Why the Bush Administration is Focusing on Saddam Instead of Al Qaeda

I think this old parable -- one of my favorites for describing the effect of mathematics on the economics profession -- is a pretty good description of current foreign policy as well.

A man is crawling around on his hands and knees under a streetlamp, apparently looking for something. A second man comes walking by, stops, and asks the first man what he's doing.

"I'm looking for my keys," he replies.

"Where did you lose them?" asks the second man.

"In those bushes over there," replies the first.

"So why aren't you looking over there?" asks the second man.

"Because the light is so much better over here!"