[dread78645]

Context determines meaning.

True enough.

MB: I said, I said that the function of the system is missing. I'm happy to admit that similar proteins can have other functions in the cell, but the system loses its function.

And the context was blood clotting.

Behe claims that all the 14 or so factors are required beforehand to create a blood clot, -- if any are missing the fuction fails (blood doesn't clot). That is "irreducibly complex" by his argument.
Miller points out that the Hagemann factor is absent in Cetaceans (Whales and dolphins), yet their blood clots just fine.

Thus blood clotting is not "irreducibly complex".

[longshadow]

Thus blood clotting is not "irreducibly complex".

You obviously don't understand Behe's argument: he means to say that "All truly irreducible clotting systems ARE irreducibly complex." See how well that works?

< /No True Scotsman mode>

[Ichneumon]

Behe claims that all the 14 or so factors are required beforehand to create a blood clot, -- if any are missing the fuction fails (blood doesn't clot). That is "irreducibly complex" by his argument. Miller points out that the Hagemann factor is absent in Cetaceans (Whales and dolphins), yet their blood clots just fine. Thus blood clotting is not "irreducibly complex".

Shhh, don't confuse the poor boy with facts.