Yosef wrote in part:  "I do not advocate violence in any form, against any
person, at any time, for any reason."

A laudable sentiment, which has led to untold suffering, massacres and
destruction over the centuries.

Last week, I was listening to an interview with Dick Morris, Clinton's
erstwhile political guru.  The interview was discussing the support for the
war option in the US.  After the state of the Union speech and the Powell
speech, it is running at upwards of 75% in the US.  Dick was explaining the
components of the poll.

Over the years, it has been found that about 11% of the population would not
support attacking or bombing anyone under any circumstances for any reason.
This seems to have held true for decades.  I would guess that Yosef falls in
that category, so Yosef, you are not alone, about 11% of the American public
are with you on this.

Conversely, about 33% of the population is for bombing or attacking at the
slightest provocation.  So if you add these two factions, you account for
44% of the population right there.  This leaves 56% who will make up their
minds depending on the situation.

Let's say that currently the number is 75% in favor of attacking Iraq and
25% against the attack.  You then have 41% of the population that has made
up its mind that in this instance if attacking is justified and 14% which do
not think attacking Iraq is justified in this case.

Before you ask, I am not in the 33%.  I was totally opposed to the invasion
of Haiti, the bombing of the factory in the Sudan and especially the Bosnia
and Kosovo attacks.  Certainly Slobodan Milosevich never did anything to the
US and never supported anti-US terrorists.  He was not desperately trying to
accumulate WMD nor did he have a track record of gassing and killing his
people or his neighbors.  Indeed, a number of years after he was forcibly
removed and we have been searching the territory on the ground, nothing of
the atrocities he has alleged committed has been found.  Whoops.  Where was
the supposed pacifist world opinion then?

Denys

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