Like the rest of us, I wish I knew.

My trepidation comes from a number of factors:

--the inability to find persuasive evidence that the admin's assertions about WMD before the war were true;

--the admin's apparent eagerness to jump on anything, no matter how controversial, as being the evidence they seek*;

--the change in tone, going from "we needed to disarm Iraq" to "we needed to free Iraq";

--the apparent feeling that war really isn't so bad--that far from being the ultimate horror and the ultimate failure, it's actually a rather useful tool and since we're the planet's only remaining superpower we needn't be shy about using it;

--the "Who's next?" attitude;

--my growing concern that the Bush Doctrine is not only the wrong approach to the world and the future, but that it isn't really sustainable because it will utterly isolate the United States not only from adversaries but from allies as well, and will therefore diminish our influence in the world rather than enhancing it.**

I'm nervous about the WMD issue precisely because I don't know the answers, and the admin isn't talking. In some ways, they seem to be leaving the matter behind, and I just don't think they can do that. I supported the war because of what they told me...I paid for the friggin' war with my taxes. I'm into the war up to my neck, and I need answers about why we did what we did. With each passing day I become less convinced that the war was the right thing to do. Bring up the possibility that the war may actually have served to spread WMD to who-knows-who, and it doesn't inspire confidence. Sure, nothing is proven...but then, that's the whole problem: nothing is proven.

Those who've read some of my posts have probably gathered that historically I've leaned somewhat to the right, and I've been a fan of Bush since day one...but this really has me spooked. I just can't get it all to balance, and beleive me it's not for lack of trying. It's throwing some of my dearest held beliefs into doubt. I feel like my legs have turned to jelly.

*if the trailers are indeed "the smoking gun," the admin has yet to prove that to me, and they have to. To simply declare the search has been satisfied is not sufficient.

**especially the part of the doctrine asserting that no other nation can be allowed to gain enough clout--be it economic, military or technological--to offer a challenge to the US.