A U.S. army soldier inspects the highway running north into Tikrit September 9, 2004. U.S.-led forces launched offensives in three Iraqi rebel strongholds on Thursday on a day Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s deputy ridiculed the U.S. military, saying their defeat in Iraq (news - web sites) was just a matter of time. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby


An Iraqi National guards soldier during training at a U.S. forward base near Tikrit September 9, 2004. U.S. and Iraqi forces clashed with suspected foreign militants close to Iraq (news - web sites)'s border with Syria on Thursday, leaving nearly two dozen rebels dead, while U.S. war planes struck west of Baghdad for a third straight day. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby


Two masked members of Iraqi Security forces prevent the local residents from entering the city of Tal Afar, some 390 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, September 9, 2004. REUTERS/Akram Saleh


Two Iraqi National Guard soldiers train on assault techniques at the Forward Operating Base FOB Danger in Tikrit September 8, 2004. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby


A masked Iraqi soldier guards the road near radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's office in Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites) on Thursday Sept. 9, 2004. Iraqi security forces dealt another blow to al-Sadr's prestige when a 60-strong force searched his office in Najaf looking for weapons on Thursday. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Murjani)


Original caption: Two masked members of the Iraqi Security forces prevent local residents from entering the city of Tal Afar, some 390 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, September 9, 2004. U.S. forces renewed attacks on Thursday in the towns of Falluja and Tal Afar, which they say are havens for foreign militant fighters, and doctors said at least 30 Iraqis were killed in air strikes and fighting.


KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: A French soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrol the streets of Kabul, 09 September 2004. The soldiers belong to the bi-national franco-German brigade which is currently leading the Kabul multinational force (KMNB). AFP PHOTO/SHAH Marai (Photo credit should read SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)


KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: French soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrol the streets of Kabul, 09 September 2004. The soldiers belong to the bi-national franco-German brigade which is currently leading the Kabul multinational force (KMNB). AFP PHOTO/SHAH Marai (Photo credit should read SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)


BAGHDAD, IRAQ: A French security personnel stands in front of a concrete wall adorned with paintings, which is installed to prevent the main compound of the French embassy from any possible attack, in Baghdad, 09 September 2004. France remains cautiously optimistic about the possible release of Radio France journalist Christian Chesnot and Le Figaro reporter Georges Malbrunot who are held hostage in Iraq. Meanwhile, the Islamic group holding the two French reporters hostage issued a statement denying it had ever demanded a ransom for their release, as claimed earlier this week. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)


An Israeli soldier near Kibbutz Mefalsim, at the border with the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), adjusts his M-16 assault weapon before he moves to the Palestinian refugee camp of Jebaliya in Gaza,Thursday Sept. 9, 2004. Israeli troops entered the Jebaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip and took positions in houses in what the army said was an effort to stop Palestinians firing Qassam rockets into Israel. One Palestinian gunman was killed and three were wounded when an Israeli attack helicopter fired two missiles toward the area. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)


HEBRON, -: An Israeli female soldier checks the bag of a Palestinian woman in the divided West Bank city of Hebron 09 September 2004. Israel has renewed its campaign of intimidation against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat with further calls to expel him from his West Bank headquarters but it seems no closer to acting on its threats. AFP PHOTO/Hossam ABU ALAN (Photo credit should read HOSSAM ABU ALAN/AFP/Getty Images)


HAWARA, -: Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian woman at the Hawara checkpoint at the entrance of the West Bank city of Nablus during a high alert in the area 09 September 2004. The woman was arrested on suspicions of planning an attack in Israel, according to Israeli security sources. AFP PHOTO/Atta HUSSEIN (Photo credit should read ATTA HUSSEIN/AFP/Getty Images)


HAWARA, -: Israeli soldiers stand guard at the Hawara checkpoint at the entrance of the West Bank city of Nablus, during high alert in the area in which a Palestinian woman was arrested 09 September 2004. Yesterday, Palestinian sources said three members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- a group loosely affiliated to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement -- were arrested in an Israeli army raid in Nablus. AFP PHOTO/Jaafar ASHTIYEH (Photo credit should read JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP/Getty Images)


Seen from near the Israeli Kibbutz Mefalsim at the border with the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), an Israeli army helicopter gunship fires its machine gun over the Palestinian refugee camp of Jebaliya in Gaza, Thursday Sept. 9, 2004. Israeli troops entered the Jebaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip and took positions in houses in what the army said was an effort to stop Palestinians firing Qassam rockets into Israel. One Palestinian gunman was killed and three were wounded when an Israeli attack helicopter fired two missiles toward the area. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) JUST BECAUSE I LOVE COBRAS


PHA MO EE DAENG, THAILAND: A Thai security officer stays vigil at the site of demining demostration attended by United States Ambassador to Thailand Darryl Johnson along with other foreign dignitaries in Pha Mo Ee Daeng, on Thailand's eastern border with Cambodia, 09 September 2004. Authorities have beefed up security for the foreign missions in Thailand ahead of the third anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US. AFPPHOTO/ Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)


MANILA, PHILIPPINES: A private security guard armed with a shot gun checks the perimeter of the office building housing the Australian embassy in the financial center of Makati suburban Manila, 09 September 2004. At least seven people were killed and nearly 100 injured when a powerful car bomb tore through the gates of the Australian embassy in Jakarta. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo credit should read JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images)


ZAMBOANGA, PHILIPPINES: Filipino soldiers jump off the chopper for ground troop insertion simulation mission in Zamboanga 09 September 2004. The Philippine Air Force after undergoing RP-US joint excercise, re-teaches same training to various Philippine law enforcement and armed forces unit. AFP/Therence KOH (Photo credit should read THERENCE KOH/AFP/Getty Images)


Nigerian soldiers guard the entrance to the waterways of the marine base in the oil-rich city of Port Harcourt in Nigeria Thursday, Sep. 9, 2004. Nigerian troops battled militia forces in the creeks and mangrove swamps of Africa's leading oil region, the Niger Delta, on Thursday, pressing a full-scale offensive that has sent refugees from fighting streaming by the thousands into the main oil hub. (AP Photo/George Osodi)

NCBTT

Anyone else have this concern?

i used to.

but not anymore.

you guys have convinced me that mosts muslims are good, peace-loving folks that want nothing more than to be great friends with americans.



as usual, great pics, lumpy!