i largely agree with that. i think the only thing that is really unknown is who the enemy is . . . whether it's insurgents who just want us gone or mostly outside terrorists is not really common knowledge; though, i think the chatter tends to point to sympathizers of saddam and iraqi nationalists. i wonder whether average iraqis think that the insurgents and terrorists are merely wreaking havoc because we're there (thus, they see us as a negative) or whether average iraqis think that the insurgents and terrorists are worse than the U.S. i have no idea, but no perceptions would surprise me.<br><br>--<br>Straw-man rhetorical techniques are the practice of refuting weaker arguments than one's opponents offer. 2 "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw-man argument" is 2 create a position easily refuted, then attribute that position to your opponent.

I have no doubt that there are Iraqi's who want the insurgency over. And just as many that want it over but blame our presence there for it. Probably some that support the insurgents unconditionally, too. But concerning the nationalists and former supporters, my guess is that the "out-of-towners" have done a very good job of exploiting their desire for payback, and used it to further their own cause.<br><br>It's a freakin' mess over their because of our actions. But had we stayed out, it would just be another kind of mess, and thousands would still be dying.<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>While we strive to educate ourselves so that these events will never happen again<br>the fact is that while we are "educated" and we have said it will never happen again<br>these events are still happening,<p><hr></blockquote><p><br>Educated in everything except human nature, it seems.<br><br>