Remember that great movie with Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise: A Few Good Men?

At one point, a besieged military commander, portrayed by Nicholson, shot back at his interrogator, who was trying to unveil a cover-up: You cant handle the truth!

These words come to mind as I consider whats going on in Iraq and in the battle against terror.

Can we, as American citizens, handle the truth, and what is the truth, after all?

Heres how I see it:

(1) Terrorists want to put America out of business, period. They have no narrow, political goal, such as the liberation of Palestine. They hate what we stand for, whether it is the right to have a McDonalds at every intersection, the right to worship as we please, or not, and the right to educate women.

(2) They realize their days are numbered by the amount of oil that remains underground. Once that is dissipated, theyre in deep trouble, politically and otherwise.

(3) There is a difference between fighting in Iraq and securing our borders against terrorism. By fighting there, we do not enhance our security here. Linking the two is equivalent to the domino theory that held that a fallen Vietnam would mean all of Asia would become communistic.

(4) Some Presidents have a Vietnam Wish. They want a shot at winning that type of unwinnable war. Now, its Ws turn with Iraq. Why do guys like this who never got a bloody nose become Rambos when they get the moniker, Commander In Chief?

(5) Its about the oil, stupid! Do you think were investing all of this effort in Iraq in order to visit their art museums, hear their world-class symphonies, or bask in their five-star resorts? Who would give a hoot about this real estate if it werent sitting on top of what propels our SUVs?

We wouldnt have to fight this war if we werent addicted to oil, so lets develop some alternatives, pronto.

Without a coherent energy policy, all were left with is an improvised war policy, and you can see how far that has taken us.