where are the WMD?

Yet at what cost (war casualties aside). How many Africans will suffer because of monies being diverted to Iraq? How many additional people will starve because money that would have been used for food aid is now going to be used to rebuild Iraq?------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Yes, it is your money. You may do with it as you will. I was simply pointing out that those who died as a direct result of this war will most likely not be the only casualties.However, consider this. Would I be a better person if I attacked an abusive husband in his own home, killing some of his family members in the process. Then spent money I would have used to feed, clothe and educate starving men, women and children in order to repair the damage I had done. Or would it be better the feed, clothe and educate the men, women and children, while searching for alternative solutions to the abusive husband?------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I agree, your analogy works better. Although I would make some changes. Except that at the time you decide to send in the SWAT team, you already have a negotiator inside and the chance still exists that the situation might be solved without force.Do you wait to see if the situation can be resolved peacefully or do you send in the SWAT team?Also, I might add some civilians outside the building also dying (redirection of money). I am permitted to form an opinion about you based on how you spend your money. What I am not permitted to do is force you to spend it differently.------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

This is, unfortunately true, but until the countries in question are able larely support themselves then the only other alternative is letting the people starve. Unless you would rather kill them outright and at least save them the suffering. This is a sticky situation. There are many actions that would help (debt relief, aggricultural assistnace, etc), unfortunately most of these take time to have a possitive effect and aren't always going to do any long term good.------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Let me see, something like debt relief can help IF the government decided to use the extra money they then have in the budget in a contructive way. However if they decided to buy a new presidential jet or otherwise squander the money...Does that make it clearer.------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I'm glad I could help. Thank you very much. Here I was thinking that I 'sound' like an uneducated layperson grasping at straws. If only I could use that as an excuse. I'm afraid that I have always had a problem with spelling. I think it has to do with the fact that I missed most of the ground work as a child (I was in hospital and kept at home, for medical reasons, for most of a year). I try and keep my post error free as much as I can. However, I am currently being retrenched and I might not have been paying as much attention to spelling as I should. There are also differences in official spelling between America (which is were I think you are from) and South Africa. I would hope that even when I don't correctly spell a word it is still close enough that you would be able to understand what I was trying to say. However, if this is not the case please don't hesitate to ask for clarification, as you have done in this thread. We all have our faults and when it comes to spelling I am more than willing to admit that this is one of mine.------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I'm also a programmer. I had some problems remembering to use the American spelling for many words (since that is what the compiler is expecting).------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I try not to think about that much. It boils my blood, and the fact that our president isn't doing anything about it makes it even worse. However some funny, and sad, stories sent to a local radio station about the economical situation:Zimbabwe is probably the only country in the world where the countries largest bank note can't buy a beer at the pub.The average toilet roll (in Zim) has about 72 of those little squares (do they have a proper name) and costs you 1000 Zim Dollars. If you had to take your 1000 and exchange it for 10's at the bank, you could keep you bottom clean for just as long and still have 280 dollars left.I take no responsibility for the accuracy of these stories as they are quoted from memory and originally heard third hand.------------------
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy