In this case, though, their deceptions did not diffuse a crisis but exacerbated one. In the author's opinion; it certainly doesn't appear that way from my perspective. Their deceptions did not save lives but led to many deaths. Using a phrase intellectuals seem to enjoy bandying about: How can any sensible person look at the number of mass graves uncovered (130 according to the last count I read; source: Human Rights Watch, www.hrw.org) and claim that our action in Iraq did not save lives? The author is employing the Chaminade technique he mentioned earlier in the article by following that up with a "led to many deaths" assertion. Their deceptions were not in the face of a clear and present danger but were precisely about whether a clear and present danger existed. I don't view the statements being made by our president or those in the administration as "deceptions." I doubt the author and I would ever reach agreement on what we each believe defines -- or qualifies as -- clear and present danger.
And, in this case, the ones knocking on the door were not the Nazis but the American people. Anyone comparing the American people (or the American people leading this country) to Nazis is out of touch with reality and history, imo.
I believe that when one considers the manner in which the author set up the pace at the beginning of his opinion piece, "one" can only reach the conclusion that the author himself used those "masking his true intent" techniques he contends he abhors when used for political purpose to get his message across. That message appears to me to be that he doesn't respect our country. Perhaps the author thinks that saying (writing) demeaning things about our country by making unfair comparisons to one of the most ruthless regimes of the 20th Century puts him somewhere above the riff-raff who don't see or share (his version of) the truth. I think it makes him a willing party to the politics of distortion.
I know in my heart, as a Christian if I had been in the same position as our president, it wouldn't have been an easy decision to decide to go to war, but based on what I know I believe that decision to go to war would have been my decision as well. (The president in this case has far more information than do I. I trust that he made his decision based on the truthfulness of that additional information. And, I feel better having a president I believe I can trust.)
Pam