[ConservativeVoice]

No matter what we do, the liberal media will find fault.

This truly is the new American Century!

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[Babu]

The New York Slimes, et al, may not be impressed, but across the Arab world, there is truly in fact, "Shock & Awe" that the plucky Yanks & Brits could absolutely crush & destroy what was the most powerful military in the Middle East, in a mere 3 weeks.

We certainly got the attention of the "Arab Street", not to mention citizens and world leaders across the globe.

[KeyWest]

Actually the second American Century.

This year, 2003, is a watershed year in history. It is coupled with 9/11, so may be looked on as a decade of change, but this year will be the centerpiece. It could well mark the end of radical Islam. Even Indonesia has reacted with the arrest of a radical cleric. The leaders in countries which have been blackmailed into submission by Saudi sponsored terror are beginning to see the writing on the wall.

Iraq has the potential to be more western than any Arab state. Iran is a close second. Western culture will infect Islam and eventually either kill it or force it to become westernized to survive. Along the way, a lot of fanatics will die.

[Ancesthntr]

By all accounts, the Arabs and their Russian muses are in “shock and awe” as they witness this demonstration of crushing war-fighting prowess.

American power reached its 20th century apex at the surrender of Japan in 1945. It wasn’t used to full effect for the next 58 years; first for fear of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union, then for fear of upsetting the “new world order” of the post cold war “peace”.

I disagree that we've used our power to full effect in the Iraq war. We have used about 1/4 - 1/3 of our existing military power, but have awesome unused potential power. The good news for us, and the extremely bad news for those opposed to us, is that we are not even that ticked off - yet. We don't really have blood in our eye - yet. And those people had better pray that we never reach such a condition, because then they will see Hell on Earth (prior to dying, along with lots of their comrades). You see, if properly motivated (as we were in WW2) this country will mobilize. In WW2 we had 130 million people and had armed forces of 12 million. Now, we have nearly 300 million people, which translates to armed forces of maybe 28 million - and that doesn't account for the fact that our agriculture, mining and manufacturing bases are all vastly more efficient than they were 60 years ago, which would free up additional millions for service. I'd like to ask those opposed to us if they'd like to face the 21st century equivalent of the force we put together in WW2? Because if we are sufficiently motivated, within a few short years we can put together a force of 200 Army divisions and 25 Marine divisions, all capable of being landed on any coastline in the world by a Navy of 40 carrier task forces and supported by an Air Force of 10,000 combat aircraft. To put all of this into context, we defeated Iraq in less than 3 weeks with about 3 divisions.

Would it cost a lot? Absolutely - multiple trillions. But Americans have shown on numerous occasions that they'd rather be a bit (or even a lot) poorer than be dead or enslaved.

I'd strongly suggest that nobody motivate us to mobilize like this.