[wayoverontheright]

1. Such a war can only lead to an increase in terrorism.

Terror is not new.

When the consequences of using terror exceed the hoped for gains, the terror will stop.

When you look at what terrorists hoped to gain by summarily executing 3000 civilians working in our financial center, you have to conclude that THEY BELIEVED THEY COULD TAKE OUR ECONOMY DOWN, and thereby our country. The zeal of the suicide pilots would not have been possible without this belief. It has now become painfully obvious to potential suicide bombers that no such outcome is possible.

The rout in Afghanistan was the first in a series of psychological blows which will eliminate terror as a weapon to be used against the US. Remember, our enemy is terror, and the potential perpetrators reside in the entire Middle East, not just within al-Qaeda. When Iraq falls, the US will no longer need to beg (and pay billions) for a base in Saudi Arabia, as we will have one in Iraq.

When Iraq falls, ten percent of the world's oil will be under the control of the Great Satan, dealing a death blow to OPEC. No small consequence for the region's leaders who stood back and watched the celebrations in "the arab street" and did nothing. With the death of OPEC, the engine of the US economy becomes fuel injected, a deserved touche to the choice of targets on the part of our enemy.

The Arab world will wake up to a new dawn, as the presence of their new neighbor will bring humiliation and the knowledge that they have only the terror masters to blame.

[dinasour]

the US will no longer need to beg (and pay billions) for a base in Saudi Arabia, as we will have one in Iraq

ten percent of the world's oil will be under the control of the Great Satan, dealing a death blow to OPEC.

You hit the nail on the head. To avoid fueling the left's criticism, these goals are purposely mis-understated, but are probably part of the main reasons for going into Iraq.

In addition, we are putting every tin-pot dictator in the region on notice that you will not be safe in your palace if you choose to bring your jihad to our shores.

And, we'll have a lot of tanks and guns and troops pointing at Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia to back it up.

American Imperialism? You betcha. And we need a lot more where that came from. 9-11 changed everything.

Look for a big change in the our attitude toward are "friends" in Saudi Arabia when we no longer need their oil or their bases.