The Ant Wars: Revisiting the Rules of Engagement

Now that we've discovered the home base of our enemy, a proposal has been proffered that violates the original rules of engagement. This suggestion comes from a member of the war council. As in any organization, there are two competing schools of thought. In our war with the ants the two schools can be loosely defined as follows:

1. War tactics define us as a people. While the ends are vitally important, the means by which we achieve those ends is a very prominent consideration in our approach to battle.
2. Securing the objective of the battle trumps any and all consideration of whether the means are humane, sustainable or even moral.

In our efforts to identify tactics that would significantly reduce the enemies ability to attack our home, one of the tactics proposed was a chemical bombdropped inside the container of the mailbox. The competing tactic is to surround the mailbox with baits, including the boric acid-honey baits, boric acid-D.E. baits, Spinosad, and, at the suggestion of a friend, instant grits.

After a contentous meeting with tears, screaming, begging and pleading (from me), the bait strategy was agreed upon for now. But tactics aside, the moisture we've had, both falling from the sky and the saturated soil are preventing our use of baits.

And there is another problem: we are now being attacked from our Northwestern corridor, and I cannot find the source of the attack or where the enemy is gaining access to our home.