""I deplored the use of smoke on civillians, but correctly denied that smoke is classified as a chemical weapon.""

How easily you distort the truth Keith, and without a sign of conscience.

Why do you not have the nerve to come straight out with the fact that you are talking about WHITE PHOSPHORUS, which burns spontaneously when exposed to air, and is not extinguishable by water, but burns until physically removed or exhausted.

It can burn right through a human torso, flesh and bone.

That's a little different than your weasel word "SMOKE", wouldn't you say?

Back on topic, while I deplore any persecution of any minority, by any majority, for any or for no reason, I have two points to make.

1. Aid to the Church in Need can pull percentages out of a hat until they are blue in the face, but that doesn't constitute one credible FACT until they supply chapter and verse to prove the source and veracity of their figures.

2. Does anybody think that persecution of minorities will magically cease if we withdraw AID, or, as is much more likely, will we simply ensure that those minorities will be the first to starve?

Don T.