OK, I never thought an attack on a sovereign nation was appropriate (and I won't again when Iran gets attacked), but that said I am in total support of the troops out there doing their thing. They cannot pick which wars to fight, and deserve our collective respect for their sacrifice, regardless of your point of view on the specifics. Hopefully for the most part they get it, and any criticism is directed to the policy makers rather than the front line.

Ironic really that some use the hard-won freedom they have to run down the next generation of those who helped bestow it upon them.

Maybe something intelligent will come of talking to Iran and Syria, or maybe it'll be situation they can manipulate - who knows. I don't care what the Dixie Chicks have to say on the subject (or any other subject for that matter), but when the most senior guy in the British army says that Allied troops are part of the problem rather than the solution I think the opinion may have some validity.

It's difficult ever saying that people who don't agree with the war should 'shut up', or those who are ill-informed, or who didn't vote have no right to an opinion and those without a useful grasp of fact shouldn't vote either.... seems to fly in the face of the freedom we enjoy. The average IQ is 100 (duh!) - if you ever meet someone who has a 100 IQ it will probably be behind the counter at Wendy's etc. Based on the law of averages, there are way more people below 100 than there are above. If intelligence was used as a qualifier for the vote, probably the people running wouldn't qualify, nevermind the voters. And the President? Don't make me laugh...

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Tallentyre on Voltaire