[MEG33]

I realize the Arab Nationalistic pride was invested in Saddam.I am less of an optimist than you,though my hope is there.Money always has away of getting to the thugs.They were caught carting gold bars out of Iraq.How many got through and how much is now in diamonds?Arms merchants are worldwide.I do think there is more hope for peace for Israel but it will be bumpy.Some dictator is always wanting arms and will let his country starve to buy them.

[ArneFufkin]

When Patton was in North Africa, that seemed impossibly distant from Berlin. Anzio was the end of the World, as was Iwo Jima when Americans were being slaughtered with no progress. But, Iwo Jima became an air base from which we launched on Okinawa. We lost 6800 men on that 8 square mile island. It took a MONTH to take that 8 miles from the enemy.

Can you imagine fighting a War entailing the sacrifice, upheval and complex scope of WWII TODAY, with 24X7 Cable coverage and worldwide communication capability.

There were surreal and ridiculously immense loss of human life in obscenely short moments in that war. Thousands dying in an hour. We dropped fire bombs on civilian populations, killing tens of thousands in Dresden and Berlin in a day.

That was a different era, but the human tragedy is timeless.

It's why you and I sleep in peace and confidence in the security and prosperity of tomorrow each night. That's what the boys are fighting for. That's what they've always fought for. And always will. This is a vital mission, and our soldiers are excelling.

It is right to have worry for your loved ones and insecurity for the future. But ... this is a HISTORIC time in World History. I think the Middle East is going to experience a Renaissance going forward. I do.