Mark -

What's usually ignored in these "articles" is the changing conditions which prompted these decisions to be made.

It is seldom pointed out that W Bush assured the members of the House and Senate that he would exhaust all other means first - including another round of UN inspectors - and Kerry granted W Bush the war powers under that assurance.

Kerry's problem is he is "nuanced". For example, he does not use the word even those less gifted can understand, ie "W Bush LIED to us", instead he uses, "W Bush MISLED us". In truth, W Bush probably was convinced by his advisors that he had exhausted every other option.

What drives these two is guilt: Kerry for killing civilians in Vietnam, and then criticizing those who put him in that situation, and W Bush for being a wastrel for many years. They're both trying for redemption, and they're both clinical. Kerry's guilt leads to vacillation while considering the grey areas, while W Bush's guilt leaves him relying on others for judgement.

The less gifted understand that as "Flip Flop" versus "Poor Judgement".

As for the article, like I was saying, good propaganda and a receptive audience.

ep