I'll take a few things you said about me with a massive grain of salt, Pabst, as I suspect you were being sarcastic. I'm obviously not wanting any more wars, including a war with Iran. I also think your comparison with murder rate in American Cities with the death toll in Iraq to be contextually flawed, and on a giant level. I'll leave you try and figure out why unless you really want an explanation. Finally, I think you're being way too glib about the costs of the Iraq War. Some pretty credible people have tagged the cost in the trillions. You can obviously feel free to disagree with them, but all I'd have to say to you in that regard is that the numbers don't lie, although people may: "According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, the war is costing American taxpayers $2 trillion. Stiglitz believes the cost will reach $3 trillion. It must be remembered that the Bush Administration predicted at the start of the war that the war would be self-financing. They said it would cost $2 billion total to rebuild Iraq." I don't know, though. Maybe you really do know more than some Nobel Prize-winning, hot shot economist.
This War will cost 2 trilllion in real expenditures and sunk costs and contingent liabilities if it's a dime.
If you judge the merits of a war based on deaths. How can you accept even one death? Is the Iraq war ok if no deaths? How about 1 death? How about 10,000 deaths? In a true war death only matters if it weakens the army. Obama and the Dem are pushing to engage Afghanistan. Do they think it would be less trouble then Iraq? What happens when we reach 4000 deaths in Afghanistan, do they pull out. Why would they think deaths in Afghanistan would be less then Iraq. At least once we do win in Afghanistan we won't have to deal with a Saddam/ Iran escalation. This is why history will credit Bush for smart move into Iraq. In 20 years Iraq will be put into proper perspective as a very minor war with long term gains
Weapons of Mass Destruction. There is only two outcomes. Yes or no. There weren't any. Take the heat (who does that?) because you didn't find any or put some there to substantiate your claim and cover your tracks. Or scenario three. They found WMD and did not like what they found. Maybe incriminate someone, a country, that would serve no useful purpose in publicizing to the general public. Bush takes the hit, integrity intact, buck stops here.
I would list a third outcome, Intention. Do WMD exist when, the plans exist , the parts are sacttered or used for othermeans, The sciencetist are diverted to other programs. but in the thoughts and past actions of the evil mind the bomb lives. History is saved for those who see the parts, piece the puzzle then act to align into their own agenda.
Your prediction is noted for the record. I will take the other side of that trade. And as a matter of context, let us define "rash" as what Bush did with Iraq. After all, such a "low" threshold can only help you win the bet.
Great post, c. I honestly believe sometimes that middle america will have to be given the fat finger by the political class, deeper and harder, before they rise up and are willing to flip the tables upside down, clear the deck, and rebuild the republic. What we need... is a little revolution. You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right You say you got a real solution Well, you know We'd all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well, you know We're doing what we can But when you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell is brother you have to wait Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right Ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah... You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free you mind instead But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right all right, all right, all right all right, all right, all right