What song best sums up the previous year?

It is quite clear that the facts of history are missed on some of us more than others. How many Nations have adopted democratic systems because of our intervention? Does anybody know? I do know that the number of oppressive regimes we have supported outweighs it by a landslide. SO to use WWII as your straw man and say that we are the answer is quite naive. Sure I don't like terrorism, but where do we attack? At the root of the problem or the branch? Surely Iraq is not the root, I mean even Osama wouldn't work with Saddam(He didn't find his country a good example of an Islamic state).

Surely Tomryan you have heard of PNAC, haven't you? The plan is to invade Iran, or at least that was the goal. Afganistan was on the books before 9/11. Then Iraq, b/c as you put it "the weakest". Surely it was b/c of the bombing from the Clinton era, which nocked out most of the infra-strcture that we are now trying to rebuild. So, I don't see Iran happening any time soon. I do agree with you that the Iraqi people are finding it hard to adjust to a democratic system though. To quote an old Marine I still think "War is a Racket"

The world needs more Thomas Jeffersons

Tom, we are in complete agreement there. No, not as the slave owner, but rather as the man who is willing to live by these words, the balance of which should inform any inquisitive American that his present government would make Thomas Jefferson sick.

The Nazis and Japanese of WWII were noble in comparison to the enemy we face now. At least the enemies of WWII fought as soldiers, who understood the rules of war - not terrorists, who know, no boundaries.

The Nazis were noble? Sure Paul, try and sell that line to a Jew. You can start with me. Please tell me you wrote that while having an aneurysm.

"...in comparison to the enemy we face now."

This was not calling Nazis noble. This is saying the people we are facing are worse than the Nazis, as hard as it is to imagine. Remember it was Muslim mullas who asked the Nazis to work harder to exterminate the Jews. That was 65 years ago. Also don't forget that 1-2 years ago a Saudi prince was visiting a Czech. Rebulic holocaust memorial and signed the guest book as follows (I'm paraphrasing as I heard the quote on TV and the radio maybe 3-4 times back then):

"Mr Hitler was a good man and did good things but he and the Germans failed in efficiency to complete their work. This is their failure and it is sad they were not more competent."

Let's see...we (including Jimmy Carter) helped keep a dictator in power in Iran 30 years ago. He was overthrown and now Iran is, and has been, much worse with far more repression and brutality. Actually, I was only talking about world domination attempts which we have stopped and replaced with decent forms of governments. We have, to our shame, been involved in supporting repressive regimes in order to gain material benefit, and this in various places throughout the world. Please, however, understand the different world we now admit living in and come out of the outdated, "old world" think-space of the 60s and 70s. If it'll make us all feel better we can stick out our right hand, smack it with the left, and say out loud, "Bad American! Bad American!"

By the way, I don't see us doing anything about Iran now either. Not after how much the admin. botched the Iraq thing. And all the hanky panky you talked about sure has made it hard to fight a good and well needed war.

Also by the way, anyone else hear that good 'ol infidel hating Osama is asking for a truce? I didn't get the whole story, may be someone else did.

Context Howard. Context.