Keep our British friends in your thoughts and prayers

This is such a sad state. Things just seem to keep getting worse and worse over there.

In my prayers. Hopefully this will resolve quickly. The river between Iraq and Iran borders is certainly subject to movement and change. This isn't an issue obviously about technicalities, it's some kind of statement on Iran's behalf, either about the captured Iranians in Iraq, or stiffer nuclear sanctions being discussed.
Not the way to go about making a statement though, then to ask for an apology before allowing any meetings with the mariners is ridiculous.

i will indeed pray for those soldiers. the behavior of iran and its president are proof that hitler could indeed come back in this day and age...so sad. one would think we we would be more enlightened and there would be more outrage about this in 2007...http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/Iran_A_Threat_to_Israel_and_the_World.asp

Think how many times this will be played out as you're filling up the SUV.

why i've never owned a car in 20 years and now that i do still ride my bike to the grocery story

i will indeed pray for those soldiers. the behavior of iran and its president are proof that hitler could indeed come back in this day and age...so sad. one would think we we would be more enlightened and there would be more outrage about this in 2007...http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/Iran_A_Threat_to_Israel_and_the_World.asp

The plight of these soldiers is indeed sad and it is tragic to see them being used as pawns by an obviously unstable leader - but I must say it is so upsetting to me that more attention is given to 5 bristish soldiers than the hundreds and thousands of civilians who have lost their lives in Iraq because of Bush..... where is the outrage and anger over this or for what is happening in Darfur?????? Priorities here need to shift.

The plight of these soldiers is indeed sad and it is tragic to see them being used as pawns by an obviously unstable leader - but I must say it is so upsetting to me that more attention is given to 5 bristish soldiers than the hundreds and thousands of civilians who have lost their lives in Iraq because of Bush..... where is the outrage and anger over this or for what is happening in Darfur?????? Priorities here need to shift.

Please document where you arrived at this figure. If anyone was behind the murder of 'hundreds of thousands' of Iraqis, it was Saddam, and thanks to you know who, he and his bloodthirsty ilk are now g-o-n-e.:clap_1:

Please document where you arrived at this figure. If anyone was behind the murder of 'hundreds of thousands' of Iraqis, it was Saddam, and thanks to you know who, he and his bloodthirsty ilk are now g-o-n-e.:clap_1:

Her numbers may be off because of the passion behind her post, but the point is the same. And it is a good point.

Skunky, we are not the global bada$$es that we used to be. To be a bad a$$, the USA needs to be feared AND respected. Are there any countries that have any fear or respect for us anymore? Maybe it is time to try another tactic- I don't know what it is, but the current one isn't working.

ya anyway you ding dong

Her numbers may be off because of the passion behind her post, but the point is the same. And it is a good point.

Skunky, we are not the global bada$$es that we used to be. To be a bad a$$, the USA needs to be feared AND respected. Are there any countries that have any fear or respect for us anymore? Maybe it is time to try another tactic- I don't know what it is, but the current one isn't working.

ya anyway you ding dong

We ARE the global badasses, never forget it. There are many countries that fear us, united, and ALL countries respect us no matter what their public demeanor might suggest. We are THE superpower on Earth, and yet we are slow to anger, spread more charity than anyone else and are the dream destination for migrants wherever the sun might rise upon the globe. What is not to respect? I think it is safe to say that all comers from Albania to Zimbabwe respect us. Perfect? No, being human prevents that, however, we are the standard by which all others are currently measured.

We ARE the global badasses, never forget it. There are many countries that fear us, united, and ALL countries respect us no matter what their public demeanor might suggest. We are THE superpower on Earth, and yet we are slow to anger, spread more charity than anyone else and are the dream destination for migrants wherever the sun might rise upon the globe. What is not to respect? I think it is safe to say that all comers from Albania to Zimbabwe respect us. Perfect? No, being human prevents that, however, we are the standard by which all others are currently measured.

I politely disagree with your statements - and if you want America to be known as a global badass, consider your wish granted! All countries do NOT respect the US right now - most probably have no beef whatsoever with americans per se but are APPALLED by the current administration - you cannot be living in such a coccon that you geniunely feel the way you state -

America still is and will be for a long long time a land of opportunity for thousands who will continue wanting to come live here to better improve their lives and those of their children. But please please please spare me the diatribe of "what is there not to respect right now...." I just refuse to believe (and I do not know you!) that you can be this naive (and I do not mean to sound patronizing even though I surely will come across as that). You do not need to go anywhere exotic - go to ANY country in Europe right now and see how the majority of its citizens feel about the US right now.

Her numbers may be off because of the passion behind her post, but the point is the same. And it is a good point.

Skunky, we are not the global bada$$es that we used to be. To be a bad a$$, the USA needs to be feared AND respected. Are there any countries that have any fear or respect for us anymore? Maybe it is time to try another tactic- I don't know what it is, but the current one isn't working.

ya anyway you ding dong

Jdarg,
Thanks for defending me!!!

30A: my numbers were a typo - I meant to write hundreds AND thousands - anyone can pick up any paper and see that Iraqis are dying 10 to 1 for every US life right now and why would anyone NOT be outraged over that????? Can you imagine the chaos that would reign supreme if we all had to live in the same conditions that Iraqis now have to endure.

You do not need to go anywhere exotic - go to ANY country in Europe right now and see how the majority of its citizens feel about the US right now.

Chickpea, I heard a radio interview the other day with a foreign correspondent, and his view of the war was very interesting. He said Americans are so conflicted about, for example, whether to bring the troops home now or continue to work toward "victory," when the rest of the world already considers our efforts there a failure.

your posts Chickpea and jdarg ~ they are right on.

Chickpea, I heard a radio interview the other day with a foreign correspondent, and his view of the war was very interesting. He said Americans are so conflicted about, for example, whether to bring the troops home now or continue to work toward "victory," when the rest of the world already considers our efforts there a failure.

Victory - what is the definition of victory in this war and victory for whom?

"Victory" is leaving office without impeachment. Victory is hooking up all the oil companies and defense contractors. Victory is playing golf every day in retirement with Secret Service caddies. Victory is watching your personal library being constructed with money that could help thousands of wounded vets. Victory is knowing you did things your way, and that no one could convince you otherwise. "Victory" will not be the word used to describe your administation by historians!

We ARE the global badasses, never forget it. There are many countries that fear us, united, and ALL countries respect us no matter what their public demeanor might suggest. We are THE superpower on Earth, and yet we are slow to anger, spread more charity than anyone else and are the dream destination for migrants wherever the sun might rise upon the globe. What is not to respect? I think it is safe to say that all comers from Albania to Zimbabwe respect us. Perfect? No, being human prevents that, however, we are the standard by which all others are currently measured.

Yes and no.

We DO have the best trained military in the world (though it is hard to win under the Geneva Convention when you are dealing with terrorists ... and it goes against everything we stand for to do as they do.)

Most other countries at this moment do not respect us. Maybe they fear us, but they don't respect us. Some do separate the general kindness and generosity of the American people from the actions of this administration, but many (most?) do not.

We are the superpower, but there are signs that this may change in the not terribly distant future. We should not throw our weight around just because we can.

We as people are slow to anger and extrarodinarily charitable. This administration does not represent us IMO, even if they were elected to do so.

Victory - what is the definition of victory in this war and victory for whom?

"Victory" is leaving office without impeachment. Victory is hooking up all the oil companies and defense contractors. Victory is playing golf every day in retirement with Secret Service caddies. Victory is watching your personal library being constructed with money that could help thousands of wounded vets. Victory is knowing you did things your way, and that no one could convince you otherwise. "Victory" will not be the word used to describe your administation by historians!

Good answer, Bob.

I politely disagree with your statements - and if you want America to be known as a global badass, consider your wish granted! All countries do NOT respect the US right now - most probably have no beef whatsoever with americans per se but are APPALLED by the current administration - you cannot be living in such a coccon that you geniunely feel the way you state -

America still is and will be for a long long time a land of opportunity for thousands who will continue wanting to come live here to better improve their lives and those of their children. But please please please spare me the diatribe of "what is there not to respect right now...." I just refuse to believe (and I do not know you!) that you can be this naive (and I do not mean to sound patronizing even though I surely will come across as that). You do not need to go anywhere exotic - go to ANY country in Europe right now and see how the majority of its citizens feel about the US right now.

OK, who exactly is it in Europe you are so worried about? France? Newsflash here-the French are going to look at us with a certain amount of disdain no matter what. Are they the ones who have declared our efforts a failure already? That is frightening if so, since they are the authority on miserable military failure. Were you outraged when the French were skimming cash out of the UN oil for food program? Were you outraged when the French would not let our fighters access their airspace in 1986 when we bombed Libya?...and by the way, the French were 100% wrong on the effect of our efforts to calm Libya down. Are you worried about Germany? Spain? Lichstenstein? England? Well, forget England, they are probably not a good source to consult at the moment. It seems the only Americans that are viewed as intellegent by the socialists and elitists in Europe are clowns like Al Gore, John Kerry, The Dixie Chicks and Bill Clinton who go over there and spout off on what a fool Bush is...it is simply boob bait for the sidewalk cafe' crowd and serves no positive purpose during a time of war.

The only body that we should care about impressing is the Islamic radicals, wherever they are. They are watching our will waver after 4 years. If we fail in Iraq and Afghanistan, God help us all;and I include our European friends under the umbrella of 'all' when I say that.

We can win, and we will win if we screw our heads on straight and allow the military to do what they do best without political grandstanders calling for timelines for withdrawl and such nonsense.

OK, who exactly is it in Europe you are so worried about? France? Newsflash here-the French are going to look at us with a certain amount of disdain no matter what. Are they the ones who have declared our efforts a failure already? That is frightening if so, since they are the authority on miserable military failure. Were you outraged when the French were skimming cash out of the UN oil for food program? Were you outraged when the French would not let our fighters access their airspace in 1986 when we bombed Libya?...and by the way, the French were 100% wrong on the effect of our efforts to calm Libya down. Are you worried about Germany? Spain? Lichstenstein? England? Well, forget England, they are probably not a good source to consult at the moment. It seems the only Americans that are viewed as intellegent by the socialists and elitists in Europe are clowns like Al Gore, John Kerry, The Dixie Chicks and Bill Clinton who go over there and spout off on what a fool Bush is...it is simply boob bait for the sidewalk cafe' crowd and serves no positive purpose during a time of war.

The only body that we should care about impressing is the Islamic radicals, wherever they are. They are watching our will waver after 4 years. If we fail in Iraq and Afghanistan, God help us all;and I include our European friends under the umbrella of 'all' when I say that.

We can win, and we will win if we screw our heads on straight and allow the military to do what they do best without political grandstanders calling for timelines for withdrawl and such nonsense.

Wow! Your overarching statements about other countries is actually rather sad and telling. You would have a perfect seat at this adminsitration's table seeing how little value you seemingly place on other views. Are things really this simple for you?

How on earth can you make such an absurd claim that the french will always look on us with disdain. And please do not ask me any questions about when I feel or do not feel outrage. I feel nothing but disgust at the way this president has contemptuously flexed this country's military power and muscle. I feel that MIGHT does not make RIGHT all the time - period. Just beacuse you are strong and powerful does NOT give you the right to impose your will by force on others. You know nothing about me apart from the fact that I think Bush and his adminsitration lied and misled this country into a war that has cost thousands of innocent lives.

Pray do tell: how many countries (apart from the US) have you ever lived in? Surprise me please.

"Victory" is leaving office without impeachment. Victory is hooking up all the oil companies and defense contractors. Victory is playing golf every day in retirement with Secret Service caddies. Victory is watching your personal library being constructed with money that could help thousands of wounded vets. Victory is knowing you did things your way, and that no one could convince you otherwise. "Victory" will not be the word used to describe your administation by historians!

Excellent answer! and right on!

your posts Chickpea and jdarg ~ they are right on.

Thank you. I actually have so little time these days but I am passionate about politics but cannot spend much more time debating the merits of this war - and even if it is not a popular stance to take and even if I am accused of being elitist - there is (in my experience) a direct connection between having been exposed to different cultures and being interested in understanding other people's beliefs, religions and values and being opposed to this war - the vast majority of people I meet who are hard core Bush fans are either purely ideological and therefore will let that trump principle OR have spent their life here, and are just happy to let the US flex its muscle and fervently believe absurd statements such as: "they hate us for our freedoms...."

I need to change forums and read something more uplifting!!

It seems the only Americans that are viewed as intellegent by the socialists and elitists in Europe are clowns like Al Gore, John Kerry, The Dixie Chicks and Bill Clinton who go over there and spout off on what a fool Bush is...

And yes, all of these people do appear to be more intelligent than our current joke of a president...as do most children, especially if they have taken their required course in "mexican."

"Neither in French, nor in English, nor in Mexican."
George W. Bush April 21, 2001 The President's response when asked if he would answer a reporter's question. Summit of the Americas, Quebec City, Canada.

hey skunky. chickpea is not only french, she's really really smart. just a little info for ya.

hey chickpea - we love skunkape anyway and he has a very tiny box.

hey skunky. chickpea is not only french, she's really really smart. just a little info for ya.

hey chickpea - we love skunkape anyway and he has a very tiny box.

Tootsie,
I do not know Skunkape and I have absolutely nothing bad to say about him apart from the fact that his political opinions are a bit startling.

Have not seen you in ages!! Need to get together with you guys and talk happy things!:roll:

'way to go Chickpea. Living in other countries makes all the difference in the world...

I was amazed a few months ago to read that only 20% of Americans even have passports (this was before one was needed for Canada and the Caribbean).

And the fact that our president has not travelled, and has almost no curiosity about other cultures....well, you've already said it all.

And, one of the most dismaying things to me: when one is coming back into the states via Atlanta...the huge signs that say: "Foreigners Here". Not international guests, not non-resident, but foreigners.....