Unfortunately, this is what the future holds. Iraq is a country of 22 million people. If only 1% of those are violently opposed to U.S. occupation, then do the math - there would be over 200,000 individuals who might be willling to engage in continuing terrorist acts against American occupation forces and a new, pro-western Iraqi government.

Once the war is won, we can expect to begin an occupation that will last at least ten years and cost American taxpayers approximately $20 billion per year. More significantly, we can expect ongoing terrorist acts from a population that is 20 times larger than what the Israelis have to contend with. Over the course of our ensuing occupation, we can expect hundreds of American lives to be taken.

Regardless of how one feels about the war, this is price we Americans will have to pay to have liberated Iraq. I hope we realize what it is we have gotten ourselves into.

We forget that even Saddam's most strident opponents are not necessarily pro-west. The Shiites are closely aligned with the Iranians. Any friendship we may perceive at this time will be short-lived as these people are taught that America is the "great Satan." And the Kurds will turn when we frustrate their ambitions to create a new Kurdistan state.

The future does not bode well. Our gunslinging president hasn't told Americans what we a really getting into.