i think it was the gold curtains that hypnotized me

• I do not believe the war in Iraq was really about Weapons of Mass Destruction, ever. I believe it was waged for oil.
• I believe we are in Iraq rebuilding the nation so that we can sustain our ridiculous consumption of fossil fuels in this country.
• With the money we have spent in Iraq we could have made solar and other alternative forms of energy a realistic choice for consumers in the US. Instead we are funding the big business monopoly of non-renewable, short-term energy consumption.
• Democracy is a cloud of smoke our leaders blow in faces of ignorant, middle Americans brainwashed by television and propaganda.
• If our country's leaders really felt strongly about spreading Democracy and helping those in need, that our resources would be better spent in Africa or here in the US.
• It sucks living in a Red state.

After making all the of above statements clear and known, I have to say that the President's address last night was one of his better speaches. I don't agree with our position in Iraq at all, but now that we've completely destroyed what infrastructure was once there it is our responsibility to try to rebuild it. I thought it was important for the President to acknowledge those that don't support this war, conceding to the fact that our premises for invading were false. He conceded to the fact that this war has been difficult and expensive. I appreciate that sentiment.

I found myself feeling a glimmer of hope of the state of Iraq's government, military, and economy during the address. I believed for a minute that maybe we were training Iraq's military to defend themselves, that when we leave they'll be able to take over. It was nice to hear about the dissolving divisions between the tribal ties of citizens. And to think that the economy there is growing and prospering, and that people feel an improvement in their daily lives gave me hope. For the first time in my life I was hopeful after hearing GW talk. Then I remembered to whom I was listening.

This hope was quickly squelched when I read back through the transcript of his address. All the 'war on terror' talk really started to piss me off. The war on terror is like the war on drugs. We're trying to fight a concept, the enemy is everywhere within every culture, every school, every religion. Terrorism exists on many levels all around us on a day to day basis, just like drugs. An entire country is trying to fight a war against individuals, extremists.

I wonder why we don't do more with education in combating terrorism. It seems to me that we should be educating the American people about religious tolerance, about cultural differences, about the worldview of America through the eyes of other countries. Why do French hate us? Why do African children covet ragged American tennis shoes produced 20 years ago? What types of Anti-American propaganda is being widely distributed in North Korea? We are an ignorant society wholly consumed with ourselves. Instead of rehashing the events and tragedies of 9/11, why don't we look closer at the terrorists and their motives. Why were we the target?

If you asked President Bush, I would guess his answer would be that the terrorists have fundamental objections to 'our' religious beliefs. This is not untrue. However, people all over the world in growing numbers feel the US is a crafty nation full of self-absorbed, lazy people. What can we, as citizens, do to change this image? How can we extend our resources to really help attain global peace?