Without question, the US has a right to protect itself. In fact we not only have this right, we have an obligation to do so!

This administration has galvanized American patriotism by gathering together world support and striking out to avenge WTC. In this effort Bush marshalled the support of the Western nations as well as an outraged American public to conduct a "War on Terrorism." The object of this un-declared "war" was to get bin-Laden, Omar, and destroy the Taliban.

To date, the Taliban is probably destroyed as viable leadership organization; the membership is scattered and some captured. This makes us also realize that most of the Taliban escaped and dispersed into neighboring countries or melded back into tribal groups. Omar, bin-Laden, and other top leadership have not been captured, but have vanished. This is not conclusive.

Terrorism and its threat to America is a political problem and requires a diplomatic political solution. The lack of defined targets in a defined geographical location make a military solution impossible. All civilized nations are targets for terrorist attacks and have a common interest in working for a solution.

Bush's projection of his cowboy attitude is becoming counter-productive in terms of dealing with terrorism on a world wide basis. The hyperbole of "the Axis of Evil" is unfortunate and builds a barrier to finding peaceful solutions. It would be a major gaff to ignore or alienate any ally in a serious on going attempt to neutralize the threat of terrorism.

Right now, Bush needs our support. The WTC tragedy provided the US with a moral and political capital we should not allow Bush to squander. Keep in mind the Bush legacy, Geo. W. didn't get Saddam, Duhbuya didn't get bin-Laden or Omar. It would be better to handle one job, before adding N. Korea, Irag, and Iran as our next military targets to take our minds off of the lack of success in getting bin-Laden.