felton,
first i should say i did not support this war at its being.

assuming i buy your agrument for a few minutes
which, by the way, i don't.
....what would you propose as an alternative?

impotent dictator?
this impotent dictator has supported the very culture that these terrorists
live in and thrive on.
they didn't just materialize out of thin air with grenade launchers strapped
to their backs.

when reduced to it base issues - i see 2 possiblities (offer another)
damned if we do
damned if we don't

ask the people in the phillipines if they feel like " they got one over on
the terrorists" and "feel safer"
now there are more7 hostages.

i also disagree with the idea that we have done nothing to lessen the
threat.
the installation of a ( hopefully) more reasonable governing body, counter
to the culture that spawned terror is how it will happen, if at all.
and this is being done.
the threat is here forever.
the difference now is that it is recognized and can be adressed. (see 9/11
commission report for one example)

ok....how do we confront this problem to "lessen the threat"?
raffle humvees off in iraq?
food stamps?
welfare programs?
rock concerts for world peace?
give them ganz?

oh ......change our culture.
get rid of our sailboats?
get rid of our suv's?
get rid of our need for oil?
live in abject poverty?
and buy swords?

the points above are deliberate in their obvious absurdity
neither work.

the first relies on american arrogance/ignorance to buy our way. (its
happened before)
the second relies on changing american culture and trusting the terrorists.
(not likely)
a the third possiblity is we leave the middle east all together and
hide--it was impossible to do in the 20th century--still impossible in the
21st century.(which also means abandoning israel--do you really believe that
is possible?)

personally, i'd like to hear a dem. offer a possiblity rather than the
continued broad sweeping and overly general criticisms.
for me, this is how kerry has proven his inability to lead and that he is a
putz.

a registered dem in NY voting republican.
gf.


"felton" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 22:44:22 -0300, "Capt. Mooron"
wrote:

Horvath has set the bar for success pretty low. Most thinking people
would think that "occupying" a country at the cost of about $1.5
billion per week, while losing 900+ Americans to overthrow one aging,
impotent dictator is hardly "success". In the meantime, we have
destroyed our international credibility and done nothing to lessen
the threat of terrorism.