The franchises were already there in Iraq. They were running the place before we got there.

As for the terrorists that fled to Iran and Pakistan, would you have recommended chasing them into those countries with our tanks, troops and helicopters?

Suppose we had had all the weapons and personnel in Afghanistan that we now have in Iraq? Would it be any easier peeling out the terrorists from the civilian population? Or would you propose carpet-bombing from thousands of feet in the air?

Do you think that all the terrorists in the world were in Afghanistan when we invaded? That enclaves weren't already in Pakistan, Iran, and other nations? Now what?

Do you think that if we had thousands of troops in every Third World armpit where terrorists breed, that no Americans would be getting killed?

What you don't want to admit is that, given the initial premise of regime change as the only real effective way to root out a terrorist state, there is no easy way, no "better" way, no "more effective" or "sensitive" way to fight a war. The fact that you and other intelligent people, including Democratic leaders, go blank when specifics are asked for is evidence of that. All you know is you don't like what Bush is doing. Heck, you just don't like Bush.

Maybe the hostility for some people is rooted in having their noses rubbed in the realization that there are some issues that can't be handled by signing papers, making speeches, and being more understanding.

There is no "easy" way to take out a widely-distributed enemy like radical Islamism, and still maintain our souls. We could have erased Afghanistan in a single night. Iraq too.

Our troops are dying overseas because we have decided that genocide is not on the table. If America was the monster many people say it is, not one American soldier would have died.

It isn't easy. It isn't going to get easier. I think you realize that giving up is not an option.

It goes without saying that I think that America took the proper course, attempting not to simply destroy, but to change. And it would be nice if this choice, and its consequences to our military, are recognized when tallying the death count.