Reply #87: "I don't think we went to war in Iraq because we have the wrong system"

[Boojatta]

First, a minor point: there's no shortage of wrong systems, so I think that it's inappropriate to express yourself that way.

I don't see how you can avoid acknowledging that the system is, to some extent, imperfect. The system includes procedures for changing the system. Does the existence of such procedures create an unnecessary risk that a perfect system will be changed into an imperfect system? Or is the risk worth it because there actually do exist imperfections in the system and it is important to allow for admittedly imperfect efforts to address those imperfections?

What you wrote reminds me of some dialog from a movie:

MUFFLEY General Turgidson, I find this very difficult to understand. I was under the impression that I was the only one in authority to order the use of nuclear weapons.

TURGIDSON That's right sir. You are the only person authorized to do so. And although I hate to judge before all the facts are in, it's beginning to look like General Ripper exceeded his authority.

(...)

MUFFLEY (anger rising) General Turgidson, when you instituted the human reliability tests, you assured me there was no possibility of such a thing ever occurring.

TURGIDSON Well I don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip up sir.