I think Mark and Carol are "reaching" pretty far with their analogies. McGrath too. The U.S. has been involved in just about every major conflict in memory. Our armed forces have fought on foreign soil and after it is all over, they come home. I suppose, following WW II the U. S. could have claimed portions of Europe as spoils of war, but we didn't. We did retain some Islands in the Pacific that were captured with a lot of American blood, but if memory serves correctly, I think they have all been returned to Japan.

We may still occupy Wake Island and Guam, but I'm not sure. My point is, the U. S. is not a country that craves more territory. It does not go to war to claim more territory. Equating early America's fight for Independence from England with what is going on in the Middle East is to me, ludicrous.

Carol, when you go to Hawaii, I'm confident you and Mark will have a wonderful time sitting on the beach feeling guilty about all the horrible things your country has done. If that becomes tiresome, try the Helicoptor ride on Kauai, it's spectacular!

DougR