Chris,

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>It's apparent that some people are going to believe what they want to believe.

All people believe what they want to believe. Talking as though Dems lost because the Reps dragged all the knuckle-walking, uneducated, drooling snake handlers out to vote is a popular misconception bandied over the past week -- and I'm sure it makes some people feel better -- but it will only lead to another "stunning" election night failure in 2 years.

>It was widely reported in our press after the 9/11 Commission report that there was no evidence of collaboration between Saddam and al-Qaeda, yet many Bush supporters still believed it. They believed it largely because the Bush administration used the term "links" when describing the relationship.

I could hardly be accused of being a Bush supporter and yet I still believe there is a connection between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. Tenuous though some of the connections may be, I think most of these terrorist organizations/states are linked and share funding/arms/"soldiers"/training camps/safe houses.

Through years of inaction, we've allowed these groups to become too powerful and not surprisingly, they've become bolder (even before 9/11... USS Cole, Twin Towers '93 among others) and since the rest of the world doesn't seem too keen on taking them down -- excepting sanctions and resolutions and strong language and maybe dirty looks? -- it looks like the action falls to us (again). Unless, of course, we wait until we're attacked again. Then, maybe we can expect some sympathy cooperation... maybe for awhile. But only if we pass the global test by dancing just so and saying the right words the right way at the right time in the right forum to the right people.

Commissions? I just simply don't trust any of 'em. Funny how we poke at the Warren Commission for coming to its seemingly ridiculous conclusion, yet some of us can't wait to embrace any that are anti-Bush administration. These commissions, by the very nature of being populated with political types, have their own agendas, least of which, I fear, is the truth.