I have travelled extensively as well, and the majority of Americans are against the war in Iraq, if you look at the poll numbers. I see you are new - welcome to Mommysavers. When you see my posts, if it is on anything controversial, you will find me to be the one who is quite direct, very blunt, and I do not tend to cushion my words. I support my country and I'm very proud of my nephew serving in Iraq - I just wish the war was managed properly from the beginning. Disagreeing with the war does not mean I do not support my country. That is one of the unique things about being an American - being a dissenting voice is uniquely American! And my comment on shooting while blindfolded was said when I thought that American soldiers had finally caught the guy - not that he died of natural causes. Too many civilians have been killed in this war as well.

__________________

I really believe many American's are against the war, because they are very uniformed as far as progress has gone, and what has or has not been accomplished. The news only reports bad things. I was in Iraq as a traveller in the 90's and I remember that people were not even allowed to fly kites!! America can't pull out now...people don't know what they are asking for.

It's also interesting that you think the war isn't being managed well, because President Bush is letting the Generals decide what to do etc, he doesn't really get that envolved, and it should be like that. Look at Hitler, they didn't wake him till 10 when the battle of Normandy happened, because he needed to approve everything. President Johnson used to brag that an outhouse couldn't be bombed during the Vietnam war without him knowing about it- and look how that war went. Ho chi min said he waited for the American press to destroy the morale of its' people- and that is what lead him to success. Very much like are media is doing now.

I think Bush has FINALLY let some Generals try to manage the war now. But this is after how many years of mismanagement? "Mission accomplished?" His Secretary of State Colin Powell stepped down, Rumsfeld left - lots of mismanagement. And I also receive plenty of feedback from my nephew who has been serving in and out of Iraq for years, my niece who has also served there - most of DH's family is military. I am also arabic and live in the largest concentration of arabic people outside of the middle east. That provides a perspective that might be more unique to my area.

__________________

I think that makes you more sensitive as to what is happening, not more knowledgable. My neighbor's son is in Iraq and she showed me pictures of him handing crayons to little kids, and the school house they built for the children in the town they are in. I don't mean to sound mean, and I don't know if what I am trying to say came out right, but I hope you do not take it wrong. I think Colin Powell left because he did not believe we were doing the right thing - and which he is entitlted to, his opinion.

I didn't say I was "more knowledgeable" - just that I might have a unique perspective. I have access to all the same news reports you do, feedback from military people over there just like you do. Of course there are many sweet heartwarming stories about soldiers interacting with children, etc. I do not deny those. But that does not mean that I agree with the "reasons" we went in there, I do not think we've done a terrific job there, and I tend to agree w/ Colin Powell. I think we should have continued our course in Afghanistan instead of splitting our efforts with a poorly planned invasion of Iraq. Oh - and I hope you realize that just because we disagree on this doesn't mean I'm "out to get you" or anything like that.

__________________

It's funny you say that about Powell. I always got the impression he was more frustrated with Rumsfeld since he was so quickly "let go".

Morningsunrise, don't worry about Calimari - she's been "out to get me" too in the past!

Calimari - Congrats on the payraise BTW, especially in your economy hurting state - shows your valuable!

Thanks J&M's mom!

__________________