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I have not given in in any way. What we are engaged in is politics, and politics is the same thing as war less the systematic killing, to re-interpret Clausewitz's famous dictum.

The first thing that must be done is to allow ourselves to see the situation we are in clearly. Only then can we act prudently. We are in a post - Republic, very late Enlightenment era, where money is what comes from a government printing press or computer entry. The Constitution, against the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, is whatever nine unelected lawyers in DC say it is. Soon we will have computerized voting, and a few keystrokes with the right password and any vote count desired is delivered. As Stalin pointed out, "It doesn't matter who votes, it matters who counts the votes."

We have to deal with the world as it is, and not confuse reality with our hopes and dreams.

"We have to deal with the world as it is, and not confuse reality with our hopes and dreams. "

Nicely stated.

Although I disagree with some on this discussion, I respect their views. Unfortunately, I too beleive that we no longer live in a reality that truly exalts and respects the individual constitutional freedoms given to us by our forefathers.

Our nation is being attacked on all sides, internally and externally. Each, I believe, is attempting to destroy or reshape our culture. To me it is a matter of priority, I see the external threats as having the biggest opportunity to unleash death and chaos within our borders.

Many see the Middle East as just another skirmish that we should not be involved in, I don't. I see what is going on as an inevitable confrontation between two cultures.

The dictates of Islam are quite clear; the spreading of their way of life to all corners of the globe is their mandate. It is far from being a coincidence that of all the major armed conflicts taking place in our world today, over 90% involve Islamic Fundamentalists. From Southern Europe, to the far east, and now even to our shores, the Islamic crusade is on the move.

I don't see how isolating ourselves from the inevitable confrontation will make us safer. I believe that will only serve to hugely magnify the cost in defending our nation.

At this time in history our country has been given a unique opportunity to act. We can attempt to write our own history, rather than have it be written for us. I believe that is what the current Administration is attempting. I believe they see Iraq as the first, and most important, piece in this experiment.

If the Moslem world in the Middle East can't, or refuses, to accept our right as a culture to exist and prosper than all bets will be off. If that is the future, 9-11 will look like a walk in the park on both sides.

I pray our attempts at reshaping the Middle East work, I don't like to think of the alternative.

IMHO, take it or leave it.