[Oldeconomybuyer]

At some point, regional alliances like NATO should be merged into a global freedom/democracy alliance that combats dictatorships and terrorism.

[mitchbert]

Making the case for Iraq now. Crowd likes it. Are you listening Saddam? Hmmm? Everyone hates you Saddam. Do it, brother. You won't feel a thing when that bullet rips through your brain.

[FreedomPoster]

That's OK for the political cover, but the bottom line is the we *are* NATO -- or at least 85-90% of the military power.

[mitchbert]

The comments vis a vis Russia are very shrewd. Bush is reminding the crowd that this is much bigger than just one country, although they have an important part to pay. This is courageous. I don't imagine there's a huge resevoir of good will between the two nations and he could have avoided this. Good for Bush. This is what we call leadership.