older treatments of the same matter, but focussed on the exploration of North America while not emphasizing (or covering up) the horrors that were committed is Bernard deVoto's "Course of Empire". I have read it more than once with pleasure.

My own opinion is that objectivity in who was to blame in many cases is hard to come by, although with the Spanish conquistadors it's fairly easy...but even they had Spanish critics and its hard to feel too much sympathy for the Aztecs what with human sacrifice (if that is not a propaganda tale...these days no matter what is written or recorded someone will say it's a lie) and such.

And could we please leave Israel out of this particular discussion? Unless of course we want to review the whole history of the human race, which abounds in conquest, pillage, exploitation, and cruelty (as well as more admirable occurrences).

BTW, there is a school of archaeologists, mainly Israeli!) that argues that the Israelites were in what became Israel all along, that the Egyptian captivity and the Exodus never happened, unless on a minuscule scale. What this implies for present-day disputes I have not the slightest idea.

I seem to remember ("Miracle at Midway"?)The Japanese Navy played a wargame prior to the attack on Midway Island. The American player anticipated reality by surprising the Japanese carriers and sank a few of them. The referee then simply replaced the "sunken" ships on the table and the game continued to a major Japanese victory. If only.

That sort of thing is all-too-human but all-too-dangerous, and wars are lost that way. (A realistic German wargame on the invasion of Russia in 1941 would have probably shown the same result as the reality did..at least every computer simulation I've seen or played comes out that way, no matter what the German player does.) It is understandable, but it is not forgiveable.

How do these people sleep at night or face themselves in a mirror?

Funny thing, I knew it was you after reading two lines and not even seeing the name at the bottom. Time to learn a few new tunes, amigo?

Not just channeling, quoting at length: Karl Rove.

Perfect!

in fly-over country? If there enough to elect McCain who at least claims to want to continue the policies of the last eight years, then they deserve everything that has happened to them and will happen to them. If they want more of the same, let them lose their jobs and pensions, have their kids sent off to Iraq, Iran or wherever, pay the taxes that the super-rich don't, etc. ----everyone knows the list by now --- while they satisfy their bigotry.

I'm retired, with a secure pension and some modest investments so unless the entire system goes down the drain and takes everyone, including the hedge-fund Masters of the Universe and trick-mortgage guys with it, I'll be OK. So what does it matter to me that a bunch of self-righteous Bible-thumpers think the Republicans will accelerate the Second Coming?

If only I didn't have a grand-daughter.

Today I am a ranting old geezer.

I believe that the present governor of VA is a Democrat and would appoint the replacement for Webb. So that would not be an issue.

The advantages of Webb are huge: decorated vet*, Reagan Sec. of Navy (and ex R), smart and articulate --- wouldn't you love to see him head-to-head in debate with Huckabee Hound? (You're no LBJ!) --- and might well put Virginia in the D column, where it seems to be leaning anyway.

*who would not be so easy to Swift-Boat either, especially now that the trick has been used before.

Darwinian Evolution For Idiots:

A molecule given that self-replicates,

Add random mutation, and open the gates

To wonders; selection, you see, with the time

Of a few billion years breeds a lion from slime.

Yet, pardon my doubt if that really is true

If G. Walker Bush is the best it can do.