[Protagoras]

The statements you quoted are miles apart in my opinion but I'm sure it's futile to convince you that my interpretaion is the correct one so I shall not spend the time to do so. I would point out that Dick Armey can be smeared with the Jesse Jackson association as well as many other conservatives and Republicans who are unsure about or opposed to such action. The statements speak for themselves as far as I'm concerned and I thank you for posting them.

In anycase, this exercise is way off the topic at hand and has become about semantics and comparisons of people when it should be about whether people are giving the appropriate amount of thoughtful concideration to this very important question.

I can see that you have, and some others who have added comments have, but the majority of this thread degenerated into name calling and flame throwing and added nothing to the question, or the site.

Every attempt to raise the discourse here to an adult level fails in the end because of a group of childish posters. It is a shame, it could be good.

[Huck]

It is not my intention to "smear" the author of this piece. I simply wanted to point out that his arguments are not new, that they are in fact the standard argument being advanced by the far left. I cited an example. We disagree somehow on the interpretation, but it seems to me both Jesse and this author share the same concerns; Namely, that attacking Iraq will destabilize the region, that it will incite more attacks on the US, that it amounts to world rule, and that Iraq poses no immediate threat.

Am I wrong? I see the same arguments in virtually the same sequence. That's not a smear. It's a fact. As for Dick Armey, that's a guy who has never had my trust. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that he too was advancing specious arguments.

I am sorry this thread didn't turn out the way you wanted. I hadn't noticed because I wasn't following it beyong comments directed to me. There are ways to have a discussion if your aim is simply to stimulate discussion. Try this: Post an article in favor of the President's policy. Take the President's side of the argument, and force others to make the case against. It can be a fruitful exercise. It forces you to re-examine your own position, it forces you to see the strongest points on the other side, and you get to hear good arguments from others without getting flamed. I hope I am not talking down to you. It's just a suggestion. I suppose it's too late at this point, though.