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Poking a stick in the hornets' nest

Reader comment on item: Saddam's Rap Sheet

Submitted by Tom Cox (United States), Aug 20, 2002 at 11:10

Dr. Pipes,

While I agree with your assessment of the danger posed by Saddam Hussein, I remember taking out a hornets' nest in my garage last spring.

To get a clear shot at the nest with the insecticide spray, I had to close the door that was my only means of escape. If the spray had not been immediately lethal, I would have had to pass close to the nest to get out of the garage. Fortunately, the spray immediately disabled the hornets, instead of just making them really aggressive as they were dying.

What assurance do we have that the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction won't be unleashed on Israel in a dying spasm of revenge? We can also reasonably expect counter-strikes from the Islamists worldwide, including the groups Saddam would gladly have murdered in their beds if it served his political goals. Are we ready for such attacks? Our borders are geographical abstractions, and our ports are gaping holes that can't hope to keep tens of thousands of armed terrorists from flooding in and causing havoc.

Shouldn't we seal our borders and be sure that we can suppress any Iraqi counter-strike, before we attack this particular hornets' nest?

Thanks,
Tom Cox
Muncie, IN
Submitting....

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Reader comments (46) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
America's burden [223 words]CarolineMay 14, 2003 17:009068
100% For the War [116 words]Ryan RusseApr 9, 2003 23:348230
Time to wake up and build [77 words]SolomonApr 4, 2003 08:498029
For the Iraqi War [327 words]S. LaBelleMar 26, 2003 17:297692
War hits the people first -- try to remember that! [37 words]IngoMar 18, 2003 04:327348
The Vain Glory of France [143 words]Rich PadenMar 14, 2003 18:237263
Nature of Humans [1771 words]Scott ChanMar 14, 2003 11:157237
Doesn't anyone care about 9/11? [84 words]EagleMar 6, 2003 01:007110
America Protecting the World [164 words]nicoleFeb 27, 2003 09:216952
1War should not be allowed [99 words]Mouctar DiabyFeb 25, 2003 22:486924
war [18 words]matthewFeb 19, 2003 17:086782
Is UK the only freedom loving European Nation [148 words]MichaelFeb 6, 2003 11:586453
Is War Really Progress?? [72 words]C.W.Dec 4, 2002 09:554416
The War Against Iraq [829 words]David SwansonNov 9, 2002 12:583744
The Madness of the Obese [244 words]Syed AliNov 7, 2002 03:523701
The Paradox of "Further Paradox" [130 words]Ken OlsonAug 27, 2002 17:412153
War on Saddam [13 words]AlexAug 23, 2002 17:112080
..wouldn't want to make them mad? [234 words]Dr.zEnAug 23, 2002 15:082079
You're exactly right. [28 words]Carey E. Stronach, Ph.D.Aug 22, 2002 19:592069
American Dream [181 words]KatrineAug 22, 2002 19:372067
If there's a cannon pointed at your house........ [6 words]JJAug 22, 2002 17:452065
Just a minute! [137 words]Mohammed ShaukatAug 22, 2002 11:522061
Maybe it's time to deal with the Mid-East [139 words]Richard RawlinsAug 22, 2002 09:342059
WMD's don't permit the luxury of waiting [48 words]Bob MaddenAug 22, 2002 07:402057
WMD's don't permit the luxury of waiting [23 words]sathyanFeb 9, 2009 06:442057
A Moral Obligation [171 words]Richard SteffkeAug 22, 2002 06:062056
History repeating itself? [170 words]Barbara ShoenerAug 21, 2002 20:052051
Europe has always created problems [304 words]Seth KriegAug 21, 2002 13:572043
It's always about oil... [83 words]Mike SullivanAug 21, 2002 13:272041
Include the threat to Israel [280 words]D. ConnellAug 21, 2002 10:032037
Neighborhood bully is really chickenliver in a big bird costume [358 words]Jack AjzenbergAug 21, 2002 09:232036
1Build a coalition first [225 words]John PhilipsAug 21, 2002 07:042035
Beware of counterattack [99 words]Andre SiroliAug 21, 2002 01:102029
Islamic "Friends" and European "Allies" [153 words]Gene BiegelAug 20, 2002 21:492026
If Saddam is so bad, how bad is... [151 words]R. SrinivasAug 20, 2002 19:152023
Saddam and WMD [212 words]Joseph RosloffAug 20, 2002 18:492022
Europeans don't seem to get it [25 words]Bob AbramsAug 20, 2002 16:452019
US may win another Gulf War; but, will lose peace, again. [122 words]Bill BryanAug 20, 2002 14:112018
And then? [73 words]Philip SnyderAug 20, 2002 13:532016
Europe loves US protection but hypocritically criticizes the USA [60 words]Prof. Richard MillmanAug 20, 2002 13:112015
richard millman - please read [35 words]leslie plotkin dicarloApr 7, 2008 22:192015
Further Paradox [99 words]John LeabeaterAug 20, 2002 13:052014
The reasons are all there [110 words]Ed MillerAug 20, 2002 12:332011
Yes Saddam is Evil, But so are many others [283 words]Bob MathleyAug 20, 2002 12:162009
Enough already !! [112 words]Glenn KlotzAug 20, 2002 11:542007
Poking a stick in the hornets' nest [202 words]Tom CoxAug 20, 2002 11:102005

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