@rosborne979,
Well, i need to read up on it, too. One factor, though, is that CMEs are directional (cf. the one mentioned in the Wikipedia quote that "missed" the earth), while the radiation from solar flares is just that, radiated. I'm glad you brought up the mitigating effect of CMEs--back to the drawing board. I just checked, though, and the ISS is within the lesser Van Allen radiation belts, which means that it's getting protection from them.