y wish this year goes to the men and women of our armed forces stationed in bases around the globe and locked in continuing battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. My prayer is for their safety and a speedy return to their loved ones, stateside. How strange, disconcerting and fearful it must be to be at war where everywhere is the front line... everywhere and nowhere. This week many were killed and maimed while lunching in what might have been considered a safe haven. There are no safe havens in such a conflict. Did you see the picture that ran on the front page of many a newspaper, that showed a group of Iraqi gunmen, in broad daylight and without masks, murdering two Iraqi election workers? One of the victims was kneeling, his arms behind his back, waiting to be shot in the head. He was shot, and his colleague waited and watched until he, in turn, was slaughtered? And we believe that these actions will be curtailed sufficiently to permit an election at January's end!
It is possible that we will lose this war if the insurgents increase and multiply. It could happen because of Secretary of State, Donald Rumsfeld's, Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bush's management of the conflict. The leader described the situation best, this week, is British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said, "Whatever people's feelings or beliefs about the removal of Saddam Hussein and the wisdom of that, there surely is only one side to be on in what is now very clearly a battle between democracy and terror." There are many in Iraq who desperately want to make the democratic process work and there are, too, those who are killing willy-nilly, desperately trying to impede the prospect of a better future for that country.
Damn this war, it didn't have to happen. Of course the world and Iraq are better off without the dictator. Remember, we supported that corrupt and evil man for as many years as it suited us. Maybe there will be an election as scheduled, and it is just possible that the result will be what I spoke of in this journal half a year ago - an Iranian like theocracy.
Merry Christmas to those who serve us and a happier New Year.

On a lighter note, this afternoon I recorded a broadcast with Leonardo diCaprio. Seems like a very pleasant person. His current role is as Howard Hughes in the picture The Aviator. He spoke of the large number of World War One aircraft that they needed to assemble to recreate the battle scenes. They acquired 6 Fokker D7's! To which I responded..."Then why didn't you call the film 'Meet the Fokkers"!

Santa... I have been naughty and nice.