Well, my doubt is based on several identifiable things, one of which is that the man has a long history of falisfying reality in order to suit his own purposes; secondly, he has proudly asserted that he has grounds for war when any decent respect for the people would lead him to describe what those are. He has not done so. My opinion is, therefore, based on groundless pessimism. Like Bush's tirades concerning Saddam, it is based on track record.

I respect the fact that he is in a difficult position, and perhaps the ground truth is that he is doing as well as anyone could do, lies or no lies...but his apparent enthusiasm for vast military intervention in a premeditated fashion is against the grain of our best standards of conduct. He is asking people to accept on trust that he is not being a warmonger, simply a prudent warrior. I believe it is a charade, you believe it is an honest representation. Yet the facts behind his self-important decision are not communicated tot he people who are paying for his troops, planes, subs and tanks with their sweat. I consider this refusal to inform a democratic people both insulting and dictatorial.

A