Consider that you have Bin Laden still free somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan and urging fighters to go to Sudan. Although Sudan is not part of the Middle East, his call is still for Islamists to fight against the West and where is the West most present and vulnerable? The MIddle East.

Consider that Iran is developing nuclear technology and though they may be a few years away from the bomb, this is the type of threat that Bush went waltzing into Iraq over. Worse, Iran is not only masterminding the fights in Iraq but is now building up troops along the Iraq border.

Consider that Turkey may also be buildingup troops along the Iraq border.

Consider that Hamas is now in control of the Palestinians and they (and Iran, heck, most of the Arab countries) have vowed to destroy Israel.

And the U.S. is stuck in Afghanistan and stuck in Iraq with no plans to withdraw from either place any time soon. Sitting ducks. Cannon fodder. Target practice. That's what our troops have become because for the radical Islamists who want us and Israel gone, this is a golden opportunity to exploit us. Repeat: golden opportunity.

For all the technology and prowess, our Military has one glaring weakness. While it is arguably unmatched in its offensive capabilities, it is severely lacking in its defensive posture. We learned nothing from Vietnam, about how to defend from small group, guerilla tactics. But, honestly, there may not be anyway to defend against such tactics which is why we need to get the hell out of Iraq ASAP.

But our biggest mistake (other than "electing" Bush) was not removing bin Laden from the equation early on. Bush should have focused and stayed focused on getting bin Laden. Instead of showing Al Qaeda what retaliation means, Bush offered lip service and changed directions. Instead of removing bin Laden, we now have multiple faces to Al Qaeda.

Opportunities. Bush ignored the obvious (removing Bin Laden) and went for his own agenda (invading Iraq). In doing so, he destroyed the U.S. opportunity to build a worldwide coalition against terrorism. Now our troops sit essentially alone in Iraq with targets on their chests becuase what Bush has done is delivered the greatest military force in the world into the hands of the enemy.

And they are not going to miss this opportunity.