When the Bush administration first made this claim, people wanted to see or be given that proof, but we got nothing but words of condemnation, bluff and bluster.

When it was suggested the UN inspectors be given this information so they could go directly to these physical materials and cut inspections short, even with the Iraqi Ambassador demanding such action, we still got nothing. In fact, we began to vilify the inspectors themselves and talk about how much better Saddam was at public relations.

When President Bush went to the UN, pushing for resolution 1441, we thought that at last the Security Council would be given this important information, but we were told that America's espionage methods and its secret agents could not be compromised. Again, we got nothing.

When President Bush delivered his State of the Union address, we all waited breathlessly for the important evidence that would lead to a declaration of war. Once more, we got nothing, but we did get the promise that Secretary of State Colin Powell would deliver this evidence to the United Nations in a couple of weeks.

Even if we are finally shown evidence of Saddam's guilt, even if it's shown to us by Colin Powell, the one man who seems to have some integrity amongst the thugs in Washington shortly before we push the button to wipe out Baghdad—is anyone going to believe it.

Will the American people suddenly jump for joy and say things like; Wow, isn't that wonderful. No wonder they couldn't show it to us before now. Go get 'em boys.

Come on folks, we're all part of the new age of television, movies, and visual effects. We've seen everything from alien monsters bursting through of a person's belly button to Godzilla wiping out New York City. We know what can be done with visual imagery.

Are we suddenly going to accept some blurry satellite imagery as proof that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction and intends us harm? Are we going to look at old photos of Iraqis running out back doors when inspectors come in the front? Old photos we were shown when, in 1998, the U.S. pulled the inspectors out of Iraq and proceeded to bomb the hell out of them.

And if the evidence truly does look convincing, will we and the rest of the world believe that it hasn't been fabricated by people approaching the talents of Steven Spielburg or George Lucas?

And let's not forget that altering taped voice recordings is an art from the Fifties. Anyone with a good sound mixer and oscilloscope can do it.

Why do you suppose Bush has picked Colin Powell to deliver this evidence? Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that he might be the one person people might trust?

And what will we do if it's nothing more than more words of bluff and bluster? Do you think that will change anything? George Bush missed his opportunity when he didn't immediately present this proof long ago.

Post Script: The movie "Dr. Strangelove" will play on TNT Sunday, February second. Get your chickenhawk friends to watch it.