That is the question that AOL asked of its subscribers. As of 4:30 AM on Friday 28 February (PST), the poll resukt was 54% yes, 46% no. This from 284,000 or so votes cast.

Of course, AOL subscribers are not a typical cross section of the American public, but I thought some of you might be interested in this as a data point.

I suspect that AOL didn’t give any indication of what that cost might be. Serious attempts by different groups of experts have come up with strikingly similar ranges of cost – depending on how much Iraqi resistance there is, the extent of damage to the Iraqi infrastructure, etc. The estimates I have seen all have a TOP end of the range over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. The high I have seen was 1.4 Trillion. They also estimate something in the low THOUSANDS of American lives lost during the 8 to 15 year occupation of Iraq that will be necessary before a democratic regime can effectively take over.

Are we really prepared for this cost? It may well be much lower, but we shouldn’t go in unless we are prepared to accept the worst cast scenario.

I have serious doubts that the Bush regime has any serious plans to rebuild Iraq after its destruction. Their new budget includes ZERO DOLLARS for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, despite all of their promises. Southeastern Afghanistan is already returning to Taliban control.

To go in, destroy what’s there, and then quickly leave would probably result in a worse situation than we have at present. Not just in Iraq, but throughout the Islamic World.

I know this wont happen but if or when we kick the snot out of Iraq we should just keep it. All of the free oil we can handle. I am bummed at some of the un allies stalling, they know it, we all know that somebody is going to have to do something about Iraq and N Korea for that matter. And that somebody always seems to be the US at first. We need to find a way to recoup our losses, I guess we could sell it to Israel they seem capable enough . The war or military actions of the past used to get the victors the land they won and new taxpaying citizens. Now wars seem somewhat pointless becouse we try to hold back and we don't really get anything done, except spend alot of money that we should be spending here a home and we help them rebuild their country's afterwards. We will waste American lives and money on counrty's that hate us. Why? I feel that if people in those country's like Iraq or most muslin nations hate the imperialistic US, Fuck Em. It seems to be a catch 22 either way alot of the kids are brought up to hate us and I would think they envy our precieved lifestyles. But they are so radical in their beliefs you could beat them over the head with the truth and they would refuse to see it. I don't think war with Iraq is worth the money we will spend unless we keep the country. I also think that war is too big of a word to use in conjunction with us beating Iraq to a bloody pulp. We would have to resort to war with Russia per say but Iraq is nothing and never will be unless they stop killing each other and stop hating everybody for no good reason. It is funny that a relativly young nation like the US got it togather so fast and all of these thrid world nations can't feed themselves but always have large miltarys and use them frequently. I guess we're just stupid.

And the whole afgahnistan thing I really can't say what we acomplished there. Who's head do we have to hold up and say look let this be a warning. Just a bad situation all around. I know we had to do something and that's just what we did, something.

Sorry about the rant .

I had everything laid out in my head what I was going to say, but now that I have the window open, my mind is blank.

There is no question in my mind that we are going to war. Quite frankly I have seriously considered, in the last couple of months, or going back to Canada. Canadians are cold most of the year, the economy there sucks big time, and futures are to say the least limited; but people are relatively safe in Canada. Canada is the country that wasn't. Nobody notices it, nobody is threatened by it, nobody cares. Because of all that, people in Canada are relatively safe from all this crap. Canadian are known as peacekeepers. Perhaps I made a mistake when I left that country for this one.

All of the above notwithstanding, the fact is that I DID leave Canada and adopt the USA as my country, my home. The incredibly great thing about this country is that we can agree or disagree with what's happening, even if it doesn't make any difference in the final outcome.

Bottom line: This Canadian eunuch is here for the duration, folks. My only regret is that I am too old to serve in the military. I do not necessarily agree with a war against Iraq, but if that's what my country chooses to do, then I will support it.

Freedom came with a very heavy price; if you don't believe me just ask the jews of Germany. I guess we will just have to keep paying that price, and IMHO it is worth it.

I am not flaming anyone who is speaking out against war, in fact I tend to agree with you; but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, I will support this country to the death! I am here by choice, not by birth, and I for one will stand behind whatever this country does, no matter what. I might criticize internally because that is my right, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned, I AM AMERICAN AND HAPPY TO BE HERE AND PROUD OF IT, AND IF YOU FUCK WITH AMERICA YOU FUCK WITH ME!

Charlie,

Your tone sounds much less considered than you usually are, but the content is important. It’s not "My country, right or wrong!" It needs to be "My country, let’s work to make it better!"

Up until the last possible moment it’s our patriotic duty to work to change misguided ideas. It’s our duty to try to instill reason and logic in the system. It’s our duty to support strongly those whom we feel to be right. Once the die is cast, we need to support our country. It may make mistakes (some of them very serious ones), but it’s the best country we have.

And, after travels and sojourns in a great many of them, I would certainly never choose to live in a different one. Not even Canada, which I only briefly considered (and quickly dismissed) when I was a very draftable student of Asian Studies during the Vietnam War era

I agree, Jesus... I guess that's what I mean to say, but you certainly said it more clearly.

You know, giving Iraq to the Israelis isn't really all that bad an idea. After all, the countries around there keep telling them that they should go home. Well, isn't that where they got their start? I seem to remember that the Jewish nation started around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Those are the principal waterways in Iraq.

Too bad it would mess things up much worse than they are now.

I remember telling my classmates at San Francisco State, arguably one of the most, liberal schools in the USA, that diplomacy deserves a chance to work, but that sometimes the only thing some people understand is to get hit over the head with a big stick. The world has been using diplomacy in Iraq for 12 years... why in the hell does anyone think S. Hussein is changing now? My opinion, I hate war... but now is the time to hit this guy over the head with that big stick. Too bad everyone around him (read the Iraqi population) has to suffer for it.

I like what you have to say Charliele and it is good to se you posting again i missed your tractor.

Why not give Iraq to the Palestinians?

That way, they could concentrate on blowing up Baghdad and SoDamned Insane instead of blowing up Israel.

and... two of the worlds greatest problems would take care of each other.

Then we could make brother Infidel Castro the King of North Korea and soon he would have what he always wanted...Nuclear-tipped warheads on missles pointed at America.

SO Jesus and company, take heart.

It could be worse, at least George W. has had the good sense not to turn Iraq into a glass-paved parking lot and then sent the Marines in to paint the lines.

Don't think for a minute that it couldn't be done, either.

Just one George Washington class nuclear submarine has more equivalent explosive TNT tonnage that was detonated during the whole of WWII. On ALL of the sides! ...And that INCLUDES Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Maybe God IS really watching over America.

Now, if he would just take care of poor Tony Blair for a while.

France and Germany, sorry, no prayers for you today. At least not yet.

A-1

There is a new song out, written and sung by Darryl Worley who is a relative unknown, but I am predicting (hoping???) that this song is going to be a BIG HIT!.

The story is that Darryl spent some time in Afghanistan, then wrote this song when he came home. I heard it for the first time to day, and have already heard it three times.

Anyone who has read any of my writings knows that music is a big part of my life, and this song is a good example, IMHO why it is a good influence. The song goes something like this:

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN, by Darryl Worley

I hear people say we don't need this war

But I say there's some things worth fightin' for

What about our freedom, and this piece of ground

We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down

They say we don't realize the mess we're gettin' in

Before you start to preachin' let me ask you this my friend

Have you forgotten how it felt that day

To see your homeland under fire and her people blown away

Have you forgotten when those towers fell

We had neighbors still inside goin' through a livin' hell

And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout bin Laden

Have you forgotten

They took all the footage off my TV

They said it's too disturbin' for you and me

It'll just breed anger is what the experts say

If it was up to me I'd show it every day

Some say this country's out lookin' for a fight

After 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

I've been there with the soldiers who've gone away to war

And you can bet that they remember just what they're fightin' for

Have you forgotten all the people killed

Yes some went down like heros in that Pennsylvania field

Have you forgotten about our Pentagon

All those loved ones that we lost and those left to carry on

Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout bin Laden