If only Tony Blair had bailed on the Iraq War, we could have avoided the whole work-with-the-UN nonsense and just sold the war based on the other 27 perfectly legitimate justifications. But his insistence (along with Colin Powell) on the international process will do incalculable harm as the GWOT continues...

We must keep in mind that the debate over the GWOT is not about the GWOT but rather the domestic culture war.

The folk-enemies and culture-traitors do not care about our national interests, they care about discrediting what is perceived to be a Christianist administration. Mark my words, we are going to be hearing, again and again, that the country must never again elect a Christianist because of the "devisiveness" which results.

b, lou, oj

I don't care about Leonard Weiss and Larry Diamond's particular view or spin of Iraq, but the American people are appalled at the Presidents ineptitude in extricating ourselves from the Iraqis civil war.

The precedent being set is not the one I like, but basically in the future in order to initiate a preventive War the congress will expect approval from the UN, unless there is proof of cross border violence directed at another country.

The blame should rest with Bush. OJ still thinks the American populace are the sheep, that Roosevelt and Truman ruled over. They aren't.

h-man: Strategic mistakes have been made for which many, many administration & military leaders should be blamed. But the left has waged a consistent strategic offensive against the President & the GWOT for 4 years now that could have catastrophic effects--mostly for non-Americans. If people really are convinced that the Middle East is a hopeless basket-case and sending in the troops cannot succeed in accomplishing any strategic goals, what does the left think will happen when the next attack happens? Americans aren't going to be calling for any UN resolutions, you can be sure of that. And if invasion & reconstruction is off the table, that leaves "Bombs Away!" as the only option left.

The biggest mistake was underestimating the savagery and stupidity of the Sunni. They seemed ... at least compared to the Shia ... so civilized. Don't you know.

How would the sheep stop the wolf?

The Sunni had their camelids confused. Sheep may not stop a wolf, but llamas will.

ghostcat, llamas?

Llamas are territorial by nature and are instinctively suspicious of canines. Their guanaco ancestors effectively defended their young from wolves, and a number of llamas retain those instincts to pursue and strike at small predators. These llamas can be used to guard sheep, goats, alpacas, mini-horses and mini-donkeys, and occasionally horses or cattle and calves from coyotes and the occasional lone domestic dog.

...found at

http://home.att.net/~lostcreekllamas/guardianllamas.html

Are there llamas in the ME?