[Pelham]

I don't see how the Reagan-Bush era 1980s and early 1990s policies in the Middle East—selling arms to Iran, putting troops in Lebanon and running when they were hit, cynically playing off Iran against Iraq, selling weapons to any thug in the Middle East, giving a blank check to the House of Saud, letting the Shiites and Kurds be massacred in February-March 1991—were anything other than precursors to the events of 9/11

Which is why there is little reason to take you seriously. Go back to growing grapes and teaching college.

[MNJohnnie]

Which is why there is little reason to take you seriously

Which is every reason to take him seriously. Every statement is a fact. Funny how they all scream about "Rummy's mistakes" but arrogantly ever refuse to own up to their own. Rather then cling to their ideological dictated "Realist" dogma they try learning something instead of arrogantly clinging to their 09-10-01 dogmas

[GoLightly]

What part of the statement you highlighted is historically incorrect? We were deep in Cold War thinking at the time. Our current situation is partially blowback from it. Taking a critical assessment after the fact is appropriate, not an attempt to condemn, after the fact.