[Fledermaus]

The fact military spending on certain things are pet projects for Congressmen, including Dems, some survived. Rummy is changing a lot of that.

And as I've said, I'd like to see some reports on how much of this was accomplished since Bush took office and he and Rummy started changing priorities.

This success belongs to them. The equipment might still be from Clinton's years, but the strategy isn't. I don't think the Spec Ops (Delta Force, Green Berets, Navy Seals, CIA) would have this much leeway and ability to act. Ninety percent of the strikes on Baghdad, under Clintoon, would have been polled, talked about for hours, and made through political decisions only.

This is a known fact. The authour of a new book by Patterson, who carried the nuke football from 1996-1998, says nothing was done in the Clinton years that wasn't talked to death. He says they missed a two-hour window of opportunity to take out Osama due to polling and needless political discussion.

And the fact they couldn't find ol Billy once when he needed to turn a key!

[retrokitten]

I have got to read that book. Somehow I got on the mailing list for Conservative Book Service and I think they were offering it at a discount.

[Miss Marple]

Tom....you are right!! I forgot about the bombs being used up. More than anything I think that is why we took so long to go after Iraq.

Fledermaus...I agree with you. I would love to see an in-depth book about the strategy and the decisions mae on many levels. You know they were juggling, improvising, and jury-rigging things to get the plan accomplished. It will be a fascinating story.