[Paul Ross]

The photos and names released by the U.S. government match flight manifests with visa files from U.S. consulates. But the only pictures of the hijackers from security cameras are of persons other than the ones in the visa files and flight manifests. Indisputably, the hijackers used stolen identities. That is a mark of a major-league intelligence service.

Wow. Taking this at face value. So we really are in the dark who these guys were, and since Saudi Arabia is not cooperating... I think this guy's analysis bears serious consideration. What war?

[Paul Ross]

Following the Saudis' lead, america's Arab "friends" persuaded the Bush administration to abstain from rooting out America's enemies in the Arab world and devote itself to restraining Israel from striking at its enemies in the Arab world. The Arab powers persuaded the Bush team to turn from America's war to a role in their war, and on their side.

This is the case in a nutshell against GWB's/Colin Powell's recent foreign policy flip-flop in the Middle East. Looks like it was just a foolish sell-out.

[gcruse]

Is the war over yet?  Did we win?
No matter how cynical I get,
it is never enough.

Without the Internet, none of this
would ever see the light of day.