The issue is not Turkey. The issue is not Kurds. The issue is not oil. The issue is not U.S. terrorism against Muslim countries.

The issue is the U.N., Iraq, Hussein, WMD, global terrorism, and the West, in general -- the U.S. in particular -- as the chosen target for annihilation.

Between any U.S.-led attack and the fact I just stated above stands a nation of innocents. Rock, and a hard place.

We are doing, and must continue to do, illegal things to keep ourselves alive. Very illegal things. I’m sorry, Mary Anne, but that is simply another fact. At your back stands a missile, complete with a bio/chem warhead. You raise a cute little girl above your head and shout, “Would you dare to shoot this child?!”

Do you really want my answer to this? I would now have three targets sighted. The missile would be my primary hit, but there are two very-likely innocent human beings there as well. Humans who could foil my mission, costing an untold number of deaths should that missile ever fly. I wouldn’t like my choice that day. I wouldn’t like it one bit -- but I would hope the two humans would be able to stay clear of my line of fire, because I have to stop that missile. I would try to miss the humans -- but that's all I could promise. Missing them would not be my highest priority.

Now, Hussein could be allowed to get off scot-free. The U.N. could lift sanctions, and the world will expect an inflow of prosperity to the citizens of Iraq. We could fold up our tents, pack the mules and leave. We could show ourselves week to the al-Qai’da again. We could lower our guard. We could build our national prosperity. We could ignore the world. We could set everything back up the way it was Sept 10, 2001 -- but I don’t want to go through all that again. I want it to stop.

Dan