I wonder how fast they'd straighten out if we threatened to let Saddam & co loose with a few tanks as we withdrew.

While we're at it, we might as well withdraw from Afghanistan, Europe, and South Korea. We're so inept we're doomed to failure. Time to tuck our tail between out legs, go home, lick out wounds, kiss and make-up with the French and Germans and wait for the terrorists to hit us again.

It's really easy to say when you're dealing with terrorists, fantanics and thugs, but go to Chief Wiggles site and look at those faces. This is our one shot at changing the next generation's view of themselves and their place in the world. If we cut & run the Arabic world will implode in civil wars and we will spend decades trying to dig out from under the rubble that ensues.

No, we started this in 1990, which is why the Iraqi street doesn't trust us and turns a blind eye to the thugs. We must keep our word or we will never be trusted again. Conversely, if we cut & run we lose status among those who fear us enough to assist or not resist, such as Pakistan.

Al-Sadr and his ilk know exactly what buttons to push as he amply demonstrates by parroting Kenendy's remarks and you're responding exactly as they wish. The Spanish set this current round of violence in motion by cutting and running.

The insurgents chose the wrong people to challenge when they kidnapped Japanese citizens. They invented the shame-honor culture and took it to high art and a religious movement thousands of years before Islam.

They will continue to kill and kidnap until we capture or kill their leaders. I hope we can capture Al-Sadr...make him do the perp walk on Al-Jazeera...to his and their shame. That's how you defuse these guys...not by running and hoping they will play nice. They won't.

feste,

Dean was being sarcastic. You can't hear it in his voice.

Yours,
Wince