So what do we do about Iraq?

I guess the answer to that question depends pretty much on your political leanings. I am a hard-core, card-carrying Independent with nothing but contempt for both of our major political parties, so I try to take a clear-eyed and realistic view of the situation. Here's how I see it...

Invading Iraq was a serious mistake. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a very bad guy, but he didn't pose a direct threat to us. Now, we are facing a raging and deadly insurgency in Iraq, Islamic radicals are energized around the world, and snakes like Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are able to thumb their audio and video noses at us and exhort their crazy followers to kill folks like you and I. Muslims around the world listen to these morons and believe every word they say (since they do not have a religious tradition that encourages critical thinking), ignoring the fact that the United States, for all its faults, is always first on the scene with disaster relief and other good works.

But we've punched the tar baby. Mr Bush has gotten us into this mess, and we have to make the best of it. Giving up and pulling out is not an option, and neither is simply slogging along wasting blood and treasure. Firing Mr Rumsfeld may be satisfying, but it doesn't help the situation and the calls for his head do nothing more than provide encouragement to our enemies.

So what do we do? Some thoughts tomorrow.

In the meantime, have a good day. It's bound to be better than the day endured by our men and women in Iraq.

Bilbo