I have a theory that the US is going through things that Europe (and other countries) went through many years ago. It's just that the US is a younger country. I'm simplifying my theory, but I think y'all will get the point.

I'm afraid we'll just have to get the sh!t whaled out of US to learn the lesson. I mean, it doesn't seem to be bothering nearly enough people over here that our boys are getting killed to protect our oil resources (she says, ducking). My husband is in the oil biz, and he told me that at a company planning meeting he was given to understand that Iraq is estimated to possibly hold something like 25% of world oil, if I recall. I'm not sure on that total. I do remember being surprised at the amount, but then of course I made the connection as to exactly why Bush went in there. The cynicism of our politicians just freaks me out.