[AJC]

I am not overjoyed about a War, and I live in the US. Alot of people here are against it. No matter what you hear in the press. Of course It is propaganda, stirring the pot, working the population into a fever. Hollywood and the news industry have traditionally supported their host governments in these kinds of crisis. This is not vietnam type crisis. this is the kind of crap that can start world wars. Although I doubt it will lead to that. Unless North Korea blows...

As for Nato, I believe its time is done. I think this is something thats been coming for sometime. Bosnia was really the beginning of the end for the NATO alliance.

As for Iraq, its well known that France, Germany and Russia have large investments in Iraq. I can understand their reluctance to vote to go to war. It will cost them billions.
However, history repeats itself quite often and We all learned a hard lesson in WWII about appeasement. Hilter did not start as a powerhouse. He grew to that state through appeasment. Beyond the propaganda we see today, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein is a bad man who has very willingly killed thousands over his 25+ year reign. He took over the country and publicly -ON TV took out his opposition, machined gunned them in the Tv Studio. He has lead Iraq into several wars and cost them alot in young lives. Practically a whole generation was lost in the Iran / Iraq war.

Saddam is used to being in control and for the Last 12 years he has been pushed around, he has alot of reasons to hate the west. He's been pinned by the neck to the table for 12 years and faced daily bombings, so I can see where the USA and UK are coming from when they get nervous about Weapons of Mass Destruction in his hands and possibilities of connecting up with terrorism.
Lets face it, the Iraq government claims to not have the weapons, but it does, of course it does. They used thousands of shells in the Iran /Iraq war. Those weapons were effective enough to bring them both to the peace table. Once the genie is out of the bottle in a country - it doesnt go back in. We all know that. It is interesting to note that Iraq quietly but purposely, instructed their troops to use chemical weapons if the US attacks, and they have done nothing to publically deny these news stories. I am sure Saddam watches CNN. Thats where they got alot of intel in the gulf war. Iraq is hedging their bets that they may scare off the invasion - The whole purpose of pursuing these types of weapons - its a deterent. However in this case I think they have miscalculated.

I dont think any of the countries involved in this discussion deserve bashing, maybe some of the fruit cakes that run them - sure... But I dont think any less of ANY French or German national just because he doesnt agree with the President of the USA. Most of us dont agree with him either...

Peace People..