Interspersed among the many reports and interviews about the threat of Iraqi chemical warfare have been occasional stories concerning the bitter debates this danger has inspired in Israel.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Holding our noses against gas attack

One of my most interesting recent interviews was with a professor of political communication, Kathleen Jamieson, who made the point that while debates only occasionally change minds, they do leave voters much better informed.

BBC: Do the US presidential debates matter?