Did Bush manipulate Iraq data?

[Nicodemus Phaulkon]

You may not understand how strong the feeling is in America that, post Wall coming down, we Do Not Want To Be The World's Policeman. That crosses many party lines.

Even Dubya's, if I recall pre-election, when he campaigned on the platform of bringing the troops home from the various hotspots (and notspots) around the globe. 9/11 changed several things... but I'm left wondering if 43 still feels that same way, despite the machinations of the NAC (and its high profile presence in the appointments of Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz). After all, it is the New American Century (or Neo-Reaganists) that do seem to feel that the USA needs to embrace and empower its role as a fulcrum of democratic change in the world, usually under the guise of "international policeman".

The UN has not police force other than whoever shows up. That has to do with how the UN was built and what it has become, which are not one and the same thing. Any Secretary General is at the whim, in any desire to enforce international law or a UN security council decree, of "Whoever shows up." He also does not have enough law enforcement presense to act as a deterrent, heck, most police departments don't.

Agreed, and perhaps the single-most powerful argument for the existence of a UN Armed Forces (not likely to ever happen, though). One thing remains true, however... "Whoever shows up" has to obey the RoE, no matter who they are. It is impossible to uphold the law when you are above the law.

Ask any cop, I know a few: no matter what they do, there is always some effing critic bitching about how they stopped the thief, killer, rapist, wreckless driver, child beater, what have you. But the cop still does his job.

Without a doubt. However, if said cop "stopped" them with methods that are outside of the acceptable range of legal action; the thief, killer, rapist, wreckless driver, child beater, what-have-you will walk within days after the collar. Don't get me wrong; I'm a huge fan of every man and woman that has the courage and the intestinal fortitude to wear a badge. In the fantasy world where people get paid based on their service to humanity and not their ability to generate income, Police Officers and Teachers would be paid a LOT of money. But then again, I'd be king... and Little Debbie Swiss Rolls would grow on trees.

... mind you, my mind might be a tad distracted today. I watched "Dark Blue" last evening... and it was a very disturbing film.

*tips helm*