Rock, meet hard place

The American goal in Iraq cannot be achieved, other than by locking down the population with methods that make Saddam look like Mother Teresa. You might consider asking your congresscritters what they plan to do about it. You might drop the Kerry campaign a line as well.

The goal--

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17923

Garner added, ''Look back on the Philippines around the turn of the 20th century: they were a coaling station for the navy, and that allowed us to keep a great presence in the Pacific. That's what Iraq is for the next few decades: our coaling station that gives us great presence in the Middle East."

http://pilger.carlton.com/print/124759

As for Iraq's alleged "weapons of mass destruction", these were dismissed, in so many words, as a convenient excuse, which it is. "While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification," it says, "the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein."

What the most influential leader of 60% of the Iraqi population thinks about that--

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5757.htm

Iraqi Shiite Leader Seyyid Ali Al-Sistani yesterday warned that he would call for an intifada (uprising) if American soldiers stayed in Iraq after the handover of power on June 30, 2004. He also insisted that there should be a significant role for the Shiite in the future administration of the country, as they make up the majority of the population.

Sistani spoke to the German magazine Der Spiegel and said: "The U.S. presence in Iraq should not be prolonged. The Iraqi public knows how to act. If the U.S. presence is drawn out longer than necessary, I will call for an intifada." The necessary posters reportedly have already been printed and are awaiting distribution to every corner of the country.

doing according to what I've read. Lots of different words, but the result appears to me to be the same.

I can only hope that he will fire all the neo cons and NOT continue invading other countries to steal their resources.

We absolutely do not have the capability of locking down the 60% of the population that has been relatively quiet so far.

first words out of my husbands and my mouth, same time, when we first heard bush mention of invading iraq

didnt learn the first time. stayed with us for a handful of years. bush just had to try it again

but we will try and install permanent military bases there. This is like a connect the dots plan to disaster.