[HAL9000]

President Bush responds with a military offensive that is presently stalled. Al Quieda remains and continues to grow.

Continues to grow? Where? All of the information I've seen indicates that the Al Qaeda network is being disrupted and is shrinking, not growing.

The offensive is not stalled. President Bush said from the outset that this conflict will take years to complete. The level of intensity will vary over periods of time, and the conflict has moved into a new phase.

The Taliban regime that harbored Al Qaeda was quickly removed from power. Preparations are underway for a regime change in Iraq. We are making good progress.

[A2J]

The offensive is not stalled. President Bush said from the outset that this conflict will take years to complete. The level of intensity will vary over periods of time, and the conflict has moved into a new phase.

Which makes one think: Why should it take so long? Taking so long risks the very real possibility that American will will wane as well as the possibility that a new president will drop the "war" altogether. You can't fight a war when you're not there to fight it.

Or is this some sort of gimmick to keep his poll numbers high for a while?

[7thson]

You are correct. It will take years. And the unspoken reason it will take years is because of the damage left behind by X42. How can you fight a war, when you have civilians - and possibly military - personnel loyal to X42 and leak battle plans to the press? I work in a government facility and the civil servants, most of them, are downright hostile to anything conservative. That's why it will take years. Because, not only does the Bush team have to go after those who want to bomb and kill us, but also due to the fact that others in this nation - civil servants and the press - who actually want him to fail.