FYI - suicides of military personal is at an all time high with no end in sight-even higher (per capita) than all other wars.
Another Bush success.
Suerte.
Stowe
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FYI - suicides of military personal is at an all time high with no end in sight-even higher (per capita) than all other wars.
Another Bush success.
Suerte.
Stowe
I agree, and T Boone Pickens even makes that point, that his idea is only a temporary solution but it will give us time. We have enough natural gas to supply all transportation (trucks, cars, trains, etc) for at least 50 years.
Over the next 10 years the US economy will send $7 trillion dollars to the oil countries-($700 million a year based on last year's number)
Extremely frightning! All our wealth is leaving us and going there and we are funding the terrorists. Without that money their ability to wage war would be massively impacted.
Suerte.
Stowe.
[QUOTE=Sidney]Picken's claims that 30% of the gasoline and diesel is used by trucks. He says the entire fleet could be converted to natural gas in 3 years! Obviously, a very helpful partial solution to our foreign dependence![/QUOTE]
Have a look at Sarah (apallin') Palin, past and present. God help her if the McCain handlers ever allow her to speak to the press, not even Fox News could protect her on this history. Gentlemen, don your protective cups while you still own a pair.
[url]http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/#more-954[/url]
[url]http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/03/about-sarah-palin/[/url]
[url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122065537792905483.html[/url]
[QUOTE=Sidney]Utter stupidity! I picked, helped, and assisted a young Black man, at a large Midwestern University, 1961, into University office when you were a child![/QUOTE]Hate to upset another suspicion but I'd been off the tit a few years at that point.
So you learned your lesson about helping "Black" men and now you're evening the score on Barack Obama?
Mongers,
I know Sidney personally and I can give him a full pass on the race card- he is definitely NOT a racist, in fact he is totally obsessed and addicted to women of color. He gets a huge hard on when anybody even talks about a chica from the DR, Haiti, or Cuba. I have a sneaking suspicion that Sidney's diehard opposition to all things Obama has much more to do with the inevitable tax increase that gentlemen of Sidney's tax bracket will get hit with than anything else. Sidney and others are afraid of the unknown, they have prospered under the current system and they know that McCain will continue on with the current system.
Suerte,
Rock Harders
[QUOTE=Hunt99]As somebody whose hometown was actually attacked on that day, I remember not only the black smoke rising over everything, but also that [b]everyone [/b]agreed that it was only a matter of days / weeks / months until the enemy would make similar spectacular attacks.
It has been no coincidence that there have been no further attacks in the US. It is only because the US government, led by the man the left hates so much, has worked tirelessly to destroy terrorists where ever they are. Harry S Truman was also hated by many small-minded people when he left office in 1953; his "popularity ratings" were similar to the current President. How has history treated HST?[/QUOTE]There weren't no attacks BEFORE, neither. Also, as I mentioned, you only need to strengthen airport security, not to spend billions of Dollars in military equipment.
[QUOTE=Hunt99]When somebody tries to kill me and my countrymen or make us convert to Fundamentalist Islam as part of a Worldwide Caliphate under the control of Muslim imams, it's not "perfectly planned hysteria." It's called war.[/QUOTE]Worldwide caliphate? Where this idea comes from?
Hysteria helped Bush tremendously. These days, the dot-com crash was taking its toll and the administration didn't have any clue of how to get out of it. 9-11 was blessing for the administration. Kind of "Wag the dog".
[QUOTE=Hunt99]Somebody from Argentina, of all places, should think twice before writing about how bad America's economy is. 60 years ago Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries in the world. How does it compare now? Perhaps yet another multi-billion dollar handout / rescue plan from the United States coming soon? Maybe that will get Argentina back into the Top 50! (Don't worry, Argentina is still ahead of Paraguay. A little.;))[/QUOTE]How well or bad Argentina is doing has nothing to do with the US economy. You are bringing it to divert from the discussion, because it's undisputable that the US economy today (specially regarding USD value, trade deficit and such, not mentioning its financial system health) leave a lot to be desired.
Anyway, if you want to praise Bush, it's your call.
Thanks,
Andres
[QUOTE=Stowe]FYI - suicides of military personal is at an all time high with no end in sight-even higher (per capita) than all other wars.
Another Bush success.
Suerte.
Stowe[/QUOTE]Hi Stowe,
1. The rate is still lower than the rate for the general public.
2. What exactly is it that you believe the President failed to do that caused this increase?
Thanks,
Jackson
[QUOTE=Sidney]This true for most all people. The exception--don't lend money to your friends! I see that you didn't deny being an Eastern Elitist like my friend Rock Harders![/QUOTE]I acknowledge your candor on your twisted thinking but it doesn't exonerate your diatribes against a smart, capable, young politician with actual ideas about how to lead the way forward for the US. He's achieved a lot, run a hell of an organization and beat out the most powerful elements in the Democratic party.
I don't know what an Eastern Elitist is and I doubt you do either. Just another cheap shot that serves no purpose other than to obscure the real issues by attacking and trying to make the issue the individual. A good thing to say if you're trolling for votes from people with low education and working class mentality.
[QUOTE=Hunt99]It has been no coincidence that there have been no further attacks in the US.[/QUOTE]No, probably not a coincidence. If you were to read what Osama bin Laden said before 9/11, or watched some of his early videos, you'd find that he more than achieved his goal with the 9/11 attacks. The idea was to provoke the U. S. into doing exactly what we did: to over react.
And over react we did. Big time.
With only 19 men and about $50,000, he provoked us into starting a war that by some estimates will cost over a trillion dollars...that to date has cost more U. S. lives than 9/11 did (not to mention the lifelong injuries)..and that has drastically reduced our military and diplomatic clout.
No, it's probably no coincidence at all that there have been no further attacks. From OBL's point of view, why spend any more than you have to when you're getting such sterling results as it is?
[QUOTE=StrayLight]No, probably not a coincidence. If you were to read what Osama bin Laden said before 9/11, or watched some of his early videos, you'd find that he more than achieved his goal with the 9/11 attacks. The idea was to provoke the U. S. Into doing exactly what we did: to overreact.[/QUOTE]Overreact - did you say overreact? I'm quite sure you don't want us to buy the notion that 8 years of killing and maiming is just a price to be paid. It is obvious that you and the other left-wing contributors to this thread did not have a loved one killed or injured in any of the events listed below. But recall, the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam events killed mostly black people - and they "don't count" when it is not convenient for the left. Continue to wave the banner of Iraq war deaths - as you use them, remember they volunteered their service and lives to the country. The people listed below did not have that choice (except the Marines in Khobar)
1993- Clinton - World Trade Center 1st bombing.
1994- Clinton - BsAs bombing #2
1996- Clinton - Khobar towers.
1998- Clinton - Nairobi US Embassy.
1998- Clinton - Dar es Salaam US Embassy.
2000- Clinton - USS Cole attacked.
2001- Bush"2"- Asleep at the switch - WTC 2nd attack.
I'm so happy to see that when the USA enjoyed the eight years of America's first "Black President" - the world was a much kinder and gentler place. You folks may believe that Clinton and Madeleine Albright were the answer to global terrorism and the Balkans - I do not.
Jackson,
"The rate is still lower then the general public". I guess that is a good way to justify it.
Having said that I am not sure where you got that info as I have just googled that info and the suicide rate for the US is 1.3% and the suicide rate for the military (as of 5/29/2008) is 1.9%. I think that means your claim is incorrect.
Regarding question #2
It is not what he failed to do, it is what he did. The cause is obvious but you and I have a definite difference of opinion on this. If we had not invaded another sovereign nation, one that did not attack us (Iraq) this might be a moot discussion. You have posted that we invaded Iraq to thwart terrorism but that was not the first or even the second reason Bush claimed we needed to invade.
His first was that they had nukes.
When none were found, he then stated we invaded because they did not adhere to the United Nations agreement. I find that hypocritical since Bush does not believe in the UN so he only uses the UN when it benefits him. Now before you challenge me on that claim, let me point out one, of perhaps many examples that Bush does not believe in the UN. The UN voted against his invasion of Iraq and he ignored them.
Can't have it both ways.
Having said all that I do believe we were justified in going into Afghanistan but we left too soon (to invade Iraq) and didn't finish the job-now we have a mess there as we lost control.
My ultimate belief is that no matter what we do or how long we stay it will never end. The Israelis and muslims have been fighting for 2000 years. I prefer to get out before the economy of this country collapses.
I say get out, stop trying to control and / or manipulate other countries, get our military out of the 80 or so countries we have them in and they (oil countries primarily) can all go fuck themselves.
I truly believe that part of the hatred for the US is because we have done all those things-the world is afraid of empires and want them to fail. The American attempt at empire (militarily and economically) is no exception.
Just my opinion. That's all folks! For now, that is. This is a damned interesting series of postings, though. I love it!!
Ciao why Suerte.
Stowe.
[QUOTE=Jackson]Hi Stowe,
1. The rate is still lower than the rate for the general public.
2. What exactly is it that you believe the President failed to do that caused this increase?
Thanks,
Jackson[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=StrayLight]No, probably not a coincidence. If you were to read what Osama bin Laden said before 9/11, or watched some of his early videos, you'd find that he more than achieved his goal with the 9/11 attacks. The idea was to provoke the U. S. Into doing exactly what we did: to overreact.
And we did. Big time.
With only 19 men and about $50,000, he provoked us into starting a war that by some estimates will cost over a trillion dollars. That to date has cost more U. S. Lives than 9/11 did (not to mention the lifelong injuries) and that has drastically reduced our military and diplomatic clout.
No, it's probably no coincidence at all that there have been no further attacks. From OBL's point of view, why spend any more than you have to when you're getting such sterling results as it is?[/QUOTE]There is truth to this as Al Queda (sp? Bragged about bankrupting the Soviet Union with their war in Afghanistan and stated after 911 that that was one of their goals for the US. Which is not implausible.
Suerte.
Stowe
[QUOTE=Alan23]It is obvious that you and the other left-wing contributors to this thread did not have a loved one killed or injured in any of the events listed below.[/QUOTE]"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent." -Wittgenstein, Proposition 7, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus.
Dude, that's a polite way of saying that when you don't know what you're talking about, you should really keep you mouth shut.
The fact is, I was assigned to and working at the Pentagon the day of the 9/11 attacks. I just happened to be home from work that day. (Not that I would have necessarily gotten killed, but my two-star boss would have gotten killed had he not been on travel that week. And of course I knew people who died there.)
When the Cole was bombed, I almost went back to Yemen to help with the investigation and such because of certain expertise I had. I say "back" to Yemen because...
...when the east African embassies were bombed, I was stationed in the Persian Gulf as a Commanding Officer and had OPCON of some of the forces involved in the aftermath.
In April, 1983 when the U. S. Embassy in Beirut was bombed, I was on the scene in minutes. I knew several people who died, and I helped pick body parts out of the rubble over the next two weeks. Six months later, when the Marine barracks was bombed, I again knew several people who died.
So please don't yap about my supposed lack of knowledge or whatever regarding America's suicide bombings. I seriously doubt you could catch up to me in first-hand knowledge of terrorism and suicide bombings, even if you spent the rest of your life trying.
And yes, dude, we over reacted to 9/11. Invading Iraq was a huge, huge mistake. It had nothing to do with the task at hand, which was strangling Al Qaeda and killing off the roots that support it. Luckily that task falls in large part on the Special Operations community, and those guys were able to use Iraq as an advanced training ground for what they do and then apply the lessons elsewhere, where they matter. But make no mistake: we took our eye off the ball and squandered huge amounts of our national treasure and blood for a misconceived adventure...just like bin Laden said he wanted to provoke us into doing.