If the prolonged war in question involves the occupation of Iraq and attempts by its population to expel the invaders, it has nothing whatever to do with 9/11 except for the fact that the Bush regime used 9/11 as an excuse to attack a country that had absolutely nothing to do with it.

We didn't start the war, 9/11 did. And we are responding. In our time, our way. Like it or not, terrorism will not go away other than by force. Should we use our military to fight them there, or use them to fight them on our streets?

Abichara nailed it.I am not opposed at all to going after "terrorists",but when we bomb cities and massacre civilians,we are becoming what we are trying to fight.This only adds fuel to the fire of terrorism,which has INCREASED worldwide since Bush decided on a so-called "pre-emptive" War.Now there are several other countries being eyed for more of the same.Refusing to admit that we were misled by Bush will bring more misery and death to our troops and their families,put us so deep in debt we can never recover,and unify every moderate Muslim left of the planet.If we really HONOR OUR TROOPS,we do not send them into harms way over trumped up BS reasons,then wonder why "morale" is low.Occupation of a country bogs us down.Terrorists do not confine themselves to one area.We need the help and co-operation of the rest of the world.We won't get that by supporting an ignorant,arrogant tyrant who thinks he's a friggin cowboy.Allowing an imbecile the highest office has made us the laughing stock of the Planet.The corruption in his administration is RAMPANT.We've been MISLED enough,these are dangerous times,wake up and smell the napalm.

We are in this war for a long, long time.

Try to keep in mind, we are now fighting the SECOND war in Iraq, the first one started in March of 2003, the current starting around mid-May, 2003. The first war was directed at Saddam Hussein and a small number of Ba'athist loyalists, including his fearsome republican guard. The second is being waged against a group of non-Iraqi anarchistic terrorists, loosely connected by islamofascist para-military groups, who have come to Iraq to prevent the establishment of a democracy. A democracy overwhelmingly supported by the Iraqi people, who went to the polls in large numbers under blatant threat of death on their way. Our current anti-war geniuses want to concede defeat to them, immediately pulling our military out of its current engagement in Iraq (which happens to be protecting the Iraqi people from the same enemy while its infrastructure and military are being re-built) regardless of what might happen to many innocent Iraqis as a result (anyone remember Vietnam after the US pullout? If you are an antiwar activist or believer, I suggest you open a history book, it wasn't that long ago). You might look into what happened in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over control of that sovereign government. That would be the blueprint. There are 3 primary reasons to support the "prolonged" war in Iraq. First, islamofascist terrorists have been so busy attacking Iraqi citizens and US soldiers in Iraq, they have not been able to put together the "2nd strike" against their sworn enemy, the "Great Satan" United States. For most of us, that is a positive. Second, to turn tail and run now, would re-demoralize the American military and public, as was successfully done in the late 1960's by the antiwar dolts and idiot-liberal press, and would so embolden international terrorists that they would rightfully claim "victory" as did the Vietcong in Vietnam, without a single major battle victory. Simply the lack of will inherent in their enemy, the American people. The media-published daily body count, conspicuously absent during Bill Clinton's Kosovo incursion, looks like a partisan, anti-war device, and a very effective one, at that. Whom would the terrorists ensconce with an honorary exhibit in their museum, the way the North Vietnamese honored John Kerry for his role in their victory? Who is the new editor of the New York Times? Third, the anti-war movement is the mouse that roared. It has so few followers, it has to count among its followers (falsely) all those who abhor racism, many of whom detect racism in the Hurricane Katrina recovery debacle. The liberal American press, dreaming of the type of monopolistic influence it enjoyed in the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's, represents this minute strain of followers as much more substantial in number and intellectual credibility than it really is. True anti-war activists should protest democrats who start wars, too. They'd have much more credibility at a time like this. We'll remain in Iraq until January, 2009, regardless of the partisan rancor which is certain to continue. Here's hoping that the press gives it a fair and truthful airing, leading up to the election, and that whoever is elected US President in November, 2008 is elected based on his (or her!) plans for Iraq thereafter. If it isn't the primary issue of the next election, someone isn't doing their job.

I find this whole thread troubling, really. Remember, all those years ago, when we went to war because President Bush and Tony Blair swore, together and seperately, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? Is no one else cognizant of that fact that such weapons have not been found? Of the fact that we are truly no longer even looking for them? Doesn't it distress anyone else that we (by that I mean our elected officials) supported a war against a country that posed no known threat to US? Sure, Saddam was not a nice guy, who may have gassed his own people, but surely we don't propose to invade EVERY country that treats it's people poorly? How many lives do we have to lose over there, based on lies, before we say enough???? The war on terrorism is much like the war on drugs, I think. Unless we're willing to deal with the base issues, it's NEVER going to go away. And so far, we aren't even CLOSE to the base issues. I'll step off my soapbox and let the next person step up. Thanks.

WAR TIME PREZ! and proud of it. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWW!

You know what's even more troubling? The prospect that the global community goes on ignoring the terrorist infestation of democracy. Shaking hands, hugging each other and hoping all the bad guys will go away will not get us anywhere, and it's time that liberals realize it. Oh and shagya, misrepresenting those who support President Bush doesn't make your argument any stronger.

If we want this stuff to stop then the American people have got to come clean about the Empire, as did the British (to some degree). That's means no more weapons and money for Israel and the Saudis...for a start. Changing the social character of things at home would help a bit. Right now governments in this part of the world depend on an underclass of misery and increasing poverty to provide a cheering section for foreign adventures. This process is straight out of Orwell. Also the powers behind the Bush throne are the religious nuts and the me and my gun versus the world crowd . These people are just like the crazy Muslims. Basically a secular America would be a peaceful America.

This doctrine of continual warfare is bad for the country. I concur that we do need to go after the terrorist networks associated with Al Qaeda that are scattered throughout the world. We must do everything in our power to prevent another terrorist attack. But the whole doctrine of pre-emption, where we go and invade a country on the basis of suspicion that they are harboring rogue elements is very disconcerting. The basic framework which President Bush has committed us to concerning the so called War on Terrorism is extremely open ended. We can't go around picking fights and expect that it will go fall for our favor. Remaking the world is a very expensive venture and I don't know if we're going to be willing to pay the price for it. I predict that the broader war on terrorism will last for a generation if it continues on the current trajectory; this is different than the Cold War in that the people we're going up against are scattered along a wide geographical landmass and consist of rogue elements that are not well organized but yet effective. To an extent it is a law enforcement problem, but our foreign policy has to become fairer to the 3rd World. I don't mean to advocate a massive aid and reparations project, but rather trade agreements that will help spur their economy, so that they are not angry, bitter and resentful towards their governments or to us. War tends to create big government at home and my concern is that our leaders are going to use this as a excuse to grow government even more than is necessary. I don't have a problem with spending money on defense, I believe that our troops should only have the best, but I don't advocate high spending on corporate welfare, subsidizies to underperforming industries and the fear mentality that is permeating Washington. We've actually been dealing with terrorism for 30 years now. Yes, lets address it, but lets not use it as a justification to get into places where we will get into a quagmire. The goal broadly has to be to secure the homeland and to secure our interests abroad. Our interventions in other countries like Lebanon and Iran increased terrorism in the past. Our intervention in Iraq will and has increase terrorism in the interim. If we want a secure homeland, we should follow President John Quincy Adams advice and not seek monsters to destroy. Lets crack down on the terrorists, but don't start a series of wars that will ultimately end up bankrupting us.

I concur with BigBaby. We have always been at war with these terrorists, but we simply realized it fully on September 11th. As long as there is a nation in the world that is free such as ours, there will always be those who resent us, and those who would wish us ill. Remember, real peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice. "....We in this country, in this generation, are--by destiny rather than choice--the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of "peace on earth, good will toward men." That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: "except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." John F. Kennedy, speech to have been delivered, November 22, 1963.

Im not that afraid of a prolonged war. Im currently safe, always have ben, probably always will be. My cousin has a low risk of dying in the war. We haven't lost much of anyone, which is why Im not scared. The war in Iraq will take about 2 weeks max, the worldwide war will go one for years. But, we've been at war with these terrorists for years, America just realized it on 9-11.

This so called "War" against Terrorism is not a war that can be won. This "War" is not a war of the US verus these terrorist rather it's the world against terrorism. This war is not limited to the Middle East. This war has to be waged against any persons, or groups that uses force or violence to intimidate the masses. This is war is against people who intimidate people through unlawful use or threatened use of force.

This is the most troubling aspect of the war for me, because we are fighting a faceless enemy. In World War 2, our enemies wore uniforms, and were clearly distinguishable. But when the government declares some gauzy "war on terrorism," that sounds about as efficacious as their famed "war on drugs." You can kill terrorists, but there will simply be more of them. I am all for winning this war, but I don't see how we can do it until we know how and when victory will be achieved.

The idea of a prolonged war with indefinable aims is troublesome for all. When we have a president that can "legally" kill anyone in the world in military trials with no evidence, everybody on Earth should be concerned. When our CIA lets in known terrorist and are not held responsible, we have no real intelligent deterrence. India told the CIA long before 9-11 the names of the terrorist because they were the same Muslims who hijacked one of their planes. But the CIA let them in anyway, and even watched their progress. The dis-loyal FBI agents who run the bureau put down the investigative efforts of good agents and told them to be quiet. Without the help of the disloyal FBI/CIA agents, 9-11 would have been impossible. Those double agents wanted us in a prolonged war with Islam, that was their objective in letting the attacks occur. Bin Laden used to work for the CIA, there is no evidence to say he still doesn't. So, while we are in a Crusade against Islam, we are also being tricked by secret elements working inside our own gov't. We are left with no one to trust and blowing in the wind. Therefore, we must protect ourselves by standing up for our rights and protest giving up even a single one!!! Now more than ever we have to stand against governmental oppression and tyranny. The gov't is planning a war with Iraq right now. Over 250,000 troops will be sent against their will to fight in a staged planned war. Atomic bombs are already in place in the location where those troops will be stationed (I have no proof of this so don't ask, OK CIA/FBI). Once they are gone, G. Bush will require a draft. So, I highly recommend that all persons file out a conscientious objector status form now before it's too late. A prolonged war only spells out deception, lies, mis-information, oppression, etc. Do the right thing and protect your right not to fight. Nobody has the right to force anyone to kill another, not even G. Bush. By filing out your refusal to participate in a war against your will, you will be furthering the cause of global human individual rights and protecting yourself from those who would deceive you for their own apocalyptic goals. The motto of the Mossad, an Israeli secret intelligence agency masterminding world war three known as 'final consolidation', is "By way of deception, thou shalt do war". With this motto of the Mossad, all of us Gentiles must beware and protect ourselves. Read Revelations 20:8 and 3:9.

I agre with TheFreak completely. All wars have no purpose seeing as it's only the performance of atrocities by both sides. It would be terrible for the country if a war was to take place for a prolonged duration. And, of course, as stated by TheFreak, the honor that a genius or anyone for that matter gets for slaughtering a fellow human is falsified. The people that served in Vietnam and saw the atrocities firsthand took a stand against the war and its unjust goals.

First of all, I would like to point out that we are not at war (legally). Nor can we be till Congress declares it. But the mere vision...of live human beings from Afghanistan, the US, Iraq, England, anywhere, getting brutally murdered by their "foe" is terrifying. The govermnet and the people of every country involved must consider the value of human life and put this before their anger and hate. If everyone would just take the time to think about the 3.8 GPA senior from the prestigious high school who has been offered a scholarship from Harvard or Cambridge and who we are now sending off to war to possibly end his entire promising future so he can kill fellow people for some honor that is in my mind, false, this may not even be a problem. But unfortunately, every country continues to war and slaughter and conquer and we will never be at peace with ourselves. This is another step on that grueling journey. Take care, everyone!