"...the general consensus of opinion even amongst most Americans is that the war is pointless and costing more lives than anyone ever envisaged..."

Nick,

Just as David doesn't want you speaking on behalf of all in the UK, likewise there are plenty of us on the other side of the issue in America. Please don't think that what the American news media reports represents a consensus of the American people. Many of us understand that this war is not "pointless", nor is it anything that can be avoided by being isolationists and thinking Islamic fundamentalists will simply leave us alone if we leave them alone.

The most important segment of America that you obviously haven't talked to are the men and women putting their lives at risk on the front lines of the war on terror. They don't think the war is pointless, nor do they think that the lives that have been lost have been in vain.