KrustyKidd

Got to wonder, is whatever Cretien has contagious? Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad figures that Jews are running the world. He told an Islamic summit in Malaysia the other day that Muslims should start using brains rather than brawn to defeat Israel, accused the Jewish people of increasing arrogance, and said this could be exploited to promote the cause of the Muslim people of the world. “The Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule this world by proxy,” he told his audience. I guess that I'm an idiot as I thought for a minute that Arabs are still killing Jews but poor man, and me too I guess because now I find out the reason I'm not rich is because the Jew keeps me at a salary cap of a hundred twenty grand. Even those kids in Jerusalem Pizza Parlors that get blown up are guilty in his racist mind. Maybe we need some white supremists to set these rag heads straight. Anyhow, after affirming that the Holocost actually did happen and losing points with Zundel this progressive head of state realised that he basicly made himself look like a white guy who said nigger and had his appoligist show how he, like the rest of the culturally sensitive muslim world didn't mean anything bad. He explained the the PM's comments. This is somewhat in sinc whith the leftist view of what is going on I figure and when called on the carpet for questioning Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said “Islam has never advocated being anti anybody, including the Jews,” then adding “The only problem with the Jews is when the state of Israel was created,” LOL. Glad he explained that. For a minute I thought he was a bit of a racist like his asshole boss. Anyhow, Israel offers land for peace, and in return the Palistinian authority says they will try to stop terrorists. Good deal. Wouldn't want anybody to actually stop terrorism, might make peace break out. We have the US running around trying to make sure that Muslims are not victims of hate crimes and here we have a Muslim head of state talking to an Islamic conference (with applause) saying that Jews are the problem. Only thing missing is Lowenbrau. Sieg Allah mien Ayatollah!

No. They talked about Arnolds plans for rejuvinating the California economy and lowering the deficit. Then Arnold mentioned to Bush that he would be asking for money. Bush listened then they talked about family and stuff like that. i don't believe that at any point Bush offered advice on what to do. If he did, it would surprise even me who believes that Bush is not a very bright man but is birght enough to listen to people who know what they are talking about. BTW, he has a lot of people around him that know what they are talking about. Is that the break you were looking for? So far, no screw ups and you? Lie number one on this subject.

What you don't get is that it is not about parties but common sense. Davis was an idiot, Swartznegger is a producer. You think that the Democrats that voted for Arnnie are going to vote for Bush??????? Parties mean nothing here. For once, people are working together. Only the hardcore Democrats are going to pull the other way. As for recalling Bush I would encourage you to first wait until the polls go below the 56% level they are now to somewhere around 20%. Then you won't look like too much of an idiot going door to door with a crap recall petition.

That's half the reason why Saddam invaded Kuwait. He owed them so much money that he could not pay them back and like Hitler needed an enemy to divert the people's attention. Hi Morgan. Slow down with the factual backed posts please. You'll scare all the leftists away or make them start quoting some radical Arab newpaper for their counter points.

Dam Riff. How many times do we have to go over the same thing? He was a well heeled dictator because he had a hundred thousand US soldiers on his doorstep ready to pounce on his ass if he moved an inch. No wonder he was a good boy. You are right that he was not a fanatical leader like Hitler in that he only killed a million and a half people so was, in comparrison an amatuer. You have to remember that even with his decimated third rate military he still posed a terrible threat to those countries which surrounded him as they had all smaller, less effective third rate armies. In closing this brief rehashing of the same responses to the same arguments you have put forth over and over, I would add that in order to contain Saddam indefinitely the US would have to remain indefinitely on his borders. As the UN was not going to foot the bill why should America? Furthermore in the event that he died of old age you know that his two son's had at least the evil in them that he possesed so saying that his dictatorship would die may be true, but a worse one would more than likely evolve.

Methinks that they could have done that a long time ago. Also they could have kept the Sinai and moved deeper into Lebanon as well. Also they could have killed every Palistinian and taken all the land. Why give them anything? Instead they talk of peace and offer land. If this is a trick then why not just take all the land? They could.

Something about self made millionaire you don't like? Arnold was a millionaire before he became a Hollywood star. His line of fitness equipment and investments through wise decisions did it. What did Davis do? Arnold has sucessfully ran the gaumet of Hollywood, an industry like any other with budgets, deadlines, supply and demand decisions and at a profit each time. Anything with his name on it makes money. By luck? No, by skill and shrewd leadership. You can't take that away from him. What did Davis do that you admire so much? Run the State into a near depression? As for Regan, through his get tough stance and bluff with the Starwars program made the Soviet Union give up and in effect did what no other man could do - bring the Berlin Wall down. You think it just happend by luck? Hell no. The Russians gave up because they knew they couldn't compete.

I have. British soldiers on pass in Wainwright. Nothing stupider than that Walking up to one another and punching for no reason at all. They didn't even go in to the fight phase. Just punch, bleed and move on to the next one. I've also seen guys do that in various bars in Canada. I don't think it is exclusive to the US. Take the Soccer Hooligans for example. That's the hieght of stupidity, paying airfare so you can get your face beat in.

I didn't say it was an Afgan county fair LOL

Good observation Lonius. That makes perfect sense. That does not mean that they have not been exported though.

That's what I am trying to say. We never get anything close to what these guys have in the field fully loaded to bear. I suppose the last closest thing would have been Korea. Any figures on that era reguarding this? How about WWI and II? I'd be interested to see how we stack up relative sized wise. When you make these comparissons don't forget that the larger the unit, the more different componants there are that make communication more difficult. I mean that 1 Canadian guy walking in the field by himself times one thousand is not exactly like taking one thousand US troops and dividing accident statistics by 1,000. To say that our guys walking the beat in Afganistan have not commited one friendly fire incident is not a fair comparisson to having 150 thousand troops getting shot at day to day. I do however remember we had a guy shoot one of his buddies in a tent in Somalia I think. Canadian friendly fire in peacetime? Multiply that by 75 so that our 2000 guys now equal 150 thousand US and we have 75 friendly fire incidents on a peacekeeping mission. How would we do in actual war I wonder? I'm not argueing with you, just trying to put it in context. These guys are in war, we are not. These guys are not Bill and Sam and Fred but almost a quarter of a million guys that rely on command posts and stangers radio transmissions to keep them from colliding. Gone are the days of the whistle and flags. This is all done by plans laid out, liason officers and SOPs. The amount of movement in the dark is staggaring and nothing compared to trench warefare and extended line advances. Accidents are bound to happen and the amazing thing is that more of it is not happening. I guess what I am trying to say is that unlike you I don't think it is the nationality that is at fault but rather the size, operation and time constraints of the mission that make for these figures. If we all went to the county fair with no weapons then there would be most likely - no friendly fire incidents right?

I appoligise for altering the quote Riff, there was no intention to alter your message or intent but only to allow others to know what the hell the quote was talking about. Your thoughts on viewability are correct. Your views on the purpose and glib expendibility of a soldier are wrong. Your views on the Iltis are correct in that the operation it is being used in, no vehicle woulod have saved those people from an anti tank mine. However, smaller fragments and arms fire can be reduced by having a heavier vehicle which can carry sandbags and plates on the floor and sides. While not giving anything close to real protection they help. Of course a vehicle capable of taking this added wieght must be bigger and more expensive but to me the added expense is nothing to the added security of our guys.

Wondering here Lonius, could it be that they appear to be trigger happy because there is so many of them and they are actively engaged in warfare? I mean, when was the last time we put two hundred thousand men under the age of forty on a battlefield with orders to advance and destroy? Real armies have different problems than caretaker ones.

Exactly. Thank you, that's what I am trying to say. Better equipment greatly enhances this objective as does training. I know what you mean Riff. You are in agreement with the support of troops but I think your point is that they have accepted risk and should deal with it. That I also agree but I would also point out that they accepted this post and risk with the assumption that they would be given the proper tools to do the job and safeguard their lives where possible. It's not your job to get run over by a bus but that is a risk you take if you work in the downtown area of some city. It's not an Airline Pilots job to crash a plane but that too is a risk he takes when taking up the controls. Do you see the point I am trying to make? These soldiers are not part of an Iranian "Human Wave" attack where they are all expected to die. They are in a cold war zone where risk, although high, is not continually life threatening and imminent. The soldier does his job and learns and does what he has been taught and ordered to do, the leaders carry out the policy of the government with the troops and equipment available to them. Shit box Iltis's included. Nowhere in the formula is a soldier "expected to die" as part of the job description. They are expected to live and return home to family and such reguardless of the minimal support they recieve from their own government. Death is always a possibility in every facett of life and more so even in the military. However to be sabotaged by your own government's fiscal ineptness in buying proper equipment to enhance your survivability is ridiculous. They blow billions on this gun bill (C-68) where it is not even doing a damm thing to save anything (political carreers included) and yet do next to squat in upgrading equipment for people to fight with. Something wrong there. I wonder Riff, what the Department of Natural Resources would say if they had their fancy 4 x 4s taken away and replaced by this hardy little toy? How would the taxation department like it if tommorow all the computor programs used to calculate revenue were replaced by hand held computors and millions of pencils, or simply abbacuses and clay tablets? "Oh well." the government would say "That is why we have hired the best accountents in Canada." and then mumble something about how they will have to tough it out and all. When you do something you do it right. The equipment our guys have is not right, helecopters included lol.

Riff, the soldiers job is to enforce the will of his government. If he dies then he cannot do that. It is a risk and should be minimized. Where does anybody get the idea (and for that matter where does the logic come from) that it is his job to die? That is the job of Al Queda and Hamas, not the Canadian Armed Forces. The government's job is to determine where and when they should be deployed. As well, their duty is to provide them with equipment sufficient to provide the force necessary to do the job, a means of getting to the job in relative safety and reasonable protection while doing the job. If it was a soldier's duty to die then why not retire these fit young men and draft people out of old age homes and terminally ill wards to take on these duties. Shoot, they are going to die soon anyhow.

Picture a check stop at Xmas time and a guy pulls up inebriated. The cop makes him blow into a breathalizer and it comes out postive. "Yes, Mr so and so has in fact consumed alcohol within the last 90 days. We have no idea if he is drunk now though as our testing does not allow us to know that so we'll just have to let him go." Mr so and so drives on and laughs at the close call. He whistles a tune happily while he thanks his lucky stars that blood tests are not constitutional. The cop on the other hand knows that sooner or later Mr so and so or Mrs whatnot are going to take out some kid. Sounds messed up doesn't it? Yet this is reality for law enforcement and employers. It is the factor that makes me against legalizing the stuff. When they come up with a roadside or workplace administered test to determine if a driver or heavy equipment operator is high AT THAT MOMENT then I'm sure more people will be receptive to legalization. Frankly I don't care if the smoker makes himself turn into a camel but when he can get into a position where he can hurt others and not be detected, that is scary. I know that is still happening but legalization would almost give it a stamp of approval.

It's like the sinking on the Titanic Riff. Didn't matter how you got there, you were there and needed to do something fast to not be there.

Intresting, I'll pick it up at the library. Thanks. I like Black Dog's way "drain the swamp" however with a few innovations. First; While allowing them to finish their wall get Israel behind closed doors to write out what they are prepared to give if they get complete peace. Everything. No attacks, a modern productive trading partner living next to them. Not this crap with settlements and stuff but complete dismantling for complete peace. Take the main jist of the concessions and let it be known that this is what they will give up in return for peace. Two: get the UN into Palistine to supervise an election. Look at the candidates and find the one that is willing to work towards peace. Get him behind closed doors with Israel and have the UN throw in the kicker. $50,000 to every man or family in Palistine if he wins. This is provided that he follows with a plan set forth and the payment is not lump sum but a monthly thing over five or ten years.. Three: When he wins, he must dismantle the terrorist cells . To help him the UN moves in forces to aid the Palistinian police. As they move new homes are being built for people by Israelis as a sign that they are keeping their end of the bargain. I believe that money talks. I also think that this could drain the swamp to a degree where these people would have a chance to be productive and possibly within a generation actually live without a wall. What do you think Lonious?

I will stand by my quote. Highly trained or 'specialized' is not the same as intelligent. It limits the ability to 'think outside the box'. I saw a documentary by Gwynne Dyer (who served in 3 different Armed Forces) and in my opinion is one of the most intelligent and pragmatic 'military minds'. He also felt that the 'brainwashing' of basic training 'limits' independent thought to a crippling degree. Loyalty is great, but it comes at a price. Dear KK, I read that Canadians also do very well in 'Top Gun' competitions, often winning over their US counterparts. I like Dyer. He is pretty smart. I would however be very surprised if he gave the impression that Canadian Soldiers are five times more effective than their American counterparts. You cited education as one facctor. I know that the US military has raised the bar educationwise for entry into it's ranks. I forget what it is now but know iit is not grade school by any means. As for Canada I can attest that the Non Com ranks are not filled exclusevely by PHD material. Like any other workforce it has it's smart guys and dummies. It also has it's hard workers, lackys, leaders and followers. The two systems are the same in that disipline is begune to be instilled upon indoctrination. You cited "brainwashing" and "ablility to think outside the box." To respond to this I will use my experience in the Airborne; during Basic Parachute Training the young soldier is constantly being inudated with images of how tough the Paratrooper is. These images are visual, audio and verbal. When running he is chanting songs to not only increase lung power but to reinforce that message that once he has become a Paratrooper he is tough and dangerous. Brainwashing? You bet! Young soldiers have to have something to fall back on when times get rough. Forty men in the back of an aircraft getting ready to jump into a black void behind enemy lines would be somewhat ineffective if they all thought they were losers and were going to get killed by the enemy's superior quality troops. The leaders and senior NCOs have, throughout the years grown out of this need for emotional support from brainwashing and are, quite able to "think outside of the box." They however, need to have the men under complete control and know that when the crap hits the fan and friends and comerades start to fall around them, the men will keep it together and be able to follow orders instead of freaking. This is where the basic disipline comes in. When Sgt Rock says "Pass the bullets." he expects Private Bailly to - well, pass the bullets. In a freethinking army he would turn and find Beetle working on some excellent plan which would negate the need for bullets altogether if only there was enough time to put it all together. Meanwhile, the unit gets shot to pieces because the heavy machine gun ran out of ammo. I know the argument will come forth that what to do if only Privates are left through casualties and this spells the need for better educated men. If that is all there is left the unit will have been withdrawn long before this fiasco and either replaced or the army retreated altogether. It's like anything else Lonius. You don't expect the janitor to barge in on Executive briefings to tell the CEO how to run Microsoft nor does the Stewardess take over the controls of a 747 because she knows something better than the pilot. This is not to say that the janitor and the stewardess are forever doomed to be peons because like the military there is ample opportunity to gain sponsored education, experience and promotions to facilitate their ambitions. It is like this in the American Army as well. As I said earlier, gone are the days of the drunks, thugs and druggies. They are a combat effective and highly motivated army. So is ours. Theirs has better equipment - We have to improvise but you can only improvise so much before you hit a dead end. They have combat experienced leaders and men everywhere, at all levels including the basic ranks - We have a few combat experienced leaders and next to none in the basic ranks. They train more often and more realisticlly with money being no object which provides ample opportunity for all levels to gain experience in practical matters of war and quite frequently these exercises employ division sized forces to practice practical co-ordination at massive levels - We find little time to train as we are either being prepared/on/comming back from UN missions. This in itself is good training for the individual to see things and learn about different situations but is hardly a substitute for combat experience. When we do train, cost is quite often the deciding factor on whether it is going to be effective or haphazard.or simply just a command post exercise which does little to give experience to anyone except leadership. Very seldom is anything more than a Brigade brought together to exercise. In a large scale operation this point alone leads to defeat through inability to resupply forces. One factor that is in our favor here is that our units are smaller and therefore more flexible. I thank you for your vote of confidence in our troops however I would, through my experience say that it is somewhat overrated. We are, motivated, smart, proud and well disiplined. So are they. They are not the monkeys they used to be. As an example I will use the same ratio as you did 5:1. If a Canadian is worth five Americans then it would stand to reason that an American would be worth at least ten Iraqis. This would mean that a Canadian would be worth fifty Iraqis. I just cannot picture myself being on a battlefield in Iraq facing 50 Iraqis with my C 1 (M16) and leatherman jack knife feeling confident about my chances. As an aside, if we are worth 5:1 that would mean that we could have gone to Iraq instead of the USA and won with only half of our armed forces. Somehow that seems unrealistic. I would say that man for man sans equipment we are on par but given the opportunity and experience we would quickly become better.

It's not about that. Many states with Republican Giovernors were lost to Democrats(Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania) so it means nothing. No conspiracy, no move to form the next government. Just somebody trying to do a good job while giving up millions they could be making in the film industry. I was reading an article today where Arnold was quoted as saying he would have no time to make movies. A colomnist wrote that that was reassuring. How nice of the Governor to stop making movies in order to do his job. This Liberal snippy bitch writer forgot to inform the readership of the context of Arnold's quote. He was asked by a reporter if he planned on making movies. It's funny though that he is pro choice, pro gay, pro public school and a non native English speaking immigrant and the Democrats called him a Nazi. It kills me. Also watch for Davis to award all sorts of goodies to his trough lickers like Clinton did as well the rumor has it that the Democrats will start throwing curve balls at Arnold in the form of weird bills the second he takes office. Theses would be designed to screw him up, take an overt about of time and be quite contreversial. They figure that his voter base is so broad that these clown Democrats may find themselves recalled if they try this crap.

I read this again Riff. "Our closest ally" is how you put it. However, we are far from being their closest ally. I can think of at least three other countries that are closer to them these days than us. He (Celluchi) is in no way responsible to respond to anything from any Canadian should he chose not to. Picture it as putting the US ambassador to Brazil on the block in San Paulo. He'd laugh.

Arnold is doing exatly what he should be doing, going to bat for his people. What are our guys doing? Are there any good Canadian movies in the works I wonder? I know that "Hinterland, Who's Who I and II" were big hits in the sixties with the middle aged TV crowd and "La Femmes du Hiver" wasn't exactly a blockbuster but other than that, have we made anything marketable? Better get a Government study group on this to check it out. In the interim, why don't we have our own people in Hollywood seeking out scripts that fit our geography, filmakers that know the script, actors that are Canadian, Producers that will work with an almost all Canadian crew to make an almost all Canadian made movie that is Hollywood quality. Not the same lame ass crap that we produce to audiences of black turtle necked sweater wearing Fringe Festival people but rather block buster hits. You want money you have to tell a storey. You have to take people away from their lives and into a place they never go. They want to see a love lost amid a sweeping epic background, a blood sucking alien chasing them through a lunar landscape. A church in downtown Montreal where two lesbians talk in French with English subtitles about what kind of tea heals pimples best does not fill that void.

So Tom, in this scenario either the rest of the planet is going to double their consumption of oil or OPEC is going to "hunker down" for a sort of strike for ten years or more? Where are all these millions of cars going to come from in the eastern hemisphere to use this oil? Are they going to pay in rice or yen? If yen what are the Saudis and all going to buy? Handmade carpets or cast iron computors? If just simply going on a "Hate the Great Satan" strike how are they going to feed their people or is the hate Israel thing going to keep them going through that one too?

What did the RCMP say?

That's right. I recall when I was in the Middle East there was a Signals Officer who was making his pet project a United Nations kind of operational code. The idea was that scince both the Egyptians and the Israelis were monitoring our communications (unbeknownst to us wink wink) we could encrypt our location and stuff. He got squashed pretty quick for the exact reasons you have just stated. We want people to know there is no partiality. Here however, there is partiallity. We are on the side of the ruling government against all others. We are not inbetween two beligerents who are negotiating a ceasefire but rather helping a fledgling government survive against everybody and anybody who threatens it.