Sorry about that Q, didn't mean to say that you were news deprived at all.

I grew up in Canada, lived there until 1999. When I listened to and watched the CBC for news, my perspective was radically different. I guess I was projecting.

I agree about the other places there are bases. Though I feel that a shuffle might be in order. For one thing, we probably have too many men and tanks in Germany since it is no longer a frontier.

The presence in the Mid East is my main concern. I don't ever want to see Iran attacked from no matter how strategic the goal unless Shiite factions there are in accord and leading the charge. Both Clinton and McCain want to use US troops there "to deal with the Iranian threat." I think that would be most unwise. Perhaps we do need troops stationed in the Middle East, but they don't have to be in Iraq, refereeing a civil war and drawing fire from Wahabi extremists and I am afraid that while they are there in great numbers, that is what they will have to do.

McCain says that we can keep troops there if they are not being killed but as long as they are being killed they must stay. I don't like that position. I believe that there are other possibilities that can be explored.