Wendi,

1. The issue is why has the technology not worked since 9/11. The main reason is the mountainous terrain and the willingness of the Taliban backed population of Afghanistan and Pakistan to hide him.  While we are stalking him with robot drone planes and trying to burn him out of caves with air fuel bombs, he and his followers are succeeding in eluding all of this on simple horseback through mountain trails. Furthermore, turning him in is not a great sin. The issue is political. The Koran by either Shiite or Sunni interpretation does not define it as a sin. That is not to say that his followers will not try to argue  this point.

2.  I would have to agree that the political plays of the local power brokers contribute to the establishment of an unstable Iraqi government. I am not sure how you figure France is involved other than to join with Russia in blocking U N resolutions. I know that they were pissed off earlier on in the war because they did not feel that they received enough of the reconstruction contracts, but other than that I think it is a matter of the interplay of Shiite, Sunni, Kurd and foreign insurgent. I am not sure if it will ever be resolved. I am having some difficulty seeing what America gains by continuing. When we first invaded I thought that our participation could be compensated by reduced prices on Iraqui oil exports, but that never materialized.

3.  Islam does not demand convert or die for people of the BOOK (Muslim, Jew and Christian). The Koran adopts most if not all of the old testament (although abbreviated) and most if not all of the Jewish prophets and Christ as Muslim prophets. Shortly after Mohammed established Islam as a religion in the 7th century, the Muslims did spread conversion by the sword. However, in the early days Jews and Christians were seen as misguided elder brothers who eventually would see the light. Consequently, they were treated with tolerance. The trouble between the people of the BOOK first arose during the Crusades, and has persisted ever since. It was further heightened by the establishment of the modern state of Israel in l948 when both the Israelies and Palestinians claimed the same land. Both had a very legitimate claim to this land. There are several Islamic states that do make it a crime punishable by death for its citizens to convert from Islam to some other religion. Afghanistan is one. There was a case earlier this year which involved precisely this point. The Afghan Court got around the issue on a procedural ploy, and the defendant was not subjected to any penalty even though he had broken Afghan law and converted to Christianity. However, as far as I know they do not require non-Muslims to convert to Islam. That is left to the individual to decide for himself. I am sure they would rather have the Western infidels simply leave their respective countries.

4. The break down of the America intelligence community has been years in the making. It is not a Democrat not a Republican problem. It has decayed under the leadership of both parties. It seems to be even more confused with the Bush administrations attempt to reorganze and have all of the intelligence agencies housed under one roof. No one seems to understand who reports to whom or what their respective roles are.