Craig Read

Whistler, and Nuclear, you are right on. Doing nothing, the appeasement philosophy, endless dialogue and giving Syria LEGITIMACY with a seat on the UNO security council is not only farcical it is dangerous. The UN and its liberalist and socialist/marxist membership is basically stating that Terror and defying civilisation and nation state security is not only legitimate but to be extolled. Those who state that we can beat the Afghans, the Iraqi's, or cannot find 'all' the Terrorists have been wrong every time. Hamas and the other various Jihadi groups will join Tiny Bin Laden - pushing up daisy roots somewhere.

True enough. Now the LA Times - which is to the left of PRAVDA back in Pravda's glory days - chooses the 11th hour to publish the allegations of 16 women, 12 of whom have been identified and confirmed - that Arnie groped them. The Times has been sitting on a story since 1997 on Davis's harassement - verbal and physical - of his employees substantiated by many former workers - but of course it refuses to print the report. This is liberalism double standards at work. "It's nothing short of journalistic malpractice when a paper mounts a last-minute attack that can make or break one of the most important elections in California history," wrote Jill Stewart, a former Los Angeles Times reporter, in her syndicated column, which appears in the Los Angeles Daily News and the San Francisco Chronicle, among others.

Riff, read lots of other posts on WMD. Plenty of evidence existed before the war started as these posts stated on WMD, the French as Nuclear posted I believe or Derek, fully agreed that Hussein had WMD. So did the Canadians in various CSIS reports. As i wrote on other posts, WMD more than likely will be found and there are good reasons why it takes so long. The question posed by THIS thread is why is suddenly France so concerned about the poor Iraqi people and 'democracy'. They spent 30 years in bed with Hussein, made lots of money while he warred, gassed, tortured and killed, and now presto! they want to protect the rights of the Iraqi nation. This is hypocrisy, so blatant, so large, so nauseating, that the Foreign ministries of developed nations must be doubled up in laughter at the mere thought that now the French are democrats. Ditto for the UN, which raped Iraq during the 90s and now wants to protect one of its favorites - Syria - from what it has coming. The reason for this posturing is plain - anti-US sentiment and politicking. As LBJ said, all politics is retail, meaning domestic. Chirac, one of the most corrupt politicians in French history, feels he is the natural leader of the EU.

What is truly dispiriting is the lack of civic duty and knowledge as you point out. 55 % voted ! Ok even if you have no choice at least vote and spoil your ballot and write in Mickey Mouse, or pen a love poem on the ballot - just to show that you are there and you object to the choice at hand. How to get people involved ??? Or is life too easy and dull and TV too important to care about the rules that govern one's life. Entitlement, positive rights, access to other's money - is this the source of the problem ?

According to the World Bank's new report the least regulated and most efficient economies are concentrated among countries with well-established common-law traditions, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the U.S. On par with the best performers are Singapore and Hong Kong. Joining the leaders are Denmark, Norway and Sweden, social democracies that recently streamlined business regulation. Poor countries should take note of this - including the Muslim world where instead of killing heathen - building a proper economy might be a more worthy goal. LET'S MAKE A DEAL Number of days to enforce a commercial business contract: Fastest Countries Days Tunisia 7 Netherlands 39 New Zealand 50 Singapore 50 Botswana 56 Slowest Countries Days Guatemala 1,460 Serbia and Montenegro 1,028 Slovenia 1,003 Poland 1,000 Ethiopia 895 Top 10 countries whose regulation systems make it easiest for companies to register, obtain credit, hire and fire workers, enforce contracts and work through the bankruptcy courts. • Australia • Canada • Denmark • Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Singapore • Sweden • U.K. • U.S. Source: World Bank Group's Doing Business database There are good reasons why the West is rich.

Derek great post showing the perfidy of France. Here is another one - lots of French made anti-aircraft missiles have been found since the end of the War. Apparently those trustworthy, democratic and sensitive to the plight of the Iraqi people French, sold illegally a lot of weapons to Hussein during the 1990s. In particular the French made Roland systems have been found pretty much everywhere. Have to love those freedom loving French.

Yes scrap subsidies on both sides of the border. It is assinine that 2 % of the population receives subsidies, most of which goes to huge Agri-business conglomerates. As stated elsewhere these distortions also cause poverty and death in the 3rd world. The WTO failed in Cancun due to agricultural protectionism. Canada should lead and declare a unilateral free trade policy with all nations on agricultural product.

Now Syria who is currently on the UN Security Council has ushered together a meeting. This is sick. 19 Israeli's killed Saturday by terrorists and no UN movement. Suddenly Syrian bases are attacked and now the UN responds with harsh words against Israel. This epitomizes the uselessness of the UNO. Off the wire: The last sentence is beautiful. He admits that Syria is aiding his group.

Hey lads this post in on Iraq !!! Anyways; Flea, you can add to your list; higher petty crime, lower living standards, less disposable income, a far less efficient governing system with no checks and balances, a Confederation where Toronto and Calgary pay all the bills, a one party Federal state, a media that is biased in favor of socialism, a health system that wastes billions, makes you wait, has technology/doctor/nurse shortages and is ranked 19th by the OECD and WHO [30th actually on the WHO list for some areas], and a military that could not storm and take Whitehorse. Many things to fix. As for Sweden, been there, worked with Swedes and understand now why they drink a lot and have the world's highest suicide rate. People who want freedom say No thanks to the Swedish model. Hugo and I presented some good reasons why socialism fails, you offered only one comeback "I love Canada". This is not sensible. Have you lived in the US ? Have you worked there ? Do you know any Americans ? Why is the Canadian system superior to the US - list concrete reasons - I listed many issues above, refute them. As for Nova, I have no idea why he is allowed to post here. Another example of his childishness and the obvious contradiction in his 'thinking'. As usual Nova is utterly confused, on the one hand he hates the US, on the other he believes the Ivy League is where the geniuses reside and where our leaders must come from, an inherent logical paradox that he does not even recognise himself: This is pure racism. As opposed to the highbrow Canadian content on Cdn. TV such as Canadian Idol, the Beachcombers, and btw Cdns apparently per capita watch more of Survivor than Americans according to Nielsen. None of the above sentences can be justified. -'terrible education' - you just stated that the Ivy League has the best and the brightest, yet you contradict yourself by stating that the education system is terrible. Which is it ? I listed a post citing problems with US public education but are you stating that ALL education is bad ??? How do you reconcile that with your love for the Ivy League ? -'dumbed down newspapers, and little knowledge of the world' - as opposed to what the Toronto Star and CBC ? I would hardly call the WSJ, the Post or even god forbid the NY Times as dumbed down. Even the Times makes coherent if incorrect arguments. There are a plethora of good magazines and papers on every topic. From Foreign Affairs to PC Magazine, there is something for everyone and interesting articles a plenty. There are also plenty of good documentaries, news hours, and commentary if you wish to find it. Most TV is crap, but if you want high brow you can find it on cable. As well most Cdns i know have never traveled, never worked outside this country and have no experiences outside this country. Are you trying to tell me Cdns are more worldly ? List precise proof and sources, because my life experience in having worked in 15+ countries does not support your view. I know plenty of Americans and Cdns who are worldly, and plenty more on both sides of the border who walk around wearing baseball hats without having a clue of the greater world. You base this statement on the fact that Americans don't know much about Canada. A pity yes, but from their perspective why should they care that much ? Canada is anti-american, left wing and has no military. More trade exists between NY and Chicago, then between the US and Canada. -'best professors in the world, ' - where, who what are you talking about ? The US University system is without peer in the world but the Ivy League is a Haven for left wing Liberalism. Chomsky, Krugman, Rodrik and others at Harvard are anti-Free Trade and anti-globalisation for eg. The best profs in the world do not necessarily reside in the Ivy League that is for sure, it depends entirely on the subject. The Best business school is Kellogg in Chicago. The best Computer school is Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. The highest ranked schools in many subjects are non Ivy League. There is also a massive gap between their post modern philosophy and realism. Post modernism is a framework that is unequivocally wrong. Many posts on this site identify what is wrong with it - look them up. -'who has more resources avaliable then the average US agency,' - The Ivy League has more resources than the FBI or CIA ?? This is ridiculous. OK identify the $ please in question and make a list of the schools budget vs. the CIA for eg. They don't come close. Homeland security alone has a budget of $40 BILLION. Harvard does not. -'who are some of the brightest people in the world, who have been hand picked to lead the world' - So now you admit Bush is bright because he went to Yale ? Or what are you talking about ? Rumsfeld and Cheney are not Ivy schoolers. Rice and Bush are, Powell is not. What are you refering to ?? I know many folks from Harvard that I would not hire - they can't think. I have friends who went to Harvard MBA school and they said they learnt more in undergrad. The name a brain does not make. Glad in any event that you finally admitted you like Bush. Thanks for that.

Israel is now targeting training camps in Syria. So much for my statement that Syria appeared to be acting better after Iraq was invaded. It certainly is not doing much in getting rid of its support for terror. Good for them. Win the war. When you fight, fight to win, not to draw, to appease, to impress, but to win.

I don't listen to Rush so i have no opinion on him, but his policies certainly are not dumb - compare them to the Dumbocrud policy of tax and spend in Calif. I don't know what he says on the radio but his writings on supply side economics are correct. Back to the thread, McClintock is even now criticising Arnold. This is not smart. He should be talking to Arnold about the #2 spot, not dreaming that he will win. You have to love the Liberal media and 'grope-gate'. Trying their best with unsubstantiated allegations from ABC news first on Arnie's sympathy for Hitler [no proof was offered from ABC, no facts nothing] and all of the women streaming forward saying Arnie felt their buttocks. Have to love the 11th hour timing of these supposed revelations. Oh where is John Turner in all of this ? And Nova you add 0 value and I have no idea why you are allowed on this site to post your nonsense. Go away.

No WMD if you re-read Bush's speech and Powell's listed many other reasons why war was necessary and the Posts have gone over these. I suggest you search online and get excerpts from the presentations. They outline in detail a war justification. The rationale in those documents still stands today. WMD was one aspect of the impetus to invade. Unfortunately it has been trumpeted by the media and by senior officials as the main catalyst. I don't believe that it was the main catalyst. The great fear was more likely the selling, or clandestine use of WMD by terror groups affiliated with Iraq or sold by Iraq to said groups. This is far more likely than a missile strike from Iraqi ground on US assets. Iraqi missile range is basically to Israel and Riyadh. Not a threat to US assets, but WMD being sold certainly is. Bush should have fought this war on geo-political, humanitarian grounds and the links Iraq had with sponsoring and funding terror. That would have been the smart policy.

Twist what ?? Be specific - 'everything' is hardly concrete. Both have said 'immediate' you can even check the National Post story on this website if you like. Chirac was clear - he wants it within one month. King Kofi he of global warming and Hussein 'is a man I can do business with [1998]', stated yesterday he wants the US out ASAP. The fact that no one should listen to this guy is obvious but the media was loving it. [sce Canada.com 10-05-03] Note the word IMMEDIATE. France was making $7 billion per annum in illegal contracts during the 90s. Hussein and Chirac were/are good friends. Le Monde is demanding a police investigation into purported political donations by Hussein to Chirac. The UNO under its sanctions 'oil for everything' plan, took out of Iraq $55 Billion and returned in food and items $34 Billion. According to the WSJ and others, the remainder is sitting in French banks. Why does the Liberal media not investigate THIS ? Neither the UNO nor France gave a damn during the 90s about the Iraqi people. Now suddenly they are concerned about the 'democratic' processes in Iraq. Please.

Canadian beer is pretty bad Riff vs. Belgian, Czech, German and some Dutch brands. Hardly a reason for pride. What about Liberalism - a British styled Constitution, freedom, ability to vote, a good public education system, a system that tries [in some cases with the worst possible distribution philosophy] to help those who need help, a country that openly welcomes immigration and tolerates racial diversity, Canadian actions in WW1, WW2, and Korea, hacking a civilisation out of an area that is 1/2 rock and 1/3 forest cover, and defying the odds and not being overrun by a larger nation to the south. Now take the list and ask yourself, where are we today right now with the most important aspects of this country's history ? Is it going right, or wrong and have we lost our way ? Beer, hockey, bad comedians - these are tangential items, they a nation do not make.

I had already posted that Hannibal had 34 elephants. In the battle of Cannae they were not even used. That battle is his supreme achievement and one of the most complete victories in warfare. Elephants were used for shock value -as Derek stated even Alexander's armies while amazed at the beast were able to win victories against the Hindi armies. Elephants were useful supply trains as well. The elephant story is off topic - the thread discusses the decline of the US - and it was posted that the comparison to Rome is invalid for a number of very good exogenous and endogenous reasons. I would submit that the US is not an empire in the traditional sense and not interested in the spoils of empires of ages past. This makes comparison, i believe between the US and past empires even more difficult. The British hegemony might be used, but even there, significant differences can be pointed out. I just don't think Paul Kennedy's concept which was in vogue during the 1980s is now relevant. All respects to Mr. Kennedy notwithstanding being the very bright historian that he is.

KK, I agree. The entire premise of the US is freedom and the ability to pursue one's own interests. I have no doubt there many issues with the US, nor do i doubt it needs reform. But on the face of the planet it is the beacon that calls people, appealing to their minds and their hearts. There is a reason why the human flow of migration is one way. The system of capital while imperfect is a better and more moral method for organising society than socialism. My workers can leave. They can argue with me. They can bargain for more money. They can go work with my competitors. I always tell them, if you see a better opportunity go take it. Protect yourself, manage yourself, think for yourself, i tell them. On the other hand if we work together than maybe we will reap the rewards as a team and build unique products. Freedom of association. Trust me the Iraqi's are HAPPY to have the US there. Very happy.

KK, good post. Another poor attempt at blaming the US I want backup for that statement. The US economy is 75 % domestic. Its biggest oil supplier is Canada. Its MNC's have plants and offices around the world paying more than local wages. It is the biggest funder of the UN and NGOs and is the biggest foreign aid donor directly and indirectly in the world. List in detail the plundering of resources by country and the dollar value please. I am waiting for the list. You should also subtract the country's exports and FDI in the US market. Rape means that there is no economic exchange. It is theft. So support that as well. The Arabs got rich off of their black gold. You use it, Canada uses it, the EU uses it. The Arab elite kept the money, did not allow democracy or liberal constitutions to be developed and kept their people ignorant under the veil of orthodox Islam inciting them to hate the West. Please list in detail how the fascist-Islamo nations and their illiberalism is the fault of the US. Also list your solution to this problem, omitting of course US help, aid or military intervention since such actions are in your view, beyond the pale. Second on foreign policy and military might - back this up. 16 out of 19 NATO nations supported Gulf War II, and 40 in total. 48 backed Gulf War I. Somalia was a UNO inspired disaster. Kosovo was ended only with US intervention after Blair begged Clinton to intervene. List in detail the foreign policy issues that are wrong and the military engagements that are incorrect. Also attach good reasons why they are incorrect. List as well YOUR solutions for them. Also include Canada's role and how Canada would have stopped the crisis. Blaming the US with such banal statements as the quote above is truly appalling and should be banned from this website. It is racism, pure and simple without foundation.

Yes we all understand the reasons why religions and gods persist. Thanks for the illumination. As always your posts are so educational. Read the post first before replying. I stated clearly that in today's world Islam has failed. I did not mention pre-Christian controlled Spain. I did not mention Baghdad circa 1000 AD. I did not comment on Christian atrocities, I am not a protagonist for the Catholic Church. That is a whole separate thread and a good one. I said Islam NOW. Islam is a state AND societal organising principle and a philosophy of being, it transcends simple spirituality. The purpose of such a system of belief should be not only spiritual succour but life NOW not only when they die and get 72 virgins. I have listed sources, reasons and rationale for the argument that 1.3 billion people are being failed by their religious and state leaders NOW in a comprehensive social system that is anti-modern. Other religions are not anti-modern to the extent that the Islamic ideal is. B. Lewis, Islam and the West.Islam is very very different in structure, goals and application than Christianity. I have even quoted from the zealot and racist Said who admits that Islam has failed. None of your posts have addressed my basic premise nor contradicted with proof any of the lists and evidence i have provided as to why it is failing NOW. As i already posted which you did not bother to read: This follows on logically from Lewis' quote. In structure and intent the religion, the state, the party and the leaders meld into one instrument -which is used to deny freedom, economic liberation and education and culture. You can disagree violently that Islam has failed. Good for you. Now provide evidence to support your arguments. Provide evidence to contradict the thesis that the totality of Islam is successful.

I have no idea why you post. You state nothing. You add nothing. What is the purpose of this post ? This thread is about Arnold being elected Gov in Cali. Are you adding anything to this thread or just slandering me to hear yourself ?

Why do you post ? What value do you add ? Comparing the empire of Rome to the current US nation and then stating as you do that the US is doomed to failure is a waste of space, especially the way you write posts with no logic, lots of slander and wailing and no knowlege. When will it fail ? How will it fail ? Why is there a link between the US and Rome ? How are the experiences similar ? How are the 'Empires' similar ? Does the US even have an Empire ? Why will the US economy implode like the Roman economy did ? Or like Keynes are you just stating the obvious that in the long run we all die ? Your ignorance of topics knows no bounds. I have no idea why you are allowed to post on this website. Some details on which you are wrong: 1) Hannibal had 34 Elephants. This surprised the Romans but did not destroy them. Hannibal was an able general due to his encircling tactics even when he had less troops and his mobility. Tacticians still study Cannae today. A battle about which you know nothing and have probably never even heard of. Why don't you first read about the topic before posting. 2) The Romans built an entire Navy within 7 years and had more warships during the Punic wars than the Punics. The Carth. were mainly traders, and they need warships to keep open the trade routes. However they did not have the population or money base to keep pace with Roman armaments. So yes Rome had better weapons at this POINT in history as far as Naval ships were concerned. But other Med. nations had better equipped warships, but not as many of them. So what is your point ? I said as time wore on Roman tactics and military innovation languished. This is rather obvious as foreign mercenaries came to make up the majority of Roman troops and Roman tactics had barely changed from the time of Ceasar to the invasion of Alaric. This is true for both the Navy and Army. Do you know even who Alaric was and how he was able to sack Rome ? You offer no evidence that this point of military degeneration is wrong. Read some Gibbon [do you know who he is ?] on this point. Instead you carry on in your demented slander Where ? By pointing out the obvious that Elephants did not beat the Romans not even once ? You state many times they did - name the battle, the date, the generals involved and the role of the Elephants please. By pointing out the obvious that any analysis of the decline of Rome has a number of exogenous and endogenous factors related to it [do I need to explain what those words mean ?]. Identify where the list i made is wrong and list some proof of why it is wrong. You can't. You just scream and yell. I have no idea why you are on this website.

Defence, security, safety, these are the PRIME concern and priorities of governments. To sit idly by as Clinton did, is nonsensical, dangerous and immoral. Pre-emption and redrawing the Middle Eastern map is the only option open. All else has failed. On WMD I believe they will be found. Kay had this to say Friday:

Yes quite uninspiring this assorted social demagoguery. As one writer put it "would you like your socialist steak, rare, medium or well done." 3 Parties, same steak.

Hugo thanks man, could not have said it better. I hate ignorance. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Bruce Willis on Iraq. Willis was there performing for the Troops. I am no fan of Hollywood, but I have to hand it to Willis - he states plainly that things are going better than the media reports in the US, and that the Iraqi's WANT US troops there, NOT UN troops [France and Annan please go away]. Another example from someone who has actually BEEN there. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99074,00.html Some refreshing common sense.

Yes good example. Capitalism is the only system to free and support the worker. IBM is a good case. Thomas Watson Snr. started the firm in Upstate NY selling cheese cutters door to door. He jumped on gov't contracts during WWII to provide equipment to the US military. After the war the firm developed into high tech, computers, peripherals and emerging networks. Now IBM has $80 billion per annum in sales and spins off countless enterprises each year that employ thousands more people, not to mention the entire value chain that survives off IBM business. IBM has enriched the world and society and made hundreds of thousands of people comfortable. According the mad marxists on this website such a firm should not exist. It does not conform to their utopia of egalite and centralisation.

Yes - it is totally out of date. Kennedy wrote at a time of high inflation, wage and price controls, trade restrictions, fluctuating currencies and capital controls. It was in vogue during the 80s, especially in academe to eulogise the power of Russia, and predict the collapse of the West in the face of its invincible might, as well as the unchallengable superiority of the Japanese model. Events proved otherwise. America has yet to enter its best and most important phase. Its hegemony has only started. Comparing its decline is rather like telling a young adolescent that he is beyond his best years.