[peregrine]

The whole thing about the patriotism and all was more of a rant letting out steam... I understand how it works and how it's effective, it's just sickening whenever I see the mob-mentality at work. I find it pathetic.

As far as the casualties, I know wars can't be bloodless... it's just that it seems to be an ineffective strategy to use a heavy-handed military police force against an enemy that can organize in shadow and strike suddenly out of nowhere (in addition to some not having a regard for their own life). All this is to say I think a change of tactics is in order... something a lot more counter-terrorist and less domestic-police-force if you get my meaning.

A wild idea floating around in my head is if we were just to leave, or make a minimal presence in Iraq.. what kind of pecking order would arise from it? Order always comes from chaos somehow (as seen in organized crime or even the organization of these terrorist groups). The people seem to want freedom and "democracy" (I don't hold a high opinion of American government, sorry) any speculation on what would happen if we just left them to their own devices now that we've ousted and captured Saddam and most of his regime?