> Jim, were not trying to figure out what to eat here. > We are in fact talking about dictators and powerfull > government figures. So, to compare and contrast with > historical figures is quite valid.
Comparison with comparible historical figures perhaps. Hitler and Saddam are incomparable for purposes for policy determination. Perhaps for historical discussion, yes, but not for policy determination. While I'll agree that many differences are in degree, not in kind the degree of difference is enormous. The specifics are so far removed it's laughable. Germany and it's allies were in a position to militarily, technologically and economically control much (perhaps all) of Europe and significant areas of Asia and Africa as well. Saddam is barely capable of posing a significant threat to his neighbors (who, if attacked would receive immediate UN military aide). Germany and it's allies were actively engaged in a (succesful) war of conquest with obvious and active plans for further expansion. Iraq is not actively engaging in conquest (again, if they start there is every reason to go to war). Germany was actively engaged in genocidal practices. They continued these practices as long as they possibly could. Iraq is not currently engaged in such practices. Germany and it's allies were actively engaged in ground-breaking research to improve their war machines. Research that, if it were allowed to continue, would have shifted the balance of power perhaps uncontrollably. This included ballistic missiles, jet fighters, atomic weapons and so on. Iraq may be engaged in such research but nothing indicates that it could lead to as striking a balance of power (and, at worst such a shift would be localized rather than global). You can compare a candle to a blast furnace or a mouse to an elephant, but not very well. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
