"The texts and practices making up Judaism were designed to avert just such a scenario. The tradition stresses transparency, open-ended inquiry, assimilation of the foreign, and a commitment to conscious living. Judaism invites inquiry and change. It is an "open source" tradition - one born out of revolution, committed to evolution, and willing to undergo renaissance at a moment's notice. But, ironically, some the very institutions created to protect a religion and its people are now suffocating them."

Bingo. I've been in a number of, ah, vibrant discussions about Iraq and the point I try to make is exactly this: What is actual threat and what is a just response? With this lens, the invasion of Afghanistan was justified, while that of Iraq is not.