WarMonger: We are invading Iraq because it is in violation of security council resolution 1441. A country cannot be allowed to violate security council resolutions.

PN: But I thought many of our allies, including Israel, were in violation of more security council resolutions than Iraq.

WM: It's not just about UN resolutions. The main point is that Iraq could have weapons of mass destruction, and the first sign of a smoking gun could well be a mushroom cloud over NY.

PN: Mushroom cloud? But I thought the weapons inspectors said Iraq had no nuclear weapons.

WM: Yes, but biological and chemical weapons are the issue.

PN: But I thought Iraq did not have any long range missiles for attacking us or our allies with such weapons.

WM: The risk is not Iraq directly attacking us, but rather terrorists networks that Iraq could sell the weapons to.

PN: But coundn't virtually any country sell chemical or biological materials? We sold quite a bit to Iraq in the eighties ourselves, didn't we?

WM: That's ancient history. Look, Saddam Hussein is an evil man that has an undeniable track record of repressing his own people since the early eighties. He gasses his enemies. Everyone agrees that he is a power-hungry lunatic murderer.

PN: We sold chemical and biological materials to a power-hungry lunatic murderer?

WM: The issue is not what we sold, but rather what Saddam did. He is the one that launched a pre-emptive first strike on Kuwait.

PN: A pre-emptive first strike does sound bad. But didn't our ambassador to Iraq, April Gillespie, know about and green-light the invasion of Kuwait?

WM: Let's deal with the present, shall we? As of today, Iraq could sell its biological and chemical weapons to Al Quaida. Osama BinLaden himself released an audio tape calling on Iraqis to suicide-attack us, proving a partnership between the two.

PN: Osama Bin Laden? Wasn't the point of invading Afghanistan to kill him?

WM: Actually, it's not 100% certain that it's really Osama Bin Laden on the tapes. But the lesson from the tape is the same: there could easily be a partnership between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein unless we act.

PN: Is this the same audio tape where Osama Bin Laden labels Saddam a secular infidel?

WM: You're missing the point by just focusing on the tape. Powell presented a strong case against Iraq.

PN: He did?

WM: Yes, he showed satellite pictures of an Al Quaeda poison factory in Iraq.

PN: But didn't that turn out to be a harmless shack in the part of Iraq controlled by the Kurdish opposition?

WM: And a British intelligence report...

PN: Didn't that turn out to be copied from an out-of-date graduate student paper?

WM: And reports of mobile weapons labs...

PN: Weren't those just artistic renderings?

WM: And reports of Iraqis scuttling and hiding evidence from inspectors...

PN: Wasn't that evidence contradicted by the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix?

WM: Yes, but there is plenty of other hard evidence that cannot be revealed because it would compromise our security.

PN: So there is no publicly available evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

WM: The inspectors are not detectives, it's not their JOB to find evidence. You're missing the point.

PN: So what is the point?

WM: The main point is that we are invading Iraq because resolution 1441 threatened "severe consequences." If we do not act, the security council will become an irrelevant debating society.

PN: So the main point is to uphold the rulings of the security council?

WM: Absolutely. ...unless it rules against us.

PN: And what if it does rule against us?

WM: In that case, we must lead a coalition of the willing to invade Iraq.

PN: Coalition of the willing? Who's that?

WM: Britain, Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy, for starters.

PN: I thought Turkey refused to help us unless we gave them tens of billions of dollars.

WM: Nevertheless, they may now be willing.

PN: I thought public opinion in all those countries was against war.

WM: Current public opinion is irrelevant. The majority expresses its will by electing leaders to make decisions.

PN: So it's the decisions of leaders elected by the majority that is important?

WM: Yes.

PN: But George Bush wasn't elected by voters. He was selected by the U.S. Supreme C...-

WM: I mean, we must support the decisions of our leaders, however they were elected, because they are acting in our best interest. This is about being a patriot. That's the bottom line.

PN: So if we do not support the decisions of the president, we are not patriotic?

WM: I never said that.

PN: So what are you saying? Why are we invading Iraq?

WM: As I said, because there is a chance that they have weapons of mass destruction that threaten us and our allies.

PN: But the inspectors have not been able to find any such weapons.

WM: Iraq is obviously hiding them.

PN: You know this? How?

WM: Because we know they had the weapons ten years ago, and they are still unaccounted for.

PN: The weapons we sold them, you mean?

WM: Precisely.

PN: But I thought those biological and chemical weapons would degrade to an unusable state over ten years.

WM: But there is a chance that some have not degraded.

PN: So as long as there is even a small chance that such weapons exist, we must invade?

WM: Exactly.

PN: But North Korea actually has large amounts of usable chemical, biological, AND nuclear weapons, AND long range missiles that can reach the west coast AND it has expelled nuclear weapons inspectors, AND threatened to turn America into a sea of fire.

WM: That's a diplomatic issue.

PN: So why are we invading Iraq instead of using diplomacy?

WM: Aren't you listening? We are invading Iraq because we cannot allow the inspections to drag on indefinitely. Iraq has been delaying, deceiving, and denying for over ten years, and inspections cost us tens of millions.

PN: But I thought war would cost us tens of billions.

WM: Yes, but this is not about money. This is about security.

PN: But wouldn't a pre-emptive war against Iraq ignite radical Muslim sentiments against us, and decrease our security?

WM: Possibly, but we must not allow the terrorists to change the way we live. Once we do that, the terrorists have already won.

PN: So what is the purpose of the Department of Homeland Security, color-coded terror alerts, and the Patriot Act? Don't these change the way we live?

WM: I thought you had questions about Iraq.

PN: I do. Why are we invading Iraq?

WM: For the last time, we are invading Iraq because the world has called on Saddam Hussein to disarm, and he has failed to do so. He must now face the consequences.

PN: So, likewise, if the world called on us to do something, such as find a peaceful solution, we would have an obligation to listen?

WM: By "world", I meant the United Nations.

PN: So, we have an obligation to listen to the United Nations?

WM: By "United Nations" I meant the Security Council.

PN: So, we have an obligation to listen to the Security Council?

WM: I meant the majority of the Security Council.

PN: So, we have an obligation to listen to the majority of the Security Council?

WM: Well... there could be an unreasonable veto.

PN: In which case?

WM: In which case, we have an obligation to ignore the veto.

PN: And if the majority of the Security Council does not support us at all?

WM: Then we have an obligation to ignore the Security Council.

PN: That makes no sense.

WM: If you love Iraq so much, you should move there. Or maybe France, with all the other cheese-eating surrender monkeys. It's time to boycott their wine and cheese, no doubt about that.

PN: I give up!
 
 

 1.  Talking to Kids About War AboutOurKids.org
New York University Child Study Center
 <http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html>

 2.  Talking About Conflict and War
The Learning Network
 <http://www.familyeducation.com/article/>

 3.  Talking with Children about War - Pointers for Parents
 The Learning Network
 <http://www.familyeducation.com/article/>

 4.  Talking with Kids about the News
 Children Now
<http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm>

 5.  "Helping Children Cope with Violence,Terrorism, and Grief" on the NCCIC Web site.
 <http://nccic.org/helpkids.html>.

 6.  AAP Offers Advice on Communicating with Children about Disasters
 - How Pediatricians Can Respond to the Psychosocial Implications of Disasters (AAP Policy statement)
 <http://www.aap.org/policy/re9813.html>

7. Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A Guide
 for the Primary Care Physician (Joint publication between AAP and US
 Center for Mental Health Services)
http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/SMA95-3022/SMA3022.htm> -

 8.  - The Pediatrician's Role in Disaster Preparedness (AAP policy statement)
<http://www.aap.org/policy/re9702.html>

 9.  Child Deaths Hit Communities Hard: Disasters Demand Psychological Triage (AAP
<http://www.aap.org/advocacy/disarticle.htm>

 10.  The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has suggestions for
"Helping Children After a Disaster."
<http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm>

 11.  Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
 <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm>

 12.  Tragic Times, Healing Words Helping Your Children Cope with the
 Latest Disasters by the Sesame Workshop
<http://www.sesameworkshop.org/>

 13.  Kids Com .Com Kids speak out!
 <http://www.kidscom.com/>

 14.  Talking with Kids about the News
 <http://www.childrennow.org/television/twk-news.htm>

 15.  National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Matchbox Partner to Celebrate National 9-1-1 Day <http://www.safekids.org/>

 16.  Talking with Kids About Tough Issues
 <http://www.talkingwithkids.org/>

 17.  Helping Your Kids Feel Safe
<http://www.parentsplace.com/family/>

 18.  Nickelodeon Parent Talk Violence
 <http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/kaiser/violence.html>

 19.  Response to Terrorism: Teacher Handout From American School Counselor Association
http://206.61.101.87/content.cfm?L1=1000&L2=48

 20.  Helping Your Child Deal With the Terrorist Tragedy
 <http://kidshealth.org/breaking_news/tragedies.html>

 21.  Talking to Kids About War
 <http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/war.html>

 22.  Help for Coping with the Attacks in the U.S.
 <http://www.aboutourkids.org/>

 23.  Connect for Kids
http://www.connectforkids.org/

 24.  Coping After A Disaster
http://family.go.com/raisingkids/

 26. **Helping Children Deal with Scary News
 Words of advice from Mr. Rogers: help children feel secure, limit TV and listen.
http://pbskids.org/

 27. **Helping Children Cope with Trauma
 The American Counseling Association has compiled a list of ways parents
 and adults can help young children deal with trauma.
 http://www.counseling.org

 29. **A Guide for Parents: Ten Tips for Talking with Children about Terrorism It's not always what you say, but how you say it that matters for young children. Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.
 http://www.state.oh.us/cdr/schools/trauma/tentips.htm

 30. **Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks
 The U.S. Department of Education explains how adults can talk with children about the attacks, along with suggestions for educators and links to additional helpful resources.
 http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/index.html

 31. **What to Look For
 UCLA's School Mental Health Project identifies common responses that children often experience in the wake of overwhelming events: persistent fears about being separated from their families, sleep disturbances, loss of concentration and irritability, physical complaints, withdrawal and listlessness.
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu

 32. **Trauma and the Attacks in the United States New York University's Child Study Center offers resources to help parents, teachers and mental health professionals explain war and terrorism to children, how to help them cope, and signs of trauma-related stress.
http://www.aboutourkids.org

 34. **Talking to Children about Violence
 What if teens don't want to talk, or if they are fascinated by these events? Educators for Social Responsibility may have answers for you and your family or classroom.
http://www.esrnational.org/guide.htm

 35. **Finding the Right Words
 KidsHealth has information and helpful language for parents, teachers, kids and teens about the painful feelings they might expect to have.
 http://www.kidshealth.org/misc_pages/P_squarebanner.html

 36. **Helping Children Cope with Disaster
 When no other words come to mind, a hug and saying, "This is really hard for us," will work, advises the National Mental Health and Education Center. This handout for parents describes common reactions by age group
 and ways to help children and teens, as adults struggle themselves to make sense and feel in control.
 http://www.naspcenter.org/safe_schools/coping.html

 37. **Strategies for Parents and Teachers
 Focusing on the themes of attachment and separation, North Carolina State's Cooperative Extension Services offers specific activities and ideas for families and classrooms, with some helpful advice for teens and high schools. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/humandev/disas3.html

 39. **Children and Grief
 When a family member dies, children react differently from adults.
 Adding to a child's shock and confusion at the death of a brother, sister or parent is the unavailability of other family members, who may be so shaken by grief that they are not able to cope with the normal responsibility of child care.
 http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/grief.htm

 40. **All Kids Grieve
 All kids experience loss. The key is to help them channel their grief into personal growth, not violence or destructive behavior. AllKidsGrieve.org offers books, classroom strategies and information on how to start support groups for kids.
http://www.allkidsgrieve.org

 RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITIES
 41. **Discussing the News with 3- to 7-Year-Olds: What to Do? In times of great distress, young children need to hear that "your grownups at home and your grownups at school know how to take care of you." Here are specific classroom suggestions from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
 http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1998/22.htm

 42. **Memorials/Activities/Rituals Following Traumatic Events:
 Suggestions for Schools, School memorials, ceremonies or memory activities following a traumatic experience serve an important function in the healing process for both students and staff. The National Association of School
 Psychologists offers guidance on planning such activities.
 http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/memorials.html

 43. **Talking to Public School Students about Disasters
 The DC Public Schools has an outline of what to expect, and how to react, when the news or events upset children.
 http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/disaster_manual.htm

 44. **Crisis Communications Guide and Toolkit
 This National Education Association toolkit offers approaches and activities for schools at the time of crisis, as well as in the aftermath - ways to return to a new "normal" and help in understanding how children and teens respond to trauma and stress.
 http://www.nea.org/crisis

 45. **Helping Children Handle Disaster-Related Anxiety
 The National Mental Health Association reminds us that each child responds differently to disasters, depending on his or her understanding and maturity. The National Mental Health Association (800-969-6642) can provide you with information about your local mental health association or local American Red Cross chapter.
 http://www.nmha.org/newsroom/terrorismtips.cfm

 47. **Coping with Terrorism
 The American Psychological Association explains common reactions and how adults can help themselves, and their children.
 http://helping.apa.org/daily/terrorism.html

 48. **U.S. Government Responds to September 11
 First.gov has information to help families identify benefits and find assistance, along with suggestions for those who want to help.
 http://www.firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html

 51. **Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children: Tips for Parents and Schools While anger is a normal response felt by many, we must ensure that we do not compound an already great tragedy and react against innocent individuals with vengeance and intolerance, says the National Association of School Psychologists. Find key messages for adults to help children, and themselves.
 http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/tolerance.html

 52. **When Hurt Leads to Hate
 As adults we need to be aware of and stand up to physical and emotional hate and empower our children to do the same. This article from the New York University Child Study Center has ideas for how parents can help children deal with this crisis without becoming prejudiced, stereotyping specific groups, or retaliating with acts of bias.
 http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/hate.html

 53. **Reporting Harassment
 If you or your children have been subjected to harassment or attack, the Council on American Islamic Relations Web site has guidelines, a phone number and an online reporting form.
http://www.cair-net.org/ireport/

 54. **Help against Hatred
 Along with advice for parents on talking with children, the National PTA has posted information on talking with children about hatred and prejudice, in both English and Spanish.
 http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/tragedy/index.asp

 Is it anti-American to be anti-war?
Excerpts of conversations with seven American citizens
Interviews by Jonathan Pitts
 Sunspot.net Staff Originally published March 9, 2003

AL GORE
I invented the chicken. I invented the road. Therefore, the chicken crossing the road represented the application of these two different functions of government in a new, reinvented way designed to bring greater services to the American people.

COLIN POWELL
Now at the left of the screen, you clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

HANZ BLIX
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road.

MOHAMMED ALDOURI (Iraq ambassador)
The chicken did not cross the road. This is a complete fabrication. We don't even have a chicken.

SADDAM HUSSEIN
This was an unprovoked act of rebellion and we were quite justified in dropping 50 tons of nerve gas on it

RALPH NADER
The chicken's habitat on the original side of the road had been polluted by unchecked industrialist greed. The chicken did not reach the unspoiled habitat on the other side of the road because it was crushed by the wheels of a gas-guzzling SUV.

PAT BUCHANAN
To steal a job from a decent, hard-working American.

RUSH LIMBAUGH
I don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but I'll bet it was getting a government grant to cross the road, and I'll bet someone out there is already forming a support group to help chickens with crossing-the-road syndrome. Can you believe this? How much more of this can real Americans take? Chickens crossing the road paid for by their tax dollars, and when I say tax dollars, I'm talking about your money, money the government took from you to build roads for chickens to cross.

MARTHA STEWART
No one called to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the farmer's market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

JERRY FALWELL
Because the chicken was gay! Isn't it obvious? Can't you people see the plain truth in front of your face? The chicken was going to the "other side." That's what they call it -- the other side. Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And, if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like "the other side."

DR. SEUSS
Did the chicken cross the road?
Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes, The chicken crossed the road,
But why it crossed, I've not been told!

ERNEST HEMINGWAY
To die. In the rain. Alone.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

GRANDPA
In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

BARBARA WALTERS
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart-warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting and went on to accomplish its life-long dream of crossing the road.

JOHN LENNON
Imagine all the chickens crossing roads in peace.

ARISTOTLE
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

KARL MARX
It was an historical inevitability.

VOLTAIRE
I may not agree with what the chicken did, but I will defend to the death its right to do it.

RONALD REAGAN
What chicken?

CAPTAIN KIRK
To boldly go where no chicken has gone before.

SIGMUND FREUD
The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.

BILL GATES
I have just released eChicken 2003, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook - and Internet Explorer is an inextricable part of eChicken.

ALBERT EINSTEIN
Did the chicken really cross the road or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What do you mean by chicken? Could you define chicken, please?

THE BIBLE
And God came down from the heavens, and He said unto the chicken, "Thou shalt cross the road." And the chicken crossed the road, and there was much rejoicing.

COLONEL SANDERS
I missed one?

SOCRATES
I don't know why the Chicken crossed the road, but I know that I don't know whereas you think you know but really don't, which makes me smarter than you!

TONY BLAIR
Are you calling me a chicken?  I'm backing George all the way down the road to Baghdad just to prove I'm not!

JEAN CHRETIEN
Maybe the chicken it crossed the road, maybe it didn't, 'oo can tell with chickens.

STOCKWELL DAY
The chicken crossed the road because it wanted to go north to Niagara Falls. No, wait a minute, it wanted to go south to Niagara Falls.  Or was it east? Someone tell me where Niagara Falls is again?

THE AIR FARCE
To escape the chicken cannon, of course!