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I don’t know if he was set-up or not. I sure hope there is no conspiracy here.

Nevertheless, President Bush is responsible. If no WMD are located and destroyed then a lot of Americans gave up their lives to free the Iraqi people from a terrible dictator – an admirable action – but not worth a single American life, in my opinion.

This was not the prime reason. We are trying to free Iraq and other countries from terrorists (or organized crime, to us uh-merikans). Saddam and his regime (family, estates, palaces,government buildings, utilities) were being protected by his vaunted Republican Guard. It was all they could do to hold Baghdad. The rest of his country had been taken over by the Al-Queda (and that is just a representative name for a host of terrorist groups, working together).

That we were able to also free his civilian population from further despotic treatment was valuable, and a political move, but not the primary reason.

It is a reason the majority(being polite here) will accept and believe and support. Therefore it was the one headlined.

an admirable action – but not worth a single American life, in my opinion.

Here's where we really disagree. We've been over the Middle East (oil) barrel since the establishment of Israel, and especially since the embargo in '73. We've been manipulated by oil-rich Iranian Persians and Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, etc. for far too long. No matter how you view it, the stand-off between Israel and the Arab world is insoluble by diplomatic means. I've watched administration after American administration skewered and mislead by double-dealing from both sides.

Bush understands the old maxim that "When you have them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow." We now occupy Afghanistan and Iraq. We have powerful military forces next to Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Turkey. Message received? We can decide to allow Caspian (Russian) oil to market by pipeline through Afghanistan or not -- how are you feeling today, Vladimir? Maybe that depends on how your competitors are feeling. It may just be that we've destroyed OPEC.

In the Third Millenium A.D. Realpolitik may have a new meaning.