I must say that last night's speech was one of the better speeches that Bush has been able to deliver. I was only able to listen to the speech, and have yet to go over to C-span.org to watch the video... but as heard, it sounded like he read-over his lines a lot before going on stage.

At first I felt very anxious... wishing he'd get past the whole BS and get to the -- Are We Starting A War or What --

The "Coalition of the Willing" statement has bothered me almost as much as last years reference of all enemies as "evil do-ers"

This Willing team is what? 2, 3 countries? All of whom were pretty much under US duress. It bothers me so much that public outcry cannot get to the MAINSTREAM public forum.... TV. Its fairly obvious to me, that most of the educated community online has a much better understanding of the FACTS... and even though many of them still support war, I can respect their opinion because they at least have the knowledge of things like Cheney's Haliburton contracts, and the Bush / Bin-Laden Family Ties. However, if the real FACTS were reported to the public at large (as they are in other countries) I think the public opinion of America would be largely Anti-Bush. We've seen the Labour Party turn on Blair.... we've even seen the Bush Administration try to blame the UN 2nd resolution idea on Blair, once it was clear that it would not pass in the Security Council. Yet any Bush backlash can only come from blogs, liberal radio, and "Alternative" news sites... This is probably due to the fact that the Bush 1st Cousins own Fox News... but that only takes care of one major media source. Wouldn't it be great to see the same sort of anger and backtalk that we all see online --- on TV.... I dream, I dream.

Getting Back to the speech.... FOR THE LOVE OF OIL.... DON'T BURN YOUR OIL...... so America can use it :wink:

As if a week's worth of Freedom Fries, and Freedom Dressing wasn't enough... Bush tries to embarress the American name. I keep telling myself I won't let him... I won't let him take away the American pride that I have... the love of our system -- Washington, Adams, Hamilton, Jay, Madison, Jefferson.... all of their dreams for America are being destroyed by Bush everyday.

Ack... I'm tired... so let me give a final thought so people can try and tear me apart. Congress only gave the ok to use force CONDITIONAL upon a UN approval. If Bush -- STARTS A WAR -- by invading another nation, he will tear down any legitimacy of America, he will destroy the United Nations rendering it useless, and most importantly he will create an entire new generation of terrorists around the world.... that we will have to deal with for the rest of our lives... but what does he care.

I want Saddam removed from power, but starting an open war will forever doom America to be the "bad guys" that started it all (WW3 ??, possibly)

Yours

-- Mitch Manzella

So here it is everyone, the Mitch Manzella Forum. I will be posting here from time to time, and I welcome any and all input from anyone who visits this site.

I agree with you about not wanting war but if a decision is made like it or not and a war begins your energy must shift from protesting the war to supporting the troops We cannot let another Vietnam happen where the morale of our troops were damaged due to protests and accusations and judgements made against soldiers. Not one of us can really say how we would react when faced with the dangers of war not having been exposed to it. I too worry about the consequences of the US starting a war I think we have to protect ourselves as best we can No one knows for sure why Bush chose this route we can only speculate as to why We can only pray that Saddam is eliminated quickly and the casualties are small. It is a fact that most countries want Saddam out but not everyone is willing to go to war to do it

Americans always supports its troops, unless something like My-Lie happens in Iraq, and lets face it in Vietnam no one was fighting to liberate anything. It was a war with out a war-plan.

I do not worry about American troops in Iraq, our weapons are so advanced and our abilities are also more attuned, American troops should have no problem overtaking Iraq. The question is, will Saddam use chemical weapons? likely. As to Saddam being eliminated quickly, I doubt it. While America will be able to take Iraq, those who oppose will live to fight another day... This is Jihad, we've become the holy purpose to eliminate. Revenge for the Iraqi's and Islam at large will most likely come on American soil. I hope that our "Homeland Security" can stop the first attempt and make a big media play-up of the event to deter and futher action... but I do not discount the cunning of a terrorist network. The minute American troops walk into Iraq is the moment we put ourself on the list of a hundred more terrorist groups.

Do you think Tom Ridge can stop them all?

I think we need to create an emergency communications plan and establish a meeting place in the event we are told to evacuate and be prepared for a code RED alert level and above all now we should avoid all public gathering places

Then the terrorists have truely won... :-P

I do not believe that We take the necessary precautions to stay alive They win if we allow ourselves to make it easy for them to destroy human life To congregate where they have the opportunity to wipe out large masses at one time In this day and age its a sacrific we need to make until we are given the ok and the terrorist alert is lowered We are so used to our freedoms that we refuse to believe that some of our freedom has been taken away and we have to accept that for now we are at WAR by the way I think Michael Moore went a little overboard with his message at the Oscars There are ways to get your point across without spewing such disrespect naturally he got some "geers" If he had done it and chose his words more carefully I am sure he would have had the majority on his side