Just a note about the Marines. 2100 is about a Battalion Landing Team (BLT). They are on permanent duty in the Caribbean and the Mediteranean, and have been, for at least 50 years (my age and stuff lends credence to this). So that doesn't mean a lot.

The second thing is that we still don't know who perpetrated this atrocity. The only peole to take credit for it are the Japanese Ultra Right Wing "Red Army Group." So I am not so convinced that bin Ladin did this. I'm fairly sure he doesn't care about it, probably wishes he did do it, but I would look at Iraq before I'd look at anyone else.

The third thing I've learned is no one gets involved in a war without some form of financial gain. It is always about money. So who stands to make a buck on this? Lots of folks.

Yes lots of people have done something, or nothing, and things have happened that were less than pleasant. But I really struggle with the concept that since my family didn't directly kill someone doesn't make them culpable. In Viet Nam, or I should say on my return home, I always tried to remind those who thought me a savage killer that I pulled the trigger but it was their tax dollar that purchased it. In the criminal world it is akin to hiring an assasin (we've had that discussion before).

I would encourage everyone to set just a little lower on their horse and continue to assist the world in becoming a bit saner space in time. Arlo Guthries Mom is correct about the world.

And last but not least a numerical correction. It was mentioned that the WTC death tole would exceed those killed in Viet Nam. We lost nearly 60,000 in that little fracas and last I looked we weren't that high on the count here. And I mean no denigration of those who were lost in the WTC. I grieve in my own way for all of those who die in government's name. CarolC is correct on that one.

Think I'll stop now
Peace - Steve