Janie: Yes, in theory of course you are right. And I did hear someone once give a thoughtful opinion to the effect it would be right to go into Iraq. One could build a respectable case, for example, that it was necessary somehow to control Sadaam, that the sanctions were ultimately even worse for the Iraqis than invading them, and that the whole area had to be stopped from gradually sliding into disaster. If someone used that argument, I'd have to think for a while about my answer. And we could intelligently try to persuade each other, or agree to disagree. But the majority don't think like that. They think Sadaam caused the crash at the World Trade Center, or at least supported Al Quaeda and was about to give them chemical weapons and maybe A-bombs, and that we had to invade Iraq to Fight Terrism [sic] and Eradicate Evil. And if they fervently believe things that just aren't true, what do you say? Just, "no, you're wrong, you idiot"?

Even worse, a lot of people are just plain proud their country is powerful and can kick foreigners around. What do you say to them? Try convincing GUEST Claymore, say. An exercise in frustration, ending in a screaming match.