Take a look at Japan instead of Germany. Pay particular attention to State Shinto, the cult of the Emperor, their treatment of the Chinese, and the Kamikaze planes that you mentioned. 300,000 dead in Nanking, many killed in very sadistic ways. Yet the Japanese of 1941 are not the Japanese of today so young people forget what they were like.
That was a justified war. And there was no disputing that it was justified. Likewise, WWII was justified for the same reason. Had we invaded Germany first, everything would have been different. We must be careful to remember that hindsight is always 20/20.
Is he suggesting that if Japan hadn't attacked the US and Germany had never declared war that the US should have just stepped aside and let Germany have Europe and exterminate all of its Jews?
Could Hussein attack us if we don't take out his weapons of mass destruction? Yes. Would he attack us? Maybe. But you have to accept that there's at least the possiblity that he wouldn't.
Would he be willing to bet his family's life that Saddam won't attack? That's what he's doing. This is even more clear to those of use who live in the Northeast near the most likely targets.
We have every right to defend ourselves. I'm no dummy. But spin it any way you like, taking the offensive is not being defensive. It's a plain contradiction. And in matters of war, it makes all the difference.
If you see a man that looks like he may shoot another man, do you (A) pre-emptively diarm the man with the weapon or (B) wait until he shoots and then disarm him?
I'm concerned about Hussein as every right thinking human being ought to be. But what I'm *afraid* of are psychotic Arabs, enraged at the Great Satan's pre-emptive invasion of sacred Arab territory who might feel it is their holy duty to board an airplane with a plane ticket and a carpet knife.
We are already on sacred soil by being in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, that's what annoyed bin Laden in the first place. Too late.
What I'm afraid of os the deluded Muslim who might jump on a subway car with a gallon of gas and light it on fire.
That could happen, anyway. A two-bit cult in Japan decided to gas a subway with poison gas. Attacking Iraq will send an interesting message, if the Muslim world bothers to get it. Attacking the Americans only increases their involvement in the Middle East.
Am I right in being afraid of this? I don't know. I guess we could ask the Israelis and see what they think ...
The Israelis tried negotiating peace. Where did that get them?
I just don't see how invading Iran is going to reduce my fear of these things at all
Iraq. Iran is further down the list. And we'd probably be wecomed there, too. Indeed, I saw a quote by an Iranian that said, in essence, "I hope the US comes here next.