ttom500 Forum Posts (10,523)

RE: Canadian Border finally addressed!

Not saying Isreal is perfect. Saying this though.....

to place moral judgement on men that are in such a situation....is large unfair. This life and death decision was made in a moment of time. We get hours to anaylsis if the 'right choice' was made.....if there was a right choice to be made. This teen death (and many others there) is one of those situations, where there is 'no good choice' by those involved. These are the kinds of situations that Hamas and Hezbollah dream up for Isreal to contend with.

Isreal is a very small nation. To destroy Isreal as a nation...really only takes several nuclear devices, or a armor assault that can cross the country in a day's time. What does this have to do with Palistine issue you ask?

My feeling is that as long as you have the hatred of Hamas or
Hezbollah (fueled by the Palestine issue) along side, Isreal.......you have the means and will power to place those devices. As long you as have a nation states like Syria and Iran, with a intent to destroy Isreal.......then you have a way to launch that armored assault or make the devices. Isreal needs the right to protect itself from both. A right many in the world, are less willing to give her.....as media is presents these life and death situations created by Hamas and Hezbollah.

I remember the spying case you speak of...honestly am not that familar with it.

As for American Jews influencing the Iraq war decision. Only Paul Wolfwitz comes to mind as having a position or some direct work in the decision. I am not even sure if he is Jewish.....I only go by name here. He was in DoD and did some white papers, with others on a Iraq conflict...supporting it.

I think that the power of think tanks, cultural groups, this CFR group or your New Order Century America is over rated. Opal. I have white papered for many years. Occassionaly, you see them make a decision largely in line with your recommendations. More often they incorporate the ideas of the white paper into exiting programs or projects. But no group that supplies ideas or concepts to them (gov't leaders) ever gets carde blanche support, that I have seen. Technical research projects, it is different. Many time there is only one defined way to make a technical project occur. But you are talking major policy making.....I have never seen it happen that way.

Opal you really think that a Obama/B. Clinton team could be made? :-)
Just give it a thought for a moment......for B. Clinton to accept such a position after supporting Hillary......and the likely effects on his marraige.....talk about a night on the counch kind of situation after he accepted the offer......not sure that he wants to destory his marriage in such a manner.

Also note that Al Gore and John Edwards seem luke warm to a Obama....VP offer.....I wonder why?

RE: Canadian Border finally addressed!

So you would let these Palestine Children that are hurling rocks and slinging stones get close enough to your position to detonate a suciede device? So you would not cut of the water to a Palestine community to have it relocate or to stop in violence? Which is a non violent way to achieve this?

I have seen video of a Palestine youth......wearing a suceide vest with a remote control being forced to walk at a Isreali check point. Behind him were Hamas snipers that would kill him if he did not. In front were Isreali soldiers that had the choice of letting him walk into them and have it detonated....or to kill him. What is your life and death choice here?

You say how do you know there were Hamas snipers? He was telling them as he walked to them. They ordered him to halt. He could not because of the fear being shot by them. The Isreali eventually had to shot him. Hamas got its media publicity of a Palestine youth being shot by Isreali. And those Isreali soldiers felt horrible about having to kill this young man....but who put him into this position of deadly danger?

It is so very easy to sit on the sidelines and make comments of what should and should not be. To make moral judgements. To say 'thin veneer of respectablity' and make 'equalivancy statements' between Palistine and Isreali actions. But I come back to my question.....what is your life and death choice here? If you can understand there is no 'good' choice to such a situation, then you began to understand the hatred in the middle east....that puts a young teen life into danger in such a immoral manner.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

As we talked in the other thread, I am not sure what this group CFR is.
Having said that, I can also say this with 100% assurance. The first oath that John McCain took in his military career was to the Constitution of the United States, both as a officer and as a service member. If he is elected, that oath will be renewed when he takes the oath of office.

So you need to show me a lot 'direct connection' to this group...the CFR ....for me to accept what you are saying and for me to think that he would break those oaths. Just remember you are talking of a American hero and patriot here, in John McCain.

Libertian? Republican? Democratic? How about just American? Meaning, I know Dems that have worked in Republican cabinets and Republicans that have worked in Democratic cabinets. It seems to me. that Rep Paul offers alot to such a cabinet post. The simple fact is that even if he gets all of these missing primary votes, he still is not close enough to overcome the deligate lead of McCain. McCain is going to be the Republican canidate.

Also this. I work the polls here in Florida as a clerk. I have seen zero balance tapes many times at the end of the voting. What voters say on exit polling and how they actually voted might very well two different things. And their might be a problem with how the vote was recorded......our county looked the Diebold system......and choose another. If they have a paper trail, is your best way to find out if such happened.

It is certainly within his right to take to court such matters, assuming he has solid evidence of the doings. But if his evidence is the least bit suspect, courts tend to kick out election claim cases pretty fast. They understand that it often because of the passion associated with the election, that the case has been brought.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

I disagree there. McCain supports the war, yes. No arguement there.
But that does not mean he will 'fight' the war the way that present
administration has.

I think that they made some mistakes and some good calls. Afghanistan was a good call in my opinion. Why? Well it went after binLaden in a pretty agressive manner with a very small deployed force. Afghanistan in my opinion is not a place to put a lot of people.
It told the world and the US...that this was about terrorism.

Mistakes? Well making the case for Iraq on the narrow base of wmds was a mistake. They should have presented a broader case......Sadam was a bad guy, Iraqi were losing thier lives, stronger connections with AlQeada....there for this was the right thing to do, they did.

Why do I say he will fight it differently. For a couple of reasons. First McCain's 5 years in a POW camp in North Vet Nam has given him a very different perspective on war, than any of the present leaders.
His position on torture and harsh treatment of detainees is one area of difference. Another is this. McCain was in a shooting war. GWB never was. Go thru it one time, tends to affect your decision making process and your will power to achieve victory.

Note how Obama mentioned McCain's 100 year remark? McCain, from word one on that was talking of 'will power' to win. GWB ever come out with such a statement? No, GWB was about landing on a aircraft carrier with a sign over head...saying 'mission accomplished'.

If you know our Civil War history......McCain is a U. S. Grant and
GWB is a Meade. Meade let Lee slip away after the battle of Gettysburg. Grant was going to stay and fight till the last man could not, then find some more and fight some more till there was a victory. McCain is bringing a difference in command attitude with him.
That is why he has done so well at the military base area in primary votes. Military people like what they hear here with McCain. He is saying, I going to turn you lose to get the job done.

GWB and his administration have been saying from day one...this is going to be a long conflict....this is going to be a long war. McCain is saying....whether long or short we have the will power to win.
See the difference? To be honest, McCain has soften his position on the war in the recent weeks some. Where it is right now, I am not sure. Where ever it is.....it is harder than either Hillary's or Obama's.

What I have said here is pretty brutal. This conflict we have is pretty brutal. Niether in Iraq or Afganhistan are Americans taken prisoner when found wounded or captured. There are only 3 MIA in Iraq presently. Basically, it is a summary execution when our people are taken captive. That is about as brutal as it gets. McCain is going to come at this with a different command attitude than GWB.

RE: Canadian Border finally addressed!

Guarranteed which ever way the media writes it up.......it is a story that the Candain will remember for a life time.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

Follow me here some. We do have economic problems but we also a segment of the Moslem world that wants to kill us, both military and civilian.

War time (or conflict time) Commander in Chief focus a lot of thier day
to that running the military and the strategy of the conflict. They lose sight of the at home economic things. I think that is partly what has happened with Bush this last years of his Administration.

So? Do both. Put McCain in as President and Paul in a cabinet position for the economy. The Republican party is united. You have new ideas on economic reform, and you get a expereinced war time commander in chief. Now whether McCain will offer and if Paul will accept...I don't know.

But it is a cute way to kill two birds with one stone. or with one cast ballot in the fall.jmo

RE: Canadian Border finally addressed!

Come on Indy....you know how those Canadians like to put one white face camo, wear a white bed sheet in mid winter....slip across the border and into a sleeping grislie cave in Northern Montana. It is a threat to our wildlife and their lifestyle.

Of course what happens to the Canadians that do this......is normally considered a 'grave international incident'.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

We got some common ground here. Modern political contests have turned into popularity contests. Issues and positions get spun and twisted. Negative campaigning and the 30 second campaign tv ad, where 1000s votes can be gained, have really messed up the idea of a honest and informative pre election campainging.

As for criteria.....I look first at the 'state of the union'....what is the country facing in issues, in threats, in goals? Then look at the canidates and thier positions and solutions.....to find the one that best meets the that 'state of union' that I see on the horizon.

Right now, I still think we are in a GWOT. Hence, I support McCain. If GWOT was not there......then someone with a stronger economic program. Dem or Rep. Going with the 'state of union' approach takes the party out of it....and you are voting for the best of the entire country and its population.

Rep Paul weakness was his military expereince, in my opinion. He has solid economic and tax programs. My thought he would make a great
Secretary of Treasury in a McCain cabinet. From there he can still do the economic reforms, that even McCain has suggested in the past.
So I can go with a solid Command in Chief with a solid cabinet of advisor on the home front, with my 'state of the union' approach.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

I pick and choose how I support any Amercian Administration while it is office. Sometime I support a area 100%, other times I am in opposition.

GWB is out in a few months. The real deal questions for us now...is who is to follow? Where does he/she lead us? How does he.she lead us?

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

Obama has a much better understanding of foreign cultures? That is why he only has has 1 Foreign Service Committee Hearing on Iraq/Afganhistan? Why he has only visited Iraq one time? He must get his understanding of middle east cultures thru form of osmosis then.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

Sorry, that doesnot work here at this point in our process, Fallingman.
He is running for the highest position in our government, associations are fair game at this point. Why?

We get a better understanding of what 'influences' and 'sources' of information that he will use when in office. We get a better understanding of where his 'thinking' and 'motivates' are.
American people have always wanted to know that they were putting the very best and most honest man into Presidency that they could. Hence it is very complete inspection that media gives on the canidates.

Ever go to a horse race.....standing in line to make a bet...and hear the
two guys behind you talking.....one says...I like number 7 in a 2nd race. The other guys say....well four weeks ago he ran lame in a race in a different track. Maybe you circled number 7 in the 2nd to bet on. After hearing that would you?

In a way this like a horse race. The more of information the voters accurately pick up on the canidates. The more 'weight' the canidate carries into the November election. That information can hurt or can help you. But if you have too much of it that hurts you, don't get into the horse race, because you will carrying to much weight.

RE: Obama’s Communist Mentor

This is a very interesting posting. Thank you for the info.

I don't know Frank Davis or what his politics are. But intend to find out with my own research now.

I do know or better remember the 'Black Panthers' of the late 1960s and 1970s.....remember what they stood for and stood against. Remember how they evolved into the group that today stands behind
Luois Ferracon.

What concerns me is that with only printing his first name "Frank" in his book......Barak seems to be hiding the man's identity to us. Such is a form of deception.

While I don't think that Barak is a communist. His possible distant assocaition with this old possible 'Black Panther'....tells me how he could sit in Trinity Church for 20 years and listen to Rev. Wright.

By the way, just for info for some of the foreign poster's here. You are right most foreign governments are more left than the United States. But a right of every people is to have its own flavor of government. You like left of center, we like right of center.

Just don't assume that because you are there...that we have to
follow you there. United States on a whole is a very moderate country......extreme views and political leanings in either direction.....seldom get voted into office here.

RE: Toward a New U.S.-Middle East Strategy:

Can we talk first a little of 'think tanks' in general and then more specifically about your group, the CFR?

Did you know that the Chinese use think tanks? The Russians use
think tanks? That Iran has a version of them?

So if enemies of the United States use think tanks and the expertise of them, why not the United States? You cannot expect a elected leader to know everything. You cannot expect him/her to not relie on the the expertise of others.

Let me explain how they work in these foriegn countries some.

Remember when the Chinese oil firm made a buy out of Conoco a year ago? The Chinese oil firm was thier number 3 oil company with sale of only $160 milllion per year. The offer for Conoco was $13b. The Chinese gov't was going to lend or give that small firm the money for the deal. Now ask yourself who thought out and convinced the Chinese gov't do that? Yes, a Chinese think tank did. They saw all the geo-politics of the situation, saw it as a win/win ...meaning if they got the purchase of Conoco it was a win....if they did not get the sale it was a win...in media of a capitolistic country refusing a legimate buy out.

Foriegn think tanks are out to hurt your country, the American people, and our relationships around the world. Don't kid yourself, please.

Having said that....please answer the first part.....why should the American government not use think tanks? Because thier expertise keeps the international playing field even.

Let turn to this group, the CFR. Honestly I don't know them well. I recognize some of the names. What make them so evil? or bad? or
wrong? Remember they have the same right of freedom of the press and freedom of speech as you or me. If what they place out there is not hateful or deceptive or vile.......they are covered with in the Constitution under both of those rights.

RE: Is a woman place n the kitchen

Sorry, that only works for baseball. When guys learned that women consider the fastest way to a man's heart was via his stomache, we learned quickly to focus on sports.

Go Tigers!

RE: Is a woman place n the kitchen

Nah a smart man would not do that, Morganlee....he might come close and give technical advice while you made the dishes....but throw you out of the kitchen...never!

I told you gentkejack......where ever you are.....this could get some hot water from the ladies here. You got to remember man, that things do boil in the kitchen at times!

RE: Is a woman place n the kitchen

My first reaction was to tell him that he had stepped into some very hot water.......but noting the comments from the ladies.......seems
like the water is fine. Good luck gentkejack....

RE: I'm new here... so here goes my first "thread"...

Welcome abroad CS.......first kiss? You are asking for a deep memory dig here. Don't be like that Indy and you others.....yes I have been kissed. Sophmore in high school took a girl to a dance....kissed at the door when night ended. If my memory dig is right.......

RE: america created osama bin laden for inved oil rich country

Conspriracies run amock on 9/11. Many are from Europe. It not is funny that this done, you are right. But that is how they are made up. And why they are made up often...for 'inches of print' in some tabloid. That right there make them a 'for profit or money' exercise because those writing reporters get paid for such trash. My laughter is at those that write and print them and those unknown sources that make them up...... any would take the material seriously.

From the 9/11 threads and post I have seen, this kind of posting is done to anger Americans. Hence they like to pull Americans 'chain' with them.

I am just offended at 9/11 conspriracy theories as you.

And I am trying to make the point here, that they are done for some thing as base as money and profit ..and have a very low standard of journalistic intrigrity attached.

No offense to you or to those of New York that went thru 9/11.

RE: american soilders -get out from iraq,they are enough able to find out their own solution

Tryandcatchme72, you know that Iraq was a living nightmare before we got there. Most here do not realize or wish to realize that. Your
brother and exfiance....and the others there....have done amazing things there.

I suspect you have talked with both and both have said that it is improving in different ways and in different areas of the country.
Maybe not becuae many times it depends on where you are stationed there.

God Bless em all, keep them safe, my hat is off to your brother and ex.

RE: america created osama bin laden for inved oil rich country

Tabloid journalist don't lie. OK. How about thier unstantiated sources, thier unidentified sources, thier secondary sources, thier
experts from a totally different field sources, thier sources waiting to be paid after the story is printed.....but you are right, honest journalists don't lie.

RE: Obama is Dead

I am not a Obama supporter either, but I don't wish to see him or any near him hurt.

RE: america created osama bin laden for inved oil rich country

I don't see an American reply...so if I might jumb in....oh yes.....with both feet.

Our friend here is forgetting....training camps in Afghanistan, cell phone calls from the passengers on the 9/11 aircraft to thier loved ones, binLaden tapes and admission for 9/11, Pakistani President Musharraf attemping to get Omar (Taliban Leader) to extradite bin Laden after 9/11 to Saudi, and the 100s of middle east terrorist attacks that have been commited and admitted to by either AlQeada or Alqeada of Iraq, and the number of AlQeada attacks in Europe....all of which binLaden and AlQeada have taken responsilbility for.

Was I civil?

You are so faulty in your thinking, sir.

RE: UNDERSTANDING MEN

Same language.....but totally different meanings, concepts, uses, applications, and understandings! You just got to love it! Amazing that that any two people, work thru the differences to say 'I do'.

Her concept of love----->
His concept of love------>