Blame Canada.

Once in a while, you run across a really lovely bit of writing in a newspaper. This morning, John Bartlett of The Erie Times-News deserves a small, tasteful award for a great lead on what could have been a deadly dull story. Here's the full text.


By John Bartlett
john.bartlett@timesnews.com

For the first time since the War of 1812, many United States vessels patrolling the Great Lakes will be armed.

However, no resumption of hostilities is anticipated.

Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes are being equipped with machine guns capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute to defend against drug runners and terrorists, not Canadians.