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All this is perfectly obvious. It is only the enormous capacity for wilful evasion and self-deception on the part of all here -- left, right, apolitical -- that has delayed recognition of these facts, and still blocks mental integration of the totality of the 9-11 situation. Let's see: Saddam has biological "weapons of mass destruction." Check. A single "vial, canister or crate" of his weapons smuggled into the US could cause "a day of horror like none we have ever known." Check. And we are weeks away from attacking Iraq? I don't think so. We're bluffing.

I don't think we're bluffing. But I do think we're wrongly assuming that Saddam will only respond. Once the "ultimatum" is given, I predict all hell breaks loose. See my earlier post.

Bush and Cheney think that all hell will break loose in any case, eventually. That's the lesson of 9-11, as they see it. We face an undeterrable, uncontainable enemy, who will strike at the time of their choosing, if we let them. We cannot sit and wait. We must act pre-emptively and preventively.

It's a frightening strategic doctrine for a frightening world. They really do fear that on their watch 10's of thousands or maybe even 100's of thousands and maybe even millions of Americans will die in a horrendous terrorist act. There is no doubt that IF Al-Quaeda had the means and the opportunity, they would go for it without hesitation. They want to END America's domination of the world. Period.

So there will be war. It will be hell. Many people will die, both in Iraq and, perhaps, in the US.