It makes no sense to me to spend a fortune bombing someplace and then spend a fortune rebuilding it.Of course,the cost in human lives is the real atrocity-and who benefits? Only no-bid contractors such as Halliburton.Who foots the bill? You and I,and probably the next few generations.

I thought we were not in the business of nation building! Isn't that what our President told us in his first campaign?

Picked up the POST this morning at the airport and the top story that dubya's do-gooders now have changed their 'goals' in Iraq due to 'unreasonable' optimism at the outset of the invasion. The administration now wants to lower the bar because their lofty goals cannot be met even by lap-dog-DC standards. Wow! All that realization cost was a few thousand lives. Euphamistic language and bullsh#t-backpedaling sounds awfully liberal to me coming from flag-waving, yellow-magnet-sticking conservatives. . .

**Kellogg, Brown & Root is doing a great job taking care of the Iraqis (not to mention US troops). These jackasses (or at least the management) command their staff to give our troops expired (some over a year!) food because they use the good food for catered parties three times a week. If anyone tries to speak out about that or the extreme overcharging (more than 2500 meals a day!) they are fired or send to heavy fighting areas. FYI folks, WE, the taxpayers are the ones flipping the bill!! Meanwhile these corporations are literally STEALING money on overpriced contracts. SO, Im tired of hearing march in line with the administration because theres an R behind the presidents name people who only listen to that BS spewed by the CEO of the planet last night. This government doesnt give a rats ass about Iraqis and their freedom, jesus f***in christ, there are millions of controlled oppressed people in sadistic countries all over the world. This administration picked Iraq for corporate gain. Anyone who buys into that - WMD, threat to US.okay, maybe not, We have an obligation to remove an evil dictator! They got him and George has the gun on the wall to prove it. Now the war is about democracy for the people.they voted, its done. They need PEACE, the troops have to stay there and bring peace to a torn nation. Not possible. So, last night, this war is about (5th reason) Preventing Iraq from becoming a safe haven for terroristsstay the course, no matter how many lives it costs the blood is worth it! - is hooked and on their way to be cleaned and fried. Its NOT about who won or lost the election, I dont vote party lines and Im sure many others dont. Its about raping the people in this country while smiling in our faces. ** Rebuilding is always good.more so for the companies doing the work. Im sure everyone is aware the US Agency for International Development secretly asked companies to submit bids ($900 million worth) BEFORE the war started. We all hear Halliburton because of the oil. But dont forget Bechtel Group and DynCorp who, with Halliburton, combined to give nearly $26,000.00 in contributions DIRECTLY to Bush during the election.

Jeez...I keep forgetting that every time we cover these subjects Im gonna have to read all the Im a bad loser dribble from the left while they paint their little pictures of stories of 'money going under the table to who' and 'what corporation is benefitting from the turmoil', and the all time classic..'people are actually dying' in a war...DUH!!! and whine, whine, whine!! It makes me sick. Try and focus leftys, these people have been freed from an evil dictator. They have choices and a possible FUTURE never even dreamed of until we came into the picture. Can you not shut-up and try to be happy for people who might just watch their children and grandchildren live a whole new free and educated life!! These terrorists have been religious fanantics for a thousand years. Its War! The free Iraqies seem to be willing to die for the cause so get over yourselves and see what you can do to help.

Yes, I'm sure they love their ABAONDONED cities, blown up cars on the side of the road, and oh yeah, the lifless bodies of Iraqis and American's alike litered on the street.

I have to agree with Lance, it would be really nice if the media could report on some of the good things that we're doing over there. I didn't support this war when it started, and I still don't, but knowing that our troops were accomplishing good things, like keeping contractors safe while they built power plants and schools and helped children would probably go a long way towards changing my mind.

This is the part of our efforts that is greatly unreported in the mainstream press. Our soldiers and private contractors have been very successful in a short period of time rebuilding various aspects of Iraq's infrastructure that was suffering severely from years of neglect and our invasion. We've built thousands of schools, bridges, hospitals, repaired power plants, oil refineries and water treatment facilities all too numerous to mention. The troops and America's efforts- and successes- all have gone greatly unmentioned and that is sad.

This will probably get the highest rating- Halliburton's no-bid billion dollar overcharged contracts for rebuilding seem to have been planned out far better than how to get our troops basic body armor.