Dickey--

So Japan is keeping its troops in Iraq. And how many troops are we talking about? Pardon me for not jumping up and down in delight--even though you evidently feel this is news of burning importance.

Gee, I wonder why we get the feeling that you are desperately grasping at straws in a pathetic attempt to convince yourself that the Iraq war is going just fine. I'm sure there must be another reason for your behavior--though it's unclear what it might be.