kmcguffee

Not at all. War broke out between Israel and several Middle Eastern states before the UN resolution was ever passed. This problem wasn't solely created by the West. Everybody (West, Russia, Middle East, Israel) has had a part in screwing up the region and making it the way it is. Trying to blame the problem on one issue is oversimplifying the problem tremendously. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Are you really that naive about intelligence operations? Telling specific types of information usually gives away the source of that information thus making it useless for future intelligence gathering. If the "source" happens to be in human form (where most good intelligence comes from) then you can also place that person's life in great danger. We get a lot (if not most) of our foreign intel from people working in the foreign government who are on the payroll of the US government. It is not good practice to be getting them killed on a regular basis. The CIA and FBI consider the protection of human assets a very high priority. I'm sure you don't believe this. Maybe one day you'll realize that you don't know everything. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

You really don't have any idea where I get my information from. You are acting like we should have went into Afghanistan and immediately forced them to buy into our ideas of civil rights. It doesn't work that way. They have the opportunity now. That is about as far as we can force the issue. Now we just have to help with their stability and future change. If we tried to force it any further you would be the first to scream "American Bully". Get off of your high horse please! "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Same story here except it was for our anniversary. She has done two tandems and is going to get her license as soon as we get settled in our new house. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

You keep saying this in a way to allow the greatest misinterpretation. The fact is that the US was giving Iraq operational intelligence on the Iranian Army (not the Kurds) when Iraq independently decided to gas its own population. We did not support them in the attack in any way and we did not have foreknowledge of the attack. It is not over yet. Bush said in the beginning it would take awhile. Women are allowed in school now, men no longer have to wear beards, women don't have to be completely covered, women are allowed medical care, kids can fly kites. None of this is significant? That is because we have evidence that he has the weapons. Remember Saddam's son-in-law who defected, then he later went back to Iraq and was shot three days later. One big piece of intelligence he gave was that Iraq's nuclear weapons program was functional again. I'll bet there is more that we don't know about yet. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I would have to say no. Society has decided that some people get punished for killing and some don't. A few examples of the types of killing that society accepts: a soldier in war acting within the guidelines of the Geneva Convention, a person in self defense, a police officer protecting the lives of others. This seems to indicate that not all forms of killing are the same. If there is a strong enough reason to kill somebody then society allows it. Is someone's personal comfort cause enough to kill another person (who has done nothing wrong)? Society allows that now. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I took a one day course in the psychology of mass murderers by a woman who has done this. She has interviewed almost every mass murderer since the late 70s. She said that all of the high school killers that she interviewed showed the classic symptoms of budding psychopaths. She said because they were under 18 she couldn't classify them as such though. No point. Just food for thought. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Aaah. Another US bashing thread. I say we pull out completely and let the Europeans handle this. They are content to sit back and let us get attacked by terrorists as long as it doesn't pose a threat to their economy (France, Russia) or security (Turkey). I believe a prominent English woman was quoted by CNN as saying (I'll paraphrase) It's about time something like this happened to the United States. Yet, they are acting like they are taking the high ground on this matter. I'm sure plenty of people in the US will blame this lady's comment on the US. The same way that 9/11 was the fault of the US. Is this war about oil? In some ways. I think it is more about security and stability. Oil effects the security and stability of the modern industrialized world enormously. People are trying to turn everything into some big idealistic crusade. This is ultimately about security and stability. We've been trying to disarm Iraq for over ten years now. Diplomacy is not working. How much longer do we allow Hussein to play the UN like a bunch of fools? There are a lot more self interested parties in this than just the US. These other parties are just portraying the US as a war monger because it serves their interests right now (looking hard at France, Germany, and Russia). The Europeans and more and more Americans are being duped daily. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

No one on here has said this. I'll challenge you to find any "rule" in this arena. IOW, if A happens it will definitely cause a person to kill 100% of the time. Yes, there are. But this does not allow you to ignore the breakdown of the family. Nor does it prove or indicate that the breakdown of the family is not causing problems. I strongly disagree with this. Lack of a strong father figure at home is a major factor in inner city gang membership. These kids are looking for something to belong to. When they can't find it at home they find it in the streets. Gangs promote violence. There is a direct link. It is not the only factor, but it is a major one. No it is not that simple. Just chalk it up as a factor. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

No experience with HALO. I've talked to a few of the guys who were trained in the Ranger Battalions and they told me they opened around 4,000 ft. I know for sure that it takes more than two jumps to earn your HALO badge though. It takes five to get your basic static line parachutist badge. He was bullshitting you. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I've seen an x-ray of a .22 pistol shoved up a guys butt before. Where there's a will........... "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Like I said in the rest of my post, it is a major factor but not the only one that explains the issue. Go ride with your local police for a few days and start interviewing the people they arrest regularly. I think you'll see enough evidence. The "middle class with a decent family" criminials are the exception. They make for good headlines but they are not in the majority. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Very much more effective in close quarters. It was the weapon of choice for the lead man when clearing buildings while I was in the military. It is the weapon of choice when clearing buildings in my current job if a lot of bystanders aren't expected. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Sorry, I wasn't referring to the movie. I was referring to the UK's ban of hand guns. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I've noticed the same. I know this is not politically correct but..............the breakdown of the American family is contributing immensely to the violence. I don't think there is one cure all problem solver but IMO that is a big issue. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Recently a police officer was killed and four severely wounded in London..............by a person who had just been arrested............and with a kitchen knife! We'll have to outlaw knives next. I haven't seen the movie. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I haven't had to explain to my kids yet (they are both boys ages four and six). When they stop thinking girls are yucky I'll take that as a key to talk to them about it. I don't think there is a standard age that everyone should go by. I think it depends on the child. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

The U of M's policy violates the constition IMHO. You cannot discriminate based on race period. It doesn't matter what race. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Huuuh? You are thinking of Iran. They gassed the Kurds after the Gulf War. So where was the physical attack that provoked them? Iraq does not give the same excuse for attacking Kuwait as you give. They claim Kuwait belongs to them based on historical claims to the land. Also, we were already in Korea when the Korean War started. Have you ever heard of Task Force Smith? Americans were some of the first to be killed. We didn't "get involved". We were in the fight from the beginning. The Korean Peninsula was divided into a Northern and Southern portion based on an agreement between the US and the USSR. North Korea decided they didn't like the agreement and attacked our troops and invaded South Korea. We are talking recent history here. BTW, our purpose was to defeat an armed force that we were at war with not subdue a radical element of our own population. It also was not aimed at a race. It was aimed at a country that happened to be of one race. Don't throw the race card out on this one. Exactly, the next thing that happens after illumination is a SAM up your butt. Are you willing to wait until the round is in the air before you take action? Any pilots here care to educate Bill on that philosophy? I don't think we would have many pilots for too long after instituting that policy. This was not done directly. They_were_not a terrorist group when we were giving them money. Get that through your thick skull. That's fine. Get sick as you want. I'm tired of the "blame America first" mentality that you have. You are extremely critical of the government and all of the people that are doing their best to do the right thing. Yet, you are unwilling to give up a high paying job to sacrifice and serve your country and do what you believe is the right thing. That is your decision, but it is extremely hypocritical for you to do nothing but criticize. So far he has supported the inspections. He has taken no action but you still are highly critical. The real issue is that you don't like him. The US never agreed to wait for another UN resolution after the inspections failed (if they do) before attacking Iraq. BTW, you will never find a post by me stating that we should immediately attack Iraq. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

***Check out this site: http://www.liddil.com/culture/culture.html Talk about compulsive! But I bet the beer is stellar. *** I've brewed a few lambics. I've got two cases in the bottom of my closet aging right now. I brewed it about two years ago. Now that you mention it..........I think I'll sample one. They are fairly easy. It just takes forever. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I've been all-grain brewing for seven years. I went up to an all stainless steel ten gallon brewery with computer controlled recirculating infusion mash system (RIMS). Now I'm back to five gallons in my kitchen with an igloo cooler. Skydiving caused this reduction. I brew about once a month and brew everything from stouts to lite lagers. It is a lot of work but anything worth doing is worth working hard for. You appreciate the beer a lot more when you brew it yourself. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I agree. They made a decision that must be made quickly with incomplete information during a highly stressfull situation. You have to look at it from their point of view not from hindsight. I feel for all of the lives lost but it is not the fault of the pilots. This has happened with Americans on the losing end and I feel the same way in that situation too. To say that the system is broke is to misunderstand combat. You will never have 100% visibility of everything occurring on the battlefield. We strive for it but it will never happen. One person cannot assimilate that much information as quickly as is needed. The system can always be improved though. If anyone violated a safeguard that would have prevented this then they should be punished but we should not ruin people in order to appease the public. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Actually, we treat Iraq that way because they have financially supported a terrorist plot to assassinate a former president, attacked a neighboring country unprovoked, used chemical weapons on their minority citizens, taken threatening actions against US and UK aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone, openly supported financially terrorist attacks on Israel, and have broken 16 of 17 UN resolutions (still working on the 17th one) placed on them. Not to mention there are several sources connecting them with the attacks on 9/11. Now we find empty chemical munition rounds that they claim were declared and you say they didn't have to declare. Come on now. It is not the smoking gun yet but you can start easing back on your support of them now. They probably were used to throw confetti at Saddam's last birthday party...... right? "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

OK, how do you get a one armed Aggie out of a tree? wave "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

The ruling by California seems to be extremely weird. When you compare this with other laws it makes no sense. For Example: If a police officer is interrogating a suspected criminal in custody (Miranda rights apply here) the suspect must explicitely say he requests a lawyer or that he invokes his right to silence. IOW he can't just say "I should probably get a lawyer" or "I probably shouldn't say this". He has to say "I want a lawyer" or "I don't want to say anything else". The statement must be unambiguous. The California Supreme Court made this ruling. It seems like they are holding these supposed rape cases to an entirely different standard. The guy must be able to read the girl's mind. BTW, I don't believe for a second this story would be the same if the roles were reversed ie the male was getting raped and said "I should go home". "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin