>I think you'll agree all people (except an infinitismally small number) want a world free of terrorism. Including France and Germany and Russia.

Yes, I think they do. But wishing it away is not going to make it happen.

>As regards troops in Saudi Arabia as the reason for Al Qaeda's wrath at the U.S., I've heard that too and it sounds most plausibe to me.
>So the question in my mind is, then, why not leave Saudi Arabia? It has been done before by the U.S., when President Reagan pulled all troops out of Lebanon.

Well, for starters, Saudi Arabia is our ally and they have asked us to be there. Why? Primarily because of Saddam Hussein. But even more importantly, if we leave, what does that say to the terrorists? It sends a message to them that in order to get what they want, all they have to do is terrorize us.