The fact of the matter is, the other nations such as France and Germany know this as well, which perhaps is also why they protest so loudly - they know they will not change matters, and they also know they can score political points by claiming to support extending inspections and putting off war.

This isn't what allies normally do though.

Schroeder is understandable. Schroeder is about to lose power and anti-Americanism was the only campaign promise he's kept.

France is also understandable. The right gained in the last elections and the left is using the war to deflate the right movement in France and throughout europe.

I really do oppose a large war - I would prefer a small operation to unseat Saddam. It would entail definite risks but it would have been infinitely cheaper and surely less costly in human terms.

However we are a risk-averse nation.

We do not want to fail spectacularly and give hope to our enemies.

We do not want to live like Israel, in constant fear, or like europe where one feels unsafe to walk the streets at night (and in some places daytime as well.)

The vision of an "impervious" America is a comfort most folks are unwilling to relinquish without a fight.

If one reads a moment by moment account of the gulf war one sees that no one wanted to fight us. They were battlefield unaware to the extreme. One Unit Commander (A unit where some soldiers were shoeless) had been killed by his own men after he ordered them to "fight to the death." When they inspected his locker they found several spare pairs of shoes.

The Iraqi's don't deserve a war - but they do deserve a liberation. If I felt prayer could keep each innocent Iraqi citizen alive - I would be on my knees in prayer. But I DO know each person will harmonically attract their circumstances and learn from them - both on our side and theirs.

(Yes...amazingly..death can be a learning experience which helps us make more intelligent decisions in future lives)

Or put another way:

From the darkest dung heap the fairest lillies grow.

;-)

Take care Mary Anne,

SDAI-Tech1