Bully Losing Popularity Contest

[Lung]

I fail to see how the events of 9/11 give the U.S a blanket moral high ground on everything

Unlike many people here - i actually like America! However, that doesn't give them the right to do whatever they please, whenever they please.

How can Aussies be expected to gladly join the fight against Iraq, when Australia military command can expect to be excluded from command decisions while our farmers get screwed A G A I N !! by the U.S.?

Australians don't care how big the U.S. is - we still think that these things are a two-way street!

It's good to see the U.S. united, but blindly following Bush regardless of the direction is stupidity You see, we, and much of the rest of the world have a vested interest in U.S.A's success, so GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

[Ned]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Sadaam has weapons of mass destruction and thats a threat to anybody and everybody

So everyone that has WMD is a threat to anybody and everybody? Oh oh, better revolt against our government then.

but he openly hates America and is a totalitarian dictator in charge of weapons of mass destruction.

The Soviet Union openly hated America and were in charge of WMD, and I don't remember them using them against us.

--

I'll say it... he is NO threat to us .

You say!

Well I guess you are entitled to your opinion. However, if he suddenly decides to land one on our troops in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, or fries the city of Tel Aviv, would you care? I doubt it - for after all, in the words of your hero OBL, neither we nor they had a right to be there in the first place, we and they are defiling muslim land.

[Imran Siddiqui]

which is the first nation whos government is not only the first to send aid, but whos private citizens send aid too.

I wouldnt be surprised if there is a statistic that shows the US has given more aid to more nations thatn any other.

Seems you have a too high opinion of our country. We aren't the first to send aid usually, and a pitiful amount of our budget is on foreign aid... less than 1% in fact. While many European states send close to 5% of their budget to foreign aid. We should be sending a whole lot more. We like to talk a big game, but we don't do anything really about it.

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Sadaam has weapons of mass destruction and thats a threat to anybody and everybody

So everyone that has WMD is a threat to anybody and everybody? Oh oh, better revolt against our government then.

but he openly hates America and is a totalitarian dictator in charge of weapons of mass destruction.

The Soviet Union openly hated America and were in charge of WMD, and I don't remember them using them against us.

--

I'll say it... he is NO threat to us .

Fool. Just because he has weapons of mass destruction doesnt means he would be foolish enough to use them against the US - due to MAD [mutual assured destruction]. But he could easily use WoMD as a 'shield', threating to use them if he is attacked while he invades Kuwait again, or invades Israel. Bt whos not to say he is not irrational enough to use them directly against the US? The SU was not led by a single man filled with hate against Americans, instead they had many protocols like the US against lunching nukes and stuff. Sadaam Husein in a fit of rage could easily give the word to use them, and since he has total control, there are no fail safes. Also, who is to say he wouldnt share the knowlege or materials with terrorists? That would be an even bigger threat. That is why a rigeme change is needed. Do you think America as so hawkish as to just go to war for no good god damn reason? The ghosts of Veitnam are with us still, and guide us not to be foolish.

Kman

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

which is the first nation whos government is not only the first to send aid, but whos private citizens send aid too.

I wouldnt be surprised if there is a statistic that shows the US has given more aid to more nations thatn any other.

Seems you have a too high opinion of our country. We aren't the first to send aid usually, and a pitiful amount of our budget is on foreign aid... less than 1% in fact. While many European states send close to 5% of their budget to foreign aid. We should be sending a whole lot more. We like to talk a big game, but we don't do anything really about it.

err, Im quite sure that 1% (it is about 1% IIRC)of our budget is about as much as 5% of many European budgets, not to mention the massive amounts given from private charities and organizations. In total this must easily exceed the amount given by any other nation. And as a matter of fact, I am quite critical of the US, just I think foreign critics are grossely misinformed or just plain ignorant.

Kman

[Joe R. Golowka]

Originally posted by Kramerman Do you think America as so hawkish as to just go to war for no good god damn reason?

No, this war is about oil.

[Ned]

Joe, Why do you say this is about oil? Saddam is quite willing to sell oil. If he stopped selling oil, his own economy would be devestated.

What you said doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Could you please expand your statement and explain your thinking.

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Ned
Joe, Why do you say this is about oil? Saddam is quite willing to sell oil. If he stopped selling oil, his own economy would be devestated.

What you said doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Could you please expand your statement and explain your thinking.

I second ned's request. He sells us oil now, and if he refused in the future, we could easily go elsewhere, like we are trying to do now anyway.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ned: And you wonder why you are a laughing stock on this forum. Can you say Bob Dornan?

But he could easily use WoMD as a 'shield', threating to use them if he is attacked while he invades Kuwait again, or invades Israel.

You mean like Israel used against the Arabs? Like Russia used to prevent us from intervening in Afghanistan? Please. That whole 'shield' thing has never worked because no one wants to be the one to use a nuke.

Do you think America as so hawkish as to just go to war for no good god damn reason?

Actually yes. We have gone to war over no 'God damn reason' before. Grenada mean anything to you?

rr, Im quite sure that 1% (it is about 1% IIRC)of our budget is about as much as 5% of many European budgets

So you are saying the American government is the most charitable because we give the most money in total dollars? Percentages of budget is the ONLY thing that means jack.

Or do you think that the rich man that give 1% of his budget to the poor is more charatible than a middle class man that gives 10% of his budget? Let's get serious here.

I think foreign critics are grossely misinformed or just plain ignorant.

Funny, I think you are grossly misinformed or just plain ignorant .

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
We have gone to war over no 'God damn reason' before. Grenada mean anything to you?

Was Grenada actually a war?

[KrazyHorse]

Exactly the point. The US would have to think twice about fighting somebody serious. The only thing that's changed since 1983 is that Ronald Reagan's slightly more senile and that the US is now comfortable with attacking third-rate rather than fourth-rate powers...

[DinoDoc]

But none of the 1st and 2nd rate powers want to fight us.

[KrazyHorse]

Neither does Iraq, and neither did Grenada. That doesn't seem to be important to you...

[Ned]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Ned: And you wonder why you are a laughing stock on this forum. Can you say Bob Dornan?

You know, Imran, that I often see the AO's of this board lapse into personal attacks if their arguments fail them. It looks like you just joined that club.

[KrazyHorse]

I lapse into personal attacks when I can't take my target seriously. It looks like Imran has the same policy...

AO? Please enlighten us...