This is a tremendous injustice to the lives of those dying in Iraq. The status quo in Iraq, the world that those carrying "No blood for oil" signs apparently wish, was the world of sanctions, which led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqi children over the past decade. The sanctions were unjust, a horrible price inflicted on civilians for Hussein's refusal to comply with his 1991 capitulation. But the deaths caused by the sanctions were not among the justifications proffered by the administration because to do so would raise the uncomfortable subject of whether the Iraqi issue is not in some way associated with US policies.

Whether Iraq should have been made the focus of world attention is debatable, but what isn't debatable is that the intentions of the United States have been clear for at least a year and, with the unanimous adoption of 1441, the UN agreed. The behavior of France, to suddenly lead a group of nations that are shocked! Shocked! to discover that the US intended to use military force, is appalling. Yes, the US bullied the UN into 1441, but to pretend that 1441 is not clearly a last-chance offer to comply is a lie (http://www.un.int/usa/sres-iraq.htm).

But the media, unable to form long-term memories, will not remind us of any position taken more than 48 hours ago - whether it be France's vote for 1441 or Dick Cheney's assertion that "the coalition forces will be greeted as liberators....the regular army will not [put up a fight]." To do so would be to acknowledge that the world cannot be reduced to a 525 x 440 pixel live video feed. Back to you in the studio...