>But people who get their news from Dan Rather and their "inside scoop" from Michael Moore and who never heard of Islam, sarin, Halabja, Al-Queda, the Taliban or for that matter Afghanistan before 9-11 are suddenly qualified to know the 'facts' about a very very complex national security issue. ( I'm even a little bothered they get to vote <g>)

I use to be very up on Central America and Cold War stuff. Then we won. The more I try to understand the dynamics in the Middle East, the more ignorant I feel. I know I don't know enough to discuss most of these larger, strategic issues intelligently. But I sure as heck know who I don't trust to make the decisions. The "problem" with foreign affairs is that it's basically a practical issue of how best to achieve our goals, which requires a deep respect for and knowledge of history (oh yeah, and good intelligence -- but don't get me started on Carter.). And even with all the best info, there's still no clear answer. Makes economics look like a hard science. I'll take a good black and white philosophical, moral or constitutional issue any day.




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>>>>> don't know what I was thinking today!
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>>>>You're welcome. After spending so much time banging your head against the wall with Charles, I'd imagine coding gets difficult.
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>>>>I'm writing-in Charles Hankey for President!
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>>>Hey, she's on our team - no head banging necessary. She'd definitely be on my NSC.
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>>Didn't mean to imply otherwise. You both have been making reasoned arguments actually backed-up with facts -- which is refreshing from either side. I was only referring to the frustration of debating against slogans and ignorance.
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>>Maybe because it's became a career rather than a hobby, but I have little patience for political discussions with the ill-informed. Most people know a lot about at least some topic and understand that the general public's knowledge and perception of that topic is usually shallow and off-base -- the perception purposely and carefully shaped by those with an agenda. A little humility should lead anyone to conclude that their understanding of other issues is very likely to be as shallow and mis-directed. Maybe because I'm one of the ones with an agenda trying to manipulate ... uh, I mean, shape public opinion, I'm more aware of this than most.