Under a billion would be quite a dropoff. Not that I underestimate our ability to mess up our planet and each other.

I recently read "The Road", which is set in a post-apocalyptic future. Well written but that is one bleak book. Delightful little features like gangs of marauders who capture and eat people in order to survive. I was relieved to finish it.


>Well depending on who you believe, this all might not matter.
>
>This weeks Rolling Stone has an interesting article about global warming. It's about a scientist, who's name escapes me, who's done contributed a wealth of research into things like polution. He invented a device that helped to show levels of poisons in the atmosphere.
>
>He has a theory that the earth is basically a living organism, that polices itself. There was an example of some type of flower that produces some things that are bad in high levels. But when the flower gets to that level, it also produces something that helps to increase the levels of another flower that destroys the first flower.
>
>Anyways, he believes global warming is the earth cleansing itself now that it's overpopulated. He predicts that at the present rate, there will be massive catastrophes that will kill off millions and millions of people. He expects this to peak in 2100 when the earth's popluation will fall below a billion.
>
>So a war with Iran will only help to bring about his hypothesis.
>
>
>>>And the Iraq vets who wrote the op-ed in the Wash Post last week also said that if we are to continue in Iraq a draft would be required to supply enough troops.
>>>
>>>I think the anti-war movement of the Vietnam era, would be nothing compared to what would happen if the draft is re-instituted today.
>>>
>>
>>Everyone would move to Canada! :)
>>
>>>>>What are we in a position to do about Iran? The military is badly overtaxed in Iraq and Afghanistan already. Which is unfortunate because I think Iran is by far the biggest threat of the three. Maybe those crazy Israelis will attack them ;-)
>>>>
>>>>You have a choice. Train more Iraqis and have them invade or open the Draft.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm not a big fan of the sophomoric tone of crooksandliars and pretty much feel that way no matter what the political bent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>That said, it doesn't address the central point. Are they contending that Iran has no intention of seeking nuclear weapons? I think that is really the central question. After that, the discussion about what - if anything - is to be done about that can be discussed in that context.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>All I see in these political websites is ad hominum political swipes. Just isn't productive.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>In particular, since you probably agree with kristol, read the comments on this one. Luckily there are quite a few sane people left in America, who can hopefully stop the madness:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/10/21/fox-news-sunday-william-the-bloody-kristols-bloodlust-for-war-with-iran/#comments
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>http://www.esquire.com/features/iranbriefing1107
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>No time to go to the link, but my guess would be since December 1979?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I would bet there are still contingency plans to retake East Berlin, prevent Turkey from allowing the Reich to use the Bosphorus, and invade Canada if they supply weapons to the Confederacy.