Just to add a little fuel to the fire of controversy surrounding
our invasion of Iraq:

I live near a major Army training center up in the High Desert
of Southern California. A few of my golfing buddies are retired
senior Army officers still doing advisory work relative to the
training activities at that center.

One of them told me... about a year prior to the actual invasion...
that this was what all their training agendas were focused on in-
cluding the month that was anticipated for their entry into Iraq.

As a result of our conversation... and in the ensuing months to
follow I kind of got the impression that Saddam Hussein himself
could have come crawling into the Oval Office on his hands and
knees offering appeasement ...but it wouldn't have made any
difference.

That this invasion was pretty well pre-ordained and etched in stone
.... so to speak.

My aformentioned statement is not an attempt to justify or criticize
what has occurred... but just a sharing of some personal insight
that I came accross back then... and of course subject to my own
perception of what I heard.

Best regards to all

Bill