I've taken a tiny bit of encouragent from this where Hans Blix has been quoted as saying the latest talks with Iraq have been "very substantial".

I'd like to think that the UN will be able to put some brakes on this thing but I'm still not overly optimistic.

I still doubt that Bush understands the game he is playing. It is not as simple as get rid of Saddam and, without support America will, in the longer term, create more enemies than friends around the world.

Even if this one reaches a peaceful conclusion, will he stop? I doubt it and find it very scarey. There are certainly evils in this world including Saddam, but I don't think the world is ready now, or ever will be for the GW Bush "visions of rightousness". In fact, I see Bush as much of a threat to world peace as I do the evils he wishes to fight.

Jon