I can't help thinking what all the money spent on Iraq could have achieved in terms of making energy independence more achievable.

The threat of BinLaden winning is not dependent on our present role in Iraq.
The fight is moving to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we are in a weakened postion to deal with it. It's also likely that the lessons learned in Iraq re alQaeda won't be transferred to other regions of confrontation. We only understand big guns and big bombs, it seems. Counter-insurgency is something that should be practiced even before the first bulltes fly, and we just don't get it. .

It sounds cynical but 9/11 enabled them to expand executive powers and cloak their actions in secrecy under the guise of national security. We'll never know just how much of what they have done was done for the good of the nation Vs the good of GOP “Rangers”.

But wait. I look at the profits of the oil companies and Halliburton (stock is up 800% since Bush took office), I have to remember that quagmire is for us grunts. The spoils of war go to the Bush buddies.

If we stay there we spend 12 billion a month and bankrupt our prosperity. It may lead to the end of our empire, as the long war in Afghanistan did with the Soviets in the late 80's. Our military continues to be stretched to the breaking point, hurting our ability to respond elsewhere. Also, a long occupation hurts our image abroad, and serves as a recruiting tool for al queda. Moderate Arabs become enraged and radicalized when they see that we have no intention of pulling out. Our continued presence also intensifies our conflict with Iran, who continues to send in fighters and supplies to fight a proxy war.

Pulling out is also a bad idea. In doing so, we demonstrate that we do not have the stomach to fight the long hard slog. Osama can use our defeat as propaganda to plan his next attack. Iraqis who believed we were trying to help establish a new democracy will be let down, and our international reputation will suffer. It will become apparent to all who sacrificed over there that their sacrifice was in vain. Billions we have invested will be wasted as Iran moves into the power vacuum left by our withdrawel. The possibilty of a failed state will loom large, and al queda may move in to set up terrorist training camps, using Iraqi oil fields to finance their organization.

Win/win for Osama- game, set and match. 9/11 was a stroke of brilliance for him as he finally succeeded in trapping us in a war with no end.

Peace can only be acheived through the result of conflict. Because without conflict there is no need for peace.

As long as Mankind has a certain harmone raging through their body there will continue to be wars. Just as a there will continue to be sex. We are a social animal who demands a pecking order. No less so then primates, wolves, or any other pack animal you care to point fingers at.

The problem with society is that we have attempted to tame a wild animal. Mankind. Its not going to happen. The sooner everyone realizes this the sooner we can go back to the days when it was glorious to die in battle. To Clench a fist and to howl at the moon in defiance of those who would take our most cherished possession away.

Self Respect.

Until such time as this tamed, Wild Animal that is Western Civilization realizes that we must give our Enemies their self respect back then we will continue to be slave owners and invaders.

The war that is raging between east and west is not about religion. It is about Self Respect and who will rule the pack.