Let me congratulate U.S. Democratic Party candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for having fought very courageously for the presidential nomination. Although I welcome last week's outcome, I can't get rid of lingering thoughts that Clinton could also prove just as capable.

I'm sure Obama will make a great president, especially after the country has been under somebody who is unlikely to be remembered as such. But I cannot help asking myself -- even now as the the remaining period of George W. Bush diminishes -- what else could Bush have done to get rid of Saddam Hussein?

While many commentators are busy criticizing Bush, very few try to understand how Bush could have avoided killing so many people in eliminating the "cancer" of Iraq. Hopefully, the new leader of the United States will help us clear up this question. I tend to doubt that Republican Party candidate John McCain will be able to answer this question to the satisfaction of many.

takeru toki