--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Iranians are pasting the place with…" description: "\"“The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above, a dozen contrails weaving tight patterns through the sky. One of them flared into a bright ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg" --- # The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above… ![“The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above, a dozen contrails weaving tight patterns through the sky. One of them flared into a bright orange cloud that rapidly faded into black smoke and flaming chunks of debris. “Christ, the flyboys are at it up there. Naomi, if we have to cross…” quote by Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg) > ““The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above, a dozen contrails weaving tight patterns through the sky. One of them flared into a bright orange cloud that rapidly faded into black smoke and flaming chunks of debris. “Christ, the flyboys are at it up there. Naomi, if we have to cross the border, we’re going to be completely fucked. This thing’s not an F-22, and the only countermeasure I’ve got is my middle finger.”” [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pilot describes intense artillery fire and the chaos of combat, using vivid imagery and dark humor to convey fear and helplessness. **In simple terms:** Combat is chaotic and terrifying, with limited options. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of control in war. Themes war fear humor chaos combat Mood anxious grim defiant Type personal narrative war commentary When to use this quote - air combat - border crossing - enemy engagement - stress coping - team reliance Key Concepts military tactics psychological stress survival camaraderie Questions to Reflect On - How do soldiers cope with extreme danger? - What role does humor play in trauma? A Different Perspective The quote reflects a single perspective and may overlook broader strategic context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Contrails are denser and block sunlight much more than natural cirrus clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-travis/contrails-are-denser-and-block-sunlight-much-more-than-natural-cirrus/) [David Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-travis/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“. . . I had on . . . black jeggings under a fitted, sleeveless, flowered dress, so he could see my true shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/i-had-on-black-jeggings-under-a-fitted-sleeveless-flowered-dress-so/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [Well, I guess I'm single for the night, And you can sit right on my middle finger for the night. And if I sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/well-i-guess-i-m-single-for-the-night-and-you-can-sit-right-on-my/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [My middle finger gets a boner whenever I think of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/my-middle-finger-gets-a-boner-whenever-i-think-of-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [“Everyone has bad days...'my Dear MIDDLE FINGER, Thanks for sticking up for me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/everyone-has-bad-days-my-dear-middle-finger-thanks-for-sticking-up/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [Do it all the time. Do it all night. Middle finger up to the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobra-starship/do-it-all-the-time-do-it-all-night-middle-finger-up-to-the-sky/) [Cobra Starship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobra-starship/) > [Stupid females gone talk regardless of how you feel, so I switch hard, have a smile on my face, and throw the middle finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-females-gone-talk-regardless-of-how-you-feel-so-i-switch-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Anyway I was in the school nurse’s office now recovering from my slit wrists. Snap and Loopin and HAHRID were there too. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-gilesbie/anyway-i-was-in-the-school-nurse-s-office-now-recovering-from-my-slit/) [Tara Gilesbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-gilesbie/) > [“He knelt quickly, bit her hard on the ass, then bobbed back up as she yelped and straightened in surprise. He pressed a hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicolay/he-knelt-quickly-bit-her-hard-on-the-ass-then-bobbed-back-up-as-she/) Scott Nicolay > [Sometimes one middle finger isn't enough to let someone know how you feel. That's why you have two hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/sometimes-one-middle-finger-isn-t-enough-to-let-someone-know-how-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [If I fall in the field and ain't no more air for me Pour some on the ground and put one in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhial-gatyung/if-i-fall-in-the-field-and-ain-t-no-more-air-for-me-pour-some-on-the/) Nhial Gatyung > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(After witnessing a young Indian man throwing a popped grain of some sort at a caged, humiliated mountain lion) That was it. I grabbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-turner/after-witnessing-a-young-indian-man-throwing-a-popped-grain-of-some/) Jack Turner > [Dear haters... thank you, you gave me a job. Yours sincerely, middle finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-haters-thank-you-you-gave-me-a-job-yours-sincerely-middle-finger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Michael R. Hicks > [“After my ordeal ended, I gave thought many times to seeing Eleanor and my son Jason, even if from a distance. But their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/after-my-ordeal-ended-i-gave-thought-many-times-to-seeing-eleanor-and/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“A long smear of crimson on the water’s surface drifted by the watching warriors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/a-long-smear-of-crimson-on-the-water-s-surface-drifted-by-the/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“In the United States, the government has abrogated its responsibilities to safeguard the food supply of its citizens. The biotech companies do the safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/in-the-united-states-the-government-has-abrogated-its/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“Genetically modified organisms. You are what you eat…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/genetically-modified-organisms-you-are-what-you-eat/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“was an unusual”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/was-an-unusual/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“Ride now, my love,” he told her, “as fast as you can. And do not look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/ride-now-my-love-he-told-her-as-fast-as-you-can-and-do-not-look-back/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“if anything, you may think of me as Adam without his Eve, cast out of the Garden with no hope of ever returning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/if-anything-you-may-think-of-me-as-adam-without-his-eve-cast-out-of/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“When you have eliminated the impossible,” he heard Melissa say through the intercom, “whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Sherlock Holmes said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/when-you-have-eliminated-the-impossible-he-heard-melissa-say-through/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“Have you ever heard of the law of unintended consequences?” He shook his head. “It basically says that any intervention in a complex system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/have-you-ever-heard-of-the-law-of-unintended-consequences-he-shook/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) > [“The sun's glow had given way to a brilliant twilight that colored the great mountains with violet and orange rivers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/the-sun-s-glow-had-given-way-to-a-brilliant-twilight-that-colored-the/) [Michael R. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) [Explore all 11 Michael R. Hicks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/) ## More Middle finger quotes > [Dear haters... thank you, you gave me a job. Yours sincerely, middle finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-haters-thank-you-you-gave-me-a-job-yours-sincerely-middle-finger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(After witnessing a young Indian man throwing a popped grain of some sort at a caged, humiliated mountain lion) That was it. I grabbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-turner/after-witnessing-a-young-indian-man-throwing-a-popped-grain-of-some/) Jack Turner > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I fall in the field and ain't no more air for me Pour some on the ground and put one in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhial-gatyung/if-i-fall-in-the-field-and-ain-t-no-more-air-for-me-pour-some-on-the/) Nhial Gatyung > [Sometimes one middle finger isn't enough to let someone know how you feel. That's why you have two hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/sometimes-one-middle-finger-isn-t-enough-to-let-someone-know-how-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [“He knelt quickly, bit her hard on the ass, then bobbed back up as she yelped and straightened in surprise. He pressed a hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicolay/he-knelt-quickly-bit-her-hard-on-the-ass-then-bobbed-back-up-as-she/) Scott Nicolay > [“Anyway I was in the school nurse’s office now recovering from my slit wrists. Snap and Loopin and HAHRID were there too. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-gilesbie/anyway-i-was-in-the-school-nurse-s-office-now-recovering-from-my-slit/) [Tara Gilesbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-gilesbie/) > [Stupid females gone talk regardless of how you feel, so I switch hard, have a smile on my face, and throw the middle finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-females-gone-talk-regardless-of-how-you-feel-so-i-switch-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do it all the time. Do it all night. Middle finger up to the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobra-starship/do-it-all-the-time-do-it-all-night-middle-finger-up-to-the-sky/) [Cobra Starship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobra-starship/) > [“Everyone has bad days...'my Dear MIDDLE FINGER, Thanks for sticking up for me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/everyone-has-bad-days-my-dear-middle-finger-thanks-for-sticking-up/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [My middle finger gets a boner whenever I think of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/my-middle-finger-gets-a-boner-whenever-i-think-of-you/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) > [Well, I guess I'm single for the night, And you can sit right on my middle finger for the night. And if I sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/well-i-guess-i-m-single-for-the-night-and-you-can-sit-right-on-my/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“. . . I had on . . . black jeggings under a fitted, sleeveless, flowered dress, so he could see my true shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/i-had-on-black-jeggings-under-a-fitted-sleeveless-flowered-dress-so/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Hold your head up high, and put your middle finger up to the haters because your life will go on with or without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/hold-your-head-up-high-and-put-your-middle-finger-up-to-the-haters/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) Browse all 277 Middle finger quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above, a dozen contrails weaving tight patterns through the sky. One of them flared into a bright orange cloud that rapidly faded into black smoke and flaming chunks of debris. “Christ, the flyboys are at it up there. Naomi, if we have to cross the border, we’re going to be completely fucked. This thing’s not an F-22, and the only countermeasure I’ve got is my middle finger.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael R. Hicks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with-artillery-above-a-dozen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Middle finger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with-artillery-above-a-dozen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/michael-r-hicks-36901_middle-finger_the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with_894461.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Iranians are pasting the place with artillery.” Above, a dozen contrails weaving tight patterns through…” — Michael R. Hicks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael R. Hicks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-hicks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Iranians are pasting the place...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with-artillery-above-a-dozen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-hicks/the-iranians-are-pasting-the-place-with-artillery-above-a-dozen/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```