1) This is a list. Never said any of the items were universally spouted. What was it you said about strawman arguments?

The war isn't even mostly or even a significant part about oil. The war stood a good chance of causing a major disruption in supplies. While short supplies generally cause higher oil prices which in turn generally mean higher profits for oil companies, jumping to levels threatening recession on an already weak economy is good for no one.

The only relevance of oil is that stability in the region is important to us. The US is not out to steal Iraqi oil as many peace protestors and Arabs sem to think.

2) I see the net saving of lives was ignored once again. What does 200,000 - 2300 equal?

3) Glad to see you agree the inspections were useless. Hardly a generally held liberal view however. I also disagree that Bush's team saught a weak inspection team. They faught for as tough wording in 1441 as they could get.

4) And Afghanistan had less miltary might than Iraq. Glad to know we had nothing to worry about from them.

As for other threats you need to consider tactical situations as well as relative threat levels.

5) Mostly based on the flawed assumptions in this list and the belief that we are on a crusade against Muslims. The freed Iraqi people will be our judges. I believe a positive response from them will silence much of the Arab criticism and resentment. If we don't get it then our conduct will have earned much of what is currently speculative criticism.

6) I did not say I agreed with the dumb comment. It is dumb precisely because it is a gross distortion of public opinion.

7) We didn't install Mubarek, or the kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We have supported them all and none are anywhere near as brutal as Saddam. The King of Jordan does not even deserve to be mentioned in this list. Must be one of those simplistic black or white viewpoint things. I see the math problem arise again as well.

8) Naw. Our allies should feel free to disagree. They just shouldn't do it for selfish reasons while claiming altruistic ones.

Can't say for sure which way the wind of foreign opinion is blowing just seeing a whole lot more news on different viewpoints than portrayed before the war.

9) Whose posts do you read and where do you get your news? I find your denial of satement 9 to ring false unless you are focussing solely on the word "really". Buck Galaxy says something along these lines despite qualified support for the war. Many in the news media were portraying the US as being in a near disaster last weekend.

10) I never said Bush was brilliant. I consider him a mediocre intellect with good people and leadership skills. Clinton and Carter vs Reagan & Bush 2 are stark contrasts in how men of intellect can accomplish so little when more modestly endowed brains can do much with people skills and conviction.

Regards,
Mark