Harold Pinter acknowledgement speech

[Occhidiangela]

No, you stop right there. Let me remind you that the quote referred to the intentions of the US invasion of Iraq.

Tell you what. Read On Point. Recent publication of the US Naval Institute Press. It spells out (before it gets into the detailed analysis of fighting) the deliberate 12 year effort to enable what happened in 2003. Then you and I can talk about whether or not the policy of eventually invading Iraq was not a deliberate, long term goal (or desired option) of the US government for three administrations.

It also should not be necessary to point out that the support of a policy and the invasion of Iraq in support of that policy are two completely different things ---

I somewhat agree with you here, since a false dilemma was presented: we invade or not, no third or fourth course of action to pursue the policy In The Long Term. So, on that, you and I probably agree more than this latest exchange of words would indicate.

Not gonna discuss the T word, the debate is too emotionally charged, and I was indeed treated worse than a naked dog pile, but I will refer you to an excellent article that

1. generally supports Senator McCain's initiative to clean up the policy, which at the moment is part of what is losing the war of images, the war of symbols

2. points how how careless and ignorant the public discussion has been on the topic

Article: The McCain Amendment Is Flawed Publication (Wall Street Journal 10, 11, or 12 December, not sure) Authors David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey

The cost of the Iraq war is now around $6b a month, I believe. (Few people --- yourself excluded, of course --- seem to really appreciate its truly astronomical cost.) Fortunately, China is happy to cover the US debt.

Yes indeed! That is part of what irritates me to no end, and has since 2002. "We can have a war, and cut taxes." BS. One has to choose between guns and butter, or one breaks the bank, long term.

Occhi