My Take on US policies

[mike c]

yup it would. how the hell did they get themselves surrounded again?

btw, I have 4 questions:
1) do you mind people calling you buck? what do we call you?
2) this must be a generalization but, what's in montana? how come many foreigners want to move there?

 

[Tomorrow]

HA! because when a country invades a sovereign country, they should be slapped silly.

You mean like when the British took what is now the Canadian Provinces?

 

[Tomorrow]

We could relocate all of the Jews in Israel to Montana for 2 trillion dollars!

There are some that take this as a mighty racist comment, Buckeyefan.

 

[mike c]

You mean like when the British took what is now the Canadian Provinces?

i really don't know about Canadian history but if they did so ...

 

[Tomorrow]

i really don't know about Canadian history but if they did so ...

I was just wondering where your cultural and historical righteousness was, Mike.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

There are some that take this as a mighty racist comment, Buckeyefan.

I've been ripping on the Christians and Catholics for months. It was time to change directions (I'm Catholic BTW).

Anyhow, no pun intended towards the Jews. I honestly feel terrible they have to share that part of the world with terrorists.

 

[Mr. Lamb Fries]

This was written some time ago so some of the specifics are outdated. I am not excusing the recent events surrounding my country, but thought I would share this article. I feel the overall theme is relevant.

America: The Good Neighbor?!!!

Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:


"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
"Stand proud, America!"


This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read regarding the United States. It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of the world would realize it. We are always blamed for everything, and never even get a thank you for the things we do.

 

[sts9fan]

Oh the misinformation!

1.77 metric tons of enriched uranium

This is not a WMD it is the same as “yellow cake” which has no good weapons use. It is billions of times less intense then cesium-137 or cobalt-60.

Chemical warheads containing cyclosarin (a nerve agent five times more deadly than sarin gas)

Whats the shelf life of this?? Sarin has a relatively short shelf life, and will degrade after a period of several weeks to several months. The shelf life may be greatly shortened by impurities in precursor materials. According to the CIA , in 1989 the Iraqis destroyed 40 or more tons of sarin that had decomposed, and that some Iraqi sarin had a shelf life of only a few weeks owing mostly to impure precursors.

 

[Sheep]

This was written some time ago so some of the specifics are outdated. I am not excusing the recent events surrounding my country, but thought I would share this article. I feel the overall theme is relevant.

America: The Good Neighbor?!!!

Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:


"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
"Stand proud, America!"


This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read regarding the United States. It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of the world would realize it. We are always blamed for everything, and never even get a thank you for the things we do.

That was written in 1973. I think he would have something else to say today.

SheepStar

 

[racquetman]

This is not a WMD it is the same as “yellow cake” which has no good weapons use. It is billions of times less intense then cesium-137 or cobalt-60.

What's your point? We all know what the enriched uranium was for. It can cause plenty of fatalities if used the right way (and this is obviously why they had it). You don't have uranium lying around to spread on your sandwiches.

I can name you plenty of isotopes that contain more energy than others. Again. What's your point? Do you have a certain fondness for Ce137 and Co60?

If you don't support the war, that's fine. But your argument isn't helping your cause any.

 

[MacManNM]

I started this thread after reading a thread that was supposed to be about a problem a member was having with Paradigm’s customer service. I was going to let it go until about the tenth page, and then I just snapped. Seriously, you guys like bragging so much about war, how did Vietnam go for you? How about your "peacekeeping" mission to Haiti? How's the current war going for you? You guys are not the world police. I let it slide when people were talking in posts about how the US has to step in because no one else can save the poor backwards countries from themselves. Most of those "poor countries" have at least a thousand years more experience than us in N.A. No they can't launch a tactical nuke with pinpoint precision, and heaven to Betsy they sometimes even live in straw huts! And they have cultural and spiritual beliefs that are, gasp, different than yours. Leave them the hell alone. You talk about how someone has to do it. It doesn't seem like you guys are willing to do a damn thing for countries that don't have oil or that don't meet a strategic goal for your country. Am I saying this is wrong? No, in fact it's a good idea, but it is so hypocritical when you won't help certain countries but claim a humanitarian purpose when invading others. Where were you in Rwanda? Where was that military aid when millions of Ethiopians were starving? How about you guys do a frontal assault on China, last time I checked they were the biggest human rights offender on the planet, and they are, shudder, commies. Oh wait, can't do that, then no more $20 DVD players or cheap efficient ice cream makers. Plus they have the manpower and resources to fight back and own over $525 billion dollars worth of US currency. Seriously get the hell down from the hypocritical high horse you guys are on. I think you've got the "Hoorah" blinders on. There is a reason many around the world have problems with the US, and it isn't because you guys look so darn good in a suit. You have isolationist leanings politically yet are the nosiest most intrusive country in existence it often seems.

Also please make note that while the US was indeed a big player in the campaign in Europe you were not there with any manpower till the end of the war when victory was a foregone conclusion that you merely sped up. Yes it was to a large degree, but Hitler was already pursuing peace when you walked in due to his fear of Stalin. Also your textbooks might talk about how you fearlessly aided the allies by supplying weapons and fuel while pretending to be neutral thus being a huge help even while not fighting directly. That really only adds up to profiteering and war mongering to me. The greatest contribution the US made in WWII was in the war with Japan, a war you arguably started with economic and trade sanctions and ended with the murder of hundreds of thousands of innocents not once but twice. I've seen the same war movies you have, all those beaches stormed by Americans, and how if it wasn't for the US all would have been lost and we'd have German accents. Revisionist history is also one of the reasons the world isn't in your fan club by the way. Often times it's hard not to picture the authors of American history textbooks sitting around high-fiving each other and exclaiming, "We kick serious ***." Those 2 years Britain was "alone" Canada and others were there. Also Canada and Great Britain trained your special forces, and taught you how to run a spy agency. Yes the Canadian military has fallen into a shambles lately but we were among the most feared soldiers in WWII. We had the highest training standards for enlisted men, we were the highest paid, and we were the most successful army operationally speaking in the "Big One" per capita. Also while we’re at it our countries (Canada and the US) were so close that thousands of Canadians volunteered to fight in Korea alongside our ally (you guys) when our Govt. wouldn't recognize the war. That's how close our countries used to be. Also don't forget you lost a war to us in 1812, costing you the original Whitehouse but I remember being taught that America had only ever lost one war in elementary school in the US. By the way, number of wars Canada has lost is equal to 0, and we've been in our share.

Also our education system is not socialist at all. We get free education till high school just like you, and then we pay for any further degrees or diplomas. God you guys can be ignorant. I love the blanket statements and the smugness. Stating assumption like fact is so damn annoying. We share a border and you don't know anything about us. So what you don't know you infer from TV or just plain make up. Read a book, or better yet come up for a visit. We just got a new slogan "It's like America, but without the gun violence and rampant racism." What, you don't like that slogan? "Why it groups us all together and makes unfair generalizations about our populace,” you might say. Welcome to the way you are perceivedto look at other cultures. Someone disagrees with you; make a quick comment about their education. Someone doesn't like US foreign policy; they're a lefty or a Pinko. Someone doesn't support the president then they're a traitor.

I spent a lot of my recent vacation partying with Americans of all ages, professions and races and here were my findings: Guys from L.A.- stupid smug pricks. Guys from Houston Texas- most fun night I had was with these guys, big partiers and jokers that I got along with great. Guys from Las Vegas Nevada, somewhere in the middle- a little reserved and a little snooty, but once they let the hair down they were cool guys and gals. Now by that sampling would it be fair for me to make assumptions about the 47 states not represented? Or, for that matter, how about the millions of people living in each of the 3 states I mentioned that I haven't met? How about each of the respective cities? Of course not, but that seems to be the US mentality. “Oh I've met those guys or I read something in a book so I know the culture.” Give your xenophobic heads a shake. I love the US; I have Dual citizenship and was born in the US. At least half of my family is south of the border and I have attended school in 2 different states. Our cultures are invariably intertwined and are very similar to each other’s. This ignorant attitude espoused by maybe 10 % of the population is what gives so many outsiders a negative view of a fantastic country. I know that this is just my opinion, and I know I’m going to catch flack, but seriously, drop the stupid international politics in the speaker threads and save them for in here.

You are a complete idiot. Typical Lib, trying to spread socialist ideals. Let’s rage against the capitalists! You say how we should mind our own business; well we tried that and still got attacked on 9/11. We have dumped more money into the Middle East than the rest of the world combined. We fought for our freedom, paid our price in blood, what have you done? You know why canada wasn't attacked? Because no one cares about you, you people are like sheep in a heard, you will go any direction you are told, same as france, spain and all the other socialist countries on this planet. Lets all hold hands and sing kumbaya, that works well. The French and the germans were against this war, why? Maybe because they were making billions off of Iraq? Nah, that couldn’t be it. Oh yeah, there is a ton of oil up there in canada, I guess we'll find a reason to attack you next, not like that would be a real challenge.

 

[agarwalro]

You say how we should mind our own business; well we tried that and still got attacked on 9/11.

There were plenty of indicators that a terrorist attack on US soil was eminant. But the govt. did nothing to prevent it. Incidently, US was giving the Taliban (the same group blamed for 9/11) weapons to fight USSR back in the 70's.

We have dumped more money into the Middle East than the rest of the world combined.

By this you mean the wars you waged on "humanitarian" grounds?

We fought for our freedom, paid our price in blood,

Are you refering to how you cheated the Native Americans out of their lands? Or the hapless Vietnamese villagers you burned with Nepam?

Oh yeah, there is a ton of oil up there in canada, I guess we'll find a reason to attack you next, not like that would be a real challenge.

Now you are raving like a lunatic. Stop humiliating yourself and your country.


People using religion to justify terrorism is wrong.
People invading other countries on unsubstantiated information, then completely altering the original motive to suite the situation is no better.

 

[Takeereasy]

Macman is totally entitled to his opinion. No matter how contrary to mine it is in this case. I'll skip the personal attacks for the most part but I do think you're overopinionated Macman. I know the only news you guys get is CNN, and they're probably lefty pinko commies just like everyone else that doesn't believe in demolishing countries and then helping rebuild the rubble in their own image, but even they are starting to question what's happening overseas. Seriously, what money has America dumped into the middle east? The money to create friendly (and by friendly I mean enbedted) oil rich countries? Or is it the money it took to drop thousands of tons of munitions on a country that not only couldn't fight back but that had also stated they didn't want a fight. Aren't the same people you "liberated" and are best friends with the same people that are attacking US soldiers? Last time I checked a lot of the problems facing soldiers were Saudi fundamentalists attacking the troops in Iraq. Must be because they feel so greatful for the occupation of their country by foreign troops for the purpose of propping up a monarchy that feeds North America cheap oil. And just out of curiosity how is the U.S. "staying out of it" when you have so many troops in Saudi Arabia? Like somone pointed out to me you can be against the president, and even against the war, and that doesn't mean you are against the troops. No offence Macman but my family has most likely at least as much US military tradition as yours, and not many in it agree with the war currently under way. Still have 2 uncles and a deceased father that were US military, so don't think I don't have any empathy for the soldiers on the ground.

So if I don't agree with you I'm an idiot. If I have a different point of view my country sucks. Welcome to the 10% of people I was talking about. Your version of "we're just there to help" doesn't fly. Why isn't the US govt. helping any countries with limited natural resources but with brutal dictatorships that attack the innocent? You know why. There's nothing in it for the bottom line. How about you, and GW, and **** Chaney all hop on a mule, grab some 6 shooters and go country to country, solving all the worlds wrongs, and protecting us from terrible things like freedom of thought or religions other than Christianity, or gasp opinions different than yours. Start with the oil rich countries, work your way down to the diamond rich countries, then slog through the mineral rich countries, then the land rich countries, might as well get a little booty out of it. When you guys make time try to help out some of the other countries that desperatly need your help. Actually we're about to have a free and democratic election up here. Why not saddle up that little burrow and come clomping across the border and ensure that it works out ok? We might get confused without a retarded redneck, his buttboy and god's gift to speakers and mechanized infantry to tell us what to do. Why all kinds of chads could be dimpled and we could have to rig the election so our brother wins. I know, not original, but hey, if you've got to borrow might as well be from the innovator right?

By the way, I'm actually pretty conservative. I don't think that the US needs troops in Iraq and I'm not alone. I was wondering, do you even know what a socialist is, or was it all you could think of since I already used lefty, commie and pinko? Also name one thing I said that is socialist in nature. I dares ya. The fact that most of the world agrees with me might not make me the idiot. The men and women that signed up to serve their country are the people who really suffer for the mistruths George Bush Jr. sold to everyone. My last point is that because a country doesn't agree with the US does not make them a sheep. It would seem that the only way to convince you that other opinions are valid is if they are identical to your own. In other words if we had blindly followed the US into a conflict that not only did your president lie about to initiate but that our population didn't want to enter, and that most of the world (including your staunchest allies and Iraq's staunchest enemies) didn't believe was necessary then we wouldn't be sheep. Hmmm..., follow blindly, don't ask questions, don't look around, and don't have any opinions that differ from an ally, and then we won't be sheep. Well said. You're the one with the blinders on, doing what you're told, and following someone that you know is wrong because "well heck he's the pres". Sounds like you're the one that needs to open their eyes mutton chops.

Edit: I'd like to add that I didn't take you seriously about the invasion thing, and I don't think you're disgracing your country Macman, it takes more that one or two jibes over the internet to lower my opinion of a nation with a population around 300,000,000. I do find it annoying that you're so closed minded on the issue but I do think that reasonable people can agree to disagree. Also I know my spelling and grammer are terrible today (like usual) but I'm tired, cranky, and spell check isn't working.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Agarwalro: People invading other countries on unsubstantiated information, then completely altering the original motive to suite the situation is no better.

Why won't Bush just come out and say "Honestly, I needed to finish my fathers business."

Just thought I'd throw some humor on the topic.

 

[Leprkon]

I know the only news you guys get is CNN, and they're probably lefty pinko commies just like everyone else that doesn't believe in demolishing countries and then helping rebuild the rubble in their own image, but even they are starting to question what's happening overseas. .

You're not making much credibility if you are using CNN as a reference point. CNN is about as conservative as Ralph Nader and the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. CNN has been raked repeatedly for made-up stories and would still be bowing to Dan Rather if he were still alive. Only Rueters has a worse track record for reporting stories and then saying "oops, we goofed".

The only questions I have to ask you are, do you miss Saddam Hussein ? and if you do, then why ?

 

[mike c]

forgive my ignorance but:
"You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again."

did we (humans) go to the moon several times already?

 

[Takeereasy]

I have to admit to liking CNN, it's like watching a mostly true and scary soap opera, but I take your point. I know that maybe Fox News would give me the more conservative view, and therefore the most correct one, but I did choose to go with the most popular and biggest name in news I could think of.

I do miss Sadam Hussein. It was nice to see Super Mario succeed so well after the video game fizzeled out. That is a stupid question. No one misses a blood thirsty dictator. Now ask me how I feel about a war started under false pretenses with no end in sight and no other purpose than to line the coffers of the invading country and to drive down the cost of oil a penny or two a gallon. Also ask me how I'd feel if I was told I'd be stopping a madman who had his hand on the button and evil intentions for my country only to find out it was a lie that had put people I care about in danger and the only button he had was the one his thumb was up. That would be the brown button, also called the rusty sheriff's badge.

 

[Sheep]

I'm starting to regret the forum name Sheep...

SheepStar

 

[Takeereasy]

Yes Mike C, there have been many trips to the moon. Not just the one by Neil Armstrong and Buzz. That's just the one we read about the most. In fact it was so common the TV ratings started to fall until Tom Hanks was trapped up there in that terrible ship the Apollo 13.

 

[mike c]

takeereasy ... i see (wow ... i've been living under a rock)

sheep ... where the hell did you get that name anyway?