Below is a couple of paragraphs from an email I received, written by a member of my church (ST) on the US going to war against Iraq. My church is full of people who think very deeply about issues, and aren't "knee-jerk" reactives.

"I am concerned about a unilateral, as opposed to a multi-lateral or United Nations approach to Iraq. Any use of force, even in international matters, must be based on the rule of law. However, to say that one can use force against an international outlaw only when he is armed to the teeth and is ready to start an offensive is an invitation to a most destructive and horrific scenario. In the last couple of years, I visited parts of Germany and, even 55 years later, the signs of the destruction of World War II are almost unbelievable. What if Hitler were stopped in the mid-1930's when he started building up armaments and when he occupied the Rhineland?

Christians are sometimes "knee-jerk" pacifists who reject any use of force, even when it aims to prevent the threat of far greater danger. I do not necessarily agree with Bush's approach, but I also don't agree with the opposite position."

I completely agree with his sentiment about our country taking a unilateral approach to Iraq. There are no other countries, with perhaps the exception of Britian, supporting us in a war with Iraq. To go to war without worldwide support is such a mistake. And like some people, I need to also know what our exit strategy is when Sadaam Hussein is overthrown. Who takes his place? What will the USA have to do to keep peace in the country once he's gone? If Hussein is toppled, will Iraq face threats from Iran? And if Iran tries to take over Iraq, will we be forced to defend Iraq?

Or will Iraq go the way of the former soviet republics after the fall of soviet communism, and turn to civil war or ethnic cleansing. If I'm not mistaken, Hussein is a Sunni muslim and the majority of Iraq is composed of Shiite muslims. Will the Sunnis and Shiites battle for the control of Iraq? Will Iraq turn into another Korea, where years after the Korean war, the US still maintains a demilitarized zone (DMZ)? Can the US afford to have another country where we need to keep peacekeeping troops or some kind of troops, just to keep peace in the country?

It is interesting thought to think about the question, what if Hitler were stopped earlier?

Taking public transportation to work is like anything else in life ... it's all in the timing. If you miss your connection, you're messed, especially if you're riding buses in two different counties. SF Muni I understand; I've been riding it for years. SamTrans is a totally different story, moreover, it's a totally different county.

But there's something universal about taking a bus. In Bali, London, Honolulu, NYC, Chicago, LA, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and the SF Bay area, the buses always run late.

From Israel 21c, an essay from former Senator Paul Simon from Illinois entitled Scarce water at core of Middle East issues. Could this be true?

From The Middle East Times, More than water in the Israel-Turkey pipeline, another take on water as a source of midldle east tension.

Now my other opera CD is on, "Great Tenors of the Century".

I'm falling in love with the aria called "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot, which is ironically screenwriting marina hottie boy's favorite opera. Life is strange isn't it? I should have taped the opera when it was on TV. I think this means I need to go and see Turandot at the SF Opera this month by myself, so I can listen to "Nessun Dorma" and dream and fantasize without having to explain myself or be jarred back to reality by another person. It's selfish, I know, but some music needs to be enjoyed alone.