jm of Augusta, ME Leon:

Which of Iraq's neighbors is threatening to invade it? Surely you're not thinking of Iran?

When was the last time that Iran invaded another country?

When was the last time that WE invaded another country?

I think it's clear which country is the bigger threat to world peace, don't you?report abuse

Leon Richard of Farmington, ME "The concerns of the rest of the world."

1. A reasonably accessible supply of oil to fuel the developed worlds economy? That's a primary concern to anyone who doesn't cook over an open fire and live in a tent, grass hut, or a cave.

2. Safety from people who would hijack jet aircraft full of people, who did nothing to those people but believe differently, and fly them into buildings filled with people guilty of the same offense? That's a primary concern of most of the developed world as well.

3. Bringing these people out of the stone age, so we can be relatively assured the first two concerns are appropriately addressed? That's a definite concern, and the ONLY way this issue will become a thing of the past.

Attacking one another's faith will accomplish nothing. Nobody truly knows out true purpose in the world, but I can assure you it is not to fight and kill each other over who believes in the better, or the right, God. "Allah Wahab" means, "God is one". Islam and Christians both worship the same God. It's time we began acting like it.

My problem is when one portion of a religion thinks the same God I worship says they should kill me because of how I worship. I can sit around and allow them to spread that belief, and wait for them to come and try to kill me and my neighbor, or I can root it out and destroy it.

Just so you know. As an Atheist, you're an even lower life form than a Christian as far as they're concerned. We already know what they think of Buddhists as evidenced by the destruction of ancient relics by the Taliban. Given their way, no other religion will exist on the earth. Negotiate with them? No. In no sense other than to make it clear they can live and do as they wish, where they are. They will however, leave the rest of the world to hell alone or face the consequences. That includes the oil supply.report abuse

Leon Richard of Farmington, ME Even bringing up "the 100 year option" is absurd, it's stupid. That was a mistake on his part, and he shouldn't have said it. It just fueled the stupidity on the other side to new heights.

Weinand. Am I a Christian? As a matter of fact I am. I am one of the ones who read the entire Bible, and not just the parts I liked. One of the ones who lives his life as well as he can, and doesn't expect anything from anybody else except to be left alone to do it. I am not perfect, and don't expect it of anybody else.

"Allah Wahab" my friend. "Allah Wahab".

We cannot ever pull entirely out of Iraq until the country is secured against invasion and control by its neighbors. So far as "killing all our enemies". No, I don't think that's a great option either. Just make it clear, and I don't believe we've done a great job of it yet, that we make much better friends than enemies.

There are decent people on all sides of this issue. And for one side to consistently lay claim to some sort of "moral high ground" and piously deride the remainder is simplistic and inflammatory.

To attack someone's faith as Weinand has is stupid. There's no other way to put it. Scary? Think I am scary, but want to negotiate with the likes of Osama Bin Laden and the Imams that support him? I'd rather be scary than unaware and clearly ignorant of the problem.

How did this start during the Carter administration? That was the first time they pulled a front on attack against the United States. And what did we do? Nothing. Not a single thing. Didn't lift a finger against it. We should have begun this then, and it would be over now.

Build the schools, hospitals, and power plants. Get the society moving in the direction it needs to. Get the military back up. And get out. The sooner the better. We're all in agreement on that part. But don't leave it so you're only going to have to fight again.report abuse

jm of Augusta, ME Leon:

We blew it by invading Iraq. We can't kill ALL of our enemies; trying THAT approach will only guarantee that we'll acquire MORE enemies. We need to adopt a foreign policy that addresses the concerns of the rest of the world, rather than acting like a bully determined to get his own way.

Tell the Iraqis we're leaving within nine months. They can either get their act together and decide to live in a unified country...or not. Their choice. If they want to work together, we should help them to rebuild their country. If they don't, they're on their own.

No more American lives wasted. No more of our tax dollars wasted. No more aiding al-Qaida with their recruiting by occupying Iraq. McCain's "100 year" option is absurd.report abuse