The operation from the US perspective was fast. It happened at speeds unprecidented
in warfare. The US troops advanced as fast as they could drive. The current state
of affairs is the result of external agitators.

The only mistake that the US made and is still making is the garbage of trying to
win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people and not offend the other muslims in the
region. We should have fought this was the way we fought WWII. Any resistance and
hostile action against American troops gets eliminated by overwhelming force without
delay. We started to try to win the peace before we won the war.

In alt.politics.usa.republican Harry Hope <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

: From The Associated Press, 1/10/05:
: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10609646.htm

: Cardinal Says Bush Broke Iraq Promise

: FRANCES D'EMILIO

: Associated Press

: VATICAN CITY -

: The Italian cardinal sent by Pope John Paul II last year to try to
: dissuade President Bush from invading Iraq said Monday the president
: promised that the U.S. operation would be "quick."

: Cardinal Pio Laghi visited Bush at the White House on March 5, 2003,
: to relay the pope's position that dialogue, not arms, should be used
: to resolve the crisis over Iraq, which the United States accused of
: harboring weapons of mass destruction.

: "When I went to Washington as the pope's envoy just before the
: outbreak of the war in Iraq, he (Bush) told me: `Don't worry, your
: eminence. We'll be quick and do well in Iraq,'" Laghi told Italian
: Catholic TV station Telepace, which was broadcasting the pontiff's
: annual address to diplomats.

: When the United States went to war in Iraq, Laghi called the attack on
: Baghdad "tragic and unacceptable."

: "Unfortunately, the facts have demonstrated afterward that things took
: a different course - not rapid and not favorable," the prelate told
: Telepace.

: "Bush was wrong."