb up a rope. Or they were supposed to pull him up, I suppose. Or fly around with him dangling to someplace where they thought they could land?
All very interesting questions, and thank you GT for bringing them to our attention.
Hugh B. Hayve over 13 years ago
LMAO! Good one!
Doughfoot over 13 years ago
Miep, the hoist was using a rope, you can just drop it manually.
And yes carrying him to a landing spot might have been a better option than leaving him, if he could not climb and they could not haul him manually. But let’s not get too real about it all. Tripper didn’t think of it, and now can’t say why. And he’s quite right about the fog.
And you’re so right about the penultimate panel.
Sandfan over 13 years ago
Anyone else see a lot of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton in this relationship?
lewisbower over 13 years ago
I grew up in an age when the future held unlimited possibilities. Why didn’t he just use his jet pack. We all knew we’d have them by 2011.
awaysaway over 13 years ago
Very funny. I plan to use the “Worst sidekick ever” line at every opportunity.
thirdguy over 13 years ago
So, I guess Joanie paid the huge ransom, and the Rascal is back home, in the land of the free, to pursue bad haircuts. He has no one to blame but himself, for choosing a completely inexperienced sidekick.
roctor over 13 years ago
Ah,the game of chance. Rerack for about 6-8 weeks. Who could be Red’s equal?
TheWildSow over 13 years ago
Thirdguy – I think eventually the Taliban paid Joanie to take him back!
YatInExile over 13 years ago
Jeff thinks Zipper is a screw up? Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.
pbarnrob over 13 years ago
Anybody who works, or expects to work, in an adrenaline-soaked situation, has to train, train, train to know what to do, when the pump is in overload and the vision narrows.
Enthusiasts train until they get it right. Professionals train until they can’t get it wrong. (And still sometimes, multiple failures conspire to form a disaster, that no training can overcome.)
Dragoncat over 13 years ago
“Throw him a rope,” he says…
I hope he wasn’t referring to the bungee cord from his first attempt.
jeanne1212 over 13 years ago
oldguy2 over 13 years ago
I had fire team members just as bad.
RinaFarina over 13 years ago
look, the point is that there is nothing inside Zipper’s skull. Where there is supposed to be brain cells, there is just empty space.
jeanne1212 over 13 years ago
Not batman/robin, etc…more like the two guys upstairs at Lavern & Shirley’s apartment.
mroberts88 over 13 years ago
Congrats military, Bin Laden is dead
Fred Kuechenmeister over 13 years ago
got the strip days late so no one will read this… but just have to comment on the cute chick in the last panel.. “cute chick” now work her into the strip.. Jeff could use a little cheering up…