You can't have a war against a tactic.

Of course only someone as dumb as Bush would think you could.

"American society in general has a strongly pro-Israel orientation"

No it doesn't.

A tiny and very unrepresentative number of extreme right-wing Jews have massive power and influence in the USA and are willing to do anything for their beloved Israel.

To confuse this tiny minority with mainstream Jewish society, let alone American society, is wrong.

Its easy to see what the great neo-conservative Iraq excuse will be in years to come:

"We were just about to win the war when the America-hating-French-speaking-tree-hugging-pink-liberals got control of congress and brought our brave troops home.

Iraq was not a defeat. No, it was a glorious victory stolen liberal cowards.

Just a few more months would have made all the difference. If only the Democrats in Washington had listened to wise council of their fellows like Joseph Lieberman and kept their nerve.

Now Iraq has gone to hell, America's interests in the entire region are threatened, Israel wants more money and weapons, and the price of oil has doubled.

And all because of those America-haters in Washington who don't understand what war means and don't get what true patriotism is. They've given victory to the freedom hating Islamic hordes and made the sacrifice of over 3000 brave young American heroes worthless."

Jeez!

I should charge Jonah Goldberg for the use of all the above and then do a toned down "mistakes were made" version for David Brooks...

A major documentary series on Islam and terrorism with no detailed examination of Israel/Palestine.

Heh heh heh!

Only in America.

"Why do they hate us so much?"

Guess we're too inhibited to find out....

Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

The proof? Well obviously that guy in Virgina could have killed 30+ people just as easily with a frying pan.

There's been some excellent and wonderful advice here, and I too find your story inspiring and amazing. Frankly anyone who can make a living for years as either an entertainer or an athlete has my total admiration.

My free advice (worth every penny).

1) Don't bother even trying for a career in 'law' or 'finance' Tom is right here, and Cary is (unusually) completely wrong, so wrong in fact I wonder what he was smoking when he typed that little piece of advice!

There are no 50 year old beginners in any profession who will even partially make it - such career changes are for the eccentric rich who can put themselves through college again only. As for interns - forget it - no office wants a 50 year old intern. None!

2) Starting tomorrow, you're going to have to start saving for the long term. A 90-day access account might be a good place to start. That's where you need to give 90 days notice to the bank before you can withdraw your money. Start very small. Just start incrementally saving. If any financial crisis crisis blows up, you'll have fixed it in 90 days in any case. Once you've a bit of a nest egg (I suggest $500) you can at 90 days notice invest that in something that gives you a worthwhile return like stocks. It isn't going to be easy but it's a start.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiring life with us, and I do hope that you'll pick up something from the really good advice here.

The deep sorrow felt by the likes of Krauthammer that the shooter wasn't a Muslim, a convert, or connected with Islam or terrorism in any way is palpable.

Never mind, Charles will just blame on the 'Eye-Rabs' anyway - I guess he gets paid the same no matter what he writes.

Q: Is it too late to start a band at 45?

A: Yes.

Next question?

When is the United States military going to knuckle down and teach its officers and men counter insurgency warfare? When is it going to insist on the highest standards of personal conduct from all its personnel, whether in so-called ‘elite’ units or in the ‘ordinary ‘line’ units?

Who can teach it these skills?

Not the I.D.F, which, despite an extremely high opinion of itself, has a doctrine poisoned by cynicism and hate from having to enforce an illegal military occupation on a civilian population for 40 years.

Not the French Army, which would be politically unable to assist, even if it wanted too.

No, the British Army is probably the best teacher. It has painfully learned C.I. tactics and philosophy during four decades of post colonialism and notably against the world’s most sophisticated urban terrorist/freedom fighter outfit – the I.R.A. (1969-1997).

There is absolutely no reason the United States military can’t become a first rate C.I force, provided it accepts that Counter Insurgency warfare:

1) Requires courage and skill – it isn’t some form of wimp warfare suited to Europeans and Canadians

2) Demands the highest standards of personal and unit discipline, often in the face of extreme provocation.

3) Often peters out or ends in a messy compromise of a negotiated settlement – no victory parades, or speeches from the quarterdecks of battleships. Dubya actually got that bit right.

Sadly I see little sign the U.S military is willing to do much more than pay lip service to any of the above points. Instead there seems to be a mood of frustration, and anger and bafflement that the Iraqis and Afghans are more grateful for all the sacrifices made.

Never mind, if they just hang on in there the next President (regardless of party) will have them out of Iraq within months of taking office.