[Professor S]

Ok, let me address a couple of ideas expressed here:

1) The US Economy - Its back up over 10,000 and all signs point to it being even better after Christmas. Also, if you know ANYTHING about the economy, you know that it was the inflated tech stocks and corporate scandals that killed it. All of the damage was done during Clinton's presidency. Bush has had to deal with someone else's screw up. The unemployment rate is starting to go down as well (finally).

2) DNA - There are any number of ways that you can get someone's DNA. A tooth brush, comb, coins, clothes, etc.

3) The Iraq Economy - As was mentioned, its a rebiulding nation that is trying to establish a democracy amid constant attacks by terrorists. Not exactly the environment that breeds confidence in the Dinar from foreign investors. It also doesn't help that our good friends the French, Russians and Germans still refuse to forgive the enormous debt that was accrued under Saddam.

4) Canadians and Others not Getting Contracts - It ain't the UN thats paying for this... its the Coalitions (mainly American too). So you should get OUR MONEY when you're government opposed the action to begin with? I believe the contracts should go to those who have stood by and bled with us in Iraq. Just call me crazy. The fact that you would even expect to get any large contracts from this is insulting and unbelieveably ignorant.

Besides, its all much ado about nothing. Canada, France Germany and Russia will still get contracts, they will just have to be sub-contracted by those who are in the coalition. Get over it.

5) Saddam's Capture - Great news, but I would have preferred they did him like his sons: Kill him and then send out pictures for confirmation. My worry is that if we try him in a court of law it will only serve to give him a soap box before he is found guilty and killed, or worse yet cause un-needed terrorist attacks or hostage situations. Anyway you shake it he's going to die, and everything else is just for show.

6) Iraq Another Vietnam - Oh do shut up. That statement just screams "I'm an idiot. Don't pay attention to me." The only similarity is that guerilla warfare is being employed. THATS IT. Believing that Iraq is another Vietnam is the same as saying the war is "blood for oil" or "conservatives are rascist/evil/baby rapists". It just frees you from the burden of having to think.

I'm very interested to see how the Democratic presidential candidates respond to this news. I think it will be pretty interesting (especially from Dean who has been so vehement in his opposition)

As for the election? If the economy continues to improve and Saddam's capture proves to be as much of a boon to the chances for success in Iraq as I believe it will be, Dean and company can pretty much pack it up. In the end I think that it will come down to how the turnover of Iraq to the native people will go. If it goes poorly, Bush is in trouble. If it goes well, he's sticking around.

But who knows? There's still a long time to come before the next election.