muddysmind.com

Something just occurred to me. The Russians have been on the wrong side how many times now? Let's see, if we start with the Bolsheviks, we then have the October Revolution, then they tried to team up with Hitler. So then we have the Cold War. Talk about being on the wrong side. How about Korea? Afghanistan - BOTH TIMES. Russia after all is the country that said we could never conquer Afghanistan.

Then there is the fact that Russia has arms contracts for tanks and jets with Iraq. Or how about the facts that Russia will lose money if we oust Saddam via oil. A lot of money in fact. Why? Easy, oil prices will plummet. Russia makes a lot of money from oil. Yeah it's all about oil - for Russia and France it is!

Essentially, Considering how often Russia has been wrong and wrong on a huge scale in most if not all of the major international conflicts in which we have been on the opposite side of things, should we care? No. The U.S. needs to act in any manner it feels necesary for its security within the confines of its constitution.

None of that matters to the 'anti-war' crowd, skywalker. I wonder how many of them are actually 'anti-bush' and if he opposed the war, then they would be wondering why he is not doing anything about the huge Iraqi problem. They dont care about our security because they dont see a immediate threat. I thinks its funny that if we would have started attacking Iraq right after 9/11, for the exact same reasons, then everyone in the world would be behind us. NEWS FLASH. The rest of the world does not care about the security of Americans and neither do some Americans. They only care about thier own agenda.

Sad but true. It is sad how many of these people have been on the wrong side of history sooooo many times.

The world is not black and white. Russia= bad and America + good.
If you think that...I don't know what to say. Much of the arms the middle east has now, came from this country, from American corporations.
The world is an interconnected place, and America does not stand alone as the voice of morality in the world.
People die within our own country, from hunger and lack of mediacl resources. But of course the little people don't count, right?
I am part of that anti' war crowd and I don't look at things in black and right terms. The world isn't like that. I don't see myself as caring about me own agenda, but caring about the innocent civillians, on both sides who will die from executive orders. Yes, the Russians will loose a market and America gains one. Do you honestly think that America is doing this solely for the benefit of the Iraqi people? And their security?

How do you institute democracy? That isn't possible. The Iraqis will trade their dictator for a new one, who allows Americans to have their way.

If someone in this country dies because of a lack of medical resources then they can't read, we have enough welfare programs that anyone should be able to afford medical treatment. If you die from starvation then you probably wouldn't swallow your pride and hop in a freaking soup line or apply to mcdonalds. I know for a fact that Chick-Fil-A's will give sandwhiches to homeless people who will sweep up the parking lot or wash some tables.

I'm afraid that when it comes to morality things are black and white. Somethings have grey areas (rules at schools for instance.) But morality comes to this, you are either right or wrong. Aside form that your comment contradicts your other comments: you've said the US is wrong, and you say war is wrong. But things are black and white, so how can you say that?

As for innocent civilians, how many of them will die if Saddam stays in power? How do you know if Iraq will take on another dictator? The US didn't take another king. Most former soviet bloc countries didn't take on communism. Germany didn't take another dictator.

You guys...except definately french who has a mind of his own are hysterical!
True examples of American morons!
This is better than Sunday morning cartoons.

Les: you call repeating falsehoods and standard anti-war rhetoric having a mind of one's own? Please, stop! My sides are hurting!

if someone in this country dies because of a lack of medical resources then they can't read, we have enough welfare programs that anyone should be able to afford medical treatment.
AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH
LOL
good laugh.
Afganhistan is not in Peace. Beware.

Russia has been wrong many times you are right.
Funny to have them with us.
I've heard it's cause the germans are the bankers of this country.

Thus proving you know absolutely nothing about the welfare system in this country. If you are poor enough, you can get treatment. Aside from that, not county hospital will refuse treatment. They'll bitch you out about bills, but they will treat you. I have friends who are proof of this.

Sometimes things are black and white and I for one am glad to see an administration who is not afraid to say 'these people are enemies to this country'. They are not afraid that this is not a popular thing to do and they dont let people like you undermind the security of this country. GO BUSH!

okay, I'll try to be good but it is obvious Cwilli forgot about the "working poor".

Middle class citizens in the US who are working jobs that pay nominal salaries and have no benys and also small business up starts...other than that if you don't have insurance in America you can get decent health care.

What country are you in Marty? I seriously doubt you have ever been 'working poor' so do them a favor and dont speak for them. Besides what other country in the world is it easier to start a small business? I do agree that health care in the country is a joke but please. This country is filled with opportunity if you are not lazy.

As a grad student who is researching medicare and medical policy in general I have to agree with Marty. Laziness has often been attributed to the bulk of persons on medicare or unemployment. As well as a generalized stereotype. Trust me, these people aren't lazy. When there is no employment because you are not qualified and you do not have the means to get qualified...things are not as easy as we like to believe.

Man, I'm going to mark this day down.
Les and I actually agree.

Pinch me.... ;-)

"None of that matters to the 'anti-war' crowd, skywalker. I wonder how many of them are actually 'anti-bush' and if he opposed the war, then they would be wondering why he is not doing anything about the huge Iraqi problem."

"Anti-Bush" does not equal "Pro-Saddam". And, if Bush opposed this war, I'd think he's using pretty good judgement, frankly.

If Iraq is such a "huge problem" to the world, then tell me why Iran, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are not absolutely on their knees BEGGING us to take Iraq over yesterday? They're a helluva lot closer to him than the US or even the UK, and they have a lot more to fear if he has all of these spooky WMD that we claim he does.

Then of course, they give us the whole "War On Terrorism". Never mind that all but two of the WTC/Pentagon attackers were Saudi; but, you don't see us threatening "regime change" in Saudi Arabia. Or Pakistan or Yemen, from where the others hailed.

And sorry, but I'm not so sure that "instilling freedom and democracy" cuts it either. Firstly, if you look long and deep at the history of the US, you'll find that from about 1960 onward we have a nasty habit of replacing people's "sonsabi***es" with "our sonsabi***es". Notwithstanding even that, I'm not convinced that it's possible to "instill" liberty and democracy in a people, or that it's even our responsibility to do so.

Freedom, Liberty, Democracy, these things are earned, not given, and generally paid for with a high price in blood. When those who founded the US decided they'd had enough of England and revolted, nobody came rushing to our side and said "Here, let us fight them for you". Sure, the French came in, but as is usual for the French by the time they decided to do so we'd pretty well taken care of the English anyhow.

But hey, Im rambling.

I'd love to see Hussein go as much as anyone else. But I'm not sure that it's our job to oust him in the first place.

And, when a Presidential administration in which the vast majority of advisers and secretaries who have huge personal interests in the Energy(Oil)industry are clamoring to invade one of the most oil-rich countries in the world........well, call me paranoid I guess, but that makes me worry just a little bit about whose interests are being served in this little adventure.

You're of course free to disagree and I've no delusions to the contrary.