First of all, I'll start by saying I'm just a regular guy living in America's heartland. I'm not a politician nor am I a part of any political organization. I'm also a newbie when it comes to the discussion on political events. With that being said, I'll get to my question:

I just read today that Isreal has started a military attack on the Hamas group that controls the Gaza strip. This comes just one day after I saw George Bush shaking hands with the leader of Isreal on CNN.

I look at the demographics of Isreal:
(76% Jewish, 19.6% Isreali Arab, unaffiliated 4.3%)

and of the Gaza strip:
(Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%).

I also look at religions in Isreal:
Jewish 76.0%, Muslim 16.3%, Christian 2.1%, Druze 1.7%, Unclassified by Choice 3.9%

and of the Gaza strip:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%

It seems to me (and this is from a layman's prospective) that Isreal should have no interest in this region because the country simply does not have the same demographic or religious structure as the people who populate the Gaza strip.

I was once a Bush supporter after 9/11 but slowly since then it seems to me that we're just out there looking for a fight. I was all for us going into Iraq because I was told there are weapons against mass destruction and we needed to go in there and neutralize the threat. Now, I'm finding all that was simply a lie. It seems as though Bush decided to put our military at harms way to make up for the job his dad didn't finish (I was in the first Gulf War back in '91-'92) because there were no WMD to be found... anywhere.

One thing I do know is that if I were an Iraqi citizen and some big army came into my town, proceeding to bomb every building in it, and kill some or most of my family, I'd be a little pissed off. I'd be going after that army with everything I could get my hands on, from IED's to STA missiles, to rocks if that was all I had. I really feel that's what's happening in Iraq right now. We're not fighting a military. We're fighting citizens who just want us out of their country.

And of course, since there is no adequate police protection there, you have your idiots just out there going crazy and taking the law into their own hands. I was the same down in Louisiana after Katrina hit. The lawlessness and the killings will continue until something is done to set up the Iraqi police presence.

So, my question is this:

What the Hell are we doing? Our military is in Iraq fighting civilians who want us out of their country. They're practically in the middle of a civil war because WE destroyed their government and police force. Now I hear Mr. Bush is buddying up with the leader of Isreal the day before they attack the residents of the Gaza strip, which I feel they have no reason to do. Who knows what the Hell is going to happen now that Iran is coming into the picture. Am I crazy for thinking we (the United States) really screwed things up over there? Am I crazy for thinking we might've just started World War 3?

Somebody please explain to me why this is happening. Thanks for your time.

Registered-Guest