From: John Beckett 

Interesting POV Gene - things may well turn out as you say.

Re Bush having a quick exit plan before the election: I would have thought
that any such exit would be painted by Bush's political opponents as a
failure, and would spell certain political annhilation. OTOH the "sigh
of relief" factor may overwhelm that.

John

Gene McAloon  wrote in message
news::
> In an effort to keep this thing in perspective; the whole bit about Iraq is
not
> likely to rate more than a footnote in future history books. The war
(invasion)
> itself was an almost unimpeded romp to Baghdad. The subsequent occupation has
> resulted in a minor guerilla war. The Bush people are already planning their
> quick exit strategy, preferably before the elections in November. After that
the
> Iraqis themselves will decide the fate of whatever government the US leaves
> behind and I imagine that government won't be around for very long.
>
> So, what will have been accomplished?  In fact, nothing but re-invigoration
of
> the Al Qaeda type of terrorism, itself a minor annoyance of the kind the
> Europeans for example have been experiencing off and on for a long time. But
who
> even remembers the Bader Gang now?  Who will remember 9/11 ten or more years
> from now?  The moment that site is rebuilt the public will begin to forget -
and
> justifiably so.
>
> All of the above makes the constant criticisms of the Brits here seem rather
> puerile . The incessant bleating about civilian Iraqi casualties is pointless
> and can only be indulged in as a way to find fault with a US they don't like.
I
> don't blame them for disliking the US as much of the world now does and as I
do
> when I see what the US has become under Bush. But the point of course is that
> Iraq doesn't matter in the wider scheme of things and civilian casualties
mean
> even less (ask the Vietnamese about that) and of course Bush won't last
either.
> In my opinion he will be gone next November and he will be forgotten even
more
> quickly that the pointless Iraq thing.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5