Guardian -- U.K. spells out six key tests for Saddam

Did Pakistan stage bin Laden aide arrest to abstain on U.N. vote?

LATimes -- Freedom From Religion -- That Too Is a Right

More than anything, I've learned to truly appreciate the genius of the constitutional democracy left to us by the founders. It's still amazing to me that one individual can force the entire nation to at least ponder the ideals upon which our laws rest.


WashPost -- Wrong Way to Do The Right Thing

The loss of allies and the turn of public opinion in so many democratic nations against us reflect fears that the United States is going to war not just to rid Hussein of weapons but on behalf of a grand theory. The theory sees unfettered American power as capable of remaking the world. That's certainly bold. It's also dangerous.

The paradox is that creating the more democratic world we seek requires more than power. It demands alliances, institutions and trust. Doing the right thing the wrong way for the wrong reasons could squander all three.



TechCS -- Our World -- A Historical Gamble

The modern liberal world system has permitted the growth of power in the hands of those who have not had to cope with reality in order to acquire this power: it has simply been given to them, out of the sense of fair play prevalent among Western liberal societies.

A lot of people like this last long pro-war essay link because it carries with it the explicit assumption that we are forced to go to war because we are better than they are and must "Pick Up the White Man's Burden."

I am not converted, and think it is another form of racism, bigotry and self-justification for uncertain and scared mortals.