I too have friends in Iraq, they tell a very different story. I would guess it depends on 2 things, your religuous background and party affiliation and I am graciously leaving out the 3rd option - the stuggle of Kurdish peoples. The analogy that someone came to my house is overly simplified. I have been accused many times of oversimplifications. That anology is more accurate if you had a warrent for your arrest issued years earlier and the police were camped outside your house waiting for you to give up. Eventually they issue and ultimatim and tear gas comes a flying. Bin Laden was smart, he ran out of Afganistan. I puzzle to what Saddam was thinking. He cetainly didn't martar himself like a true fascist leader as history presents. Was he arrogant, stupid, idealogical or did his neighboring countries wash their hands of him? I puzzle at these things...