The job of dealing with intelligence data is not mine, it is not easy, and it is hardly likely to be verified by someone not in the business. Of course I tend to trust people to do their jobs correctly, and that the system, which encompasses the news media, Congressional oversight committees, think tanks and academic sectors devoted to public policy, and the like, will turn up malfeasance more often than not. In addition, I would not have voted for Bush if I did not think he was a good person, and likely to hire good people around him. Even with Clinton, I gave him the benefit of the doubt in many instances.
I do not buy the idea that Tony Blair is on board because he is a mere toady, or that the UN is merely humoring the United States, or that the Democrats were to wimpy to stand up to Bush. I think that they are all privy to knowledge that is alarming, and that is why they have little alternative but to pursue this route. The only real disagreement, now, is over whether inspections alone (backed by the threat of force) will suffice to deal with the issue. |
