Oh, absolutely

If you haven't read Napoleon Bonehead's remarks to Barbara Walters insisting that, even without Saddam having had WMD, invading Iraq was the right course, read this top drawer Juan Cole post.

Teaser:

As for "Absolutely," it is a weasel word. It is not an argument. It is a species of hand waving. It is cheap.

[...]

Bush has figured out, apparently, that some in the American public respond, rather like the apes to which they deny they are related, to posture, grunting and body language rather than to reason and evidence.

[...]

"Absolutely" used in this way is a vocalization that actually functions as an intimidating agonistic display meant to close off further dialogue by the silverback.