Kennedy

You obviously haven't bothered to look into studies or statistics produced every year. I hate to break it to you, but you are so wrong it is actually really, really funny. Where did you get the idea that 99% of US criminals have guns? If you think so many of our criminals have guns, why aren't 99% of our crimes gun or at least violence, related? Also, you might want to even ask some britsin the forum if it's hard for their criminals to get a firearm. (hint: IT'S NOT!!) Sure, one on one in a fair fight, a physically fit person can handle an assailant. But what do you do when he has friends with him? Or he pulls a knife? Or they start to take your wallet then they decide to beat you for resisting? You have to remember, criminals are not stupid. They take the easy targets and they tilt the odds in their own favor. Really? Is that why only about 3 or 4% of Americans are likely to be victims of a crime this year, while 27% of Brits will be victims? Or are you quoting the most ridiculous and disproven statistic in criminology, the idea that purchasing a gun makes you 23, no 34, no 48% more likely to be victimized? THAT one really is down right laughable. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Well, Ro, I haven't seen your thread, but you are certainly yummy. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

You don't have to take your next breath, either, but people with take you more seriously if you don't bite your nose to spite your face. You prefer to debate with someone who agrees with you? Is the difference between correlation and causation a difficult concept for you? Hi Mussolini, I'm Kennedy. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

OK, rephrasing Today, a properly equipped, deployed, and instructed force can over come guerrilla warfare by foreign enemies. Your examples were so incomparable it literally made me laugh. American Revolution. (A) British not trained or supplied. (B) Americans used regular troops and battles, as well as guerrilla tactics (C) It was 225 years ago; warfare has changed just slightly. Russian Revolution. (A) This was not guerrilla warfare by any stretch of the imagination. (B) This was peasant fighters forming a rag tag army. (C) The troops refused to fight against their own people; this has nothing to do with foreign enemies. Need I go on? I read it, and it doesn't say that at all. Maybe your revisionist history says that, but reality tells a different story. (don't confuse innovative tactics with guerrilla warfare) witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

You thought wrong. For those of us who couldn't understand, Dubya was declaring victory over Saddam's military. For those of us who listened to the entire speech or read the transcript, he also cautioned against assuming everything was over. Do try to pay attention. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

He was not joking, he was advising use of a tried and true tactic for ferretting out fighters from civilians. I'm sorry you can't tell a joke from tactic of warfare. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Of course McNamara would disagree. Admitting it would put the blame squarely on his shoulders. For the last time, a properly deployed and instructed force can over come guerrilla warfare. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

So you blame the difference in sector violence on who is tasked with that sector? That is truly naive. Do you think if the brits were tasked with Fallujah, they'd be doing any better right now? Please. You also completely mischaracterize the actions of the British forces. They are dealing with different kinds of insurgents. Yeah, british police are so successful in their own country. And why is it you are incapable of seeing the differences between US controlled areas and British areas? Is there a Sadr equivalent in the brit area? Where are you getting this garbage? Have you forgotten that our last three wars were against irregulars using improvised everything, including explosives? Also, you've had 35 years, and have accomplished basically squat in Northern Ireland. (don't tell you found peace, you've had that before; you're cycling, not improving) We were in Afghanistan for what, a year, and sent every terrorist in the region underground or to his maker. We're not reinventing the wheel, we're using a more effective one. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

ok, I really do have to get ready for work, but I couldn't pass this one up. Bill you know I respect the NV for their tenacity and ability to conquer adversity. However, the fact remains the war was lost here at home. And you of all people should know blaming certain Americans is not the same as joinging the 'blame america first' crowd. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Have you ever considered that the other side doesn't have any diplomats and isn't interested in any peaceful solution other than 100% what they want? Unless you want to let our combat leaders talk it out with their combat leaders, you would not be talking with equals. You left something out. After winning the fighting comes the talking. If no one has won, there isn't a whole lot to talk about. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Why can't you understand the difference between "End of Major Combat Actions," and the end of the war? Nation building requires countering violent actions aimed at "nation demolishing." The fact remains that insurgents are still a threat to nation building efforts and must be stopped. You also didn't disagree with me that you would hamstring our forces over there. Since when are diplomats experts on war fighting and/or nation building? They are change jingling pussy-footers who generally would sell out anything to "keep them at the table." I'm all for diplomatic relations, I just don't trust professional diplomats. I'm done arguing, but the your position resembles that of the people who lost us that war. There is something to be learned from that. So how could we have better prepared coalition forces for the conflicts after "Major Combat" ended? Personally, if I don't have a better idea, I try not to criticize. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

So in thirty years, you won't accept blame for losing this one, either, and you'll tell me to "deal with it." Personally, I'd rather win a war I'm fighting, than lose the war and in thirty years "deal with it." witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

So you're in favor of (A) fighting "fair" (B) hamstringing coalition forces (C) fighting on the enemy's terms (D) blaming everyone working for a solution You remind me of the people who lost us the war in Vietnam. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Just so it's clear, you're not agreeing with me on much of anything. I was discussing with Bill what a Libertarian President might have done. We already KNOW for FACT that Clinton was not interested in going after Bin Laden after AQ killed Americans and attacked American interests. Just look at Clinton's response after the Embassy attacks all over Africa, or the World trade Center bombings (van bombings, not plane attacks). Clinton turned down three, yes THREE opportunities to sink his claws into OBL. He turned them down. As to the timeline of Gulf War One through Two, don't forget the entire world supported that and Clinton was unable to orchestrate an exit strategy. What would you have done? Personally, I try not to criticize if I can't think of a better option. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

That whole scenario sounds like you just watched Star Wars... I see the difficulties, but I still wonder. The biggest problem would be TV. I wonder if papers would be shut down for no toe-ing the Government line. Eh, we can play this game all night. Maybe we can over a few rounds. ps - thanks for the tip, I'll look into 'Brazil' and see if I can find a copy. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Nope, if they tried taking DC, the National Guard, at least, would be called in to stop them, probably with massive community support. However, you changed his scenario from GWB going dictatorial to one of NRA members initiating action. If it really came to revolution, why are you so convinced every soldier would stay in US service? History goes against that presumption (US Civil War). Also, there are 4 million NRA members. How many active members do you think the IRA had in Belfast during the hot times in the 80s? I bet it was less than 4 million. How many active insurgents do you think there are in a given Iraqi city? Kramer - there is a difference between Isolationism and Non-Interventionism. I believe strongly in the latter. You might want to read A Republic, not an Empire. Good book. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

So when's the last time you heard someone refer to a football player as a "sportsman?" I hate to break it to you, but sportsman is fairly specific to outdoorsmen. You could just look at what the American Heritage® Dictionary or Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary have to say on the fact. Also, your definition of sport is ridiculously small. According to you, if it's not one team against another with a referee, it's not a sport. I doubt this will change your mind, as you seem to ignore what the dictionary has to say, but "sport" actually has a very wide definition. Just check dictionary.com (I decided to save HH the bandwith of quoting the entire entry) witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Actually, he said modern man has lost a great deal of knowledge. He did not say hunters are bumbling idiots. No "blind and bumbling" idiot would last very long. They would tire of repeated failures. If you had any grasp whatsoever of modern conservation and/or population control, you would understand that hunters do you a great service. How can I say that? I look back at my home state of New Jersey, where few hunt and those that do suffer unwarranted attacks. What has happened? Deer herds have exploded. Deer-car accidents have multiplied. Deer now starve on a regular basis. Farmers crops are destroyed at records costs. And millions of taxpayer dollars goes into "animal control" coffers that pay companies to go out and 'destroy nuisances;' their words, not mine. Very few hunters use high tech anything. The "devices" hunters use tend to be as simple as a reed, shed antlers, a stick on a flat surface, etc. Most of it I could make or find in the woods. See attachments. What are you talking about? Where has the Safari Club charged members for a fenced hunt? witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

How do you define sportsman then, professor? witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

Un-fucking-believable. He fucks up, and blames the equipment. Kramer, what kind of people do you call friends? So he thinks he's going to explain skydiving to a skydiver? I feel vindicated. This guy must've had his head up his ass the entire time he was on the DZ. I'm glad he's not hurt, but dude, do you really want him coming back? witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

if I loose my handles, I'm replacing the cutaway handle with "OH SHIT" and the reserve handle with a pillow that'll say "Plan B" right now they're blank, and that is assuming I somehow have money by the time I loose my handles. witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

I'm not going to argue with you that US foreign support tends to come back and bite us in the ass (groups, not countries). It does. But would you prefer that Afghanistan be etched in the American psyche right next to Vietnam and Korea? Would you want US troops fighting Russian troops (turn the cold war hot)? Or would you rather we stand back the Russians mop the floor with the muhajadeen because they were not equipped to fight? He had support for tossing SH out of Kuwait and trouncing his military. He would not have had much support for invading Iraq (beyond air strikes). And we would have seen the same body counts then as we are facing now. And if you blame GB1 for not going after SH, why not blame Clinton for the same thing? I think more flights were flown during Clinton's administration than under GB1. and you didn't answer my question about the Madrid bombing... witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

OK Mr. Revisionist Historian, you might want to check your facts again. Reagan didn't 'coddle' SH and OBL, he had them doing our dirty work for us! We supported one against the Russians, and the other against the Iranians. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to help them out, but don't act like RR was aiding and abetting the enemy. However, by the 90s, SH and OBL were obvious enemies. Have you conveniently forgotten OBL being offered up to Clinton? Or Clinton giving SH reprieve after reprieve? Your double standards are showing. ps - would you have supported removing SH from power following the Gulf War? Or are you just creating another "damned if you do, damned if you don't, and double damned if you're republican" So if the Madrid train bombing had happened five days later, you would've said it wasn't on PM Aznar's watch and blamed PM Zapatero? witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*

because they are more liberal than Klinton ^2 I am so glad I'm not in the north anymore. lord bless the south. i am drunk and going to bed. kev, sorry you had to deal on this BS to get out of it maybe someday 'innocent until proven guilty' will mean something again. good luck, my friend witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1*