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Here, here!

But let's be somewhat realistic. While we want to have some structures for conflict resolution, international copyright law, and whatnot, there is the sad fact that the United Nations has become a gasbag shop on all too many occaisions.

Bush and Blair are pushing the system to the limit. I strongly suspect that this was the smart thing to do. Going outside of the UN framework would have made it problematic for George Bush to secure his Congressional Authorization last year.

Now that we're in the framework, we can wave 1441 in their faces and dare them to veto. I suspected that Powell and Straw wanted to go for an early vote. They're smart guys, especially Straw. When people have to actually sit down and vote, they tend to back the strongest horse.

Even now there is second thoughts among the political elites in France, Germany, and even Russia. They know Bush is going ahead. The question is, how do they break in gracefully so they can have a seat at the peace conference.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

It was important to give the recalcitrants and international order types a chance to be heard, a chance to wield their influence, a chance to test their thesis if only to give it time to be discredited, as seemed probable, and give ourselves a chance to round up as many as we could for the cause. In the end, by showing patience and some willingness to give others a chance to try out their approach, when we reject it after it has proved a failure, there will be less bad blood among those we ignore, even if the rhetoric of the moment does not reflect that. We are all on this planet together, and we need to make every effort to smooth the waters to the extent we reasonably can consistent with our fundamental interests. We will need to work with these folks on other issues at other points in time. That is the role consigned to a hyperpower - to live in a state of chronic frustration, unappreciated rhetorically, but doing what needs to be done, with wisdom and resolve and restraint.