>Despite what the administration says, the cause of terrorism isn't their jealousy of our freedoms. It is our presence in Arab countries, and our support of Israel to the exclusion of the Palestinians< sp? >.

Yep. Although what do expect us and the rest of our Allies to do when Arafat and his goons continually failed to live up to the agreements they signed? Not that the Israelis have been culpable and peaceniks either, but at least their attacks have not been people walking into public areas and blowing themselves up. They used their military to initiate direct attacks.

>Our reliance on mideast oil is the root of the problem. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm looking at buying a hybrid vechele the next time (probably next August) I buy a new car.

Yep, and me too. I take the train to work and don;t drive my current vehicle that much, so a hybrid is definitely in my plans.

>I didn't want John Kerry to be the nominee. I was hoping that Al Gore would step in. I do, however, respect his service in VietNam and am outraged that people would question that service. Silver and Bronze stars aren't something you pull out of a box of Cracker Jacks. While Bush, Cheney, and Rumfield have zero combat experience, Kerry does. Yet these people question his qualifications to be Commander-In-Chief?

My problem with Kerry is he will not take a position on anything and he has failed miserably to run on his record much less defend it. While he may have served honorably, he was anything but right after his discharge. His inflammatory and vicious "testimony" before Congress about Vietnam "attrocities" allegedly commited by US soldiers did cause many POWs to suffer unmercifully at the hands of the North Vietnamese. At least Bush is not running from his record, although it may hang him in the end.