I agree with “lover” who was provoked into a 1st post (“welcome” by the way). I think the US’s support for Israeli interests is the real fuel behind the 9/11 attacks. We need to be more even handed, neither party (Israeli/Palestinians) is particularly deserving of support. We need to resolve this issue before the fuel will disappear. (Granted…this is next to impossible at this point.)

Regarding events since 9/11, I was happy to see Bush propose the “road map” and to see Bush actively engaged with BOTH the Israelis and Palestinians (appeared reasonably evenhanded there for a while). This is a step in the right direction (although it is quickly disintegrating).

In defense of my naïve hope that Iraq will somehow be transformed into a peaceful democratic nation (which seems to be the new motivation for war since claims of WMD have gone unsubstantiated), I just WANT to believe that our soldiers have died for something. It’s infuriating the think that they have died or suffered in a war in which nothing has really been accomplished (which is almost certainly the case).

Recap of post 9/11 occurrences and benefit to national security:
(1)work with Israel/ Palestinians = GOOD, it’s a step
(2)war in Afghanistan, pursuit of terrorists = GOOD
(3)beefed up security at home = GOOD idea, insufficiently funded
(4)war with Iraq = BAD, unjustified, very expensive, nearly fruitless, and quite arrogant