[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Since this thread has gone off on so many tangents, is likely to get shut down soon, and will ultimately be sent to thread hell, let me respond with a few thoughts on many of the issues that have been raised.

(1) The firing of the assistant US Attorneys (AUSAs) was, IMHO, bad. No one in the administration is seriously defending the move and for good reason. Whomever is behind the matter deserves a serious public flogging. The firings were politically motivated and were an attempt to manipulate the justice system to serve very unsavory political ends.

(2) Everyone, including the French, thought Saddam had WMDs. Saddam tried to make everyone, allies and enemies alike, think he had WMDs. Guess what? It worked. Bush "beefed up" the intel, but he didn't lie when he said he was convinced Saddam had WMDs. We (including those like myself who were against going to war in the first instance) were simply wrong.

(3) I cannot figure out why anyone disagrees with "calling out" Iran. I do not want to go to war with them, but they're already at war with us. Iran has been training and equipping people in Iraq for years so they could kill Americans. Iran has a horrible human rights record. Iran is dominated by little Pat Robertsons. Like Hugo Chavez, Iran suppresses dissent by making midnight arrests and controlling the press. I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone on either side of the political spectrum would disagree with condemning Iran's government, particularly those who have opposed US policy of supporting brutal and oppressive dictatorships.

(4) Finally, avoid engaging in personal attacks or risk losing posting privileges or access to political forums. No one cares to read posts that amount to a pissing contest between two or more posters that are simply annoying and which detract from the thread. Honest and civil debate is encouraged, but personal attacks are not tolerated.

End rant.