That is, I agree it would not be in our 'national character' to readily yield to (what the Hermann Kahn boys called) spasm war.

What concerns me is the person serving as Selected Resident, his life-history and (whatever) relationship to Dad. This-all is coming too close to Greek tragedy; Son one-ups Dad: goes All the Way (no more wimpy Saddam mistakes of, stopping at the gates). Now throw in : Powell.. And John Ashcroft (re taking care of civil liberties 'at home' - during a decared 'emergency').

No of course I have no 'data' on the inner workings of Bushie IIs mind -- but recall how *EARLY* came into that steel-trap the phrase, (maybe a word altered, but I heard him say it)

..this will not stand. Can we ID the source for that?

(We are not here dealing in this game with, FDR's Brain Trust - and we need actually more than that - given the Jihad and meta-Jihad overtones.)


A.