ttom500 Forum Posts (10,523)

RE: I Have a Question

Nice to be back...system is running on a hard drive and programming that needs some major fixin........need to get the geek squad out here in force......fill the yard with VWs.........

RE: I Have a Question

Only if Indy (Mr. Sensitivity) can call the hug huddle play.......:-)

RE: Barack Hussain McCain!

Well you know that McCain is about twice as likely to military force against Iran as Obama is, yes? And if you are not for Obama winning
the Presdiency...it means you wish to put a man that is more likely to use military force on Iran to halt it nuclear prgrams?

RE: I Have a Question

When it begins to effect you self esteem....you bite your thumb.......the pain causes you to quit

RE: I Have a Question

Try a little self deprecation, BnaturAl...they like that......says we have both a sense of humor and a sense of humility....and can laugh at ourselves

RE: Barack Hussain McCain!

Where is the fight? I just made serises of accurate statements. And when you say......America must correctly be this or do that.......that is a order.

So what else should America correctly be?

RE: I Have a Question

HI Wish.....how is it going?

RE: I Have a Question

I thought that was fragile creatures with dense egos???

RE: I Have a Question

I have heard that BnaturAl......I will not keeep score then......enjoy the game.

RE: I Have a Question

I think she got you BnatruAl...tricked you into asking her a question. Score for this thread.....ladies 1 Bnatural 1

It is a draw so far.......are we going best 2 out of 3? If so next one wins.

RE: Barack Hussain McCain!

My turn to jumb in a little. America is the most political incorrect place you ever want to be. You begin to tell us what 'correct' is.....and most
of the 300m American will first politely...and then impolitely tell you where to take your version of being 'correct'.

See to us....when someone says something like this to us...means that they are just infringing all over our freedoms and rights. When you say 'must follow it'.....it is taken as a order to be correct. Americans love being decent and fair......but this idea of being correct...and being ordered to be correct.....is one that comes from a middle east religion.

Where they take kids.....from the age of 5, place them on one knee, bobing thier heads in a rythem, and make them memorize a regilious book.....see that is being ordered to be 'correct'. Where they take
women, and say....you must wear a veil or Burkah...that is being ordered to be 'correct'......where they take young girls and make
arranged marriages for them.....that is being 'correct'.

The America I know....is so far removed from that....it is night and day.

RE: Would you work in Afghanistan or Iraq & why or why not

Horse and cattle were big business back then. Central Florida had a lot of cattle operations....at the beginning of the war......feeding the
southern Armies.

By the mid and end of the war, the Confederate money was so bad
the ranchers did not want to take it in on trade. So instead of doing full spring round ups......several of them began to partials.....just bring a few head into the rail heads for the south. By the end of the war, Union armies were in Florida....the cattleman took thier herds....still large to sell to the Union commissionary.

Talk about getting the locals angry. The several cattlemen families names that did it....were mud for the next 75 years....but it was the beginning of carpet bagging here....not much the locals could do.

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

To reply to the last question, first. I know that after Sadam was caught, they made a distinction changing it from a 'war zone' to a 'policing action'. Having said that....what they ulitmately faced there....were para military forces. Not purely armed civilians. In my thinking it falls in between the two....leaning more to a 'war zone'.

You almost have to look at individual operations occurring. One moment, it is say a check point operation doing search of civilians (policing) and then the next you have say full combat operation with
Mahdi Army units (combat). Like many things in war...this began to redefine our thinking on it. Military Doctrine and training changes began to occur here.

The saying is 'preception is everything' in the media. How the viewer is seeing the events and the discription of them. Iraq is getting media presentation that from purely biased positions (alJeezera) to political
based (CNN, NBC, NY Times) to online utube video flashes to some very good honest reporting.

But today the 'preception' of the Iraq war...is more being done around the water cooler, coffee shop and TGIF...meaning that social circles have developed their opinion of the it and have harden to that position. A liberal group will hear something of the war.....and moves to one conclusion. Same with a conservative group.....here the exact same thing......moves to a totally different conclusion. The middle ground where prespections can be honestly be exchanged and expression....and then a common ground found...are few and far between.

The question becomes how do you make the preception of war/conflict positive? Just no easy way to do that. My position to Iraq....is look at where it was under Sadam....to what it can be. Knowing that between the two points....there is likely a lot bad stuff to occur. Some have tried to paint it as a 'noble cause'. But that does fly well at times when you read of Abu Grail, a civilian murder situation, or corruption. All low points to the final destination of what it can be.

On bombing. 90% of the bombs dropped in Iraq are precision guided munitions. During the first Gulf War....it was only 15% with the rest being unguided. Precision guided munitions mean less is needed on the target. The day of western militaries doing saturation, carpet or even 'pin point' unguided target bombing with a bomb sight are over. The day of one bomb one target strike is here to stay. They might use two....say on two ends of a bridge.....just to cause more damage and delay the repair.

This is not to say all muntions are precision guided.....bomblette munitions are a area munitions. And in Mosul...on a AlQeada unground strong hold in a Palm grove.....I saw them use napalm. It depends on the target. In urban areas.....about the only thing that is approved for a drop....is precision guided munitions.

But again with precision guided munitions....does not mean you cannot have a very intense bombing campaign. Indeed it can mean even be more intense. Command today tries to find balance and logic to the munition that they are flying/using. They use a matrix of information from intelligence, to target type, to location, to the military objectives and orders.

Which bring me to this. The Army has a new system out. First time used was in Sadar city several months ago ...when the Mahdi Army fought. The system....is a computerised mapping system....records where all the US military munitions are striking via GPS position. Now after the fight is over.....the owners of the properties can seek compensation for the damages done. We are trying to be responsible to the Iraqi people in this. And there are many examples of high points where American and UK soldiers have placed themselves into harmsway to aid the injured Iraqi. We are working solutions on the new lob bomb vehicles which are a area weapon that is being used against Iraqi urban areas and military bases.

RE: Would you work in Afghanistan or Iraq & why or why not

LOL.....I had family on both sides of the Civil War. On the southern side, I had a relative that was a local cattle man....had the fastest horse in the county.

He gets drafted.....does not want to serve with the south, as he saw it as the lost cause. So he and the horse take to the country. Occassionally he would run into the local militia.....that would chase him...him be a draft dodger.

The things he could get that horse to do. Being local and cowboy....he knew the lay of the land well. Would ride them till dusk...then slip into a swamp. Or would ride them till out sight and lay the horse in a gully and wait from them to pass by. According to my gran daddy....he had more tricks that Barnum and Bailly Circus.

They chased him the final two years of the war.....the closest they got was 100 yards. Moral of the story.....don't ride old horses, fellers.

RE: Would you work in Afghanistan or Iraq & why or why not

Hi Sparkie,

Back the year prior to Iraqi election, I had a opportunity to work in Iraq on a civilian contractor contract. It had approval here in the
states from the right parties, just needed Iraqi gov't approval, which did not come. Hence I did not make the trip. But would have.

Here is my thoughts. I don't know your field of expretise. But contact others in your field...that have and are there....in the two countries...
ask them if they think they are effective and if they are having troubles.

Effective NGO work often depends on the host government. If they are letting the work occur. If not? Why get caught in the middle of it? It is just a rock and hard place. On the other hand, if the host government
supports your work.

What better places in the world to do NGO work than in Iraq and
Afghanistan?

Also check the gov't contract of your NGO prior to agreement. Some might be on thier last year or two of a NGO contract. Then another will take thier place. Also our politics...is going to play a role here. With a Obama win....a US force withdrawal in 16 months. Not sure, I would want to be there the month after they leave, Sparkie. By the way that has become "conditional" at this point. So? Still anyone guess on that.

Bottom line Sparkie. There are lot of good paying jobs all over the world. You did your time in the service. Got a retirement. Unless you
think that your being there is a difference? Don't just do it for the money, is what I am trying to say. Job fullfillment in other words.

A great job in Tahiti has some merits as well, yes?

That is my two cents. Holler if any of the gum balls that you buy it don't taste good (does not makes sense)......I'll rehash it with you.

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

Sorry I did not get back sooner, system troubles.


Let me see if I can answer a few questions on the bombing of Serbia and Kosovo. If one looks at map of the country...note it is divided by rivers. By bringing down the bridge over the water way, it made it harder for Serbia forces that were scattered all over the region to come to Kosovo. Most of the bombing inside of Serbia was directed at bridges. Outside was a different matter.

In Kosovo itelf Serbian military units were attacked both in target list planning and and hunter operations. This was to bring the pressure on these units and to drive them from Kosovo. Two week prior to the end, a order to not strike retreating Serb units was given....any
vehicle traveling north to Serbia....was not engaged. We tried to
miminize both civilian and military casualities in this.

Think back. How many times did the power supply of Belgrade go down? Or the phone and internet service? Or fuel from Russia and
Hungary stop? During the bombing campaing? I can think of one time that the Belgrade power was down....that was a black out by the
Serbia gov't. Phone and net service never went down. And the oil shippment were not attacked. All could have been done.If as you say........destruction of industry, schools, hospitals.....was happening. Why then did not NATO strike these other targets of Serbia? In Belgrade there was some gov't complexes and a communcation center attacked, again if I remember correctly.

Honestly I have not been to Serbia prior to or after the conflict. It seems to me that these attacks on industry, schools, and hospitals had occurred......they would have been picked up in major news reporting after the conflict. See any such?

There were was a misguided bombs the did fall into a industry complex, If I remember. And several that missed bridges, that again struck un intended targets. But there never was a planned air assault to destroy Serbia. It could have been planned and executed. But was not.

On the traffic accident death of the diplomat. I do remember reading of this. English solider could be either US or UK. So I am not sure which.
But assuming it was a American solider....here is what would have of happened. A JAG (Judge Advocate General) investigations and then hearing into the incident. The evidence and statements....and actual
testimony of the Macedonia police/accident investigators.....could have been presented at the hearing. This I don't know. Had say...'drunk driving' been determined as the cause.....the soldier driving could have faced dishonorable discharge, manslaughter charges, endangering civilian....the later two....could have been felony charges that ended him/her up in a military prison. This I don't know. What the disposition of this was.

Finally, Milosovic and Kradizc ....the others....they had large noumbers of supporters. I have seen their rallies films where they 5 & 10Kin attendance. It was not just remove Milosovic that needed to occur.

Had they been left in power, with ethnic cleaning going on. Would
Serbia be any closer today in entry into the EU? No, I suspect not.
And with Europe's growing Moslem population....ethnic cleansing in one part of Europe, would soon mean violence elsewhere in the EU.

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

If you find American soldiers or military engaged in such activities.
With evidence...not just speculation or with third hand rumor. Please
bring it to me...or to our Embassy Military Attache'.

I am former military, and I have carde' blanche to investigate such
incidences by American forces. I have done so in the past. Our people are very good but not perfect, and some may use thier power and position to such. If so we want to know about it and to deal with it.

But to the threads main comment to the Balkans being the 'thermometer' of Europe. Historically, has this not been the problem of Europe. When Napleon was sending armies over Europe, one country was disturbing them all. Same with WWII Germany.

The Balkans are the most recent example.....and still seem today to be
problem area. But it seems to me....that when one area becomes militant and violent.....action needs to be taken early to keep it from
spreading accross borders and into other countries.

Kosovo is a good example. By the time the US made the decision to get involved there......you already had the other Balkan states in
problems. The violence from both sides....actually more than two sides....had already flowed....the hatred built and expressed in violence.

Had Europe been ready and willing to take the issue on early...could it not have been stopped sooner? and easier? To me this has been the major mistake here. Stop it early.

I fully understand, that in this region of the world that many sides take to such acts. Pointing the finger at entire the Serb people, is not justice. Nor pointing the finger at the Bosnian people or the Kosovars either. You point the finger....with proof and evidence at the parties and leaders of those doing it. In this case....your Milosovic, Kardizc etc. But to be just, means you also point that same finger at the other parties and leaders where groups are doing the same or such.

My hope, that never materialized from Kosovo, was the Islamic world would see the Christian world in a different light. That they could see us as being just, and when Christians were in the wrong. That we would resolve such situations with some justice. 9/11 and the other events of the clash of Juedo/Christian and Islamic cultures, sadly seems to have dashed that hope pretty well, for me.

But I am learning lot from this thread.....thank you all.

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

OK I see this as a problem for the Serbs. And its a substantial one.

Do you think that it is the reason that this arrest was made? To show the EU they are working the problem? If that is the case, these hardliners of the Kradizc can go violent. They will see little way out
than not to.

But still, I don't see the problem being a EU problem. The EU has standards for admission, the Serbs know this. It is up to the Serbs to meet the standards, not for the EU to lower them so they can get in.
Yes?

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

Fill me in a little then. How does this effect European politics? It is the arrest of one man. Sure there are these small groups of intense support.

But no politician would say support their positions, today. One of the groups came out saying...they would try to over throw the Serb gov't...that is disturbing.....because it gives me the impression that
violence will be used.

Again a localized problem to Serbia yes? So how does it effect broadly
European politics?

On the trial of the OBL driver. It can be a real mess it seems. He is asking for classified documents that will give up intelligence sources. Seem to have gained a Civilian court hearing following the Miltiary court he is in now. There he can release the classified documents to the public if not handled correctly. And we had a FBI agent come out and say that none of the GITMO detainees recieved any Miranda Rights. Most civilian courts consider Miranda rights to be necessary or they toss the case automatically.

RE: Is the capture of Radovan Karadzic a chance for healing for the Balkans?

I care....I was on a US DoD Consulting Task advising during Kosovo
that help to bring down Milosovic and the other Serbs.....like Karadzic.
So I follow the various hunts that they have going on for them.

I find hard to believe that in a modestly small country like Serbia, that it has taken 13 years to catch these guys....with only one remaining.

Almost I see the Serbian population reaction to his capture. Say myself, Europe still has troubles in the region.

Milosovic, Karadzic and the others did not have much power back then, unless there was a significant segment of the Serbian population in support. That you still have groups of them supporting
men that are out of power, on the run with well established and evidenced crimes...needs to tell Europe something.

Don't get me wrong.....there is no statue of limitations to the crimes against humanity that they commited. So 13 years or 50 years.....justice will catch up here. So, I applaud the capture.

Karadzic was smart, used various desguise skills, and knew who and where in Serbia, he could get help to remain free these years. But the
world is not going to allow mass enthnc cleansing. When you go that route in life......you are a criminal and deserves what one gets.

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

I did not know that they got hurricanes in Denmark. Would that not destroy all their windmills?

RE: Canada deports U.S. army deserter

If it is the case I am thinking of..his unit was assigned to a deployment to Iraq......and he skipped. I think that he is looking at Levenworth time. Maxium security hard time military prison in Kansas.

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

Ever wonder what Superman would do in a hurricane? Call FEMA for
assistance.:-)

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

Just finished off a concept paper last night.....and to need to finish off getting NDAs to firms.....some long hours right now.

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

Maybe if we began a petition drive on CS......we could get everyone in
CS to send him copies?

Also watch OReilly body language segment on Jesse Jackson and his......donw talking Blacks comment.....they did not tlak much about
Jackson.......but the man that was beside him......

:-) according the body language expert here is what he did and what they mean.


Action Meaning
1) reverse lip curl...............................................this realy is bad

2) eyebrow raise................................................OH REALLY?!??!??!

3) shoulder raise.................................................put a wall between
me and you

4) shift away........................................................I need some space
now

The poor guy was like a deer caught in headlights. Jesse Jackson knows they are both hot wired.....and he knows it......he has to sit there to make the interview......and if he says anything on the
Jackson comments......it is all over Foxnetwork and into the media.

His total silence was the only option and wisest choice he had. He made the right one.

By the.....apparently FOX had a leak now all of Jesse Jackson comments on uTube. Fow was being nice.......had it cut it down to just the basics.....

Me thinks that Jesse Jackson will be doing me culpas again soon to the public media on this.

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

That makes sense......we Elect a President and Convict him at the sametime:-) Saves money of a Jury trial!

RE: Obama for pepsident CXIIVQIIVXII.......FIANAiLLTY!

Mixing Politicans again, Indy? LOL.......is like mixing vegatables. Looks good on the plate, but does not taste well.

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

Better check the signature of the cartoonist on that bottom of the cartoon...I bet it says......Dude

Hurry finish this thread off.....only 4 to post to go!!

RE: Obama for pepsident CXIIVQIIVXII.......FIANAiLLTY!

I better get posted here before Dude comes into the thread....and we get into a debate......figure first shot is better than waiting.....

GO McCain!!

RE: OBAMA for PRESIDENT and Triskaidekaphobia

And to think that the New Yorker is a libral magazine. you just cannot trust a far lefter.......wonder if they are going to support McCain now?