I don't think blase is the word for it. I'd prefer nobody had them. The fact that they exist doesn't exactly mean I've slept well all my life. It's simply that, in the overall scheme of things, I'm not sure we're in a position to be dictating that to anybody. We're scum in much of the world's eyes right now especially that average Mideastern Joe that isn't involved in the backroom dealings that are going on. The US they see isn't exactly what we're watching on Fox News (I said "we" figuratively there).

An attack on an Iranian nuclear facility would simply reinforce in the eyes of people like that the image the more radical people are trying to portray. That's why I think the only answer is to think outside the box here. Leaders need to go to the media and start humbly laying out the dilemna we're in with strong emphasis on finding ways we can all put this back together. The word "humble" is the operative one there. Bluster and tough talk don't appear to be working although I think there's a time and a place for that when you have an overwhelming moral imperative and tons of people backing you up. Something needs to come from us that marginalizes a guy like the leader of Iran in the eyes of the world. He does a pretty good job of it himself but it's easy for people on the fence to add in those words, "yeah but the US does torture and detains people indefinitely, blows up babies,.....etc, etc..". Suddenly the horrific things he's laying out seem partly justified.

Tom, you and your cronies have been doing exactly that defending Bush although I think now it's falling more and more on deaf ears. You rationalized his obvious misgivings often by pointing out the failings of Bill Clinton. It's a tactic the terrorist leaders know well. They have their own Karl Rove's. Even the most heinous act can be tolerated by people if they can simply be distracted to something nearly as hideous or upsetting.

Art