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Then I read stuff from people like Mark Steyn, who was there for a number of weeks

So you believe the writings of some bearded, hippy-dippy, conservative columnist who never served a day in his sycophant life? I'll see that pundit and raise you the troops, my friends, who are still grinding it out over there. You always get closer to the truth based on how dirty, wet, hungry and hot your source is.

I haven't lost any friends yet (one wounded), but the day I do is the day I sit out the 2004 election.

I'm with you 100%. I'm a Bush supporter, but that doesn't mean we don't have the right to question why we are still taking casualties like we are. And I would very much like to get some of the background info about the "traffic accidents" we've been losing so many troops to as well. Did you see the off-hand way Rummy treated this last week during the press conference? What I don't understand is why we are letting these hostile Iraqui crowds gather and surround our troops. For the first year at least we need to concentrate on security, both for ourselves, and the Iraquis who want to actually build lives for themselves. I say no demonstrations or large gatherings for a year until we clear out the threat. Also, we don't need to have little blonde female troops there on the front lines pointing guns at the Iraquis. That only enrages them further, and puts everyone else at increased risk as well. (I'm a female vet myself. My husband is a Marine who just got back from the ME. My son is getting ready to join the Army or Marines as soon as he turns 18. We respect the lives of our military. Risk is inherent in military service, but that does not excuse wasting the lives of young men and women.)

And just so we're on the same page:

Current policy is to stabilise Iraq, search for WMD and neutralise future and cureent terroist including the fedayeen Saddam and remnants of the Ba'athist military.

The solution is?