455 replies to this topic

[Juni Ori]

I just have to start from the last part: There'll always be misuses of power, whenever armed forces are in middle of civilians. And we don't know under what pressure the guys are? Were they responding to back-up call and trying to reach their comrades ASAP? Few bumps to buffers would then be very understandable - however still doing bad for PR.

Then to the issue: I don't think you've quite understood me. I'm very well aware that USA is the last Superpower - however it has its limitations, even in armed forces. And it seems like they are quite strained at the moment. And I even understand why USA behaves as it does. But. They are only undermining their own security and dilpomatic relations with their behavior now. This is what I'm criticizing. If they did their resource grasp in a much more thoughtful manner, they'd be much more liked. And Bush is responsible for this. Of course there are powers behind him - oil industry at least - but he has either "sold his soul" to the powers behind him or is himself directly responsible for what he has said. Both condemnable actions, because he is supposed to be the "most powerful man in the world". Of course he owes to those powers behind him, who raised him to his position, but it doesn't mean he should then use worst possible measures to achieve his otherwise understandable goals.

[Tulac]

I still don't think if anyone else was on the head that things would be much different, invasion of another country is an invasion of another country, they would it the same way, the problem is they didn't expect another Vietnam.

[Juni Ori]

Well, I still don't think that changes anything I've said. They have acted stupidly, are continuing it and even if other possible leaders would be as stupid doesn't make current ones less stupid. And who knows how other leaders would react? At the end the question still isn't the invasion or no invasion, but how to handle the situation at hand. Past can be debated to eternity. But they have clearly (to me) chosen the wrong path. Good point in debating of future is that it turns past at some point.

[Tulac]

Well Bush is sending another 4 400 soldiers in to Iraq, this is as dumb as it gets, what do soldiers know about peacekeeping, most of them are youngsters who aren't even legal to drink alcohol.

[Juni Ori]

You kind of do have a point, but they are military police, who do know about maintaining peace. But this aggressive tactic they have chosen, reminding many of the total war, is poor. And what can 24 thousand new troops do? At best surgical strikes to militant bases and strorages. And this demands informants, whom they no doubt have, but their reliability is always questionable and setting up traps is easy. Bodycount is rising.

Btw, twin bombings in Bagdad, leaving 29 dead. As I said, bodycount is rising...

Edit: Interesting... Which is really the right way to write in English: Bagdad or Baghdad. Seems like even BBC is not sure. Same article, both versions!

[BeefontheBone]

I think they generally prefer it with the H - if it's absent, it's probably quoting a US source.

[DeathDude]

The democrats are also pushing hard to get the troops out of Iraq by believe August 2008, thats the deadline they've set and to refocus their attention on the area that should be more focused on in this war on terror, Afghanistan.

Bringing in more troops to the area is just a recipe for disaster, and well Bush looks like just wants to save face as best as he can, knowing that each day is just another bunch of money being spent on the war, with the worry of Iran too, which some media outlets have said, the U.S have agents already operating in the area and possibily coordinating with Israel for a future attack, makes ya wonder, what could happen next.

[Havell]

http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/6441461.stm

Only news story that's actually made me laugh out loud at more than one point in years.

[Juni Ori]

That's. Just. Hilarious. We all have our secrets, yeah...

[BeefontheBone]

That's pretty good, although I don't think anyone'll top the hilarity of Stephen Milligan's autoerotic asphyxiation any time soon. Granted, the fact that he died lessens the hilarity somewhat.

[Tulac]

Nah that Israeli minister that was using covered binoculars on a military meetin is still the best.

[Havell]

http://news.bbc.co.u...and/6430683.stm

Not as laugh out loud funny as the last one, but raised a big grin on my face all the same.

[Juni Ori]

Yay... Again more bullets to anti-rpg organizations:

Quote

He told the court he had been in a role-playing game at the time and may have blurred reality and fantasy.

Btw, are there any active left? What happened to Parents Against D&D? I haven't heard anything of it for some time. Or they are just yesterday's news...

[BeefontheBone]

I don't think parents have much to do with it when it's a 45-year-old man. Besides, I think they got distracted by GTA.

[Juni Ori]

What I meant with PADD is that I wouldn't be surprised if they told us: "See what happens to people who've played decades!" or something. But you may be correct there that they got outnumbered and their significance and credibility has reduced to zero or close to it.