I'm distressed by the fact that people have been leaving here because
someone disagrees with them.

If we all did that, I'd have been gone long ago.

We are in dangerous times, and I'm sorry to see that we can't debate an
issue that is very much one of life and death. 

We can't apparently ask questions anymore, questions which need to be asked
and answered.

It is not unpatriotic to question.  It is unpatriotic not to.

Ptrouble, don't leave just because some disagree with you.  We are NOT
attacking you.

We pray for your safety during these troublesome times, as we pray for the
safety of all our people in uniform.  We are NOT casting any kind of
aspersions on you.  I NEVER want to see the return of the attitudes that
appeared during the Viet Nam war.  

But I will not be silent.

Except here.

Don't leave, Ptrouble.

I will.  I've stirred up too much, but I don't regret it.  Each of us MUST
ask the questions:  is this the right thing to do? What will be the
consequences?  How long is it going to take to pacify Iraq?  What is our
move going to do to the rest of the region?  Are we maybe handing Al-Queda
its greatest recruiting tool of all time?  Are we setting a really bad
precedent?  How does this so-called doctrine of pre-emption square with all
we have stood for in the past?  What effect is our going it alone going to
have on our relations with Europe?  With the rest of the world?  

We need to ask these questions.

Never go into a war without considering ALL the possible consequences.
It's just too vital.

I cannot be silent on these matters.  So I'll leave.

Veloci--it's just too damned important!--raptor

--- Rachel's Little NET2FIDO Gate v 0.9.9.8 Alpha