[reed_inthe_wind]

"The most obvious way of interpreting what the Pope said is that it is another slap at US unilateralism, which is willing to act when international bodies won't. The Pope knows that, had the US taken his advice, Hussein would still be in power, stuffing his people into shredders.

The Pope wants something to counter the United States and Britain. Surely you see that."

I think you are being to defensive. The slap - if that's what we are calling it - is directed toward the state of the UN. Why should we go into a defensive shell and not assume that the statement is aimed at the current situation in its entirety including the intransigence of France and Russia, the emergence of terror networks loosely aligned with rogue states, and the complacency of the current order regarding rogue states developing and proliferating WMD.

[sinkspur]

Why should we go into a defensive shell and not assume that the statement is aimed at the current situation in its entirety including the intransigence of France and Russia, the emergence of terror networks loosely aligned with rogue states, and the complacency of the current order regarding rogue states developing and proliferating WMD.

Because you know very well that this assumption would be ludicrous.

The Pope's Christmas Peace Message, delivered through the clownish Archbishop Martino two weeks ago and largely unreported, stated that there are underlying motives behind terrorism "which should be taken into account".

What on earth could bin Laden have to say that is worth listening to?