Please let us continue to be civil in our dialogue gentlemen.
Now about the topic at hand, there is some talk that the US is thinking about establishing a temporary military presence after the war. Why is this such a shock?
It is actually a very prudent and wise move. After the fall of Saddam, Iraq will most probably splinter due to ethnic and power differences. The US would be acting as a glue to keep the country together and save it from falling into anarchy where the potential for innocent deaths is much larger.
We can find instances of this in past history. Look at Japan. After the war the US occupied Japan for many years and helped to rebuild that country. They sent specialists and experts for everything from the constiution to engineers (such as Deming who sparked the Japanese industrial revolution). At the end Japan was left with a rebuilt infrastructure, strong system of laws and police as well as a powerful new trading partner.
Another example is Germany. The same scenario unfolded with them. The US stayed behind and helped tremendously to rebuild that country until they could get back on their feet.
These are historical facts. In each case the US acted as a catalyst for the improvement of the country and helped launch great economies which went on to even rival its own!
Now the US is contemplating doing the same for Iraq and instead of cheers it is greeted with jeers. I find this puzzling. Anyone who knows history would understand that if this were indeed to happen it would mean that Iraq would improve tremendously and become the envy of the Middle East within a decade.
I am baffled why the US is looked at as such a source of evil when in the past its actions have shown otherwise.
Personally I am left to conclude that those with an axe to grind will always have something to gripe about. Just as I am sure that when the US was occupying Japan, there were those who in their myopia jeered and pronounced the US as an imperialst. And again so with Germany.
Let them. History will show how small and insignificant was their vision and how great and positive was the actual outcome.
ps tradefut2000, welcome back! I thought you said that you were finished with this board?

In anycase, I would ask that you please refrain from pm'ing vitriol laden messages and calling me a 'fascist' as it really is not becoming.