In the quote you cited, Hitchens argues that had Bush leaped from his chair at the "infant school"...and gone straight to work, many would be saying that the president went to war on "a hectic, crazed impulse."

That's a curious notion.

Terrorists (or somebody) had flown two passenger jets into the World Trade Center, and in case the president failed to get the point, his Chief of Staff Andrew Card's famous whisper had informed the chief exec that "America is under attack."

The President of the United States, realizing his country is at war, and without asking a single question about that rather startling development, heroically stiffles his hectic, crazed impulses to take charge and perhaps rally the nation's defenses to prevent any further attacks, and continues instead with his vital photo opportunity.

Imagine please, that you and your family are enjoying a leisurely breakfast, when suddenly, the kid next door bursts in and announces breathlessly that a fuel tanker has plowed into the house across the street. Gas is leaking from the truck, he says, all over the street and into your front yard. Your response is to look at your wife and ask her to "Pass the toast, dear."

No sense giving into any hectic, crazed impulse to call the fire department, or evacuate.

What would the neighbors think?

S