Of course, like our current contingent there, only a tiny percentage will actually speak the language. Just exactly where do we have this horde of trainers available that are fluent in the language and fully trained themselves on the culture and history of the region? I've failed to see Persian History 101 or Farsi 202 classes on the class list of the university I'm attending.

It's been completely clear from the start of this fiasco that our military was ill-equipped for anything more than just killing and blowing things up. They have my utmost respect in that regard. We truly are the best in the world in inflicting damage on others.

It would seem to me, if our goal is to create a stable and ethical police and military to stabilize Iraq, that process is completely doomed to failure if religion and Shiite culture is going to be able to play a role in their functionality. How do you reconcile training and heavily arming Iraqi citizens in carrying out the rule of law as we know it when their cultural and religious tenets allow a vicious male-dominated society where violence against women and other sects is expected and traditional?

We are so far from being able to exact cultural change in that region and it's time for the 2 X 4 to the head to knock some sense into us.

Oh, and Tom....most of us could care less what Ollie North has to say.

Art