[dervish]

"Before I forget let me respond about the price of oil bringing about unity in the U.S."

That was not my trigger for unity. I said the crash of the US economy. And I still think most of the left(not the commies of course) would be screaming for action should they have no gas for their cars and no value for their money and investments.

But again this and the war against SA are digressions from my broader point. We are not dependant on SA oil. This is a fear tactic that needs to be challenged. It is dangerous to base foreign policy around this myth. It takes us back to the failed policies of the realist school which led to 9/11.

You and Rove say the left did not unify and blamed the US after 9/11. Well the Bush Doctrine blamed the failed policies of realism after 9/11. Pres Bush said - you're either with us or you're with the terrorists.

Who do you think the Saudis are with? We are not living up to our own policies. Freeing Iraq and coddling SA is meaningless since SA is a more direct exporter of terrorism than Iraq ever was. They fund terror and teach it to children all over the world. 15 of 19. Why has the right forgotten that.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Are you suggesting we should invade and occupy SA? Would not the rest of OPEC boycott us in response? Are you saying that as a result of that that the U.S. would be thrown into economic and social chaos, thereby bringing about unity?

Or, are you saying we should take punitive action against SA because of the terrorist activity originating there? Again, would not all of OPEC respond in support of SA?

Look at Iran. How forceful have we been there, other than talk? What is the cost of being more forceful? What is the cost of not being?

North Korea?

Russia?

China?

There is always a grab bag of options that need tending to. Each has its pluses and minuses. Thanks to Clinton our options are more limited than before.