Laura Wronowski
“In Military Cutbacks, Gates and His Russian Counterpart Share Common Ground”
This article resembles The Epic of Gilgamesh in many ways. The first is regarding the unfamiliarity Mr. Serdyukov had with their military and the unfamiliarity Enkidu had with being humanlike. The New York Times stated that “…Mr. Serdyukov… had more experience in the furniture industry than with the military…” The Epic of Gilgamesh said “Enkidu knew nothing about eating bread for food, and of drinking beer he had not been taught.” (A97)
Also, both Serdyukov and Enkidu face powerful opponents almost all alone. The article mentions how only Serdyukov is against the entire Russian Military for cutbacks in spending. “That which Serdyukov is doing is a challenge to the Russian military culture as a whole, the culture that is based upon the idea of a mass-mobilization army starting with Peter the Great.” (NY Times) In The Epic of Gilgamesh Enkidu killed the Bull of Heaven and stands up for Gilgamesh because Ishtar was upset that Gilgamesh slandered her. Enkidu is faced alone with the powerful Ishtar and said “If I could only get at you I would do the same to you! I would drape his innards over your arms!” (A110)
Works Cited
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/world/europe/15military.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Schwirtz, Michael; Shanker Thom. “In Military Cutbacks, Gates and His Russian Counterpart Share Common Ground”. New York Times 15 September 2010, New York ed.: The New York Times International A13. Print.
