paper hero

Petraeus tried repackaging defeat
like dying slower had defined our goals
the media embraced it, 'cause it's neat
colluding to obscure our own death-tolls
no photos graced the pages of their rags
as editors jumped through Dick Cheney's hoops
while soldiers got shipped home in body bags
averting eyes from our homecoming troops
his arc peaked early, but soon ran its course
when leaks were traced back to his CIA
another hero toppled from his horse
another GoldenBoy with feet of clay
he falls for sex and fades from public view
and now it's time to pardon Snowden, too