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fight Al Qaeda. Bin Laden dead or alive he declared. American efforts to eliminate Taliban rule of the heartland of Al Qaeda safe harbor, Afghanistan was extremely successful. Loosing Bin Laden at Tora Bora and the decision to invade Iraq began an era of poor decisions and second guessing. However, Bush's brightest advisers realized that 9-11 may save their guy. Whenever he was backed into a corner, the President would mention 9-11 and terror. It worked, too. In 2004, President Bush ran on terror and defeated John Kerry. However, if 9-11 heroism is legacy material, is it fair to mention that the attack DID happen on his watch? Whether future generations will judge this is anyone's guess but the point is worth talking about.

The President started softly talking about Iraq, terror, nuclear weapons and Al Qaeda. Steadily the rhetoric became more urgent and convincing. Bush's "mushroom cloud" statement proved very powerful. Trust me to do what is right the President asked of Congress. The Legislative branch complied passing a resolution that has amounted to a Gulf of Tonkin style blank check. Soon it was on to the UN who threatened Iraq, and specifically Saddam Hussein, with consequences regarding producing documents and permitting inspections. As Special Forces were sneaking into Iraq and troops inched closer to the Middle East, the US pulled off a diplomatic charade in the Security Council, eventually tabling a vote on a second resolution, and blaming France, essentially. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld derided France and Germany as "old Europe", suggested that were about to become irrelevent. Secretary of State Colin Powell visited the UN to present "evidence", much of it circumstantial. French Minister Villepin was unimpressed. Later, the world would find out that Powell vehemently rejected information from Vice President Dick Cheney and his aide Scooter Libby. At one point, Powell slammed the manuscript on the floor, refusing to use it, calling the information "bullshit".

The invasion was a smashing success. Baghdad was conquered in a few short weeks, statues were being toppled and the President gave his now infamous "mission accomplished" speech on that aircraft carrier. Unfortunately, the occupation would prove far more troublesome. A new dangerous insurgency comprised of Sunni Muslims, angry Iraqis and elements of Al Qaeda proved very resilient. Over 3000 American Soldiers have been killed there and, militarily, problems persist. Politically, the majority

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