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<DIV>Hi Nick,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The beef I have with your analysis is that it was drawn from the usual
group of Bush hating, reflexively anti American sources. I think one
should draw from a broader array of material in order to produce a more informed
conclusion. Why would you object to this?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have spoken with several veterans of this conflict, one who was at the
point of our initial push into Baghdad 3 years ago. They have uniformly
expressed a frustration with the liberal media for failing to report anything
positive out of Iraq. Two told me they had made many friends among the
Iraqis and that these people were very glad we are there. And don't quote
Zogby because his methodology and secrecy are unacceptable.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As for your list of negative assessments, there are any number of people
who will give you any number of personal opinions. You just choose the
ones that support your view and repeat them. Your professor from Basra
University is no more authoritative than the Iraqi civilians my Marine friend
heard from.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You site several troubling examples of loyalty concerns among Iraqi troops
and police forces. Yes, Iraq is sectarian place, living a twelfth
century existence. These problems are very daunting and I understand that
they exist. The question I have is why do you assume they are
insurmountable? There are many in the administration with access to far
more information than we are privy to. Don't you feel just slightly
presumptuous in condemning their every utterance?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What if your dire predictions are not all realized? What if after a
tremendous effort, we do in fact succeed in planting the seed of freedom and
democracy over there? Think of a future free from the terror of radical
Islam. Japan and Germany were warlike as hell and I'm sure there were many
who decried our involvement there, who thought we could not rebuild and tame
them. We did though, and now they are members of the civilized
community.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I do not know if we will be able to do the same in the middle east.
But if it is to ever have a chance at success, our effort will have to have at
the very least, the reasonable patience and support of the American
people.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best, Tony</DIV>
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