This is some of the worst liberal blather I've heard in a long time, and pretty well sums up the position of most pinheads in this country. Let's take some points in particular, shall we?
The imminent war was planned years before bin Laden struck, but it was he who made it possible.
So, Clinton was planning a war on Iraq then? What is he referring to here?
Enron; its shameless favouring of the already-too-rich; its reckless disregard for the world’s poor, the ecology and a raft of unilaterally
First things first, you'll no doubt notice that the article clearly laid itself out to be written as a piece of opinion, and with an agenda to comment on UK foreign policy more than anything else. Calling it liberal blather and comparing it to the opinion of pinheads is either misunderstanding it or doing exactly the same thing -- in which case why criticize on those grounds?
Now, not calling you a pinhead, and moving on to a smaller selection of point myself:
First things first, you'll no doubt notice that the article clearly laid itself out to be written as a piece of opinion, and with an agenda to comment on UK foreign policy more than anything else. Calling it liberal blather and comparing it to the opinion of pinheads is either misunderstanding it or doing exactly the same thing -- in which case why criticize on those grounds?
I realize what it's *supposed* to be. But most of the article is an attack on Bush, his staff, and his motivations. It isn't unt
To depose a government that's ignored several U. N. resolutions -- put together at the end of the last war -- and has destabilized the region.
Assuming those are good reasons (and I realize there's a wide difference of opinion on that), should there not be a war if Big Oil benefits? In other words, is "punishing" Big Oil more important than promoting global stability and practicing international justice?
These are perhaps good reasons, (and that's not the point here), but they're not consistent with other facts. Israel also ignored several UN resolutions, and has destabilized the region (and for a larger number of years than Iraq).
But it's still supported by the USA (and several other governments worldwide). So these reasons don't explain the current foreign policy of the USA.
It's hard to make a credible argument that Israel's just looking for a good excuse to turn Syria, Lebanon, Sinai, or Jordan into a glassy crater. You're right, though, ignoring UN resolutions is a pretty lousy justification by itself.
Of course, with Israel you have to admit two things. First, the existence of the country itself is a destabilizing factor (and pretty much makes the whole situation unsolveable). Second, any solution has to take into account 1.2 centuries of entrenched Zionism within Isr
Israel already has nuclear weapons - that much is commonly acknowledged [try Googling for Mordechai Vanunu - you'll find articles in the Jerusalem Post about the Israel nuclear capability under the headline 'The worst-kept secret in the world'}.
I still haven't seen the US doing anything but support one of the most vicious occupations in the later years, and a goverment that is led by former terrorists who are completely indifferent to human rights [ducks and scurries for cover from angry right-wing americ
Having nuclear weapons is not the crime of Iraq. Having nuclear weapons in direct violation of UN resolutions resulting from Iraq losing a war with the UN is the crime of Iraq.
The Gulf War ended with Iraq losing. There were terms to its end. Iraq has failed to comply with those terms, according to everyone except for Iraq itself. What the hell did they THINK would happen?
Rafael, I can't believe you are honestly comparing Israel to Iraq. The resolutions against Iraq have to do with failure to disarm of NBC weapons and weapons programs following Iraq losing a war with the United Nations. The resolutions against Israel are largely against both Israel and the Palestinians, are not related to weapons of mass destruction, have far less force of law, being that they are not the terms of the end of a war. They are, simply put, not the same thing.
The cost will be minimal. The benefits, assuming a free democracy is set up and there is help in rebuilding from the West (and there would be), far outweigh the costs, both to the Iraqi people, the U.S., the Middle East, and the world. Let's not forget what a mother-fucker Hussein is. This guy *is* Stalin, only his army isn't nearly as big (thank goodness). How many Iraqi lives have to be lost at Hussein's hand? YOU ARE NOT SAVING IRAQI LIVES.
The costs wont be minimal, and they haven't been minimal during
The costs wont be minimal, and they haven't been minimal during the last gulf-war. I heard something about roughly 300,000 casualties. Those were numbers I wasn't aware of and numbers you wouldn't have expected if you had followed the news coverage by this time.
Actually, I was referring to civilian casualties. 300,000 sounds like an estimate of Iraqi military casualities.
Pardon me, but that's a silly statement. Do you want to declare war against a particular political system or against the people suff
That was a joke right? Surely you can't seriously believe that? Well, I dunno, maybe you think that 40-160 billion dollars at a time when the American economy is in the toilet is a worthwhile expenditure.
How much do you think we're spending annually now to maintain a permanent presence in the area? Now add that up over twelve years. So YES, in the long run, the cost will be minimal.
In reality, I was referring to allied casualties, but thanks for bringing up the $$$ issue.
Yuck (Score:2)
The imminent war was planned years before bin Laden struck, but it was he who made it possible.
So, Clinton was planning a war on Iraq then? What is he referring to here?
Enron; its shameless favouring of the already-too-rich; its reckless disregard for the world’s poor, the ecology and a raft of unilaterally
Re:Yuck (Score:2)
Don't have the time or inclination to debate this in much detail, but one thing you said can't go unchallenged.
I really don't think that's a valid reason for one nation to try to depose the leader of another.
Re:Yuck (Score:2)
Not so! I'm sick of Bush, lets depose him, yay!
-- Robin Berjon [berjon.com]
Re:Yuck (Score:1)
Re:Yuck (Score:2)
First things first, you'll no doubt notice that the article clearly laid itself out to be written as a piece of opinion, and with an agenda to comment on UK foreign policy more than anything else. Calling it liberal blather and comparing it to the opinion of pinheads is either misunderstanding it or doing exactly the same thing -- in which case why criticize on those grounds?
Now, not calling you a pinhead, and moving on to a smaller selection of point myself:
So, Clinton was planning a war on
-- Robin Berjon [berjon.com]
Re:Yuck (Score:2)
I realize what it's *supposed* to be. But most of the article is an attack on Bush, his staff, and his motivations. It isn't unt
Why (Score:2)
Re:Why (Score:1)
To depose a government that's ignored several U. N. resolutions -- put together at the end of the last war -- and has destabilized the region.
Assuming those are good reasons (and I realize there's a wide difference of opinion on that), should there not be a war if Big Oil benefits? In other words, is "punishing" Big Oil more important than promoting global stability and practicing international justice?
Re:Why (Score:2)
Re:Why (Score:1)
It's hard to make a credible argument that Israel's just looking for a good excuse to turn Syria, Lebanon, Sinai, or Jordan into a glassy crater. You're right, though, ignoring UN resolutions is a pretty lousy justification by itself.
Of course, with Israel you have to admit two things. First, the existence of the country itself is a destabilizing factor (and pretty much makes the whole situation unsolveable). Second, any solution has to take into account 1.2 centuries of entrenched Zionism within Isr
Nuclear weapons (Score:1)
I still haven't seen the US doing anything but support one of the most vicious occupations in the later years, and a goverment that is led by former terrorists who are completely indifferent to human rights [ducks and scurries for cover from angry right-wing americ
Re:Nuclear weapons (Score:1)
Funny, you can paint people of both sides in the Israeli/Palestinian fracas with the same brush.
Re:Nuclear weapons (Score:2)
The Gulf War ended with Iraq losing. There were terms to its end. Iraq has failed to comply with those terms, according to everyone except for Iraq itself. What the hell did they THINK would happen?
Re:Why (Score:2)
Re:Why (Score:1)
- waging a war demonstrates leadership or so
think Bush.
- the Military-Industrial Complex [msu.edu] needs a major
war every ten years or so.
Moral grounds are irrelevant as can be seen by reading any biography of Saddam Hussein [au.com].Re:Yuck (Score:1)
The costs wont be minimal, and they haven't been minimal during
Re:Yuck (Score:2)
Actually, I was referring to civilian casualties. 300,000 sounds like an estimate of Iraqi military casualities.
Pardon me, but that's a silly statement. Do you want to declare war against a particular political system or against the people suff
re: Yuck (Score:2)
That was a joke right? Surely you can't seriously believe that? Well, I dunno, maybe you think that 40-160 billion dollars at a time when the American economy is in the toilet is a worthwhile expenditure.
Re: Yuck (Score:2)
Re: Yuck (Score:2)
In reality, I was referring to allied casualties, but thanks for bringing up the $$$ issue.
All I need now (Score:2)
Hmmm...would a regex be better or full up parser?