Fr. Wiebe: Your "if" may turn into a reality. President Bush, as have other presidents, has begun to move from a political extreme towards the center. His rhetoric regarding Iraq War II cooled as he sought allies to face down Iraq, and as he sought support from the American people. When he faces the last months before the next presidential election, he may well have to leave the right wing behind to hold on to the Democratic votes that he will need. The man has political savy and will do what is necessary to hold on to power. I think he has listened to the Generals, to Colin Powell and others who have cautioned about getting into a morass where 250,000 men would be required to execute a successful ground war with hideous consequences for us and the inhabitants of Baghdad if we "go it alone". If the Iraq War II does not occur in the coming 12 months, the eruption of persecution of Christians and anti-U.S. attacks by Islamic extremists in all parts of the world may well so absorb the attention of our political leadership that they will be content to keep Iraq locked down as it has been for the past dozen years. That would not be a bad outcome. One of the ironies of history is that the peace-loving Kennedys promoted the Domino Theory and got us deeply entrenched into a land war in Asia. The irony is that is was the hawkish Nixon who won election on the promise of extricating us from Vietnam. President Johnson lost the election because the war had gone on too long. It was obvious to everyone that there was no long term purpose to be served by continuing it. Had he extricated our troops from that horror after JFK's death, he might have been elected to a second term, but his obstinancy cost him the opportunity. If Iraq War II does not erupt soon, it will be politically inexpedient for Mr. Bush to spring it as an October surprise on the eve of the next presidential election. Lyndon Johnson should serve as a reminder that after a time our people will unite and sing "ain't gonna study war no more." Charles >From: <gdvw@...> >Reply-To: faithandlife@... >To: <faithandlife@...> >Subject: Re: [FaithandLife] Powell Attacks Christian Right >Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 00:35:54 -0000 (UTC) > > > Charles: Pat (700 Club)Robertson and Jerry (I've Got A 'University' Now) >Falwell have an arrogance that is surpassed only by their arrogance. To >suggest the things that Robertson averrs on his TV show proves that. >If-and it is a big if-Bush will jettison the right wing Fundamentalistic >Puritans that got him into the White House that could only be a good >thing. Broadbrushing Islam is another example of what I have said before >about insulting Arabic peoples (most of whomare Muslims) though the >majority of Muslims worldwide are not Arabic, do not speak Arabic and have >little in common with them. Blessings GDVW+ _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail