I am representing all union leaders and if I allow what happened to me to go untested, then any old group could band together and overthrow the decisions of their presidents,

We think of these leaders as being cultural icons. If the president is healthy and doing fine, it seems like the country is healthy and doing fine. But if he's ill or struck down, we feel like there is something wrong with us, and we want to know why it happened.

Most of these political leaders like to be out among the people, they like to be among the crowds so they are very uncomfortable with the kinds of changes they have to make to accommodate these serious security situations.

The question is can this crisis also be an opportunity for bringing some Iraqi political leaders to their senses and encouraging cooperation. In a logical world that may be the case, but this is the Middle East.

Actually, it's not a cut-throat competition. It's more like stress-free tennis.

The statistics can't be argued with; the statistics are clear.