pajarito

You can only act on the best intel you have given that we don't posses a very accurate crystal ball.

That we’ve found… He certainly used to have them. Where’d they all go? We don’t have Saddam Hussein to contend with any more in reference to the future threat of Iraq’s WMD development and distribution and Iraq state sponsorship of terrorism. IMO, that is a very “short sighted” view and a discredit to those who have fallen in its cause.

Of course intel is better if it's conclusive and reliable. How do you know the UN was keeping him to busy to develop WMD’s? How do you know they’re not sitting in Syria right now? Would you rather things be put back the way they were?

The inspectors weren't allowed to go everywhere they needed to. Then they were kicked out. In essence, bitch slapping the UN in the face and daring them to do something about it. It's easy to hide or move something when you know someone is coming. Come on... Covert intel is much better. In addition: Your boy thought they had them. "Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

You're just trying to shift focus from the issue at hand. It doesn't invalidate the point that Iraq needed to comply with the world's wishes or else deal with the consequences. He chose the latter. So be it. There has to be justice in the world.

I see a bunch of "calls on", "urges", "deplores", "declares invalid", and "condemns" but I don't see much "do and comply with the world's demands or there will be serious consequences."

One more time. The UN did NOT vote for war. They voted for serious consequences. When we told them we meant war, they said NO. Wait...is that kind of like the whole "it depends on what your definition of "is" is thing? Serious consequences... What, beyond what had already been done to Iraq, does that mean? I think they were confused in addition to being cowards.

I’m referring to Muslim extremists. I am aware that all Iraqis aren’t necessarily terrorists. Thanks for the clarification. When diplomacy fails, war is sometimes necessary. Just because the UN is broken doesn’t mean that we should just sit back and take shit until it gets fixed. They had their chance to step up to the plate and, in cowardly fashion, they did not. I agree. It is a “pity.”

It's "The War on Terrorism." Not simply "The War against Al-Qaida."

How long is long enough before it becomes ridiculous?

12 years... don't forget 17 UN resolutions. Besides there are clear traces of money going from the oil for food to swiss banks and then to from there to Al Queda. So I guess SH hated Al Queda but he funded them. Whatever... It all goes back to ideology. They fundamentally hate us. Most of them. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Even if I don't like them much.

You're putting words in my mouth. I didn't say Iraq was directly connected with Al-Qaida or OBL. I don't have the kinds of intel that our people in charge do. However, OBL and Al-Qaida aren't the only terrorist organizations in the world. Al-Qaida is big but it it isn't necessarily the world hub for terrorist activity. However, I believe Iraq would support Al-Qaida for the same reasons many other Muslims would. They fundamentally hate the ideology of the West. The problem with Iraq, as with countries like Syria, is that they have no problem with selling stuff or providing assistance to other rogue countries that would use them for terrorist causes. That is, if they don't themselves.

12 years...

If you read what you have just said your answer is "no" to being indirectly related to 9/11. You refer to "types... of terrorist acts that 9/11 was" which in itself means they weren't connect to 9/11 but other acts of terrorism instead. No link has been found between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 I don't think you're reading my post in detail. What you said that I said is not what I said at all. The situation is more complicated than simply "was Iraq connected to 9-11?" Of course, the hijackers were Saudi. Not Iraqi. I guess you could just stop there if that keeps you feeling all warm and fuzzy at night but I don't believe national security policy based simply on exacting justice on “only” those who coordinated the 9-11 attack specifically would be very effective. I would hope that our leaders, as they’re doing, would be able to think a little bit further “out of the box” in these matters when the safety of my family is concerned.

I still can't vote but here's mine: I am from the USA and believe that the war in Iraq is indirectly connected to the events of 9-11. Iraq was similar to other countries around the globe that aid or provide comfort to Muslim extremist terrorists. The preemptive attack was fully justified. Iraq had 12 years to comply with UN resolutions. It did not. I don’t think it takes that long for UN inspectors to do their jobs and I also don’t think it takes that long for Iraq to comply with what the world demanded. Similarly, if Iran is told by the UN to cease nuclear development and they fail to comply, I have no problem whatsoever with “corrective action” being taken against them. That is, if all peaceful and diplomatic measures fail first. However, that also shouldn’t take 12 years. It shouldn’t take “a year.” Let’s be reasonable. If the UN makes a resolution, exactly what value does that piece of paper have unless there is potential enforcement power behind it? The many UN resolutions for Iraq apparently weren’t worth the paper that they were written on with the UN behind them.

I can't vote b/c there aren't enough scenarios. Directly connected to 911 (specifically)? NO Indirectly connected to the types and support of terrorist acts that 9-11 was? Yes Just like the muslim extremists in many other dangerous countries around the globe.

Guess what... You won't stand the chance of biting anything accidentally if you just keep shit out of your mouth. I guess I'm just getting old.

I saw some at the Zoo in Birmingham once...

Where are you right now, Nathan? Out in CA doing boot camp (or whatever the fuck the Navy calls it), or are you still in GA? I think the Navy calls it "booty camp."

I really hate being cold.

Disclaimer: I am not claiming that most American women are fat. I don't really think that's true. I think it has to do with body fat % and they typically, on average, have more of it. It's just the way they're built. If it's been your experience that women often complain of the cold, it's probably just because they're American women used to the good life. I've seen Afghan women dragging kids around in thin clothing and sandals in the (f$%*%#g cold) dead of winter and not uttering a single complaint. Meanwhile, I've got so much clothes on, I can hardly walk around and I'm freezing my ass off. I think in a pure survival situation and not using any other resources except for my own body, many women would probably outlast me due to their excess body fat reserves. Therefore, I think in reality most women probably retain heat better than men. An exception with the internal thermostat thing would be when they're pregnant. That thing does radiate heat.

If you're "thinking", you won't get your tongue pierced.

Yes... Yes... If you hate GWB, vote Libertarian!!! That'll work out nicely!

That is truly sad... I love that place. They need to rebuild and have it ready for me by next Memorial Day...

Yeah...We've got our share of big, dumb, corn fed, tractor racin', funny talkin', guys in Auburn too. Just like in Tuscaloosa. Now, if we can just recruit them all to play for Auburn. I don't care if they can talk.