*** At what level of US casualties and US expenditures would you conclude that this has been a fiasco? ***

My stepfather was a decorated hero in the pacific in WWII. He said, "We (Americans) will always be willing to die to protect the rest of world. As long as it's just and it makes the world a better place for our children and our grandchildren, then so be it. And there will always be those who hate us for it. If we don't  do it who will."

You don't end evil dictatorships with warm hugs, therapy or counciling. It would be great if you could but you don't. Millions of soldiers died in WWII. Was that too many casualties to keep Germany, Japan and Italy from slaughtering Jews and civilians and ruling the world Peter? At what number would you, President Thompson, have pulled the troops out of Europe and the pacific? 1600? 10,000? 100,000?

As bad as the axis powers were, the evil we're fighting today is far worse. This is what the liberal mindset can not seem to understand. We lost a few brave soldiers in Somalia in the early 90's so we (Clinton) put our tail between our legs and we ran. Al Qaeda has used that fact in their recruiting process ever since. He called us a "paper tiger". What do you think would happen if we packed our bags in Iraq and went home now? Would the world be a better place? Maybe in a small house in NH it would. But not for long. Today's enemy is very determined. As long as we remain more determined than they are, we will prevail and the world will be a better place.