tome wrote: "As for "noble intent," I would bet money that if the people shooting at us had their way, Iraq would not end up being a better place. Do you honestly think there are enthusiasts for a tolerant and democratic government among them?"

Well, I think they can be fighting for what they believe in, and against occupation. I can also think that their beliefs are DEAD WRONG (like the shia fundamentalists). But that does not make them all Pro-Saddam dead enders, or terrorists!

tom wrote: "I'm sure that there is a finite mathematical possibility that some Palestinian terrorists actually love Jews and the Jewish religion, but just don't like Israel occupying what they believe to be their homeland. Wouldn't bet a lot of money on it though."

Riiight, Tom. Different country, different issue.

Tom wrote: "You're reaching, and you know it."

No, Tom, I honestly don't think I am- and I woiuld fess up if I was. I am just sick of the rhetoric that FORCES all Iraqis to be loving occupied and all the folks that are against us as necessarily inately evil. It displays a profound lack of respect for people to sit safely half a world away and determine the motives of a folk occupied by said people. Like I said- if your not willing to respect them and their potential for independence and right to self-determination, then don't say you are liberating them and DON'T support an invasion.

Sure, some of them are Baathists and Saddam lovers. But not all. Some of them may be motivated by love-of-country and belief of an ideal. That it is not your Ideal or country does not make it necessarily evil.