Well put LH.

Any quote by Dubya (arguably the worst president in the nation's history) is usually something to be avoided---hell, he thinks the mission was accomplished as I recall---and dressing like a Top Gun (while having stayed out of the action along w/ his VP during our other needless conflict).

As to the comments re; Israel and Fundementalists---read the new book "1948" it puts the whole issue in context and places blame on many sides. One thing is certain though---the Arab nations were, as usual, disorganized and only thinking of their individual goals (with the exception of Abdullah of Jordan).   Other certain things are that:

Israel created a democratic state in the Middle East
The desert did bloom
Education gave us some world class scientists and professionals
3d World nations rcvd technical aid in agriculture and other areas.

SO--the question now is---what happened prior to that? Besides a lot of sand piling up and the oil rich nations living---as they still are---high off the hog (which is not Kosher--for Jews or Arabs).

Salaam and Shalom

Bill Hahn