Pope: Catholics should ask gay people for forgiveness

[Ben Kenobi]

Most people who think like you are in their 80s. Most young people don't think like that.

I have dated people who think like me. One of them was even from Trinidad. Great lady. I am not going to say that it's a common thing, but she's very special to me.

Some peak. Couldn't even beat China in the Korean war. The US today is unmatched and spends more on its military then the following top 10 countries combined.

And the US couldn't beat them in Asia now - it's just not something that's feasible.

Cut it out with the American exceptionalist crap. It is what got this country in a quagmire known as the Vietnam war and more recently the Iraq war.

I'm not an interventionist. I didn't support the Iraq war, but now that the US has gotten involved it is a "you break it, you bought it situation.

Large in terms of what? Man power? You are outmoded. Technology supercedes the need for sheer man power. As far as moon missions, highly unnecessary. SpaceX is the future anyways.

Not, 'highly unnecessary'. Space X is making their slow climb up to things as they were in the 60s, but we're not into manned missions with the Saturn-V. These are all essential steps that we need to take to get back into space, something we never should have stopped doing, Moon or no.

Plus there is the F-35.

That you're updating F-15s says it all to me. The reason for the F-22/F-35 was to ensure that you had an air superiority fighter in the F-22. The F-35 doesn't do that, and the F-22 was supposed to do it. Should never have been canned. Everything rides on the F-35 and from what I'm seeing it's not that great a plane when F-18s are outperforming it.

[Ben Kenobi]

There are no limitations to that strategy. There is nothing a human pilot can do (other than die) that an automated routine won't be able to do faster, better and safer. As for 'boots on the ground' that's a very different issue, although we'll also be seeing automated battlefield units in the near future for many tasks. There's basically no real gain to having human lives on a modern battlefield being subjected to increasingly devastating and dangerous weapons, if you can do it remotely. It's only when it comes to things like population control that the human element is needed, and there America has a terrible record anyway.

And what if your connection fails, you get jammed, etc? There will always be a role for pilots even if they are fighting alongside drones.

Yes they could. The reason America backed down in Korea was because Korea was a hell of a long way from the US at a time when moving entire armies was a much bigger issue than it is today, and the US also had the might of the Soviet Union to contend with in Europe. When China flooded across the Korean border its estimated they took a million casualties. The Soviets were a genuine match for the US at some points, but after the fall of the iron curtain and at every point since to date American capabilities have been completely overwhelming. You get into questions of having to hold ground that is taken and so on, but the US would be unlikely to lose a single major engagement. The technology gap is simply astounding.

They don't have the manpower to knock China out without employing Nukes. Sure, they could probably hold South Korea. China could afford to lose millions of men in the process, and would be willing to step up to nuclear weapons if the US tried to conquer it. They could probably beat Russia, but again, you have terrain and logistics issue. If Russia were to try to steamroll western Europe, they could definitely stalemate Russia, but I don't see that the US could defeat them.

You don't see them as a longterm enemy because you're an idiot. They have over a billion people, will overtake American GDP in the near future, are pouring money into scientific and military research and are starting to spread their influence globally.

And England too, once had an Empire - which died on the fields of the Somme. You need people to 'spread influence', and the Chinese don't have them to spare. They are cresting now, because of the developments of the previous years - but they have a shortage of 5 million people in their workforce, year over year. Their labor costs are going to increase to the point where it will be more expensive to hire Chinese people than Americans. There's a reason many industries have relocated elsewhere in Asia, to Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines.

China as an equal (and increasingly dominant) superpower, if they handle it well it could slow Chinese expansion and just maybe give India a chance to become a counterbalancing eastern superpower.

China could not beat India, straight up. Just can't. India is going to become a superpower even if they take their time getting there - they will be in a much better position than China.

I've tried to read this sentence multiple times and I still have no idea what yu were trying to say. Rephrase please.

Sorry. Development is essential at maintaining that gap. You don't keep a gap by stopping investment.

[Giancarlo]

I should! All I have is my big Raygun banner. He looks lonely. And my Texas flag.

Coolidge... Next to a picture of George Wallace.

[Giancarlo]

I don't think they will either, they have little to gain by doing so. Their window is closing pretty rapidly. I'm not one of the conservatives with a big fear of China.

China and nor even India are enemies of the US and their economies are tied to the well being of our own.

[Giancarlo]

I have dated people who think like me. One of them was even from Trinidad. Great lady. I am not going to say that it's a common thing, but she's very special to me.

Notice how I said most don't think like you. I know reading is hard for you but maybe you should try it sometime.

And the US couldn't beat them in Asia now - it's just not something that's feasible.

The US must not think they are the world police (as what you want).

I'm not an interventionist. I didn't support the Iraq war, but now that the US has gotten involved it is a "you break it, you bought it situation.

No ****. And that is what they are doing now helping with the advance of Mosul (which is basically encircled).

Not, 'highly unnecessary'. Space X is making their slow climb up to things as they were in the 60s, but we're not into manned missions with the Saturn-V. These are all essential steps that we need to take to get back into space, something we never should have stopped doing, Moon or no.

Your stupidity is unmatched with this comment. SpaceX is doing things far differently and at a far more rapid pace than the conventional shuttle program. They broke ground landing on a sea platform. SpaceX is making space travel more of a near term possibility than what the dangerous conventional shuttles could accomplish, at a lower cost. Imagine that I am defending a private company... what a shocker. They do a lot with public contracts though.

That you're updating F-15s says it all to me. The reason for the F-22/F-35 was to ensure that you had an air superiority fighter in the F-22. The F-35 doesn't do that, and the F-22 was supposed to do it. Should never have been canned. Everything rides on the F-35 and from what I'm seeing it's not that great a plane when F-18s are outperforming it.

You don't have a clue what you are talking about with this remark. The F-15 is almost abandoned. But you generally don't throw away things that work so well. Like how the US didn't throw away the B-52. And now is considering holding onto the A-10. The A-10 is unmatched. Not even the Su-25 comes close to it.

You just don't make new jets for the hell of it, when even older technology is completely unmatched by any other power.

And drone fighters are an increasingly real possibility.

[Giancarlo]

I don't know why I'm even discussing anything with this criminal law breaking bigot anymore. It is obvious to me he never listens. The guy has no clue about anything. Even I know more about weapons of war than he does. Time for him to get back to that hisssssstory degree he has. He probably printed it off the internet and got some cheap ass dollar store frame for it.

[Ben Kenobi]

Coolidge... Next to a picture of George Wallace.

Why? I'm not a Southern Democrat like you.

He probably printed it off the internet and got some cheap ass dollar store frame for it.

Then feel free to call Admissions at the University of Northern British Columbia to confirm my credentials.

[Ben Kenobi]

Notice how I said most don't think like you.

You know, I'm actually ok with that.

The US must not think they are the world police (as what you want).

You've got me mixed up with someone else.

No ****. And that is what they are doing now helping with the advance of Mosul (which is basically encircled).

Yes, after Obama cut and ran and pulled out all the troops. We're almost back to a peaceful liberated Iraq again.

Your stupidity is unmatched with this comment. SpaceX is doing things far differently and at a far more rapid pace than the conventional shuttle program.

I agree, but I'm not talking shuttles. I'm talking more actual moon missions.

They broke ground landing on a sea platform. SpaceX is making space travel more of a near term possibility than what the dangerous conventional shuttles could accomplish, at a lower cost. Imagine that I am defending a private company... what a shocker. They do a lot with public contracts though.

It's an important step, but right now they are where we were back in about 1961, 62 in terms of payloads and successful launches.

The F-15 is almost abandoned. But you generally don't throw away things that work so well. Like how the US didn't throw away the B-52. And now is considering holding onto the A-10. The A-10 is unmatched. Not even the Su-25 comes close to it.

I'm all for updating, but the F-18 was the last plane and they are more than 35 years old now. They are not going to last forever.

You just don't make new jets for the hell of it, when even older technology is completely unmatched by any other power.

F-18s, sure - for about another 10 years or so. That's what I was talking about.

[Giancarlo]

Why? I'm not a Southern Democrat like you.



Then feel free to call Admissions at the University of Northern British Columbia to confirm my credentials.

I am living in the west coast, dip****. Apparently, you have an issue with geography. California isn't the Southern US. You live in southern US state. So cut the bull****.

The West Coast couldn't be anymore different than the former Confederate States.

[Giancarlo]

You know, I'm actually ok with that.



You've got me mixed up with someone else.



Yes, after Obama cut and ran and pulled out all the troops. We're almost back to a peaceful liberated Iraq again.

Except it is being done with minimal US ground support and mainly support from the coalition airpower. And the US public didn't want large numbers of US troops in that quagmire anymore.

I agree, but I'm not talking shuttles. I'm talking more actual moon missions.

Moon missions are pointless and a waste of time, when SpaceX has its sights on far greater objectives.

It's an important step, but right now they are where we were back in about 1961, 62 in terms of payloads and successful launches.

Bull****.

I'm all for updating, but the F-18 was the last plane and they are more than 35 years old now. They are not going to last forever.

That is why the have Super Hornet. Please stop talking about things you know nothing about. How old is the A-10?

Total idiot who thinks California is a Southern state. Total ****ing idiot.

[Ben Kenobi]

I am living in the west coast, dip****. Apparently, you have an issue with geography. California isn't the Southern US. You live in southern US state. So cut the bull****.

Simple logic. You live in the southern portion of the united states, below 36'30'' which has historically denoted the difference between South and North.

You are also a card carrying member of the democrat party.

Ergo, you are a 'Southern Democrat'.

I, living in a fellow Southern state like Texas but generally leaning with the republican persuasion in my politics could be considered a Southern Republican. They are pretty cool people, historically.

[Giancarlo]

Simple logic. You live in the southern portion of the united states, below 36'30'' which has historically denoted the difference between South and North.

You are also a card carrying member of the democrat party.

Ergo, you are a 'Southern Democrat'.

I, living in a fellow Southern state like Texas but generally leaning with the republican persuasion in my politics could be considered a Southern Republican. They are pretty cool people, historically.

You stupid idiotic ****ing troll. You will get lectured for comments like this one. You racist piece of ****.

I live on the west coast.

I am not a card carrying member of any party either, you stupid ****ing punk.

Southern Republicans are now the former Dixiecrats who fled the democrats in the 1960s. Cool? Don't ****ing think so.

Piece of ****.

I am so tired of you trying to equate the democratic party of today with that 50 years ago.

Eisenhower would be a democrat today for example.

You want to cross anymore lines?

[Giancarlo]

And how ****ing dare you compare my politics with that of southern racists! You have some ****ing nerve!

The Democrats of California are West Coast democrats. deal with it you racist ****.

[Ben Kenobi]

Bull****.

The F9FT which successfully launched this year - has a payload of 22.8k to LEO.

Saturn V had a payload of 310k to LEO.

Saturn I had a payload of 20k and flew in October 27th, 1961.

[Giancarlo]

The F9FT which successfully launched this year - has a payload of 22.8k to LEO.

Saturn V had a payload of 310k to LEO.

Saturn I had a payload of 20k and flew in October 27th, 1961.

More bullcrap numbers from the bullcrap master himself.

SpaceX launches far many more times than any of the shuttles, moron.