Thanks ER.

That was a well thought-out post. Very articulate.
I'm bookmarking it. Yes, it's tough to dig your heels in and stay.
Beneath all the grandstanding and bi-partisanship, there are people who care here. We come in hollering or groaning, some just drive by; but there's a lot of business going on here, especially where thinking is concerned.

I know you were turned off. There's a sort of hazing going on here, but it doesn't stop with the newbies (as you can see.)
If all countries were run like this board, we might get further along with consensus. To some degree, we are a good cross section of thinkers across America, as we all bring something to the plate. I'd like to see more participation from other countries as well.

I'm glad you brought up the concern of ideologies versus strategies and I thought about that one. I think it stems from GWB's polarizing "You're either with us or against us".

That doesn't lend to any kind of strategy EXCEPT defense (especially now that the war has gone badly). We find ourselves like the lone voice in the wind, DEFENDING ourselves from the onslaught of jingoism and patriotism we were ducking way back when. Then there were NO solutions. You had to pick one and run with it.