Pat -

If things are going so well, why aren't there reports from Iraqis as part of the western news?  Why do we need to hear from our President about the lack of coverage?  Why do we need a western face?  Why can't our 'man on the street' be an Iraqi (instead of the Christians and civil rights folks who've been killed or are about to be)?  Talk about embedded...where's their news agency?  Radio Stations?  Web - filtered or unfiltered? 

It's not perspective, but I thought you guys might like some of this...

Colbert vs. Franken

http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=60301

my favorite line is - 'What's your message?  Aside from 'hey, stop beating us up'

There's talk of a base there....I think it would be like the Alamo - Iraq was once a colonial government, that is now more fractious than ever....The Prez says leaving will be a mistake without admitting that going there was a mistake -  thanks for that....I say leave (mighty big of me, hmm) - let them kill each other...it's unwinnable, because we shouldn't have been there to begin with...Influence?  In the Middle East?  Oil?  Influence?  There's no confluence there.....

Pat - if you'd like to post survey stats - I suggest you do so with a link...I'm not a journalist...but I know some...they're not responsible for the polls or the stats...

p.s. - I taped that program for you...