Actually, Mudlark, I agree pretty wholeheartedly with Amos's assessment. I had never thought much of Dubya's thinking or speaking ability, but that was a lot closer to a masterful performance than I would have expected.

I was particularly pleased to hear him very carefully reign in the rednecks who would beat the hell out of anybody with a brown skin by repeatedly stressing that the enemy is not Muslims or Arab and Asian friends, but a small group of extremists and their supporters.

All in all, I thought it was much more level-headed than might have been expected. I was afraid he would go off half-cocked and rattle the sabre a lot louder to appeal to the ultraconservatives and reactionaries. That, since I have a son in the U.S. Air Force, would have been very scary for me.

david