Yes, this is a strange war. We started it on intelligence that didn't pan out (no WMD found!), yet in the end we did a good thing by getting rid of Saddam Hussein. The problem was, we didn't realize that all these different factions (Sunni Shia, Kurd, not to mention different families, tribes and cliques) didn't get along. Saddam kept them in line with violence and trechery. We had NO idea what we were getting into. Once Saddam was gone, the old feuds started again and we had to intervene. Now, we are trying to rebuild a country and hopefully make a friend.

See, in WWII it was easy, the Nazi's were bad guys and everyone was glad to see them leave, but in the Middle East the evil people have twisted the common man to believe that their religion wants them to fight and kill anyone who is not muslim. So we have to reassure them that this is not a crusade to convert them, they can remain muslim, but we won't tolerate terrorism. We need a friend in the Middle East because the countries over here won't always stop terrorists. It's a matter of "Yeah, they may be bad, but they are Muslim, like us, not infidel like you." It's a hard battle to fight. Even more than Vietnam, here we have to try harder to win "Hearts and Minds". Not to mention these people are poor, and some are not terrorist, but terrorists pay them to plant bombs. If you're children were starving and someone offered you $300 to plant a bomb, wouldn't you do it to feed your family? In the begining, we didn't realize this and were thinking these guys were insurgents and killing and arresting them. Most of the time now, we catch them and interrogate them and they help us catch the insurgents. then we give them some money for thier families, thank them and let them go home! Many come back to us to tell us when the insurgents come back.

For right now, we are winning. We are helping the Iraqis build an infastructure with water, power, and governement to include a police force and military. I hope in 20 years it will be safe enough to bring my kids here on vacation and show them where I worked. I know I don't wanna sit home and watch Iraq fall apart if I can help rebuild it into a better place!