I served two full years as a commissioned officer in Vietnam, boots on the ground. While there I was convinced that we were doing the right thing, the necessary thing, and that we would win. Indeed my second tour was from Sept 68 to Sept 69 and the Vietcong seemed to be defeated. It took me a long time to realize, admit to myself, that this war was unnecessary and unwinnable. McCain says more bombs could have won it. Is he kidding? We dropped more bombs on Vietnam than on all of Europe in WWII. We devastated the country, destroyed much of the lush jungle with Agent Orange which in itself qualifies as a war crime. Countless Vietnamese died from it or are still scarred because of this chemical agent. After all, chemical warfare is outlawed, isn't it? Smarter people than McCain realized that we had to end this nightmare. So we declared victory and got out. The rest is history.

Why do I say we won?

Simple. Vietnam now is one of our more important trading partners. Had we stayed the course as McCain now proposes for Iraq we might still be fighting in Vietnam. Therefore, the decision to get out put us on the road to winning.

Why in the world can we not decide on the one and only solution to this problem?

It would take less than 20 billion dollars, the cost of the last big flood, to return vast stretches of the flood plain to the mighty Mississippi River. Knock down most levees and protect only towns that cannot be moved. With more available flood plains the river won't get as high as it does now. Farms in the unprotected areas could be put on stilts or artificial hills. There are hundreds of these in the North Sea and they withstand worse floods than the Mississippi can ever produce. Why should the tax payer bail out those who build in flood plains again and again? Shipping may have to adjust to variable water levels and farming to occasional floods.

Wow, you certainly are using strong language - But it could even be stronger! Chances are the house of cards that Bush built will collapse during the next president's term. Just wait what happens when the Dollar goes belly up. So perhaps it would be better if McCain wins.

I live in Germany and have been passed by Smart Cars on the Autobahn when I was driving 70 miles an hour. But the article is right on the money. If only the car were a bit less expensive.

Nobody in his right mind would question that Jews have a right to live in Israel free of fear. Whether Israel should remain for ever a country where only Jews have full citizens rights is another question which is debated even in Israel. In a perfect world Jews, Muslims, Christians and those who adhere to a different or no faith would live there in harmony and with the same rights as they do in many other countries in the world. But there is too much hatred among Palestinians for this to be possible anytime soon. Israel is not free of blame and would be well advised to stop pushing the Palestinians ever more into a corner where they see no other escape other than violent actions. Many Israelis see it that way. In which way does the USA, does the American President help Israel more, by supporting without question every Israeli act, no matter how self defeating it is or by gently nudging the Israeli government into action that promise a settlement of differences in the long run?

McCain's proposals will appeal to the uninformed, uneducated, and greedy among the electorate and I am afraid there are all too many. Hopefully they won't swing the election. The environmental movement started in the USA and, admittedly overplayed its hand. Witness the snail darter of several decades ago. But we have now thrown out the baby with the bath water and are trailing the pack among all advanced countries in the world. Correction: The Federal Government is. Many citizens and several States are way ahead of the special interest bought Congress and Administration.

Cutting back energy consumption to the level now used by other developed countries would save much more oil than we can ever hope to pump out of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Alaskan North Slope.

That oil will eventually be pumped, perhaps in a hundred years when it will be needed by the Chemical industry. Future generations will thank us for preserving such a valuable commodity, which in reality is much to precious to burn up in oversized cars.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We needed this.

And notice that it didn't hurt German business! But it's too early to become complacent. There is still much to do.

Reinhard Schumann

Bonn Germany

Why be surprised? In a country where millions believe that the earth was created in seven days a few thousand years ago, where almost 50% don't accept evolution as the most likely explanation for the biodiversity on earth, people will believe anything that confirms their prejudices. Deep down, though most would not admit it, many who believe and spread these vicious rumors about Obama are probably racists at heart. Swift boating at work again. Senator McCain and his staff are to be congratulated for not playing this dirty game. May it remain so. Democracy needs a sophisticated electorate to function properly. Are we blessed with one?