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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> One only halfway competent Iraqi battalion, insufficient U. S. boots on 
> the ground---no block to escape of Jihadists, who will pop up elsewhere, 
> thanks to the Sandbox General in the White House who is the world's 
> foremost expert in converting a winnable war in Iraq to defeat.

The Iraqi invasion may well finally convince we moderns that force has 
become ineffective as a tool for positive political change. How much force 
will be enough to "free" Iraq? One soldier/law enforcement person for every 
citizen? Every two? One for every ten? And would even that hold back the 
rage of those who feel they have no forum other than violence?

Viet Nam should have been the defining moment. For some, it was. For 
others, the lesson is not yet learned. I say the goal is oil control, but 
for the moment let us assume it is really about a democratic life for the 
majority of Iraqis. Do any people want a governing form forced on them? How 
would we react if China invaded us, declaring that our system was unjust 
and they would liberate us? How many of us would be doing exactly as the 
so-called terrorists are doing in Iraq? We would call ourselves patriots; 
the Chinese would call us terrorists.

I guess I missed the story of how the Iraqis wanted us to change their lives.