I walked down the street, like a soldier should.
They planted bombs down the street, like I knew they would,
Because al-Qaida has tried, wherever it may be,
Enlisting hands for hellish plot to quell our liberty.

I never saw the boy who wore a cloth-wrapped hood, familiar.
At closer range, he acted strange, as he brandished belt and scimitar.

So I talked down his wares, like a soldier should.
I followed him to the lairs where insurgents stood.
That's where al-Qaidans took pride in clever repartee,
Indoctrinating youth to spot the smell of liberty.

I stalked their safe house, like a soldier should,
By following cat-and-mouse leads in neighborhood.
I found al-Qaidans inside; before they could slay me,
I twisted bands around the lot to quell THEIR liberty.

I'd knocked on the door, like a soldier should,
And called, "On the floor!" while I blew that wood.
Because al-Qaidans will hide, whenever they may see
The blistering Intelligence of U. S. Infantry.

You asked me why I should write this. I said, "I nil should say.
"I could be bold and more adept. My quips go oft astray."

So I talked to my sarge, like a soldier should,
And sarge talked to martial court's lawyers good;
And they all agreed on less-harried life for me.
al-Qaida's alive wherever it may be.

So I may go on trial, for some say I should
Have read their legal rights in language understood.
Because al-Qaidans can cry, and ever be set free,
For now they've heard press story: they have rights like you and me.

That's what war's come to be.