http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4557891/

Extract

Americans would be greeted as liberators, Bush officials predicted, and
the toppling of Saddam Hussein would spread peace and democracy
throughout the Middle East.

Things have not worked out that way, for the most part. There is
evidence that the economic lives of Iraqis are improving, thanks to an
infusion of U.S. and foreign capital. But the administration badly
underestimated the financial cost of the occupation and seriously
overstated the ease of pacifying Iraq and the warmth of the reception
Iraqis would give the U.S. invaders.

Jim wrote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4557891/

Extract

Americans would be greeted as liberators, Bush officials predicted, and
the toppling of Saddam Hussein would spread peace and democracy
throughout the Middle East.

Things have not worked out that way, for the most part. There is
evidence that the economic lives of Iraqis are improving, thanks to an
infusion of U.S. and foreign capital. But the administration badly
underestimated the financial cost of the occupation and seriously
overstated the ease of pacifying Iraq and the warmth of the reception
Iraqis would give the U.S. invaders.


Grr!

Just exactly how did they expect the Iraqi people to respond to what
certainly seemed and still does, to a great many people, like the
USA wanted Iraq's oil, and any excuse would do?

We still cannot trust what we see on TV about it, simply because
there does not seem to be anyone who is not embroiled in some blind
reflex partisan context or another.

The 'Pubs wanted Clinton out because he philandered and didn't want
to tell, in a healthy way with real issues, like cigars and pretty
girls possibly sent in to disgrace a relatively normal man, and
after ignoring the real world for a year just to disgrace a party
and a man who did what they all do, to win power, when they got it,
they all remained embroiled in locker room tactics like stealing the
"W"s on the typewriters and refusing to continue down previously
good avenues because it was from the 'other side?'

I hought we were all one the one real side in all this. What
happenned to the issues of weight, like equality before and under
the law, rapant consumerism, pollution, market controls, military
industrial complex graft, and profiteering monopolistic corporatism?

Further, to watch political discussion panels, one gets the
impression that they are all network or partisan personality and
comedy contests tailored and scripted to sell polluting SUV ads.

We need pace in political discussions, 5 minute statements followed
by 5 minute serious answers *without interruptions* for those who
are interested, not entertaining high ratings staged 'soap debates'
and tickle parties. I don't want to watch 2 pretty profiles sticking
pins in each other for laughs while skirting the outrageous details.

Maybe there should be a whistle blower of the day feature. There are
enough scandals to go around, and I would really enjoy hearing of
the rewards given to those with the guts to offer a gambit, and
suffer the consequences if they are caught manufacturing scandals,
or take the commissions they should earn. It too would turn into a
circus, but it would be for real, and more rewarding to the country
than seeing the local soda jerk bliss out on his lottery win.

Those who don't vote will not defeat a new tax on themselves, in the
form of a tax rebate for those who do.

Terry K