>>I have a pretty good sense when I'm in over my head and have no problem soliciting opinions from others
>>
>>In the interests of fairness, the French offered some 100% accurate advice at the very start and got hammered all across the US... I was there and couldn't believe it. They were called "retreat monkies", french fries were relabelled "freedom fries", senior diplomats were routinely libelled and slandered, champagne was boycotted, on and on it goes... if you check the archives you'll see that even posters on UT were taunted and abused for being French...
>>
>>You can't pin all that on GWB.
>
>The bashing of the French was an expression of the value system and attitude of the masses that control this nation. It is a herd mentality. The people of all countries of the world have a herd mentality.
>
>The problem is that our country has money and power to do as it pleases. Without the help of the rest of the world we cannot succeed. This administration has injured the world.

Every nations population can, as you say, be manipulated by those with access to the media and other means. That in itself is not a reflection of the people but rather of those that influence the people.

iro Iraq, I think everyone needs to get past why we're there and start working on how to fix what's there so that all parties can get back to where they want to be. Later the historians and others can investigate the reasons and claims and hold accountable those that need to be held accountable. Otherwise this becomes another wedge with which to further divide and conquer.