Fair enough, the comment was misconstrued, although was there any kind of persistent attack upon Americans in post war Japan, Germany, and Korea? Five years on from Bush's statement on that aircraft carrier, and our troops are still getting killed nearly everyday, something that did not happen in post war Europe/Japan. His point about a pay for US troops is valid for Japan, but do you honestly think Iraqis would be willing to pay for such a scheme? I doubt it. His point about in lieu of that maintaining a presence in Kuwait seems flawed as well, when one recalls the sentiments of a number of Saudis to the mere proximity of US forces to Saudi Arabia. And speaking as a liberal, I am neither a liar, nor am I ignorant, so the mere suggestion of being either is highly offensive to me, and as offensive as when someone like Coulter says it.