[kjam22]

Here's the only problem with attacking and removing Saddam. There is no way that they can defeat our conventional army. None. So the question becomes will Iraq or some other arab sympathizers have the resources to purchase a nuke from some country that is not so friendly to us. Maybe N. Korea..... and Nuke D.C. with it?

Sometimes when an animal is boxed in with no escape ... it gets dramatically more dangerous. A wild dog might or might not bite you if it has a chance to flee. But if it can't flee.... it will bite given the opportunity.

[LS]

The problem with your analysis is that this "dog" is going to bite, anyway. If not directly, he will assist Al-Quaeda in delivering a nuke or gas or chemicals. We need to get rid of him, asap.

[piasa]

Unlikely because North Korea doesn't want to be nuked. They definitely won't risk being linked to a WMD attack if they know we will not hesitate to crush them. If they just stay out of the way their leaders can remain in power for a while longer; but if they are found to have a part in a nuclear attack, they will most certainly be destroyed.

They wait now to see if the United States will be strong, or if it will compromise and back down, as it has a long and unfortunate history of doing. If we retreat or soften, then our enemies will be encouraged and will be more likely to aid regimes like Hussein's. Terrorism and state sponsored terrorism always increases when the US waffles. Weakness will always be exploited, as surely as water flows downhill. But if we act decisively, they will quickly rein in terrorists and obscure all trails linking them to terrorists, and get out of harm's way. So they wait now because they are no longer sure the US is as weak as advertised.

[JasonC]

The Islamic terrorist network cannot get "dramatically more dangerous". They blew up downtown Manhattan. They are not holding back out of love of us, or because they don't feel particularly cornered. They are not holding back at all. They hit everything they can get away with. Then the weak kneed say we shouldn't fight back because it might make them really mad, or desperate, or something. But whatever, we sure shouldn't fight back. Stark raving nonsense. The hit us with all their might and main, and you worry about making them feel desperate or upset. When do they worry about making us upset by blowing up downtown Manhattan?

[RasterMaster]

That is why you bring the gun (Nov elections) to "put down" Old Yeller.