[Moneyguy1]

The comparison re: Saddam vs. Stalin is a valid and very interesting point. There is a series on History International Channel actually put together by the Russians, called "Blood Upon the Snow". Stalin was more into "purges", eliminating anybody he even "thought" was again' him. It was his purge of the military that made Germany think it would be a cakewalk to take over the Soviet Union. Hitler, on the other hand, used the good old tried and true "divide and conquer" philosophy, pitting his minions against each other. However, both of them did eliminate a whole passel of people whose only crime was "being different". In that respect, Saddam, Uncle Joe, and Herr Hitler were a lot alike, although I think that Hitler was a bit less paranoid than the other two, and more cunning. Perhaps we will never know if Iraq's leadership was involved, or was planning things against the continental United States. However, if I were a betting individual, I would not rule out at least the liklihood that there could have been aid given to those who were (and are). No war is a good war; innocents die, and those include the cannon fodder that the leadership send to the battlefront. There are times, though, when resistance to a growing perceived threat is required.

Just my thoughts on a very difficult subject. There are no cut and dry answers. Every time we think we have the answers, we find ourselves simply uncovering other questions.

I agree concerning the conditioning of the American public re: simplistic solutions. People seem to be willing to swallow whatever the press, no matter what their stripe, spews out. Spin is in. An interesting (fictional)story:

Not too long ago, the Russians were bragging about a race horse they had trained, saying it was the best in the world. A U.S. horse trainer, challenged the Russians to a two horse race, and the U.S. horse won. How would the Russian press explain this to their reading public?

"The great Russian horse came in second, while the American horse came in next to last."

As printed, the facts were true, but not honest. Personally, I would love to find a news service that was truly "Fair and Balanced" in its reporting, but we are all human, with built in predujices, bias and opinions.

Cheers, fellas......