It's easy to call Bush and idiot and be done with it--a little too easy. I think the man is less stupid than we make him out to be, and, if anything, the fact that everyone simply thinks he's an idiot and blames gross misjudgments, in Iraq and beyond, on his incompetence, shifts blame away from him and his Administration. To the Administration's credit, I think they have used to the fullest the generally accepted notion of Bush's stupidity in order to keep people from expecting answers to their questions.

Becoming and staying bedfellows with Pakistan and destroying Iraq are both just part of the Administration's larger agendas. Now, I am not saying I know exactly what is on the agenda, but I do see Iran and Syria next on the list of what might have originally been seen as a quick game of dominoes involving a large part of the Middle East.

Sarah Kamshoshy

Fremont, CA

Al Qaeda has always been funded and trained by Pakistani intelligence, ISI, which has received billions in aid from the United States.

ISI Chief Mahmoud Ahmed met with Pentagon brass and CIA Director George Tenent in the days before 9/11. At the same time, he wired $100,000 to Mohammed Atta.

The US has, obviously, not been serious about trying to destroy Al Qaeda.

This is not a pretty picture.

Jeff Bryan

Atlanta, GA

Nice to see someone write about that which has been so painfully obvious for so long now. It's a shame there aren't more in the media talking about this rather despicable, and hypocritical truth. As for referring to that thing in the White House as this "Idiot President," you're being much too kind.

Stephen Splain

Bayville, NJ

You are not alone! I have often called Bush an idiot and a Corporate Fascist. I believe these are accurate descriptions of Bush and his Administration. However, after this Red Mosque incident, It will be a war to the death between Musharraf and Islamic militants. He had better hit them hard and often, because these people don't compromise.

Pervis J. Casey

Riverside, CA

The difference is of course that Iraq has oil, and Pakistan does not.

Tucano Fulano

Big Bear, CA