I'm going to stop short of using a bludgeon to drive home the point that the current situation is really not parallel to any of the other operations - which are not "wars" by the way - which you cite.

One enormous difference which you pretend not to see is that there is vocal public opposition to this threatened aggression both here in America and abroad, and official opposition from many of our allies.

By contrast, I believe you will find, as I noted way back yonder, that most of these other operations were carried out under the aegis of the United Nations in concert with our allies while enjoying, I think it is fair to say, some measure of public support.

It has been shown convincingly, I think, that the Bush administration's case against Iraq has no credibility. American citizens have grown increasingly aware of that, as have many in Europe and Asia. They're also aware, I suspect, that there's much more at stake today than in the past.

I would surmise, then, that there was no widespread protest against any of the earlier operations because they had some measure of legitimacy in the eyes of the world community.

And that makes all the difference.

sp