Carol--


"Intellectually lazy"--gee, you must be looking in the mirror.

As Herga Kitty says, you're entitled to your opinion. It's just that it would possibly carry more weight if you had perhaps an iota or two of evidence. It doesn't seem unreasonable.

You're an intelligent person. It's shame your idea of intellectual rigor seems to require nothing but repeating the same lame unsupported conspiracy theory--over and over. Don't you want to exercise that brain?



Well, let's see where we stand.

You have--still--provided precisely zero evidence that the knighthood was done for purposes of "Muslim -baiting". You have indulged in impressive flights of fancy having to do with the knighthood as a means to infuriate Moslems, thereby prompting them to do unspecified acts which would then, as I recall, make an invasion of Iran more likely. Very imaginative.

Some-- not many-- Moslems have indeed threatened Mr. Rushdie (again). But the question, as I suspect you know, is if this was the intent of the committee which chose Rushdie--or possibly the shadowy conspiracy that only you seem to know about, by another group which exercised veto power over the committee--and for some reason wanted to infuriate Moslems. It seems to be all very cloak and dagger, as I said earlier. I'm impressed by your connections in the espionage community.

What's interesting is that you concede that the committee itself did not intend to inflame Moslems. Yet you still hold to your opinion that somehow it was still "Muslim baiting". Two contradictory views--are you also a theologian or philosopher, in addition to being a secret agent?

At any rate, you still have the same two options:

1) You can provide the evidence asked. So far your opinion stands pure and unsullied by any support.

2) You can ignore me--(and anybody else who comments). Regarding ignoring me, your stance here is also intriguing. You talk a good game--but somehow, follow-through is a bit lacking. Also, you might want to consider for the future that "Cat got his tongue?'" is possibly not the best way to ignore someone.

Just a bit of friendly advice.

Looking forward to your next contribution. (Why do I get the distinct impression that you are constitutionally unable to ignore me?)