George,

This IS a very good day for the American people but you have to balance Saddam's capture against the deaths of 7,000 innocent Iraqi civilians, hundreds of American troops, thousands of Iraqi military conscripts, a bill for $100-billion minimum in damages, and the destruction of American prestige and good will abroad. The war also divided the American people as no conflict since Vietnam because of the dishonest way the Administration engineered it. The war also established a precedent for first strike intervention by any country that believes itself aggrieved, and reduced the influcence and prestige of the United Nations. When you add it all up, Saddam's capture ain't worth it.

Sherwood Ross (electronic mail, December 15, 2003)