"Obviously I didn't mean everyone it was just a general comment. It was meant to emphasise the difference that many of the current candidates have to the present incumbent. Few can deny that the general consensus of opinion even amongst most Americans is that the war is pointless and costing more lives than anyone ever envisaged. We have got ourselves into something that is out of control and cannot easily get out without losing face and that is now what it is all about. It is in no way anti American as i suspect that is how David interpreted it."

Nick, there is no incumbent, although such a statement isn't surprising, as much of the media here treats this election as if every candidate is running against Bush.

You must be getting most of your info from The Guardian or the BBC if you believe there is a general consensus in America that the war is/was pointless. As to the lives expended to fight this war, a number of one-day battles in World War 2 caused more allied deaths than the war in the middle east has since it's beginning. Nobody, and I mean nobody who had the ability to exercise cogent thought processes believed this would be a short-term action. You can call what is happening "out of control", but you would be wrong. The surge enacted months ago is working. The Sunnis and Shiites have stopped attacking each other in Iraq, and instead are fighting the insurgent forces being sent into the area from Iran and Syria. They are getting it! They are helping us all fight Islmo-fascists aka al-Qaeda!

Removing Saddam from the planet was just one goal -- his sons were more ruthless than he was. Establishing a real democracy in a country in that region is the key to fighting terrorism. Terrorists live in the 7th century. Real Democracy strips them of power.

Prior to the 21st century, there were less than 20 countries on this planet ruled by a democracy. That number now is over 120. When people experience real freedom, they embrace it and will fight for it.

I live in an area that has many military installations. I also travel about 25 times a year for work. I encounter our fighting men and women on a regular basis in airports while on the road and at the grocery store when I'm home. These brave soldiers know why they do what they do, and do so willingly. They know the evils of this world, and they put their lives on the line to fight those evils for us -- God bless them all!