i worry that republicans would prefer to keep us in a permenant state of war. Am I paranoid or on to something

Yes, you are on something.

There certainly is a political benefit to war, you can pull the nation together, they feel you are the good guy protecting them and home political issues are on the back-burner. However there are also downsides, too many casualties cause discontent amongst a population and bring the downfall of government. Long running wars without any victories to 'Show Off', cause fatigue and irritation to the populace. Therefore a government wanting to stay in power has to pick their battles on this criteria.

1. Link to war something bad that is happening (Makes the population feel protected.)

2. Choose a war that will be short and easy to win and will have minimum casualties (eg. other country doesn't have enough power, weapons)

3. A country that can be cast as bad/evil (to make the population feel good.)

This means a government may not fight wars that need to be fought, but instead the ones that make them look good. However I think that the Republicans may realise that such a war is difficult, if not impossible to find: after all Iraq was supposed to be a quick war, that when they 'won' would give them lots of kudos.

I am a Republican and when Bush became President I did not expect us to actually have most of his Presidency be involved in War although I knew before 9/11 that stuff needed to be taken care of.

I do believe that Iraq was one of many Countries waiting to happen regardless of whether or not the President happened to be Republican or Democrat, not to mention Democratic Presidents have gone to War too including Clinton and guess what we still have troops in the former Yugoslavia but the Liberals are not even whining for the troops stationed there to come home.

Yes there ahve been some errors in the Iraq War and yes there are some things that have not gone exactly as I had hoped, but I do believe we did the right thing and I want the job done before we act on pulling the Troops out.

I would like to see us be out of War completely but Islamic Facists who kill anyone who disagrees with them (including other Muslims who disagree with them) have made an avoidance of War an Impossibility at this point and in all honesty I don't think we will have Peace till all Islamic Suicide Bombers are wiped out.

Then again true World Peace will not be here till Jesus Christ comes back in all his Glory.

War is a thing that helps practically EVERY president.

Prez's with conflict in the last 60+ years

(I can't remember prez's in early 1900's-- doh!)

FDR - WWII

Truman - WWII, Korea

Eisenhower - Korea?

Kennedy - Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Cuba/russia

LBJ - Vietnam

Nixon - Vietnam

Hmmm-- not sure about Ford

Carter - sort of but not really - Iran Hostages (can't remember others)

Reagan - at least a few conflicts - Grenada, Panama, El Salvador

Bush I - Gulf War I

Clinton - at least a few conflicts - Kosovo, Somalia, Haiti

Bush II - Gulf War II (more to come maybe)

I am not sure that this desire is limited to just the Republicans. In recent years, we have been in wars no matter which political party retains control. The economic state of the country actually seems to depend on the military-industrial complex, and that complex powers much of what goes on in the halls at Washington.

Yes you are paranoid. You see, republicans want to win the 2008 election and most people want the troops out now. The republicans will want the troops to come home before 2008.

Paranoid ?

"War Pigs" by Black Sabbath..............

Generals gathered in their masses,

just like witches at black masses.

Evil minds that plot destruction,

sorcerers of death's construction.

In the fields the bodies burning,

as the war machine keeps turning.

Death and hatred to mankind,

poisoning their brainwashed minds.

Oh lord, yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away.

They only started the war.

Why should they go out to fight?

They leave that role to the poor, yeah.

Time will tell on their power minds,

making war just for fun.

Treating people just like pawns in chess,

wait till their judgement day comes, yeah.

Now in darkness world stops turning,

ashes where the bodies burning.

No more War Pigs have the power,

Hand of God has struck the hour.

Day of judgement, God is calling,

on their knees the war pigs crawling.

Begging mercies for their sins,

Satan, laughing, spreads his wings.

Oh lord, yeah!

Read the book "1984" by George Orwell

I disagree they are trying to destroy the Middle class in our country. The war is greed and to have revenge from Desert Storm failures

You are paranoid, and stupid, and an idiot, and you need to get a life. I am a Democrat and I still think that.

indoctrinated by the leftist liberals that have invaded our school system, would be my guess! Yes , paranoid!