[Jhoffa_]

Holy Moly! This is the catalyst. If true, this will make things happen. It really changes things.

It's not true, but if it were:

Yes it does change things, and for the worse.. Israel should sit this one out.

No one wants a regional wide conflict when dealing with Saddam (cept' the Muslims.. they would LOVE it.)

[Nexus]

No one wants a regional wide conflict when dealing with Saddam

Israel has every right to strike back. They had 40 Scuds launched at their people during round 1. If they had known that Saddam wasn't going to be removed, and that they would have to face this threat again, would they have been so nice? Would you? He's probably going to top this round of Scuds with something juicier than conventional warheads - it's almost a given.

[Sabertooth]

Yes it does change things, and for the worse.. Israel should sit this one out.

No one wants a regional wide conflict when dealing with Saddam (cept' the Muslims.. they would LOVE it.)

Bush can't tell Israel not to respond to WMD-tipped SCUDs, nor should they hesitate to do so.

Some Muslims might think they want a pan-Arabic conflict... but it would go far better for us than for them. We should not fear giving them the war they're just begging for. They should learn fear.

While a wider conflict would generate more casualties for us in the short-run than a limited one, a more thorough defeat of Islam now would be better for America and the world for decades to come.

Otherwise, the Muslim problem simply continues to fester, as the Clash of Civilizations is procrastinated.

Meanwhile, we are distracted from China.

[Principled]

No one wants a regional wide conflict when dealing with Saddam (cept' the Muslims.. they would LOVE it.)

I agree. Indeed this is what I wanted to connote. I was in a hurry though, it's li'l Principled's bedtime.

[greggy]

Sharon remembers what happened when Shamir sat out the Gulf war for Bush 41. Bush 41 then turned around and told him to give land away to his mortal enemy Arafat. Do you think Sharon would ever contemplate allowing history to repeat itself? Not on your life.

Watch Damascus: www.glorywatch.com/watchdamascus.htm