[Flying Dutchman]

I fully understand your stance, and I even respect it believe it or not. I thought all along that the reasons for this mess were never explained properly, and won't be until it is over. In my opinion, and it could be wrong, if the real reason was stated for this it would not have been allowed. I felt, and feel, that the major reasons we went into this was to put our military right in the middle of the middle east. It gives us troops on the border of Iran and Syria, two of the most radical countries in the region. We did not attack Iraq, we attacked Suddam and his followers knowing the people would not put up any opposition. We also knew he, Suddam, was isolated without any threat of the other countries coming to his aid. Strategically that is a good thing. Unfortunately our leaders totally underestimated how the people of Iraq would handle it on their end. Their hatred of each other and wishing for revenge amongst themselves was more important to them than unifying their country. We also underestimated and put to much trust into Pakistan and the tribal leaders in Afghanistan. We overplayed our hand and did not go into the situation with any good back up plans. We should have declared marshal law in iraq, sealed the borders and held Pakistan to the fire. To say Bush's leadership abilities appeal to me is a gross misunderstanding. I felt, and feel, that he and Rummy totally screwed this pooch from the get-go. While i agree with the decision if based upon my opinion, I do not agree with how the outcome has been. I only used the KU and NC example to show why you do not lay out ones strategy ahead of time or to your enemy. I feel Bush lied, but not to the extreme or for the same reasons as others is all.

This "war" will never be won. There is no way to stop our enemies completely when the enemy is based upon emotions and religious ideals instead of policies and power. There is no end unless we totally stop being America or they totally stop being terrorists. We attack their camps, their strongholds, their leaders......they blow up trains and buses full of civilians. We hold them in prison, feed them, give them their religious freedom and allow them to worship, and we waterboard the ones we need information from......they behead prisoners on tv, start riots and killign because of a cartoon and threaten to kill teachers because of naming a teddy bear Mohamed. There is no comparison, regardless of the why's and how's.