Personal observations.


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Colin Powell made a clear case demonstrating Iraq's dishonesty. Dan Gillmor seems to think so, anyway.

In some respects this is exactly what the diplomats opposing military action ask him to do - lay out the evidence showing that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, continues to pursue more wmd's and engages an elaborate scheme to defeat the international inspectors. Assuming all of the evidence presented was authentic, Powell made a good case. I say assuming because some people are actually suggesting the U.S. made up the recordings and images. I'm not sure what he could have done to answer such cynicism.

What remains to argue is the proper course of action given Saddam Hussein's deceipt and defiance. I can't believe any credible diplomat really believes Hussein is free of wmd. We simply have some strong differences in opinions.

The doves simply believe that war should be the absolute last option. Till Hussein clearly enables a direct terrorist attack on U.S. soil the doves want to keep working on diplomatic solutions.

The hawks say that waiting is dangerous. If he is allowed to gather terrible weapons and then surprise us with their use then we will have wasted an opportunity to disarm him now.

Seems like the U.S. is the only country capable of leading this forced disarmament, but the approach should be one of humility toward partner countries rather than defiance. We should be arguing forceably for our opinion, but the focus should always be on expressing that we are ready to roll and waiting on consensus. We should act in such simply self defense as we see it. We should be making this a stronger, international action. Maybe that's what the administration intended all along and calculated it would take a bluff to secure such an agreement.
posted by Unknown at 10:45 PM