Before you can decide how you feel about the war in Iraq - or any major event - you owe it to yourself to become informed. You can't know everything, of course, but you can be sure you're drawing your conclusions on the basis of accurate and complete information.

Being uninformed can lead to embarrassing results.

Here's an example: Just before the war began, pollsters reported that 45% of the American people believed "Saddam Hussein was personally responsible" for the attacks of September 11, 2001. Although President Bush has linked the former Iraqi president to terrorism in general, even Mr. Bush has not charged Saddam Hussein with being "personally responsible" for 911, and no such claim has been made by the U.S. government. Observers in Europe and the Middle East wonder how so many Americans came to that erroneous conclusion.

Watching TV news, reading a newspaper or newsmagazine and using the internet smartly can keep you informed without sapping your time.

• Don't limit yourself to a single source. No single news source can "do it all" for you.
• Don't read or view only those perspectives with which you agree. Absorb other views.
• Use your head to sort out the facts.
• Use intelligent commentary and analysis in the media to help you shape your own views.
• Don't get stuck in a rut; stay open to shifting views as new facts arrive and your perspective changes. There's no requirement that you never change your opinion!

Suggestion: Use the web to get your daily "fill" of information about the war. Carve out 20-30 minutes a day (not necessarily all-at-once). Make a conscious effort. It's not painful! Borrow a few minutes from the time you spend checking sports scores or the Hollywood gossip or the latest news from the music and movie worlds. Steal a few minutes from the time you spend IM-ing your friends. Shave a few moments from the time you devote to browsing the latest fashions. Spend those moments, instead, browsing the web sites of reputable news organizations which offer information free on the web. Venture beyond the Wilmington News Journal or The Review. A few possibilities are listed on this webpage.

Browse quickly. No need to read every word of every article. Especially after a few days, you'll find you can stay abreast of the story by reading what's new. Check out the "op-ed" pages (they're where most newspapers put their commentary and opinion pieces). Observe the images and graphics. Test drive a few of the sites you find. Change-up from time to time if you like. Don't get distracted by news about entertainment, sports, etc. Follow those stories at some other time of your day.

And then do one more thing - maybe just once or twice a week: Check out a news publication from another country. You'll be amazed how differently others perceive the same events.

In a few days, you'll find yourself thinking about and saying things you may never have imagined... because you're informed enough to do it!

[Ralph Begleiter is UD's Distinguished Journalist in Residence. He was CNN's world affairs correspondent from 1981 - 1999.]