... my friend, about not discussing politics!

>> President Bush did the right thing by preempting an attack
>> on Iraq (WMD or not.) He had the courage past presidents after President
>> Truman (D) lacked. He was the one that finally said, "that's enough."
>> The USS Cole was attacked, our embassies around the world have been attacked,
>> establishments where our GI's visited were attacked, our barracks were
>> attacked--and no one ever retailated until this administration acted.

I agree completely with your opinion that we have allowed ourselves to be attacked with virtual impunity and that several administrations worth of presidents have failed to respond appropriately to those attacks (one of the reasons I respect and admire the Israelis -- they don't put up with that kind of crap).

HOWEVER, the attack on Iraq was neither a "preemptive" strike (inasmuch as there was and is no evidence that Iraq had any intention of attacking the US, other than perhaps the occasional missile fired at our military overflights) nor appropriate "retaliation" (inasmuch as there was and is no evidence that Iraq played any role whatsoever in any of the attacks on US interests that you mentioned).

In the latter regard, it would have made as much sense to attack Canada, Mozambique or any other country selected at random by throwing a dart at a world map -- each of them is equally as culpable as Iraq for the past atrocities against us.

----- jim o\-S