Susan, I've been watching 'Charlie Rose' for some time now; I agree that it's a thoughtful, thought-provoking show with informed, articulate guests. Last week I was really struck with how taken aback, even dismayed, Rose was at what he was being told by several of the commentators. This was a night when a couple of Middle Eastern men were on. Did you get to see it?

troll and others, very few people I know, including Mudcatters, are holding a brief for Saddam Hussein. The facts of his history are there and the facts are ugly. HOWEVER. What you are saying is part of the problem. On the one hand, we have our government telling us- over and over- that Hussein is starving his people for the sake of his palaces and pleasure. What I'm saying - and you seem to concur- is that we have seen no evidence of starvation. These people look healthy, well rounded and active. There are pictures of terrified but healthy-looking children who look like they could be my neighbors. (I have one of them as 'wallpaper' on my computer even though I cannot bear to see her terror; it reminds me to pray for wisdom for our leaders and ourselves and peace at home and for the invaded and terrified abroad.)

But who is lying here? The demonization of our 'enemy' is perhaps a necessary step in the battle for people's minds but we must remain alert against that temptation. If we do NOT, we can become the same brutes that we despise.

Jed Marum, I have no doubt of your veracity, even though I have not yet seen a news story on that atrocity. The only point I would make in response is that cultures differ from place to place and from era to era. A few hundred years ago, torture and brutalization was common all over the world- think Spanish Inquisition, for one example.

None of us are so far removed from the impulses that make devils of us all that we can safely congratulate ourselves.