Some folks are arguing whether or not there's a Saddam connection to September 11.

WTF difference does it make, to anyone but a Eurohypocrite and their fellow travelers here? We don't need such a connection to justify replacing him, any more than we would have needed proof of past crimes to take out Osama prior to September 11, if we had known what he was planning.

The "War on Terror" (quotes because it's clear, in light of current Israeli/Palestinian policy, that it's no longer that) isn't about revenge--it's about prophylaxis. A good offense, particularly with thugs like this, is not just the best, but probably the only defense.

Amen.

"A good offense, particularly with thugs like this, is not just the best, but probably the only defense."

...and with that sentiment, it's re-inforced why I catch this blog daily..

Look, in the Arab world, they deal in lies. I'll use Saddam as an example: "mother of all wars" "the streets will flow with American blood"...etc etc...PEOPLE! his armies were surrendering to CNN camera crews within hrs.

"Death to America, death to Israel, death to [insert free entity here]" was something we *used* to take lightly.

"Awwww, isn't that cute!" was pretty much our collective response.

No more.

Arab world: we will take your threats at face value, do not mess with us.

I close this post with a story told to me by a friend that worked with CIA during the Gulf War:

"We had propaganda leaflets dropped all over the troop concentrations in Southern Iraq. They instructed the soldiers that they would be treated with respect upon surrender, and they'd get to go back home to their families safely. It gave instructions for surrender, including proper positioning of rifles, ammo, etc... Well, in some way, the leaflet looked like a cupon to them, so they were actually fighting, and shooting each other in some cases where they couldn't each have their own copy."

You are SO right.

Congress gave Bush the blank check as long as Bush was fighting terrorism directly in response to September 11th. I hope the legislative branch has some legislative authority.

"Congress gave Bush the blank check as long as Bush was fighting terrorism directly in response to September 11th."

While I agree that I would like to see a formal declaration of war, I don't recall any such conditions at the time. His job was to fight terrorism, not avenge it.