SNIP
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>I doubt that Bush wants to see the end of the U.N. The problem as I see it with the U.N. is that they fail to recognize that resolutions are only effective if they are backed up with force.

But this does represent a serious about-face for the U.N., including especially the Security Council's, member nations. I am quite confident that the vast majority of the resolutions of the past were mainly for show and to make a point, with zero intention of acting on them. Why has this need to act suddenly become so critical when Iraq cannot be shown to have ANY links with Al-Quaida or terrorism generally? Oh, people can say that "they must have" but that doesn't prove that they do.

SNIP
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>I think there is the perception, and I am not sure where it is coming from, that we are going alone on this. We are not. All you hear about is the fact that France, Germany, and Belgium in Europe oppose us. What about Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, etc.?

Well so far only Britain seems "invested" and Prime Minister Blair himself admits that he has political problems with his participation, even in his own party, not to mention the country generally. So you've got the genuine support of Prime Minister Blair and some of his cabinet and some of his elected members (a minority). Italy is "with you" though their troops seem absent and they had over 1 MILLION march against the war last weekend. I don't know the situations in Portugal or Spain or Poland or Bulgaria or Romania, but if Italy and Britain are any measure, then their being "with you" needs to be better qualified.

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>>What we will end up with is a world in which it is every dog for himself.
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>While it is certainly true what Henry Kissinger said, "Nations have interests, not friends", we still have many, many allies.

Yep. Bullies have many friends too - just like Saddam does - because the bully poses far less danger to one he believes is friendly than to one who is demonstrably against him. Do you think there might be some of that thinking going on with your "allies"???