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Bob,

Your logic can't be faulted. Yet the resolve and moral certitude that prevailed in 1945 no longer exists in this nation. Americans then saw Hiroshima as just harvest for the seeds Japan planted at Pearl Harbor.

Vast segments of this nation are no longer convinced of the righteousness of our cause in the Middle East. Indeed, influential factions within the United States even debate America's moral legitimacy. (How else can one characterize much of the political dialogue within the Democratic Party?).

The same megamedia organs that transformed the reality of Tet in 1968 -- a Viet Cong debacle -- into an American military disaster would redefine just retribution as an exercise in Nazi butchery.

Notwithstanding alternative news sources that traffic in truth, the alphabet networks, AP, NYTimes and WashPost still whistle the tune to which Washington and much of the nation dances. The champions of national self-loathing still frame the debates and affirm "realities."

Bush could exercise an option far short of a Carthaginan solution to bring justice to the killers of Americans; he would still elicit the moral indignation of powerful partisan appeasers. Such ninnies would have been ignored or stamped with disgrace in 1945. That from an American populace proud of its heritage, and aware its existence had been imperiled.

In 2004, millions of Americans are ignorant or embarrassed about their heritage, and barely aware that our existence is imperiled. Such are the cliente of Kerry, the "independents" who rally 'round the Perots, McCains and Naders. Collectively, these sheep threaten the survival of an administration that presents a reflection (pale though it may be at times) of a more glorious era in American leadership, when fear of American wrath was often a guarantor of peace.

Whatever response is made is should be as a part of the overall program to make Iraq into whatever is it that we want it to become.

Wiping the whole city might be a bit too dramatic. I think every person seen on the tape needs to be found, if not found their closest relative needs to be found. Then each needs to be publicly executed. Hanged, disembowed the whole 9 yards then left to hang on the site were Americans were killed. Anyone atempting to remove the corpses should be hanged immediately. Any public protest crushed by using live amunition. Hire Iraq people themselves to be executioners. IMO public execution of insurgents should become a regular practice.