What is it with these actors lately? It seems as though every time one of them receives a petty award, they are spouting off against the U.S. Major media outlets, of course, are right there to lap it up. Now, Ananova reports that Dustin Hoffman has joined the political foray. Hoffman, known for his work in Ishtar and Tootsie, had this to say:

"For me as an American, the most painful aspect of this is that I believe that that administration has taken the events of 9/11 and has manipulated the grief of the country and I think that's reprehensible.

"I believe - though I may wrong because I am no expert - that this war is about what most wars are about: hegemony, money, power and oil."

Most wars are about hegemony, money, power and oil? Maybe so, if you consider Hitler was trying to set up a hegemony, or that Saddam was trying to steal Kuwaiti oil. But Mr. Hoffman clearly thinks that it is America who is power hungry and mad.

I don't understand how these people can give Saddam Hussein a complete pass. He is responsible for countless murders, rapes, and crimes against humanity. He is a genocidal maniac, who rules his nation with an iron fist, yet somehow it is always America who is the bad guy.

If there is one thing Hoffman and I do agree upon, it is this:

"If I was asked what is the most important aspect of being a politician, I would say getting re-elected. And when that's the goal, then all bets are off with the truth".

No doubt that politicians on both sides of the aisle are all about obtaining political power and keeping it.

Still, the idea that they are using war as a political tool, simply to satisfy the blood lust of Americans seems ridiculous to me. If that was true, we'd bring back the gladiators. New York would have a large Romanesque arena where conquered Taliban and al Qaeda would meet each other with swords and maces. George W. Bush himself would sit in the arena and determine who died and who had fought well enough to live.

Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea for pay per view.