- Do not send American troops into a foreign conflict unless a vital American interest is at stake

- Do not attack a foreign country unless we have been attacked first

- Commit sufficient forces to achieve victory

There are a number of other important elements that should also be there (such as, for example, a definition of victory, something missing from the bullshit GWOT) but joining in on somebody else's fight is different than starting your own.

Unfortunately, the reality that we weren't going to win by any standard definition of win in Vietnam isn't the only lesson that Mr. McCain failed to learn from Vietnam. Indeed, it's probably the least important of the lessons to be learned from that conflict.

Conspicuous Consumption

That what the Iraqi's want makes the slightest bit of difference to the regime in Washington. They will simply threaten the Iraqi government (which is, after all, just our puppet government) until they comply. If the Iraqi's can stand up to us, more power to them but I just don't see it happening.....

With the US conducting covert operations in their country and violating their airspace with unmanned drones as well as threatening them with a military strike if they don't stop their uranium enrichment (which, I'd like to point out, is within their rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty while we develop new and improved nuclear bombs which is not within our rights under that same Non-Proliferation Treaty), you gotta lota damn gall calling the Iranians "trigger happy".

Thanx to the patriot act, it may be a long time before we have elections again. I won't believe it until a new president is inaugurated on Jan 20th.

for the emperor to sweep away the last remnants of the old republic.

Of late so many good Salon writers have left for elsewhere, Michael Shearer, Sidney Blumenthal, and others. I don't think I said anything when the others departed but, somehow, your departure makes it seem like a tsunami.

As with the others, the best of luck. I've enjoyed reading all of you.

That, in all likelihood, those American governmental officials will never be brought to justice. Our so-called judicial system won't do it and the US is too powerful for the world to impose a judgment upon us. It makes a mockery of our claims that we should be exempt from the world court which we, of course, still claim but the UN chose to ignore. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that American officials who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity will ever see the inside of the courtroom in The Hague just as the CIA agents who committed kidnapping and torture in Italy will ever feel the weight of Italian justice.

or actually adverbs eagerly, genuinely, et al. It's time for a reality check here. Could someone actually ascend in politics and especially ascend them so quickly as Obama without using the existing power centers and political structures? I think not. His current situation is due, in large part, to his skill and ability to use those extant structures.

Will he alter those structures after he has ascended to the power and glory? BTSOOM (pronounced Bitsoom - Beats The Shit Out Of Me) Having said that, if asked for odds, I'd probably say 5 to 1 against. My observation is that the people who institute radical change are the guys who are so establishment that you'd never dream of them being a closet radical. Mr. Obama does not fit that profile. The most we'll get, I expect, is an end to and the reversal of some, but not all, of the ruinous policies and behaviors of the Shrubbites. After all with verrry few exceptions, the current crop of courtiers in the Royal Court in Washington are just money grubbing, power hungry pols. They aren't statesmen and patriots who will champion a principle ahead of their own self interest.

You have my support (including financial support).

I can't help but add that the current situation is, in my opinion, a direct result of only having two political parties both of which are smug and deeply entrenched in their power and privilege. Yours is the first "third wheel" effort I've seen that might actually make a difference.