Guest: Geoffrey Stone, professor

"Yesterday in Washington I visited men and women who were badly wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq--many lost limbs and will never be the same. No clear-thinking American could ever want any fellow citizen to be hurt the way these people have been hurt. And therein lies the paradox. Millions of Americans are against the war in Iraq, and that dissent must be respected. But there are also some Americans who actually want the USA to lose--primarily so President Bush will look bad. Few will admit that, but it does exist--primarily on the far left. But losing in Iraq means more US casualties, so Americans can not hold that sentiment and still be called loyal. Disagreement is healthy, honest dissent is loyal. But rooting for the terrorists is unacceptable."

University of Chicago law professor Geoffrey Stone disagreed with Talking Points, saying it is possible for a patriotic American to root for a military defeat in Iraq. "There are people who could want the US to lose militarily because they believe in the long run it will better the interests of the United States. One could hold that belief and still be completely patriotic. If an individual believes the war is misguided and is unnecessarily costing American lives, then one can root any way you want to get us out of the war." The Factor took issue with Stone. "If someone is rooting for the terrorists to kill or maim Americans so America will leave, they are despicable and do not deserve to live in this country."

Guest: Fox News analyst Tony Snow

Republican Senator Trent Lott has joined the chorus of politicians criticizing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Fox News analyst Tony Snow said part of the reason is pure politics. "It's a slow political season," Snow told The Factor. "People are looking for a target. Rumsfeld has shaken up the old military culture and a lot of people are ticked off." Snow defended Rumsfeld for his management of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. "The United States military has responded with unprecedented speed to unprecedented challenges on the battlefield. It is always messy after a war."

Guest: Dr. Yaron Brook, Ayn Rand Institute

Some observers believe the United States should take the gloves off in Fallujah and other Iraqi hot spots. "We want to see the rules of engagement in Iraq change totally," said Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute. "The only way to win this insurgency is for America to be a lot more brutal. We should start bringing the consequences of this war to the civilians who are harboring terrorists and insurgents. We brought the Japanese people to their knees, and that is the only way you can establish democracy in a culture that is opposed to freedom." The Factor argued that brutalizing civilians could have grave consequences. "We would lose the high moral ground, and create more enemies. We do need to get tougher, but we have to do it smarter."

Guest: Rev. Rick Warren, author

"The Purpose Driven Life" has been on the best-seller lists for nearly two years; people around the world have bought more than 20-million copies. Author Rick Warren claimed he's not surprised by his book's runaway success. "People are interested in the purpose driven life," Warren said. "There's a deep hunger for God and for spiritual meaning. A lot of people have good lives, but many are looking for a better life." Warren expressed his abiding belief that God is omnipresent and benevolent. "If we are just a random accident, a freak accident of nature, then our lives don't matter. I believe there is a creator, and our lives have a purpose. The Bible says every day of our lives is planned by God, who loves us and wants what's best for us."

Guests: Fred Kuhr, In News Weekly & Kim Cariani, parent

A Massachusetts high school recently staged a "Gay Awareness Day," and two parents were ejected from the school when they objected. According to Kim Cariani-Perakis, the mother of two teens, "There was a male counselor at the school telling the students how he fell in love with his sister's husband. The gay and lesbian alliance wants to indoctrinate our children to their way of thinking, and it doesn't belong in the curriculum. I was videotaping, and because I had a camera I was asked to leave." Fred Kuhr, editor of a gay publication, defended "Gay Awareness Day" as beneficial to children. "I was not at this event, but it sounds like people were talking about their experiences, their feelings, their lives. You're talking about people's lives, not getting into sexual mechanics."

Rock star Bono of U2 is deeply involved in helping Africans. While he was at the Republican National Convention in September he told The Factor, "I'm a non-partisan guy. I put all that behind me when I went to work for the world's poorest and most vulnerable." The singer conceded that much of the African AIDS epidemic is due to a refusal to use condoms and other dangerous practices, but said "we can't use our judgmentalism to excuse our inaction. God is not going to accept that as an answer." He also called for the equivalent of a Marshall Plan to combat AIDS.