And just so you do not misunderstand, even not knowing your history, I was in no way attempting to lecture you. If it was taken in that way, you have my apology.

On the military issue, first, let me do the right thing: Thank you for your service in what is a hard and under rewarding profession. I live next to a military base that my father worked at for over 30 years, have uncles and great uncles who have served thier life in the military. I have not served myself, and due to that great peacetime run we had after Vietnam, I was never called to.

And to make my point clear, it was that the efforts of the American government and military should indicate to anyone that we do in fact intend to continue on a modern state and a world power. Some may differ with those goals. That is their right. But those are the facts on the ground.

The "cost structure" and goals are a bit different when it is a security issue. No one really argues about the exact retail price of an F-18 or an aircraft carrier if it is percieved that is what needed to survive and prevail.

On history, that is a bit closer to an area I have dealt with than the military.
I absolutely agree that study of history in our current situation is vital to assist understanding of paths taken. However, it is easy to misinterpret history. Caution must be taken. G.W. Bush for example used history as an example, and cast Saddam as Hitler, all who questioned the Iraq war as Chamberlian in 1938 England and himself as the Churchill. Was that a correct use of the lessons of history? You be the judge. But it silenced all opposition at the time.

To America's ememies I beg you...do not underestimate the resolve of this government and this nation to survive. Please do not. The human suffering has already been great in making that error. Bin Laden and the gangs who desire our destruction (and despite the knee jerk anti-Americanism we often see, they are very real) can get a few of us. But they did not bring a big enough dog to the fight to win their stated prize of our destruction. Instead, they have assisted in bringing real horror on the whole of the Middle East.
Was that their goal? Educated Muslims and Arabs should ask themselves that question.

Back to point.....nuclear devices in the tar sand and the oil shale regions to extact millions of barrels of usable oil? They'll do it. The Canadians will do it, because they, like us, will in the end refuse to be carved up by our mutual enemies.

And if that sounds fueled by "drugs and alky" you go back over it and let me know where you proved me wrong. All lessons will be taken as a gift thank you.

RC