And conversely outrage over Republican abuses of power and screwups in handling the Iraq war doesn't mean those that are concerned about the lack of focus on terror during the Clinton administration which resulted in 911 have to return to supporting the same lame policies that got us there.

We do have to be concerned that being willing to take firm stands in the face of opposing world opinion and domestic opposition is a close cousin to the arrogance that leads to abuse of power. Taking such actions should only be done with a lot of soul searching about ones own motives. Foreign interests do not put American safety first on their priority and that's stating it generously. Domestic opinion is always hard pressed to support risking lives without a strong belief it is a worthwhile cause. While these trends make it reasonable to oppose them when truly needed, there are also questionable forces driving public decisions in the other direction and every CIC must question the motives of proponants of either course as well as his own deeply. It is truly sad that so many here see this as a black and white issue where the other side has to be evil to oppose them rather than a truly difficult moral choice that every generation seems to have to face.