Thanks for a great post.

On this one I'd have to respectfully disagree. I don't think there ever is an action as drastic as a war without there being a powerful economic motive. There may be truth, right and justice in the mix, but in the back of someone's mind is getting back the Ruhr, or something.

Then comes the public opinion, the outrage, the immorality of the opponent. As I said in another, obscure post, I think public opinion is being manipulated by the announcement of the possibility of an American flyer held in Iraq. If that 's true, the US has known of it for a long, long time. Why play that card now?

And what's the enconomic goal of taking on Iraq in the face of strong opposition from the rest of the world? Methinks a regime more in tune with American oil interests.

And one man's cynicism is another man's reality. Do I trust 'em? Completely - to act in what they perceive to be in their own best self-interest. For some people that's narrower than for others. Or, to be less cynical, for some people that's broader than for others.

Thanks a lot.

Arf