[Stonecutter]

Surely, in this day and age, at the beginning of the 21st century, we do not have to re-learn the lesson that every colonial power in history has learned. We do not want to be – we cannot afford to be – either in terms of character or in terms of cost – an occupier of other lands. We must not become the next failed empire in the world.

The Administration seeks to write a new history that defies the lessons of history. The most basic of those lessons is that we cannot rely primarily on military means as a solution to politically-inspired violence. In those circumstances, the tide of history rises squarely against military occupation.

The British learned that lesson in Northern Ireland. The French learned it in Algeria. The Russians learned it in Afghanistan and are re-learning it every day in Chechnya. America learned it in Vietnam, and we must not re-learn it in Iraq.

Our men and women in uniform are the finest in world, and all Americans admire and honor their ability and their courage. In Iraq, they are now being forced to do an extraordinary job they were never trained for, and they are doing it under extreme and unpredictable circumstances.

Even with the best forces in the history of the world, our military cannot succeed if the mission is not achievable, if they are viewed as occupiers, and if we do not have a clearly defined and realistic strategy.

That's good stuff right there, but then there's this.

In recent weeks, in Massachusetts, at Fort Stewart in Georgia, and at Walter Reed Hospital, I have met with American troops who fought in Iraq. I am profoundly moved by the price they pay to serve our country, and profoundly impressed by their professionalism and commitment. They are willing to endure great hardship and great danger in Iraq to complete their mission. But they want to know when their mission will be complete, and when they will be able to come home.

They are resourceful and strong. But more and more they are frustrated -- especially by the faceless nature of the threat. Individuals intent on killing Americans are firing from behind the cover of crowds, to provoke our soldiers into firing back on civilians. Many of our troops say they were never trained to be police officers or to fight a guerilla war.

They want to help the Iraqi people. But the increasing casualties make them feel unsafe. They want to respond militarily to attacks. But they often don't know who the attacker is.

They tell me that at first, their convoys were welcomed. But after time, children began to throw rocks at them, and then came the bullets. They tell me that far too many in Iraq believe we are there to take their oil, and that we will stay forever.

I'm sure if Gekko were here he'd say that these soliders never said those things, and that if they did, then they shouldn't be soliders at all, because they're traitors. I'm not going to try and convince you that, that is true, because if you don't believe it now, you never will.

But I will say "I told you so."

Everything EVERYTHING that could have gone wrong, has gone wrong, and the current administration cannot afford to admit that they were wrong, and we're just going to fall deeper and deeper into this black hole that is swallowing american lives and american tax dollars with absolutly nothing to show for it.

I cannot express how sick I feel when I think back at the 2000 election and realize that I actually supported Bush at the time.

Bond, or Random, or Gekko (if he sees this) can feel free to rip me a new one, because I know I'm not going to change your minds, but for everyone who might still be trying to decide if the decision to go to war was a good one really should read this article.

Sorry for rambling on like that, I really don't have any way to end this.