mikmik you sound as if that is you in the avatar. The war on terror that is being talked about is by the U.S. and nobody ever said it wasn't happening to other countries before or even in the U.S. with small scale (compared to 9/11) facts vs. fantasy in your post about clinton and Reagan.
No one thinks that and calling the people "self centered" who are contributing to this discussion is a bit much. The organized US war on terror started in 2001 because before that things like the USS Cole Attack were ignored. In fact the one responsible was let go as to not offend. There is suffering throughout the world, always has been, and unfortunately always will be. I never took anyones comments in this thread to mean something like "Who cares about the terrorism that has existed in Ireland?" If you are having a discussion about suspected terrorists being held in the US under US laws, why wouldn't the conversation be centered on that? <<added>> I wrote this post before (or at the same time as) debunked - the fast typer <<added>>
I hear you. I will adjust my attitude accordingly. Thanks for pointing this out Here is a page with charts that are easy to gauge certain indicators comapritively over history between countries: Comparative Economic Performance Tables International Economic Trends The Fraser Institute, no less! debunked Pray, tell me. How is this? I saw months of coverage on the 'Oliver North' hearings, and correct me if I am wrong, but those were the findings, exactly what I said.
Funny that the word Terrorist is always used, why not just use the word enemy? If this is war then those that you fight against are your enemies, acts of war are terror conducted by the enemy. Are Russia and China enemies of the United States because they send weapons into the war zone Those nations are sending weapons into Iraq as well as Iran and Syria in this international fight over the control of money and oil
Because this is the way these things go. Once a word gets into the mainstream and is associated with an event or a series of events it is then forever to be used that way. The media only acts to fuel it. They love putting things into a nice and easy to digest box.
It is 'insurrgenets' that are doing most of the bombing and fighting against the US and Iraq govt, and they used to be called 'guerrillas'. Quite agree that there is some sensationalism in the choice of words, more 'spin' in a 'spun' world of reporting!
Says what of the people? That they are dumb if they do not elect who someone else thinks they should? More people voted than ever before in the last two elections, and in the end we found that the more people that vote, the more the majority of the voices of America are heard. This is a good thing, as you said, some don't even bother to vote. Anyway, anyone not voting has NOTHING to complain about. As opposed to the alternative? One person rules till death? I'll take my chances with our system of government; Representative Republic, vs. any other form of government. It's pretty much always been that way. I think it starts at the Student Council level in High School in the US.
Guerrilla or Insurgent, they are basically SCUMBAGS. Anyway, I think that is a pretty fair assessment.
So would you say that those who protested the Vietnam war were scumbags also, but they were correct scumbags because we wasted many lives in a no win war like the one we are in rignt now in Iraq. More Cut and paste terror economic news for you MIA... ECONOMIC REPORT Trade gap hits record $61B in Feb. Chinese textile imports up 62.4% in first two months of '05 By Greg Robb, MarketWatch Last Update: 9:55 AM ET April 12, 2005 WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Continued U.S. consumer demand for imported goods and a further surge in textile imports from China boosted the trade deficit to $61.0 billion in February, a 4.3% jump from January and the largest deficit on record, the Commerce Department said. Economists had expected the trade deficit to widen to $58.5 billion in February, according to a MarketWatch survey.
mia "As opposed to the alternative? One person rules till death? I'll take my chances with our system of government; Representative Republic, vs. any other form of government." No as opposed to more than two alternatives only. I gave you an example of an alternative. "It's pretty much always been that way. I think it starts at the Student Council level in High School in the US." Yeah, heavan forbid any thing should get changed. 'It's always been that way' is a good example of pure apathy. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmond Burke
Yes, that is correct. Where do I get this information from? Well, I do live here. I am an American, and an informed one at that. From 1989 to 1997, the Department of Defense reduced total active duty military end strength by 32 percent. After four base closing rounds, about 21 percent of the military installations in the continental United States have been reduced. By 1997 the Department of Defense had reduced its overseas base structure by almost 60 percent. Before the first base closure round, there were approximately 500 domestic military bases. During the Clinton years that was reduced to about 400 bases. Ninety-seven major bases were closed in the United States, during the Clinton years. The overseas basing structure was further reduced, ceasing operations at over 960 facilities. The Army in Europe alone closed the equivalent of 12 United States major maneuver bases. These are facts. It's in an American history book, hell, it's public information that you can find most anywhere. Again, I do live here and I did live through that presidency. Ever wonder why troops lack body armor? Some guy from an Eastern state that ran for Commander In Chief helped insure that little blunder occurred. I really do not have to make this stuff up. I lived it. Easy man. You're rambling out of control. Clinton released classified missile technology to China after receiving political contributions from the communist Chinese. Here you go, I will pull an Anthony... Visit this link/URL: http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=1999/3/9/164928 This is from a Washington Times Article BTW. No one gave a shit about the blow job. Lying under oath? That's what bothered people. That was breaking the law. Getting a bj from some little girl in the Oval Office? Big deal. Believe me, I would have had tremendous respect if he would have just said, "yeah, she sucked my". Ok, I sound crass. But hey, that sums it up. On the subject of Oli and company. I have one picture in my mind. Over 100 Americans on an airliner sitting on a tarmac facing certain death. What they did saved American lives. Frankly to me, at that time and now, that's all that matters! That subject is now closed! I lived it man. I am an American. I live here. I'm not making claims, nor stating opinion. What specifically??? The national debt has always risen with each administration. It slows at times, like when the government shuts down, or interest rates go down. But it is ever rising. I'm certain we could save some serious money if we stopped defending our neighbor to the north. In order to understand the present, and where the future is headed, you have to look at past events to get a clearer picture of how you arrived at where you are headed. Does that help? Yeah, so you mean I can take all these funny looking nickels and get an American dime for them? Yes, your economy is closely tied to the US. Let us not forget that we have for a long time been your defense. Take a quick look at population too. We've got a bit more in terms of people, land mass, and other complications. In that regard, a Canada to US comparison is apples to oranges. A mandate that Clinton enacted. When Bill Clinton first took office as president, one of the first things he did was to offset the deficit by taking out 30 years bonds against it. When those mature in 2022, things are really gonna take a hit. He set the stage for living beyond your means and living on borrowed time. That is what the 90's and his administration was about. Borrow now, pay later. Everyone seems to think that he some how got spending under control and magically created a "surplus". What people do not realize is that this "surplus" was not money. It was not a reduction in the national debt. It was a surplus in the "deficit". More specifically the Budget Deficit. What this means is that they did not spend as much as they would have normally spent over a given budget year. It's not that they reduced any moneys owed, or found new money. As an example, if I have a budget of $10,000 per year, and I find a way to spend only $8,000, do I have a surplus? Did I make and or find $2,000? No. I just spent less than was budgeted. But going back to that $10k figure. Lets say my company gave me that budget of $10, but they only took in $5,000 to cover it. Now, I did manage to cut my overall spending below budget by $2,000, but am still about $3,000 in the hole. Hell, I still have that SURPLUS!!!!!! I'm really sick of hearing about that "SURPLUS"... It's bunk! But we are not buying used Subs. We actually have to spend real money on defense, and other items to maintain our freedom. Hiding behind a shield certainly helps mitigate any expense in that regard. In the end we live in a global economy. It is safe to say that we all depend on each other, equally in some respects, not so equal in others. Just like the collapse of Europe during WWII would have been detrimental to the US, so too would the collapse of the US. China is a major economy today because they sell to the worlds largest consumer. If that consumer goes, so goes China. Wanna guess who the consumer is? It aint Canada. I guess it is good that we are not a dictatorship then eh' In any event, it is a fact that there was a recession bordering on depression 9 months prior to Bush taking office. The result of that can be seen in the Fed Chairs late attempts at controlling it. If I did that I would be making ignorant statements like yourself Peace out
Says what of the people? That they are dumb if they do not elect who someone else thinks they should? Yup! Sort of like ANYONE who says that other governments should be free market democracies, or they are oppressive/ terrorists. Sort of like one countries leader trying to dictate how the rest of the world should act ie "do what we(The neo-cons) say to do" Nothing was as funny as some of the BS diatribe spewing from Bush in Feb. like "What is needed is the world to united behind the US". Ya, I'd call people who defend the status quo, yet complain about it, or deny the repercussions, as DUMB I don't say that all americans are DUMB, you just insist on seeing that way. %80 of Americans either though it was wrong, or extremely bad (%19) that the Gov't tried to intervene in the Terri schiavo case, and %80 would choose to belet die in her situation. Calling an emergency session of congress is an eggregious abuse of power, and the R-Rep who stammered that 'the justices are out of control' for trying to protect the constitution is a sobering picture. These types would heve themselves the right to impose any laws and moralities they see fit, without regard for checks and balances, or regard for minority rights, or regard even for popular opinion. Just like Bush, with %51 of the vote, they take being elected to mean they have been given blanket support to do whatever they damn well please. Black and white thinking, nothing shallower. And, mia, you seem to miss my point that 49% of the people do not get represented. Just because more people voted in the last election does not mean everything is fine, it means maybe some people are becoming more responsible, but there were still %40 who did not bother to vote. Just a personal opinion and observation here, but your replies to my points always are filled with generalisation, and missing the point, if not twisting the point. Try to read them a little more carefully. As I have said many, many times, it is a typical whitewash and attempt to obscure or avoid the issue, what you do, and I already know your opinion. Try to back it up with some reasoning. IMO, maintain the status quo 'because it has always worked' isn't even close to reasonable, because 'things aren't the way they always have been. It is a measure of maturity and intelligence to be adaptive to change. It is the opposite to just ignore it and pretend that everything is fine or that problems will just go away on their own. Let's have that one again, shall we?
ok i know it's redundant, but seriously... yawn..... you are beyond the point of making any rational sense, you are reading what you want to read and that is all. do you even know what the issue is anymore?
I'm certain we could save some serious money if we stopped defending our neighbor to the north. You mean protecting your interests in our Nauteral resources. You do not spend money protecting us. Any 'Protecting' is paid for by our gov't as well. Let me tell you that we also do not need 'protecting' from the world the way you wish to see it, we need protecting from you at preasent.
and you are entitled to that belief. So why don't you go follow your own burke quote and go do something about it. spouting pointless rhetoric here isn't what 'good men do' seriously, try not to be a hypocrite
Those voicing a peaceful protest of a war they did not approve of (many of us did not), is a far cry from suicide bombing, gun toting madmen. How on earth could you possibly draw a parallel there? Oh, I'm soooo excited...
That is a war (the Vietnam war) we had to pull out of because of the loss of life and the hopeless situation that our citizens could not stand any longer Mia. The question today is. How will this "terror" in Iraq end and when will our troops be withdrawn if ever? Do you feel that the Russians, Syria, Iran and China will ever quit sending weapons into the war zone? Do you think NATO will take over when the USA agrees to allowing the EU to make important decisions? Bush is begging for help from the EU everyday.... Will Iraq fall in to civil war if we do leave? Can the Iraq government stand it's ground against the "terrorists"? Are we "winning" the war now with 3 car bombs yesterday and an American hostage with Gun's pointed at his head pleads for his life on international television because he decided to work for your Vice President?
MiaQuote: That si not 'nearly defunct'. Ever wonder why troops lack body armour? Yes, and you can bet that Riumsfeld took a big shitkicking over that one, bevause there is/was no excuse. It also doesn't mean you have to have your whole GDP go to military spending, that is obcsene, and maybe why reduced spending under linton. The US still had by fucking far more money spent and Militery might under Clinton. Quit trying to make up scenarios with your outrages adjectives. Oh, yes, so you did. Lived what? And what is the possibility of bias in anyones reporting and analysis, just because they 'Lived it'???? What does 'lived it' mean. WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND that supposed experience, education, or any other claim to authority does not make the argument by that source valid??? You are a shining example of the Irrelevant conclusion The false dilemna (black and white thinking) appeals to popularity Mia:This is from a Washington Times Article BTW. Quote: Scandals, lies, deceit Yeah???? Getting a bj is a national emergency, but Oliver North and Reagan selling drugs to finance arms for terrorists is not even an impeachable offense? Yeah, see me listen to you . No, it is not closed, maybe your mind is, but your reasoning is faulty. You do not address the Oliver North hearings, but use a diversion, which is again Complex Question Appeal to Pity (argumentum ad misercordiam) what the hell do people sitting in a plane on a tarmac have to do with anything? and people get unjustly hurt and killed all the time, it does not validate lying and selling drugs to get money to terrorists that support your govt. Notice I said 'terrorists' as in the US gov't funded terrorism by selling drugs. You know something mia, I don't have time to show you that every single one of your arguments is made using improper, or non-existent logic. Ypou can go read about Fallacies of reasoning and 'Fallacies' here for starters, then you may want to research 'Cognitive distortions' as well. I have better things to do than try to teach logic to you.