2004 Elections: Democratic Party Contenders

hobit, I don't know what you mean, because the width of the post with the link is the same width as all the other posts on the page.

What do you think Japan and Hitler had in mind? And, what was the purpose of 911? Forceful redecoration?

Don't act like you're that naive.

I love the idea that we're not subordinated to the will of others... If wishes were...

Sofia, Can you please address your question to a individual if that's what you're trying to do? Thx, c.i.

The al-Quaeda is less interested in subjugationg the US than in reforming Islam. I have never understood the folks who seem to think divisions of tanks driven by bin-Laden are going to come rolling down Madison Ave. Terrorists, by definition, don't think the way Yammamoto or Rommel did. If they have any desire to change our way of life, it is to make us less open and free, which your little guy in the WH is happy to oblige. the Bush administration couldn't have planned a better event than 11th September to help advance their priorities. Bin-Laden/Al-Queda doesn't want Americans to convert, he wants them to die. There is a difference. In the large view, his "plan" if you will, is unworkable. The only people who have subjugeted others after 9/11 is the administration. It is you, Sofia, who are displaying naivete...The "red Dawn" fantasies of the far right are very misplaced.

Really? Read what the Iraqi's think about that.

* Iraqis are optimistic. Seven out of ten say they expect both their country and their personal lives will be better five years from now. On both fronts, 32 percent say things will become MUCH better.

* Asked to name one country they would most like Iraq to model its new government on, after being offered five possibilities?-neighbor and fellow Baathist republic Syria, neighbor and Islamic monarchy Saudi Arabia, neighbor and Islamist republic Iran, Arab lodestar Egypt, or the U.S.?-the most popular model by far was the U.S. The U.S. was preferred as a model by 37 percent of Iraqis selecting from those five?-more than neighboring Syria plus neighboring Iran plus Egypt, all put together. Saudi Arabia was in second place at 28 percent.

Again, there were important demographic splits. Younger adults are especially favorable toward the U.S., and Shiites are more admiring than Sunnis. Interestingly, Iraqi Shiites, who are co-religionists with Iranians, do not admire Iran's Islamist government; the U.S. is six times more popular with them as a model for governance.

* And, finally, you can write off the possibility of a Baath revival. We asked "Should Baath Party leaders who committed crimes in the past be punished, or should past actions be put behind us?" A thoroughly disgusted and unforgiving Iraqi public stated by 74% to 18% that Saddam's henchmen should be punished.

Evidence of the comparative gentleness of this war can be seen in our poll. Less than 30 percent of our sample of Iraqis knew or heard of anyone killed in the spring fighting. Meanwhile, fully HALF knew some family member, neighbor, or friend who had been killed by Iraqi security forces during the years Saddam held power.

Perhaps the ultimate indication of how comfortable Iraqis are with America's aims in their region came when we asked how long they would like to see American and British forces remain in their country: Six months? One year? Two years or more? Two thirds of those with an opinion urged that the coalition troops should stick around for at least another year or more.

More.

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11927

A little off the subject, but not too much I hope... I just had a wonderful email from a friend which included the following comment about reading the Sunday papers:

"The first thing I read was the front page story on 'Dizzying Dive to Red Ink.' Great line about most of those who get to pay the bill having 'already been put to bed by their parents'."

Brand X, I'm so happy for the Iraqis. Americans are paying with our blood and billions. I hope you're happy too!

BTW, did anybody in this administration study about Rome?

We're already 30 years passed our life expectancy as a civilzation, history will catch up to us soon enough I think.

Brand X, I'm so happy for the Iraqis. Americans are paying with our blood and billions. I hope you're happy too!

Brand X, I think you have some confusion; the US are the one's that sacrificed for other's freedoms during WWI and WWII at great sacrifice.

Errrr...what about The UK and France?

What about when America was being formed by foreigners, struggles for unity and freedom, many lives paid those bills.

hobit, Didn't mean to intentionally ignore the contributions of England and France, but without the US, Germany would have won both wars.

Brand X, FYI, the US is composed of immigrants. Only the Native American Indians are considered for all intent and purposes, "non-immigrants." However, if you wish to study anthropology, even American Indians are said to have come from the Far East.

The al-Quaeda is less interested in subjugationg the US than in reforming Islam.

And how did killing 3000 American citizens work into reforming Islam? Again, what was the purpose of 911?

Splitting hairs aside, all I was trying to get across was, we have had contributions and sacrifices by other countries that we ultimately benefit from, even if the circumstances were different than the dealings in Iraq. Sorry to take it off track, please continue with your discussion.

Thanks for helping make part of my point.

the purpose of a terror attack is to sow the seeds of conflict and discontent. A US that is busy repressing its own citizens isn't likly to have time to go after al-Quaeda. The purpose of Teror is terror. Bin-Laden does not want to take over the US. The doesn't want to "take over" anything. He wants to create anarchy. By striking the US, bin-Laden shows that his organization can attack a "mighty" power and be free of repurcussions (he was wrong), therefore adding legitimacy to his world view and increasing recruitment. Al-Quaeda's principle target isn't the US, it is Islam. Bin Laden and others like him are not too dissimilar from Muntzer and the Anabaptists in 16th century Europe.

"Again, what was the purpose of 911?"

The stated reasons were:
1) US troops in Saudi Arabia
2) US support of corrupt Middle Eastern regimes.
3) US support of sanctions against Iraq.
4) US support of Israel to the detriment of the Palestinans.