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And there was also no excuse for exploiting those deaths to invade a country that had nothing to do with it. Remember -- most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. None was Iraqi.
It wasn't being "exploited." Terrorism was (and is) a very real danger.
And one of the first things found in Iraq was an al Qaeda terrorist training camp. (Salman Pac.)
I'm sure gald you weren't around on December 7, 1941 !
Apples and oranges, tex. If you need a refresher on the difference between an attack by a sovereign nation and by a terrorist organization, let me know and I'll PM you.
And one of the first things found in Iraq was an al Qaeda terrorist training camp. (Salman Pac.)
The existence of Salman Pak (cleverly concealed in the middle of the Tigris River) was known as early as 1987, because it was being used to process chemical weapons. It was heavily bombed during the Gulf War. It resurfaced in 2002 and early 2003 based on allegations by the disgraced Iraqi National Congress of on-going terrorist training. The Senate Select Committee, the CIA, and the DIA all found no credibility in these INC allegations as early as 2002. The camp fell into US hands on April 6, 2003. No evidence that the camp was used as anything but an Iraqi commando and counter-terrorism training center (exactly what Iraq had reported it as to the UN) has ever been uncovered...
why do americans believe they are the greatest country in the world?. they dont even crack the top 15 in any kind of rating that matters. maybe its the 12000 murders a year. maybe its because the government sends young people to die to enforce the will of the corporations. maybe its the healthcare. you peolpe need to come out of your media induced coma and wake up because your country is in serious trouble. stop believing its your god given right to rule the world. ever think of why people attack you?. canada is very similar and no one attacks us. there is a whole side of the story that your not being told . its not religious fanatisism its that people in t
those countries don want to be occupied and exploited, can you blame them?
remember the british? when you drove them out what did you call yourselves? terrorists? insurgents?. remember one mans terrorist is another mans partriot. change your foreign policy this war on terror can never be won.
Many of us don't think that way at all. Many of us (like me) realize that America has many flaws and that it could learn a lot from countries like Canada (for example).
We are hated because of our foreign policy, and because we have far too many far right leaning Christian loons running around, screaming about how abortion and same sex unions are immoral, while quite happily seeking to ensure that the "unfortunates" of our society are kept in their place, blamed and chastised for all that is wrong.
We think we've done the rest of the world a huge favor and that the world owes us a huge debt of respect and gratitude. We say we were the saviors during WW2, even though we all know that if we hadn't stopped Hitler, he wouldn't have stopped at just invading Western Europe alone.
We have a healthcare system that is discriminatory, morally wrong, which only benefits a small selection of people, while it puts millions of people at serious risk of bankruptcy, even with insurance.
If we don't understand another nation's way of doing something, we bash it, judge it and ridicule it, because in America, it's our way, or the highway. Just look at how we bash countries like France, Canada and the UK on this very forums (the evidence is rampant, if you care to look), claiming that these countries are socialist nanny states, with authoritarian governments. The American way seems to be to destroy or mock something that we don't understand, because <sarcasm> we are always right </sarcasm>.
We have an inept, moronic, war mongering puppet of a president who has done nothing for this country, other than make us even more hated than we were before. Many of us didn't learn and we loved him so much that we voted him in for yet another term, despite the fact that it was already clearly apparent that he'd lied to us about weapons of mass destruction.
By invading Iraq and going against the United Nations, we essentially rendered the United Nations useless, and burned bridges with our former allies (see above paragraph for primary reason).
In America, we always seem to pick on a minority, whether it's black people, poor people, or Hispanic immigrants. We always need a scapegoat, because it's easier than taking a look at our own screwed up society and actually trying to improve the quality of life for EVERYONE.
We are so proud of gaining independence from the nasty Brits, yet we have thrown ourselves back in time by bringing religion back into politics, while the Brits (and other European nations) have long since removed Christian fundamentalism and god-fearing mumbo-jumbo from their political systems.
The hypocrisy in America is simply mind blowing. For instance, you have some of these loons running around being so anti-abortion, claiming that we have to "protect the sanctity of life", even if a woman/girl is raped, yet the same loons who make these ridiculous statements are quite happy for bombs to be dropped on Iraq, killing hundreds/thousands of innocent civilians (LIVING PEOPLE, NOT FETUSES).
We have so much crime here because America is a me-me-me-me society -- a nation of haves and have nots, to the extreme. People love to go on about "bad choices", but the reality is that the have nots of our society have very few (if any) choices, compared to Mr. Have, who can mess up god knows how many times, because daddy will always bail him out (take a look at our current president, for example).
Basically, no wonder there is so much crime here. Being poor is worse than being criminal, at least in America. Racism still exists in a big way here, even if it's not as obvious as it was during the dark days of segregation.
I love this country, but the fact of the matter is that I would consider moving to Canada, should the opportunity arise. Canada is by no means perfect, but they don't meddle in world affairs, they have a non-discriminatory healthcare system and diversity there generally means diversity, not a bunch of different races, each of whom hate one another.
I firmly believe that the me-me-me society is to blame (call it freedom, individualism, or whatever). It seems to me that the wealthy/successful here are not content to just get on with it and be grateful for what they have -- they want to make those beneath them feel as bad as possible, ensuring that they are unable to afford healthcare. Some people will stop at nothing to ensure that the United States becomes a god-fearing, Christian fundamentalist, laissez-faire capitalist state, in which there are massive extremes of rich and poor, and where ordinary workers have no rights and are basically "free" to be exploited by a select few.
Anyone who dares to speak out is labeled as a lefty loon, or whatever, so please excuse me for my deliberate attempt to give a few people a dose of their own (venomous) medicine.
Many of us don't think that way at all. Many of us (like me) realize that America has many flaws and that it could learn a lot from countries like Canada (for example).
We are hated because of our foreign policy, and because we have far too many far right leaning Christian loons running around, screaming about how abortion and same sex unions are immoral, while quite happily seeking to ensure that the "unfortunates" of our society are kept in their place, blamed and chastised for all that is wrong.
We think we've done the rest of the world a huge favor and that the world owes us a huge debt of respect and gratitude. We say we were the saviors during WW2, even though we all know that if we hadn't stopped Hitler, he wouldn't have stopped at just invading Western Europe alone.
We have a healthcare system that is discriminatory, morally wrong, which only benefits a small selection of people, while it puts millions of people at serious risk of bankruptcy, even with insurance.
If we don't understand another nation's way of doing something, we bash it, judge it and ridicule it, because in America, it's our way, or the highway. Just look at how we bash countries like France, Canada and the UK on this very forums (the evidence is rampant, if you care to look), claiming that these countries are socialist nanny states, with authoritarian governments. The American way seems to be to destroy or mock something that we don't understand, because <sarcasm> we are always right </sarcasm>.
We have an inept, moronic, war mongering puppet of a president who has done nothing for this country, other than make us even more hated than we were before. Many of us didn't learn and we loved him so much that we voted him in for yet another term, despite the fact that it was already clearly apparent that he'd lied to us about weapons of mass destruction.
By invading Iraq and going against the United Nations, we essentially rendered the United Nations useless, and burned bridges with our former allies (see above paragraph for primary reason).
In America, we always seem to pick on a minority, whether it's black people, poor people, or Hispanic immigrants. We always need a scapegoat, because it's easier than taking a look at our own screwed up society and actually trying to improve the quality of life for EVERYONE.
We are so proud of gaining independence from the nasty Brits, yet we have thrown ourselves back in time by bringing religion back into politics, while the Brits (and other European nations) have long since removed Christian fundamentalism and god-fearing mumbo-jumbo from their political systems.
The hypocrisy in America is simply mind blowing. For instance, you have some of these loons running around being so anti-abortion, claiming that we have to "protect the sanctity of life", even if a woman/girl is raped, yet the same loons who make these ridiculous statements are quite happy for bombs to be dropped on Iraq, killing hundreds/thousands of innocent civilians (LIVING PEOPLE, NOT FETUSES).
We have so much crime here because America is a me-me-me-me society -- a nation of haves and have nots, to the extreme. People love to go on about "bad choices", but the reality is that the have nots of our society have very few (if any) choices, compared to Mr. Have, who can mess up god knows how many times, because daddy will always bail him out (take a look at our current president, for example).
Basically, no wonder there is so much crime here. Being poor is worse than being criminal, at least in America. Racism still exists in a big way here, even if it's not as obvious as it was during the dark days of segregation.
I love this country, but the fact of the matter is that I would consider moving to Canada, should the opportunity arise. Canada is by no means perfect, but they don't meddle in world affairs, they have a non-discriminatory healthcare system and diversity there generally means diversity, not a bunch of different races, each of whom hate one another.
I firmly believe that the me-me-me society is to blame (call it freedom, individualism, or whatever). It seems to me that the wealthy/successful here are not content to just get on with it and be grateful for what they have -- they want to make those beneath them feel as bad as possible, ensuring that they are unable to afford healthcare. Some people will stop at nothing to ensure that the United States becomes a god-fearing, Christian fundamentalist, laissez-faire capitalist state, in which there are massive extremes of rich and poor, and where ordinary workers have no rights and are basically "free" to be exploited by a select few.
Anyone who dares to speak out is labeled as a lefty loon, or whatever, so please excuse me for my deliberate attempt to give a few people a dose of their own (venomous) medicine.
An apt summary. I love the principles that my country stands for...I hate what defilers like Bush have done to them...
America is a great and beautiful country, but it is being ruined by people who have their own hidden (or not so hidden) agendas, the resurgence of Christian fundamentalism (a form of control, basically), greed/selfishness (not-so-cleverly disguised as individualism) and a certain president who has done nothing but harm since he took office.
The fact of the matter is that if we want to be liked/respected across the world, we have to earn that respect. We are still a *very* young country - a novice, if you will. Europe has been through 2 major world wars and many of its people have learned from the mistakes. I do not believe that we have a right to go around the world, playing the international policeman, going against the United Nations.
Bush - we can't really complain because many of us decided to vote for him AGAIN, even after he'd invaded Iraq and lied to us about WMD's. The sad part is that I don't see much hope with any of the presidential candidates, regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat *sigh*.
I used to believe this was the greatest country in the world, I really did.
Now I feel my eyes are open to some REAL problems. I feel like fundamentalist christians are dragging what could be a great country into chaos.
They advocate hatred and seperating people, calling some defective or trying to force us all to live by their own jaundiced view of life and the bible.
The pilgrims came here to get away from religious oppression and how many years later is it now and this country is doing the same thing to its people.
I will not live my life governed by someone else's idea of religion. I will not tolerate it for my child either. Each and every one of you out there should be scared to death of the religious fanatics that are trying to ruin our country, trying to force us all into their mold.
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