GostHacked

So now can we focus on invading Pakistan? Since this is where the Taliban and Osama are hiding out now. They have been (for the most part) out of Afghanistan some some time, like a year or two.

The ones we have not discovered yet. Charter.rights I can equate this to a closed mind. Open minds have the chance to advance. Closed minds keep that ego up front. I am an athiest/agnostic, but I am open to the possibility a god exists. I just have yet to find the proof I need to beleive in it.

What I don't get is this. The two autonomous states/regions in Georgia (South Ottestia and Abkhazia). Russia seems to have influence on those two areas. Since they are autonomous, which means they run their own show, but has ties to Georgia. If they want to break away, Russia will help make it happen. Do these two regions want to rejoin Russia? Or do they just want their own independance from Georgia. Gerogia would put troops into both regions to ward off the Russians. Eventhough they are autonomous regions, they are still part of Georgia, and Georgia can send in troops anytime. I could be wrong in my view, but this is how I see it. So Russia made the mistake of crossing the border. Political influence only goes so far. The US will send aid to Georgia. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402982,00.html

Alright, so it comes down to major powers securing resources for the next century to survive. M Daner. There are oil and gas lines in Georgia that feed Europe. There was a report last year or earlier this year with the energy crisis in the Ukraine. Russia shut off the taps because of a dispute in price. This went on for about a month or so. Europe did put preassure on Russia to turn the taps back on. Georgia is independant and is a US ally in the war on terror. They want to be a part of NATO (if they are not already) and is also wanting to get into the Europeaon Union. So yes, Europe and the US and Canada to that extent, have a large interest in Georgia. Like the wars in Iraq and Aghanistan, it is about securing resources. Iraq should soon surpass its prewar output levels. Iran is being targeted, and we already know that Iran is stuffed with untapped oil feilds. The Straigh of Hormuz is another flashpoint. Anything getting to Europe by ship will be taking the long way around Africa if that happens. This is why the US navy has send a couple more carrier fleets to the Gulf. The US can operate in the Gulf indefinately if they can secure Iraq's resources for the military power that is operating there and the gulf. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15323 You don't send in the big guns for no reason. This is a show of force to Iran, and really to Russia. The US in retrospect, was watching this conflict and thought something would happen. This is why they sent the fleets earlier this year. If the US and Russia decide to get busy with another Cold War, this one will be a little more spectacular. Yes, Europe, the US, Canada, the UK are all involved.

If you think the US is not involved, you really need to take a closer look. The US helped Georgia become a soverign nation. Georgia has been strategicly important to the US. Georgia is also the 3rd largest military group in Iraq. They signed on to the war on terror. Looking at Georgia's history, this place has been a source of violence and disputes for decades. Coups, Part of Russian, then not, then part of it again, then not. Couple civil wars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)

When the government makes the charge, you are damn right they have the extra burden of proving the case in court. This is why they call it prosecution! This is also why they payed Hatfill a few million bucks. Good job.

Rue, Observation: You seem to be at a tipping point. To me you are very close to shrugging off the religious coil simply because you have outgrown the confines of the religion. The restricted vision of being a Jew no longer works for you. Your other option as a humanist does not seem to work for you as well. It really seems to me now that if Israel was not created, the Jews would be a lost tribe. They found unity, but it was at the expense of others. Something the Jews did not want to have anyone repeat since the Holocaust. To me this is where places of worship com in. A church/mosque/synagoge have birds of the same feather. There they can feel united and connected. They would not feel lost. But there was this longing, urge to get back to Jerusalem. However I think the initial goal is noble, but how it was carried out, far from nobel. And it is still at the expense of others. Isreal, since it's inception has surived at the expense of others. I don't hate religion. It is good for the most part. However there are those higher ups that can and do screw things for the ones who are being genuine with the faith. But how long can you hear about the persecution of the Jews before it really really gets tiring. I mean, it happened thousands of years ago. But the Jews are STILL whining about it. Even now that they have Israel, they are STILL whining about it. You are uncommon as a person. You are also very passionate as a person, as you have no problems saying what you want and mean. Respect yo. I am guessing you are talking about genocide. And not specifically about jews being genocided. Once I shrugged off the religious coil (wasn't much there to begin with) I found myself in a very small minority group. I stood on the other side of all religions. This was kind of odd and scary at first. Society wants me to conform to those tradidtions. I also found myself in a better more relaxed and more enlightened state of mind. After my Oma's death last year, I found out she was a very religious person. I really do not know what faith she followed, however she held God close to her. She never openly discussed her faith and beleifs. One, I never asked , because I never knew. Now I have all sorts of questions that might possibly go unanswered. What I do know is that it was personal to her and no one else. She had faith and confidence in it ,so as she never had to talk about it. Alright so we have detracted from the main topic points.

So are you it seems. Get back on topic

M. Dancer Let's get back to the topic, you have taken this off track far enough. I played into it as well. I am suck a sucker for trollers. American Woman It also seems, that those people think that the tinfoil hat crowd should have the answers. When we don't. But we also realize that the official story does not make sense. This is why we are looking for those answers. Those people who scream TINFOIL HAT OMGWTFBBQ don't have the answeres either. Ivins is a person of conveinience for the FBI and CIA. Now that he is dead, the story can be anything the CIA and FBI want it to be. You think Ivines lawyer will make headway with the contradictions and discrepancies? I doubt it. If he has compelling evidence, will people like M. Dancer admit they were wrong? I know I can (and have) admited when I was wrong.

Yeah forget the reasons. The reasons don't matter right? When the US invaded Iraq, it was for freedom right? Now on the news you hear about Russia's strategy. Georgia is a strategic point for controling the flow of resources like oil and gas. Two different reasons. But Russia does not seem to hide behind the 'freedom' thing. They want the resources. They are not shy about it. Russia has always had the stigma ingrained by the west as being a menace. Then why compare? I don't approve of the actions by Russia. Nothing I have said in this thread states that. You are making assumptions again. Which is ok, I don't mind. If you defend the invasion of Iraq but denouce the invasion of Georgia, then you have a problem. Both are unwarranted. But I am still learning about the conflicts in Georgia. So I will claim ignorance untill I learn more.

I like toast. Kraft Extra Creamy peanut butter is the best really. If you like being disingenuous (aka a smart ass) then keep going. One million Iraqi dead is an estimated number of Iraqi civilian deaths. Are you sure it is not a billion, a trillion? Durrrr. Many know that the population of Iraq is much less than the US. There are not a trillion Americans, hell there are not even a billion. The only two countries with a billion people are China and India. DURRRRRRR. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/world/mi...casualties.html They estimate over 600000 civilian deaths. This was published in October 11, 2006. A couple years have passed since then. That number is larger I assume. http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issue...0616burying.htm That was in 1991, when Iraq has some kind of military to fight back with. So the million deaths are either a direct result of collateral damage and failed support infrastructures (water electricity, food). Even now you have the US asking the Iraqi government to pitch in the oil profit money. This tells me that the reconstruction of Iraq is not going very well. It might be a high estimate with the 1 million, but when you factor in unintended civilian deaths from military strikes, people dying because of lack of food, water, roof over the head. You can easily reach this number. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5425a1.htm Smoking kills half a million Americans every year. Is that a bullshit number as well?

God can't save me, because I can do it myself. If that defines my ego. Then so be it. My ego is not bigger than me, my ego fits me just fine. It allows me to have faith in myself. Because only I can change things in my life for the better. Only I will be able to get myself out of debt, and out of other situations. The mystical entity that is god or whatever never has helped me in the past. As the line goes, God helps those who help themselves?

IF there was a billion Iraqi's you might be right. Somehow I don't think the toaster has anything on you.

No story is perfect. But again, when obvious holes are discovered, why is it then a tinfoil hat thing, when it is obvious and right in front of your face? So, would you put a mentaly unstable person in a facility where he has access to the deadly anthrax? I mean, you already put one (or two) in the White House. SO I guess the answer is yes.

Why is it when people find obvious holes in the official story they are considered "tinfoil hat nutjobs"? For Steven Hatfill, they never even arrested him. He was always considered a person of interest, but never arrested for the anthrax mails. Not to mention he was never charged. So, the FBI and CIA had nothing they could use against Hatfill. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/05/19/hatfill/index.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A...anguage=printer The FBI was tailing him for some time. No one found anything on him. He sued, got lots of cash.

That presence is my consience. My soul. My being. There is no room for anything else. My soul and concience allows me to control that ego. God does not need to be with me, if he/she exists, he/she knows I have it under control.

I guess everyone is tired of hearing about US crimes. They are a plenty. I still am not sure what to think of this conflict. I just know that it will have major impact on the area if the fighting continues for more than a few weeks.

Like the notion of WMDs in Iraq?? That sure was taken seriously. (Eventhough that was never the goal), and look at the results. Some hysterical nut job took that seriously and sent the troops over. And of course you should not take everything seriously, because they are not conspiracy theories untill they are FULLY baked. In watching the news over the weekend, on several channels, there was plenty of talk about how many holes there were in the official story. The lawyer for Mr. Ivins is challenging most of it. Let me ask you this. If you know that a person is mentally unstable (Ivins was beleived to have mental issues) why would you let him even get close to the Anthrax, let alone have him as a scientists where he has almost unlimited access to the material.

Actually that is an interesting bit. I have several friends who drive transport. I am gonna inquire if they have had issues like that.

Rue.,.. the replies are broken so bear with them. Years of observation. I always considered myself an outsider for the most part when it comes to religion. I never grew up with one. I was tought to beleive in myself before anything else. I can see what you mean about Christian views/values. I guess that comes with growing up in a country that has Christianity and Catholosism in the history (Canada). If I go by your statement, that Jews are prosecuted worldwide because of their faith, the only place the Jews will feel comfortable is in a place of their own. Every minority is claiming being a vitcim and persecuted worldwide. I will tell you I am a minority. In the sense that I have never tagged along with the main crowd. I had never felt the urge to conform to a certain ruleset or mindset. I was more or less of a loner in high school. I have a small group of friends. I am definatlely not in any majority, other than the colour of my skin. caucasian. I have heard about the Jews ever since I could remember. My Opa was fighting for the Germans in WWII. He complained alot about the war and certain groupd of people, but he never really mentioned the Jews. The French he very much vocaly dislikes. I got tired of hearing him complain, and at the same time, I guess I grew tired of hearing the Jews always claiming the victim. Walk a mile in someone elses shoes?? No thanks, mine are working just fine. I do not need to put on a yamacha, or any other religious attire. I just simply do not subscribe to any religion. It is not me, I would not do it. Plus, all the real genuine jews would rip me a new one for putting on a yamacha when I have no beleif in it. But you said they do not need a country to survive? And you state it is for existential purposes. This is why I make the claim that the Jews NEEDED this country to survive. If they felt there was no need, Isreal would not exist. I'll stand by my argument for now. Being a Jew is not a religious thing? I guess that is new to me. I don't hate myself because I am human. I don't hate myself at all. I am very proud and happy to be me and who I am. I have never needed religion to define who and what I am. I make no apologies about that. You have an internal struggle. Be human, or be jewish. This internal struggle is something I don't understand when it comes to religion. I am confused now. Isreal is not needed, but needed to survive??

It has happened many times with Walmart. The employees want to unionize, or a union wants to get in as the store is being built. Walmart decides to shut the door. There are quite a few empty Walmart locations across North America. Unions cost them more money that it is to just say, screw it, lock the doors.. let's go somewhere else. Cheap wages, cheap benifits, cheap products, cheap service. Yay!

Shady Sorry for underestimating the national debt. It is much more than I thought it was. Wow. You are right again, it was a half assed invasion. Good job. I mean people like him, yes indeed. It is not Buch Derangement Syndrom, because this plan was in the works long before Bush took office. And if you do not learn by those mistakes, then you deserve to have them thrown back in your face. Because you sure would not want to repeat those mistakes ... right?

In perspective, this war with Iraq has cost the US taxpayers over 400 billion, pushing the national debt to a trillion. Along with the military lives that have been lost, along with countless vehicles and equipment destroyed. The US went balls to the wall. Not to mention, that just after Iraq was invaded and the government/military disbanded, the US sent pallets of cold hard cash to Iraq. The intention was to pay the wages of the new Iraqi government. Eventhough the amount that was lost/stolen/missing/unaccounted for is less than the current oil profits. There was no oversight or accountability in that process. Bremer and his team spent the 20 billion that was already Iraq's from the Oil for Food Programme. We know know about the corruption cases and how that money was handles. Just pissed it away, giving it to the Iraqi people in cash, hoping to intice people to come to their side and not to support terrorism. In the end there was reports that some of this money DID end up in the hands of the terrorists, like Muqtada Sadr. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/feb/08/post1069 Feb 2007. I think Iraq should keep this money and do with it what they will. The US can cry all they want. But when you bring freedom to a county, you take on large risks. Even if there is a risk of the new Iraqi government the US helped put together, not pitching in.

Walmart had and has such an impact over the Canadian economy it is rediculous. I work for the largest grocer in Canada. Loblaws and other companies much smaller have had to adjust their business practices to compete with Walmart. Walmart gets everything on consignment, this is how they sell without needing to really invest in the product. Loblaws cannot operate that way. Food does not work on consignment. It is because of Walmart you now see our Superstores all over Canada. Not only did stores get bigger, our stores are selling more different products than just food. Diversity was needed to keep growing. Many of our stores and warehouses are unionized, so right there it indicated Loblaws will have a tougher time with getting the revenue. Walmart is unique among retailers. They led the way in many devestating business practices. I will not shop at Walmart.

Even when you admit you helped out, like Moussaoui did, you get life, not the death sentence. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6050300324.html This is odd as well because Mussaoui was sitting in a jail cell before, during and after the 9/11 attacks. If he was sitting in a jail prior to 9/11 because of his knowledge about 9/11, would he then not really be a part of it? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4943196.stm I guess this is in retrospect that they figured this out. Bush was not concerned about Bin Laden at the time. Even the Presidential Daily Briefing which the title was 'Osama determined to strike in the US' did not wake anyone up.