"What effect must it have on a nation if it learns no foreign languages? Probably much the same as that which a total withdrawal from society has upon an individual." --G.C. Lichtenberg
Memo to those who think killing or capturing Saddam will stop Ba'athists from attacking occupation forces:
It won't.
These guys aren't fanatical dead-enders; they want to survive and prosper. As the main obstacle to getting American troops out of Iraq before the 2004 elections, they have enormous leverage over the postwar planning process. Besides, they're the only organization that can take the reins of the Sunni Triangle and prevent a catastrophe after we're gone. The one absolute non-starter would be a re-emergence of Saddam, because it would destroy Bush politically.
