I am starting to believe it is possible to train the Iraqi's to take over their fight. As long as we don't turn off the supplies, like Vietnam where ARVN troops literally ran out of supplies, I think the fight can be handed off to the Iraqi's. My problem is that I don't believe Democracy in Iraq will bring about Democracy in the Middle East. We just sacrificed our Bishop to kill a pawn. Pardon the pun.

Herc you are wrong, The terr's in Iraq are on their last breath. The only thing saving them today, is that the US is holding the Kurds and Shia's back...The Kurds have over 100k, same with the Shias (militia)...all waiting for the US too step back, and allow justice "the middle east way"! The US is nation building, hoping the Sunni's will come on board, and participate....The other option is the US leaves, and a short bloody civil war spells doom for the Sunni's.....

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-940039.php In the area there are Sunnis from Saudi, Iraq, Sudan , Egyopt , Pakistan & Yemen..not many jobs that Sunnis can do. The Palis have being fighting for ages, the Quick'n' the dead rule does not apply in the MIddle East- the Middle East is a Quagmire - we need not invent one.

http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GF28Df01.html Afghanistan to go to-- You see unlike most parts of the world -say for example the USA- we progress upwards linearly, China grows linearly, Africa goes down linearly, the Arab world goes in guess??? CIRCLES!!

But where are you going with this ultimately? Are you going to eventually attempt to say that it's an unwinnable war? You seem to also be ignoring reports, not op-eds, by what nobody would call pro-war or pro-Bush organizations(Reuters, LATimes, NYTimes, a Brit paper I was looking at the other day, can't remember which, sorry) that Joe-Iraqi has turned against the insurgents and that tips leading to capture of insurgents are up. Indicating that the battle over 'hearts and minds' in Iraq is more to the US advantage, wouldn't be fair to say? To paraphrase von Clauswitz: wars end when the political will to go on is spent on one side. Opinion polls and op-eds do not drive policy or completely embody the political will(the Executive branch does have something to say about that as does Congress). But, honestly, where do you intend to go with these op-eds you post? What's the bigger point you're trying to make?

ok so let me get this straight they want to kill evreyone that is not well muslim and dont belive in ther religion evrey one thinks usa is ruthless right now but what if we would start doing 9/11 scale attacks on them and the other countrys usa and its allies has the power to show them what and how ruthless we are remember veitnam we killed 2.5 million nuke em napalm show them what we do to the prisoners of war all in all cleanse the land

Has anyone ever heard of mutual respect? I read in an article recently that Saudi Arabia actually destroys Korans and Bibles every day. They only approve of a certain approved version of the Koran, and all others are destroyed. Bibles don't stand a chance, and Christians are beaten and jailed by authorities. Maybe that's just rumor, but I doubt it. I doubt it because whether the Koran sanctions the murder of innocents for political gain or not, it is certainly being used by a substantial number of people for that reason. Moderate muslims are simply too silent. They should be outraged instead of lecturing the victims of terrorism on the merits of tolerance. Practice what you preach before preaching to others. I'm not defending Abu G, but let's get real, here. Radical Muslims have declared war on the world (India, Phillipines, Balkans, Russia, Europe, America...)and they are willing to dismember, I said dismember, any one, any time, any place, for any perceived grievance going back 1,000 years. Don't blow my brothers and sisters to bits, cut off their heads and destroy their holy books and then expect me to have "respect". I respect Muslims who stand up and make no excuses for terrorists rather than those who sanction random acts of violence because their egos are bruised. Americans must respect Islam? Muslims must respect humanity.

"I read in an article recently that Saudi Arabia actually destroys Korans and Bibles every day." Its not just bibles. They also destroy crosses/crucifixes and any other articles they find that may look like it may be christian in nature. Dont even think about wondering about objects of a Hebrew nature. On top of all that every Valentines day they go about shutting down shops and arresting people in case they may try to celebrate this "heathen infidel" holiday. Sometimes I wonder just how far these people would have gotten if there wasn't any oil where they live.

But Allah the merciful protects the faithful- they have Oil!! Its not what if they didn't.... I wonder who looks after France they have wine cognac & champagne- that must be a fun God.

Great Britain have created Saudia Arabia and USA helped him to organise in Asia to stop expansion of comminism. It is the Saudis not royal family but the clergy that is behind the Islamic radicalism to gain political power. USA and GB are like Dr. Frankenstein fearing the creature they have created.