There will probably be several new wars in the region fairly soon regardless of whether the Americans pull out of Iraq or not. The Bush administration has opened Pandora's Box, and there may be no way left to shut it now. Or you could argue that Osama Bin Laden opened it, and then Bush opened it much wider, depending on your preference. But it's opened.

What is slowly crawling out of it is a Third World War which will not be fought the way the last two were at all. In World War I they fought soldier to soldier at the front lines. In World War II they bombed the cities and civilian centers of their official enemies. In World War III the battlefield will be unpredictable...and absolutely everywhere...and the front lines will not be very clear at all. Every civilian is in danger now.

This happened because various people would rather fight than talk. They imagine attaining victory. It will elude them. No one is going to "win" this one.

- LH