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<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=3>Though there is great danger of =
overreaction to
the current crisis, normal rules of engagement do not apply in all
circumstances. It is naive to think that we can assemble a public =
quorum
to fight an enemy that operates using such desperate and clandestine
methods. I can only imagine the 6:00 news: "Bush plans secret =
attack on
Bin Laden". Though I have been as cynical as any about the methods =
of
government in the past, there are times when duplicity and secrecy may
be necessary to protect oneself. We value our free and =
open
society, but we forget that we have in the past protected that =
openness<BR>with
secret operations, manipulation and murder. Our call for freedom =
of
information has come with the naive belief that it comes at no =
cost. We
abhor international dirty tricks to take down malignant leaders, but we =
call for
the random bombings for entire countries who might harbor our =
fugitive. We
tie the hands of US intelligence and we blame them for not knowing
in advance. We operate in the post cold war as if no one =
would
dare. We, afterall, are the most mighty. We have the largest =
army
that marches together in step. We have the biggest ships, the =
fastest
aircraft and the most powerful missiles. We can flex our muscles =
and
show our strength. Well, sometimes the most powerful weapons =
are
those unseen and unreported. We seem to have<BR>lost the stomach =
for
that.<BR><BR>David Love</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>