Maybe Obama will lead us out of war

I kinda like Barack Obama. Still, I empathize with those who worry that he may lack the experience to be president.

But consider this: When George W. Bush assumed office, his only military experience was a few weekends spent learning how to fly a fighter jet. Yet, with encouragement from a few militant-minded close advisers in the White House inner circle (most of whom had less military experience than George), he succeeded in invading Iraq and getting 130,000 of our troops bogged down in a Middle East conflict that has the potential for lasting decades.

As a new president, with no experience in settling such disputes, Obama may just say, "Okay, the heck with these people who've been fighting among themselves for centuries. Bring our troops home and let them work it out themselves, if they can. And if we can't get oil from them, we'll get it somewhere else, or find ways to live without it."

Then, when the last of our foot soldiers come down the ramp from the last returning troop ship, President Obama may greet them on the dock with an American flag pin in his lapel and a banner behind him that says in huge letters "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."

Maybe not. But he might.

Dan McGuire

Bensenville