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True. The Congo can't offer anything to the administration's coffers. There's just something about starving children with flies in their noses that makes good, God-fearing Republicans wince.

Can you just see it? Bush crouched down out in the Congo, facing Ndugu, a starving, half-beaten little boy... "But what exactly can you offer me, son?" Ndugu reaches out to him and Bush jumps back like a cattle prod poked him, afraid he'll "catch that AIDs stuff or SARS thing".

As usual it comes down to the Almighty Dollar. Unless there's a profit to be made, the US does not want to be involved. I love this country.... but God helps us. Bush is an embarrassment as President and makes it hard for me to say I'm proud to be in America... I'm certainly not proud of the job he's doing.

This smacks of Rowanda all over again where Canadian Peacekeepers were sent there without power to do anything. The brillian leader they sent to head up that mission came home and promptly had a nervous breakdown after he became a fullblown alcoholic and was found crying uncontrollably on a park bench by the local cops. The cops didn't know what to do with him because, as a classified ex-military man, he was sworn to secrecy and couldn't tell them why he was crying or how he got there six sheets to the wind. The cops finally took him to The Royal Ottawa (our mental institution) where he got treatment for PTS and severe depression. All this because he was sent to keep the peace while the UN continually tied his hands and limited his command scope while the US gov't turned a blind eye to the killings, mutilations and starvation from restricted sanctions because that country held no financial interest to them whatsoever. When push came to shove, the man snapped one night after his only powers allowed him to fend off some men who came to take the stray dog from his camp because it was going to feed an army. This Canadian took a stand, stood up to the men, then stayed up all night to guard one mangy dog from being killed and eaten. That is what the UN does to our troops in countries like that where the USA hasn't any finanacial stake or claim.

It's an interesting theory, but it falls flat in a couple of spots.

a) 1400 troops, no matter where they're from, are going to be next to useless.

b) The DRC is one of the most resource-rich areas of the world. Any country that invaded and indeed restored order would be in a position to make money hand over fist, if that is what they were indeed after.

Great theory, bad example. If you truly want to go after the administration for invading on false pretenses, Cuba would be a better case for you. It has all of the same factors that were cited for military intervention in Iraq on humanitarian grounds. The effective differences are: no possible WMD program, no ties to terrorism and no oil.

And one final note: I don't believe for the slightest instant that if Bush and his cronies announced plans to invade any country, no matter how destitute that country's populace is, that you would ever support it.

Your plea on behalf of the people of the DRC rings awfully hollow.