We had periodic crises in this country when the technical intelligence didn't support the policy. We had the bomber gap the missile gap.

For all their current prestige Osama bin Laden and the suicide bombers are still regarded in all but the most desperate districts of Gaza or Peshawar as romantics with little chance of more than symbolic victories however bloody and brutal. That gives both the Middle East and the West a small and distant hope of security.

The more bombers the less room for doves of peace.

It will be a great day when our schools have all the money they need and our air force has to have a bake-sale to buy a bomber.

I am so sick of reading about another car bomb another suicide bomber another 10 20 30 70 100 people dead in a day both Americans and Iraqis.