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If your general point was that "best laid plans oft go aglee" (apologies to Shakespeare), I emphatically agree with that. And if you are further tarring US political leadership with being duplicitous toward the public, I emphatically agree with that as well. See, for example, the very Iraq/Kuwait relationship pre-1991 that is known by about 1 person in a thousand, in this country.

Along those lines, here's another potential bombshell for you -- I've got a pretty good idea that the current U.S. action in Iraq was in the works long before 9/11. In fact, it was directly related to that "Energy Summit" that the Bush administration hosted in early 2001, which is one of the reasons why the proceedings of that summit cannot be released to the public.

Don't get me wrong here. My point is not to lay a ton of criticism on the Bush administration these days -- I'm a Bush man through and through. I just don't have any interest in the specious "justifications" for war with Iraq that we are hearing.

I've got a pretty good idea that the current U.S. action in Iraq was in the works long before 9/11.

Well, given that Sadam didn't follow the resoultions and promises to disarm, I think this would be a good thing.

As for re-alignment of the world powers; we are witnessing that very event. Why be ashamed of it? I prefer to have a leader who is mindful of that, and who exercises the "power of his people" in a fair and just way.

None of that is conspiratorial in nature, any more than me paying attention to world and local events and making contingency plans. Governments are HIRED to do that on a bigger scale.

I've got a pretty good idea that the current U.S. action in Iraq was in the works long before 9/11.

On a slightly different vein, I see that governments like to project that their actions are "perfect," and that the people come to expect "perfection." That is unrealistic, and IMO, unreasonable. With that in mind, I find it plausible that OKC, TWA 800, WTC, and other events may have been foreseen, or known after the fact, but the "powers that be" don't dare to let the public know, lest it expose the depth of imperfection.

All the easier to keep things rolling along smoothly, to paste over the roughness; but in the long run, as I opened, easy life makes for weak citizens.

I've got a pretty good idea that the current U.S. action in Iraq was in the works long before 9/11.

And, completely missing the point, it is possible that a government will choose to act in a way that is literally detrimental to the well being of its citizens. Carter and Clinton may have led efforts that could have this effect (Panama Canal Treaty; military know-how to China). Obviously, in this case the government has to cover up its shenanigans. To do so requires at least an uniformed, and preferably an uneducated and manipulable populace, in combination with a willing media accomplice.

Been there, done that. Have a tee shirt too!

I believe Bush's actions on the international arena are in our interest. I am not so happy with the domestic, especially keeping FedGov in education -- but then again, he may be setting the stage to knock the legs out from under the NEA. I gotta give him credit for setting the stage to make the UN irrelevant in the minds of the public, and that could be a powerful force.