Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Please club, do explain what the difference is between "imminent danger (or threat)" and "immediate danger (or threat)" in this context? If you need to turn to a dictionary, you lose. Most Americans don't have one handy when watching TV.

This is a waste of time, but fun nonetheless.

No dictionary necessary:

Statement 1:

some have argued that the the nuclear threat from Iraq is not imminent, that Saddam is at least five to seven years away from having nuclear weapons. I would not be so certain.'

The "I would not be so certain" refers to the time frame (of 5 to 7 years) before Saddam would have nuclear weapons, meaning that he thinks that Saddam could have them before that time. There is another, weaker argument here, but I won't go into that.

Statement 2:

No terrorist state poses a greater or more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world and the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq

This is a statement of relativity. He is not saying the threat posed by Iraq or any other country is immediate. He is saying that if he had to rank all countries in order of the most pressing threat, Iraq would be at the top of the list.

Questions/comments?