Like most of us, I'm heartsick about the whole thing. The only thing I'm glad of at this moment is that the gungho, chop chop mudcats who crowed about our easy 'win' in Iraq are not at this moment making excuses for the dismal situation, complete with references to the "battle plan", as though they expected us to swallow it. I appreciate their silence.

Does anyone care to make a(ny) prediction as to a likely scenario for the next two years in the US? Will we find ourselves spread so thin across the globe that we implode? Or will we become a lauded Superman who flies to the aid of the downtrodden, afflicted and poor? Will we enter a boom economy as we make war- or will we have to suck it up and 'use it up, make it do or do without'?

For the record, I'm in favor of sending our share of peacekeeping troops into Liberia under the umbrella and leadership of the UN and in conjunction with other countries' troops adhering to the various treaties and agreements.