Ideas and thoughts on several unconnected matters:

The pros and cons of the Iraq war have been a matter of public debate from the outset of President Bush’s effort to oust Saddam Hussein and find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The jury still is out on whether the weapons will be found, but Bush critics have had a field day trying to fault and belittle the president for his actions.

With the presidential race nearing the home stretch and massive demonstrations planned to disrupt next week’s GOP national convention in New York City, look for many protesters to focus on the number of U.S. soldiers killed in this war. As of Friday, 949 U.S. service people had been killed since the start of military operations in Iraq in March 2003.

Democrats are said to be planning to ramp up their already-angry protests and demonstrations when this casualty count hits the 1,000 mark, which, unfortunately, is likely to be before the November election.

• Several Lawrence residents identified as anarchists are complaining about FBI agents checking on their plans and activities following a tip that a group of Midwestern anarchists were planning to engage in some potentially violent actions next week in New York.

As might be expected, there were complaints about the FBI’s action and the invasion of the anarchists’ privacy and freedom of expression.

It’s almost a Catch-22 situation. If the FBI had tips about the possible use of Molotov cocktails in New York and did nothing, and if the tips proved to be accurate, there would be renewed criticism about the nation’s lax law enforcement and poor intelligence-gathering capabilities.

As it is, the FBI is being criticized for doing what it is supposed to do. It would seem far better to investigate all tips and put up with objections like those of the local anarchists than to fail to investigate what might be real and serious threats. When will Americans realize this country is engaged in a war with terrorists who will kill and maim whenever such action furthers their cause?

Also, it should be realized that 99.9 percent of the so-called anarchists probably are opposed to the re-election of Bush and want to do whatever they can to hurt his chances for a second term. They will use the FBI investigation as a justification for claiming the president favors turning this nation into a police state.

• What is the magic of Donald Trump?

Television network ads are touting Trump’s second season with “The Apprentice” show, in which Trump is the main character, if not the hero.

The prize for which a number of supposedly highly motivated and talented young people are competing is to get a job with one of Trump’s companies.

It is interesting to note Trump Hotel and Casino Resorts recently filed for bankruptcy. In past years, bankruptcy meant a person could not honor his or her obligations and had left his or her creditors holding the bag. Someone who used bankruptcy to walk away from his or her debts was looked upon as someone who couldn’t be trusted in financial and business matters.

Now, a man whose company has filed for bankruptcy is looked upon as a model and a hero.

• It isn’t surprising that Kansas University Athletic Director Lew Perkins is considering playing one or more future “home” football games in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium or that he is likely to want to schedule some KU basketball games in the new downtown Kansas City arena, if it is, indeed, built.

Kansas City leaders and officials of the Kansas City Chiefs have been after the Jayhawks for a number of years. They have tried to schedule the KU-Missouri game at Arrowhead, promising all kinds of financial rewards. In the past, KU officials have said, “Thank you for the invitation, but we want to keep college games on campus.”

Now Kansas City Chiefs supporters are back at it, trying to sell Perkins on moving a game out of Memorial Stadium, and the lure of dollars is likely to cause Perkins to say “yes” one of these days.

Now that the location of season-ticket seats in Allen Fieldhouse is being based on the new “points” system and seats in Memorial Stadium are to be based on the same formula next year, it will be interesting to see how fans react when highly popular football or basketball games are moved to a Kansas City venue.

However, money talks, particularly when there are so many empty seats in Memorial Stadium. Much depends on the success of this year’s KU football team and the subsequent level of fan interest and demand for football tickets.

College football and basketball games should remain on campus whenever possible, but when an athletic director such as Perkins is hired to raise money and improve facilities, the Chiefs’ offer can be enticing.

• One of the first actions KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway took when he arrived in Lawrence was to launch a search for a new executive vice chancellor for the KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He was not pleased with the existing candidates and ordered the search to begin anew.

Eventually, Donald Hagen, the former surgeon general of the U.S. Navy was selected. Being dean or executive vice chancellor of a medical school is a daunting task, and Hagen inherited a difficult situation involving some botched programs, turf wars, hurt egos and less-than-ideal relations between the KU Hospital and the medical, teaching and research part of the institution. Toss in the private practices of many KU physicians along with morale problems, and it was a real challenge.

Also, running an academic institution is far different than being an admiral or general running a military facility. When an admiral or general says something is to be done, there is no debate or dispute; he is the boss. This isn’t the case in a nonmilitary institution, and Hagen did as well as he could, faced with the many obstacles inherent in a university environment.

He should be thanked for the service he gave KU and for the shot of credibility he gave the school and the university when he accepted the KU post.

The personable Hagen will retire at the end of the year, and it is hoped he will enjoy many happy, healthy years after his meritorious military service to his country and his service to Kansas University.