It has been said that George H.W. Bush failed because he didn't know how or wouldn't spend the political capital he gained through the prosecution of the first gulf war.

George W, it seems, is determined not to repeat his father's mistake. Unfortunately, it appears he can't count.

While the father had personally experienced real combat, and had vigorously and persuasively plied diplomatic channels and gained widespread support, junior fronts a flimsy, shifting argument and a belligerent deaf ear to the concerns of other Nations and our own citizens.

 There is no real argument in favor of Hussein that I know of. But by refusing to acknowledge realities of the past including our own and others errors and complicity, by using 9-11 as a cover for an issue that can stand on it's own merit, and the use of bullying in place of Diplomacy, Bush has alienated  those nations who's support could help fashion this effort into something that would not resemble a wholesale recruitment effort for alQaeda. Multiple arguments put forward for initiating military intervention have been discredited, the world protests, yet the attack will still come.

Yet one more sad, missed opportunity to do a difficult but necessary thing the right way. Hussein will never change, and his nation suffers daily for his judgment. What will come of the inevitable, at this point, increase of violence in that land is yet to be seen. But expect something resembling a tightly coiled spring being suddenly released. Which way will it bounce? Once in motion, it will follow it's own unpredictable path and not come to rest until it's energy is spent.

I'm afraid that at this point, we won't have to wait long to see.