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"I respect anyone with well thought-out
opinions, but I don't always agree with them. I firmly believe that we put ourselves at risk by not trying to understand the motivations of those who would harm us, and instead listen only to the justifications given by those advocating military action. I would never excuse the killing of innocents as a form of political speech (terrorism), but we dismiss out of hand their claims of legitimate grievances at our own peril. Even if we conclude they're not justified, we could end up being dead right."
This is an e-mail from my brother-in-law.

"Freedom has always come at the end of a warm, smoking gun. America's freedom, and subsequent Constitution, resulted from war as did the freedom of slaves. Most of Europe would speak German and reside as German satellite states if not for American guns. Bosnian Muslims, collectively, would have been relegated to fertilizer if not" for the guns of the US."
And this is from the article above.

How do I get this guy to understand what this is all about without getting emotional??

Explain to him that there are people on the earth who by upbringing or nature cannot be reasoned with - that they are sociopaths who will not let anything get in the way of their whims. That they surround themselves with like minded individuals, and exploit the average human tendency for society and some degree of conformity to extend their reach throughout society.

These are the regimes which cannot be reasoned with, and diplomacy fails because they mock it, and are quite adept at saying onething yet doing another in order to exploit the sensitivities of those of the antiwar stance, and to bring about a paralysis in policy. Those are the dictators that cannot be dealt with except through strength, resolve, and a willingness to say "no more, you've had your last chance".

Hussein had twelve years of last chances, and either he or his successor son would have gravely threatened the world in time to come.

Even if we conclude they're not justified, we could end up being dead right." This is an e-mail from my brother-in-law.

How often have they been right? By most counts to date, zero seems to be the closest number.

I would tell your brother-in-law that you don't deal rationally with irrational people. When the Palestinians or whoever calms down and explains their grievance in a rational manner, we will listen. Until then, we must protect our own interests as best possible.

Easy -

He states "I respect anyone with well thought out opinions" - have him question the support behind these people's opinions. Usually there is nothing but hot air supposition and half truths.

The real problem with weak minded people is they believe what they are told by the media. They say they respwect a "well thought out opinion" but in reality just want to repeat what they heard onthe news or on the cover of Time magazine. The left centric spin of the media - with few if ever conservative opinions present in the discourse - leads people into these positions.

Ask general questions not concerned with the war - ask what % of population pays income tax. What % of blacks are born out of wedlock. etc. When they realize what information they aren't getting - then they will understand why they are misled.