I just finished watching the interview and I thought he did fine.  I think he should answer questions about 9/11 and hope that he does.  What’s wrong with saying he can’t be certain that we will ever capture Osama and bring him to justice?  It sounds like an honest answer to me.  He’s also right in his assessment that Saddam could have developed a nuclear weapon over time had he been allowed to continue unabated.  Containment would do nothing to stop him from pursuing it and possibly achieving it.

The last couple weeks have shown that there’s no basis for the accusations that Bush lied about WMD.  He used the best information available and went with it.  Is it his fault that the information appears to have been off the mark?  Who really deserves the blame for the inability of the CIA to make a better assessment?  Should a portion of that blame be placed at the previous administration’s doorstep for the atrophy which occurred within the CIA during the Clinton years?   Maybe yes, maybe no.  I think it’s a stretch to say he out and out lied to make a case for war.  Without sounding contradictory, I do think that WMD wasn’t the only reason for going to war.  The other reason, no less important was the oil Iraq sits upon.  To come out and tell the people of the world that we’re going to oust a leader because he threatens a vital resource important to us all, no matter how true would be way too political.  So the focus was put on the WMD and the oppressed and tortured people of Iraq.  All reason enough to go forward with the U.N. resolutions already in hand.  Remember, Saddam had 12 years to comply with those resolutions and never did.  I’m hearing a lot about how our county’s credibility has been damaged in the wake of all of this but our credibility was already sullied in the eyes of many for our failure to act sooner. 

Does it matter that the stock market and economy were tanking before Bush ever took office?  The events of 9/11 had a huge impact on our economy.  Yes, I do realize we have huge deficits facing us but as a percentage of our gross domestic product they’re not out of control.  War doesn’t come at a cheap price but if you prefer to stick your head in the sand and pretend all is fine in Pleasantville, that’s your choice.  All hasn’t been fine for a while.  Sure, we had a very nice economic run in the ‘90s but all the while we had this hatred growing toward us and plots were being made.  It’s easy to say that all we’ve accomplished to this point is agitating those who would wish us ill but I think their hatred wouldn’t be any less regardless. 

So, in my way of thinking, we can sit back and hope and then hope some more that those who wish our demise will change their way of thinking…not likely, or we can do what is necessary to fight it.  Not all that promising either but if we’re being targeted we can’t sit back and pretend all will be okay and hope they come to like us.  It’s not an option.  Our country has never faced an enemy like this before and I don’t have any grand illusions that we’ll have the upper hand any time soon.  I’m quite certain things will get worse before they get better.  Who really knows?  Maybe we need to start getting used to terrorists blowing people and places up around us knowing that it won’t stop until we come to their way of thinking and become Muslim extremists and embrace their beliefs.  Are you ready for that?  What is your solution?  Passivity won’t work here.

Kevin g