[Baron Munchausen]

Oh, I think it will matter in a hundred years. The USA has set a precedent for extending 'right to self-defense' way beyond imminent threat into mere 'potential' threat. Many other dictators who don't happen to be on the public radar at the moment will be quite pleased to use this precedent to attack whomever they please -- after checking with the US to make sure it's ok with them, of course. We've now returned to a world of 'might makes right' that was supposedly ended in the 20th century, and we will be paying the consequences for a long time to come. Who knows, in a hundred years we might see President P. D. Q. Bush deposed by the Chinese-led coalition to free the USA. We will not be the biggest bully on the block forever. But I'm sure they'll promise to minimize civilian casualties and rebuild the smashed infrastructure. And cut themselves in for control of huge tracts of US farmland to feed themselves.

[ March 18, 2003, 21:42: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]