The big question that most of the frothing at the mouth politicians don't , won't or can't answer is just how killing a lot of people who are themselves suffering is going to stop fanatics from being recruited , brainwashed and used as tools of terror, or how declaring war is going to force Sadam to give up these weapons that it is claimed he has rather than give him the excuse to use them.

I know myself well enough that although intelectually I believe that negotiation is almost always the most effective long term solution to problems , I am also aware that I am not such a pacifist that I would not defend my family against an individual intent on harming them. Because of that I cannot say (without being a hypocrite) that there is never a time when war is the only option remaining other than surrendering and accepting a status quo that is totally incompatible with your personal values. But even though I am not a total pacifist I still do not believe that declaring war will do anything other than change some of those who are not currently supporting sadam into active enemies (having someone trying to kill you does that).