I see photos and videos of soldiers flexing muscle in West Africa. I've covered my fair share of conflict in this Mother Africa. Before the shooting starts, you will see all the show of force; soldiers pausing with big guns, wearing strange things, all those menacing military vehicles...then the rubber meets the road. You will be surprised. Those tough fellows (many go into battle with civilians clothes underneath) will throw away the camouflage, the guns, and the boots, and flee into the forest or back to their villages. You will find piles of uniforms...and the barefooted guerillas who put them to flight loading up. The sound of bullets hitting human flesh at scale is one of the most sickening things you will hear. On your first encounter, you will throw up, and shiver. Then the nerves calm down, and the adrenalin often takes over and keeps you going. But war really is horrible. It is not a pleasant story for journalists to tell, though the glory that comes with telling it is irresistible. The one thing you learn is that it is very very hard to walk happily into death. Those tough guys, are often the most afraid and have a greater need to show they aren't. The really dangerous guys are often the shy unassuming ones, whom you overlook in the parade.