Thanks Brad, I thought it would have a better shelf life without the Iraq paragraph but ntl...it's the best treatment of the subject I've ever come across. One of those, scratch the reasoning, I had been unable to articulate, pieces.

SRB Wrote: the word conspiracy has such a lousy rep, but it's just short-hand for 'a group pursuing an end'. nothing illogical about that, and all our preferred sociopolitical groups engage in it to one form or another.

I've been tellin folks for...a long time, a conspiracy is just a plan of action and I get a lot of those 'I'll never you at you the same' looks that accompany the 'HUH"s' that fall from their mouth in utter disbelief. Too deep I guess, English? e.g., I'm currently plotting a conspiracy for market share against my competitors. An advertising campaign, lol.

SRB wrote: of course fanatics who behead innocents should be ruthlessly stomped. duh.

Post haste even!!!

SRB wrote: what's important beyond that is what we do with those who are suspected and detained. shall we just detain indefinitely and torture and perhaps execute innocents? i'm gonna be all soft, squishy and "liberal" and come down on the 'not exactly' side.

I'll go you one better to classical liberalism* and come down on the 'alway lead by example' side(meaning never torture)'. But then too, I'm a bread and water type, no amendities beyond a Koran or Bible and hard labor.

You're definitely radical DUDE-)

Hope all's well in your world.

* which is actually ancient conservatism, for any Neo's not in the know.