George H: sabre rattling without action is a form of appeasement. To threaten action and then not take it is interpreted by many as a sign of weakness. This therefore often only makes matters worse. Look at the whole history of the UN and the Balkans in the 90's. Would WW2 have even started if Hitler and the Nazis believed that The UK and France would go to war over Poland. Many in the German Army were deeply worried about the prospect of another European War but Hitler was able to convince enough of his top Generals that all would be well based on the Allied response to his march into the Rhineland, Austria and then Czechoslovakia. History tells us time and time again that if one threatens to take action in certain circumstances then they must be prepared and capable of taking such action. Doing otherwise is at least as bad as doing nothing. The quote "if you want peace, prepare for war" refers to the basic historical fact that the weak are at the mercy of the strong(eg in WW2 Belguim, Luxemburg, Holland, Denmark and Norway were all invaded even though most expressed the desire to advoid conflict with Germany). Pacifists can talk all they like about their ideal world(and who wouldn't like a world without conflict) but we have to live in the real world. The belief that people won't bother me if I don't bother them simply doesn't hold up. Fact is that conflicts rarely occur between evenly matched opponents who are recognised as being prepared to use any and all means if necessary. Conflict usually occurs because one group feels itself to be superior to another and it is the strong that nearly always iniate conflict. Common sense of course, one doesn't make a habit out of picking a fight with a stronger opponent you feel you can't beat. So it is not enough to be simply strong militarily but you must also be prepared to use that force to the full extend if necessary. Our societies are hardly perfect BUT if we believe the Governments that WE elect are better than those that have perpetuated such misery in places like the Balkans and East Timor then we must accept reality and see to it that our armed forces are strong enough so that our Govenments can influence situations that we find so offensive...enough said for now!