I think I figured it out . . .

. . . how President Obama is going to justify that Nobel peace prize, I mean.

According to news reports that surfaced during my time in hospital about a local unit serving in Iraq, he's going to set his Youth Volunteer Corps on the problem. ("Yes! We! Can!") ("Can! What?") ("Don't! Confuse! Me! With! The! Facts!"). They're going to overcome world hostility with . . . world habaneros???

Wetness on the tips of eyelashes, the strong aroma of chili peppers, music, laughter and heat. Lots and lots of heat.

These were just a few ingredients added to craft the 225th Engineer Brigade's Engineer Call Chili Cook-Off at Camp Liberty in Iraq Sept. 26.

Every month brings a new theme to the social gathering for the engineers of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, and September's theme was a tailgate party and chili competition.

The chili cook-off was a near-epic battle between seven teams, representing Louisiana, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Michigan, that included members from sergeants major with over 100 years of cooking experience to three specialists with over 1,000 minutes of cooking experience.

Capt. Steven Belford of Pineville explained that the International Chili Society, sponsors of the theme, all started with Lt. Col. Vincent Tallo of the 225th Engineering Brigade from Ball.

The International Chili Society, which wanted to sponsor a chili cook-off for troops in Iraq, contacted his wife, a member of a nonprofit organization called "Soldiers Angels." Both groups partnered together and worked with folks from around the country - including California, Washington, D.C., and Texas.

Each team received a box of supplies from the International Chili Society. The supplies included aprons, decorations, recipes and hints for making each team's chili the best that it could be.

Participants were asked to vote for their favorite chili based on color, aroma, consistency, taste, and after taste. The 1st Cavalry Division's band's "Tuff Box and the Baghdad Horns" provided the day's acoustical afterburn.

The surprise upset of the night went to Team XXX Chili, from Michigan, winner of the chili cook-off. Spc. Steven Plesko, of Hale, Mich., Spc. Pete Bice, of Big Rapids, Mich., and Spc. Steve Rich, from Mancelona, Mich, all part of the 1434th Engineer Company, said their secret to winning had more to do with ingredients outside of the pot.

"We have the voice, looks, and brains. What more do we need?" Rich said.

You have to understand the religion of chili to realize just what a dastardly, fiendish, underhanded plot this is. Tell strong men here, all armed to the teeth, that chili cooks with a thousand minutes' experience are coming through, and they'll clear a path for them, looks of pain and pity on their faces. Tell them they'll be cooking for their enemies, and expressions of pure unadulterated glee and delighted anticipation will appear!

Here's a video of one of President Obama's youth volunteers getting in on the action.

Oops . . . that might not be quite what the Nobel Peace Prize Committee had in mind!



Peter