Spain is a pawn of American Imperialism? The Jihadists of Islam hate only Americans? YOu cannot defend the Arab world with it's venom towards Israel. You can't defend Israel with its venom for Palestine. And whenever you get in that hate triangle you loose -- just like Sadat did. Just like Sadaam did. Perhaps like Bush will (politically). The Arab conflict is also internal. They hate each other and have slaughtered millions of their own to prove it. It is a great "shame" of their religion which forbids a Muslim to kill a Muslim, but look at their history. Religion and hypocrisy are great partners -- you rarely see one without the other. The Iraqi conflict is not about American imperialism, but the ongoing conflict of the entire region. You may argue that America is too closely allied with Israel under Bush -- personally I don't like Europes stance towards Israel at all -- and Europe is finding out as we all are that there is no nuetural ground. Terror is now a world wide problem -- not a Spanish or Irish or Palestinian problem -- it is world wide. Religion and hypocrisy has always partnered. Religious convictions that provoke judicious murder is an ancient human disease. Hatred disquised by righteous indignation. The Iraqi conflict is ongoing from the 60's and the Palestinian Jewish problem. The whole region may go up in flames if Hamas gets their way. Europeans will be blaming Americans and Israel for it. But we will all pay if it happens. Rather than focusing so much on the patholigical elements of Islam, the Jihadists who most assuredly are trying to blow up Iraq, why don't we try to make peace with peace loving Islamic people? We can do that when there are not hateful dictators working to keep the world inflamed to maintain his power base (Sadam if you forgotten him already). Dialogue with thoughtful Islamic people is needed. How will a government honor the Sheria and the "infidels" living in their boarders? HOw will their government honor the Sheri'ah (Islamic holy law) and be at peace with Israel and the west? How will their government honor the Sheri'ah and govern people who do not honor the Sheri'ah? These questions are haunting more than just Iraqi's. It has so much to do with the conflict and where Islam is going even in places like Indonesia and Ethiopia. As long as we focus on the pathology, we are all potential terrorists ourselves doing just like Israel, breeding the enemies we must destroy. But sitting on your judgmental holier then American throne and saying the Iraqi conflict was avoidable is nonesense. The Rawanda conflict was avoidable too. The IRA was unavoidable too. This is the world we live in. Babies crying about it won't help. Islamic folks in the west understand how necessary dialogue is. They know that peace in the middle east won't come without compromise and of course faith between differing religious and political groups. We are seeing some of this begin in Iraqi. Stop po poing on it! For God's sake help it along!