No government is ever clean. That's politics for ya. But don't believe that somehow because he has flaws, he is somehow evil. Of course, the CIA was limited by President Clinton himself. He pretty well crippled the CIA's ability to act against terrorism, even after the WTC bombing. The US is to blame for everything in the Middle East? Hardly. Most European countries were against the war? I think not. I'm sorry.. there is a war against the western world. It's a fact. They are attacking America because we are specifically the symbol for economic, political, and religious freedom. We aren't perfect.. but we have a much better standard of living than these terrorists. And they seek to blame us for every problem, every wrong, every trial that they need to go through. Much like our own American revolution, sometimes it is the strength of the people that is needed to remove corrupt, brutal governments and fight for freedom. You cannot say that humans don't want freedom... and that's exactly what these dictator regimes and their terrorist allies want to destroy. Read this: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/14/saudi_schools_teach_hatred_of_the_west/ The problem is that the UN has no power. It has no backbone to enforce it's own rules... specifically since many member countries are led by dictators anyway. Iran leading the human rights committee? It's just stupid to believe that the UN should be THE enforcer when they have no power to do anything. After WW2, the UN specifically allowed for the creation of an Arab state and a Jewish state. Who accepted and who didn't? The Arabs wanted all of it... to "drive the infidels into the sea", if you will. The Jews created the state of Israel, which was immediatly attacked by the countries around them. While I cannot blame any side for starting the conflict, I support Isreal's right to defend themselves... as I support any other republic in the defense of their sovereignty. Iraq is not in charge? Then why is there a government forming? Why is there more electricity available in Iraq than there was before the war? Why are children going back to school? Why are women free to go out on the streets? Why isn't Iraq in a state of absolute chaos.. with warlords fighting to take whatever lands they can? Certainly "manipulating" countries is not good. But if you believe that the US only wants to make Iraq a colony, we could have done that 12 years ago. (Ok, I'm done. Feel free to agree to disagree, since most likely no one's mind will be changed. I'm open for debate in private.)