The real issue
"I raise this issue for fear that good people will unwittingly allow this country to become a Germany of the '30s...." Hitler rose to power because he wanted to unite Germany. His altruistic goals were lofty, to restore the majesty of a conquered people and return Germany to its rightful place of leadership in Europe. The National Socialist Party gained strength, the military was resurrected and W.W.II was the result.
He was stopped by America, not by France, not by Poland, not by Russia, not by England. Japan was stopped by America. Not by China, Korea, Australia or other Pacific nations. This is not to discount the sacrifice of other nations in both theaters, the countless lives lost, the cities burned to ash, the innocents raped, tortured, murdered, starved or lives ruined and left in a living hell of the survivors (my father).
Perhaps there is an issue here which is important. Hitler is back. He dresses in a head scarf. The same evil walks among us now, as it always will. He would cut the genitals off of women for their own good. He would make them wear clothing that covers their bodies completely. He would kill not only Jews, but all Christians and other non-muslims. Do you think "gay bashing" is a national sport in America now? Think again.
While so many are busy bashing Bush, Ashcroft, Rice, Rumsfeld and any "conservative" who opens his (or her) mouth, they seem to have lost track of the fact that this war was declared many years ago. In Munich, in Iran, in Somalia, in Israel and more recently in New York, Washington and a field in Pennsylvania people have died. The flight attendants who had their throats slashed were not soldiers, they were mothers, daughters and wives. The 2800 civilians who died that day were going to work, not to war. The former administration chose to ignore the problem and by doing so made it worse. Is this what you want again?
The soldiers in Iraq now are decent human beings (for the most part). They are from America, Australia, England, Italy and other countries in eastern europe who knew evil for many years in the form of corrupt communism. To call all soldiers wonton torturers and killers is as stupid as to call all Muslims murderers.
If the militant version of Islam is allowed to go on killing, bombing, beheading and destroying, it will have to be stopped later and not sooner. A quick look at Afghanistan under Taliban rule should be enough, but obviously it isn't. You did see the video of the woman shot in the head at close range in the stadium for adultery, didn't you? Is this what you want in Iraq if the U.S. and others pull out, an Iraq with unlimited wealth using the oil revenues to build on a sick version of an idealist 7th century nightmare? Do you think that Bin Laden and his followers will just walk away from the power vacuum?
Like it or not, we are at war. If you choose to undermine the troops in Iraq, please remember, they are dying so you can sit here and continue the idle blathering, sniping and insults which you hold so dear about a painting of little value. Wake up people and start looking at the real enemy. It is not Bush or Ashcroft, but an idealist who will kill women and children to get 72 virgins as a reward in a heaven where women are treated like sheep.
When the next shoe drops in America, you will all start shouting that Bush has not done enough? For now he has gone too far, eh? Which is it? Please continue the bickering.