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Message

Subject: Re: And So It Begins...
Date: 01 Apr 2003 02:27:41 GMT
From: jmsatb5@aol.com (Jms at B5)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

>But...are you saying that every country who supports action in Iraq has
>to provide troops...that they are either for us (and submitting troops)
>or they are against us (and not submitting troops)?  Ironic.

It's been my experience that when someone says "are you saying that...?" it's
actually the other person taking what you did say, rephrasing it into something
you *didn't* say, for the purposes of refuting, diminishing or ridiculing it. 
Oldest debating trick in the world.

So: no, that's not what I'm saying.  Someone asked if anybody had a count of
who was contributing what.  I provided said information.  End of story.

The only irony present is the frequent use of "coalition forces" in press
releases without much discussion about what that coalition actually comprises. 
Kinda makes it sound bigger and that more nations are actively involved than
there really are.  Sort of political resume padding....

 jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
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