Political Scams

[blackbird]

7 minutes ago, Army Guy said:

 

Russian conflict in Afghanistan happened during 1979-1989. 

Sorry the Taliban did not exist during the CIA actions in Afghanistan, US was supporting Mujahedeen, although alot of the Mujahedeen did cross over to the Taliban, but not until much later, 1994 to 1996 they were classified as a militia.... Taliban did not come to the world stage until 1992 after a civil war in Afghanistan 

As for Osama, He hated the US, i doubt he would have anything to do with them during the Russian Afghanistan conflict.

After leaving college in 1979, bin Laden went to Pakistan, joined Abdullah Azzam and used money and machinery from his own construction company to help the Mujahideen resistance in the Soviet–Afghan War.^[98] He later told a journalist: "I felt outraged that an injustice had been committed against the people of Afghanistan."^[99] From 1979 to 1992, the United States (as part of CIA activities in Afghanistan, specifically Operation Cyclone), Saudi Arabia, and China provided between $6–12 billion worth of financial aid and weapons to tens of thousands of mujahideen through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).^[100] British journalist Jason Burke wrote that "He did not receive any direct funding or training from the US during the 1980s. Nor did his followers. The Afghan mujahideen, via Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency, received large amounts of both. Some bled to the Arabs fighting the Soviets but nothing significant."^[101] Bin Laden met and built relations with Hamid Gul, who was a three-star general in the Pakistani army and head of the ISI agency. Although the United States provided the money and weapons, the training of militant groups was entirely done by the Pakistani Armed Forces and the ISI.^[102] According to some CIA officers, beginning in early 1980, bin Laden acted as a liaison between the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) and Afghan warlords, but no evidence of contact between the CIA and Bin Laden exists in the CIA archives. Steve Coll states that although bin Laden may not have been a formal, salaried GIP agent, "it seems clear that bin Laden did have a substantial relationship with Saudi intelligence."^[103] 

By 1984, bin Laden and Azzam established Maktab al-Khidamat, which funneled money, arms, and fighters from around the Arab world into Afghanistan. Through al-Khadamat, bin Laden's inherited family fortune^[105] paid for air tickets and accommodation, paid for paperwork with Pakistani authorities and provided other such services for the jihadi fighters. Bin Laden established camps inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and trained volunteers from across the Muslim world to fight against the Soviet-backed regime, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Between 1986 and 1987, bin Laden set up a base in eastern Afghanistan for several dozen of his own Arab soldiers.^[106] From this base, bin Laden participated in some combat activity against the Soviets, such as the Battle of Jaji in 1987.^[106] Despite its little strategic significance, the battle was lionized in the mainstream Arab press.^[106] It was during this time that he became idolised by many Arabs.^[15]

 

Saddam i'm not sure sure off, but hey 1 out of 3 is a good batting average.

 

As you've demonstrated it's far more complex that many people think.  It's easy to blame the U.S. for lots of things when one doesn't know the complexities of what's going on in the world.  It's hard to understand why a young man from Quebec would go on a vacation around Pakistan and the Afghanistan for a lark.  The dumb guy was arrested by the Taliban who are suspicious he is an ISIS supporter.  He's not the first to do something crazy like that.  There was another guy who took his wife and wandered around that part of the world and was also taken prisoner.  Then they expect the Canadian government to bail them out.  Like the guy who spent 15 years in an Egyptian prison and was recently released.  They all whine that the Canadian government didn't do enough.

[H B Lowrey]

21 hours ago, DogOnPorch said:

 

My ancestors were apparently rotten shots.

Not necessarily.  Nor or you.  Depends.  It's a choice.

[H B Lowrey]

6 hours ago, blackbird said:

As you've demonstrated it's far more complex that many people think.  It's easy to blame the U.S. for lots of things when one doesn't know the complexities of what's going on in the world.  It's hard to understand why a young man from Quebec would go on a vacation around Pakistan and the Afghanistan for a lark.  The dumb guy was arrested by the Taliban who are suspicious he is an ISIS supporter.  He's not the first to do something crazy like that.  There was another guy who took his wife and wandered around that part of the world and was also taken prisoner.  Then they expect the Canadian government to bail them out.  Like the guy who spent 15 years in an Egyptian prison and was recently released.  They all whine that the Canadian government didn't do enough.

You of all people should understand zealotry, c'mon now.

[H B Lowrey]

15 hours ago, Nationalist said:

Check the US death rate. I think you'll find it hardly changed from previous years.

All americans.  Point?

[H B Lowrey]

6 hours ago, Army Guy said:

They can argue all you want, but if they are going to tell me that life under North Korea rule , Sadam, Muammar Gaddafi,Taliban would have been better, than say democracy offered by the US, then i would say convince me.

Ever heard of Edward L Bernays?  It's all marketing, gin the people up, to feel what you feel.  And no people ever went to war without first coming up with a rationale to promote, and group think view of, their own righteousness.  Discussing feelings will never resolve anything.  Not now.  What america learned from Viet Nam was, get rid of the draft.  Too wide a swath of the population is impacted.  So, now ~1% serve, we have issues of white supremacist/nationalist infiltration of both military and exmilitary law enforcement, and the other 99% of us are checked out at the mall and shopping on-line.  And war makes for good reality TV, and in a down economy, hey, you know.

So that's what we learned from Viet Nam before we outsourced war to multinational corporate predators.  Mind you, the last constitutionally declared war the US was in was WWII.

Now, here's what we forgot:

 

 

[blackbird]

2 hours ago, H B Lowrey said:

You of all people should understand zealotry, c'mon now.

"12  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. " Proverbs 15:12 KJV

"14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. " Proverbs 15:14 KJV

"32  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding."  Proverbs 15:32 KJV  

[Nationalist]

8 hours ago, H B Lowrey said:

All americans.  Point?

I would think the point is obvious. 

If the actual death rate/numbers have remained stable, is there really a pandemic? Is there really need for these draconian measures?

[Queenmandy85]

Is it just me or is anyone else wondering why all the American stuff posted in the Canadian Federal Politics section. The United States is a nice country to visit and they have given us the wisdom of Bush Cheney, but this is Canada.

[H B Lowrey]

9 hours ago, blackbird said:

"12  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. " Proverbs 15:12 KJV

"14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. " Proverbs 15:14 KJV

"32  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding."  Proverbs 15:32 KJV  

Your bible means nothing to me.  Nothing.

[H B Lowrey]

3 hours ago, Nationalist said:

I would think the point is obvious. 

If the actual death rate/numbers have remained stable, is there really a pandemic? Is there really need for these draconian measures?

864,934 US COVID deaths.  Yeah, it's all a hoax to fool you.  Your data seems to be missing.

Home - Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (jhu.edu)

 

 

[H B Lowrey]

3 hours ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Is it just me or is anyone else wondering why all the American stuff posted in the Canadian Federal Politics section. The United States is a nice country to visit and they have given us the wisdom of Bush Cheney, but this is Canada.

It seems some Canadians think they run the US just like many in the US think they run planet earth.

[PIK]

On 1/20/2022 at 11:07 PM, H B Lowrey said:

Sure you can, in america.  Many.  And you can kill someone with it and walk if you can convince people you were afraid. 

I meant for our Military. It seems The Feds have to start over on that purchase again. You know like the ships and planes we need. 

[Queenmandy85]

9 minutes ago, H B Lowrey said:

It seems some Canadians think they run the US just like many in the US think they run planet earth.

Yes, but Canadians should be running the US. That is as it should be, although that famous Calgarian, Ted Cruz, should never get near the levers of power. 

Edited January 22, 2022 by Queenmandy85

[Queenmandy85]

Of the issues stated in the OP, the only one that is political was the invasion of Iraq. IMO, President Bush was riding a wave of hubris and wanted to prove he could out perform his father. I mean, what could go wrong?

However, it wasn't a scam. It was promoted out of a lack of knowledge. I can't think of a single actual scam (ie. the long con) carried out by either the Canadian or US governments since Adams and Handcock in 1775.

[blackbird]

1 minute ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Of the issues stated in the OP, the only one that is political was the invasion of Iraq. IMO, President Bush was riding a wave of hubris and wanted to prove he could out perform his father. I mean, what could go wrong?

However, it wasn't a scam. It was promoted out of a lack of knowledge. I can't think of a single actual scam (ie. the long con) carried out by either the Canadian or US governments since Adams and Handcock in 1775.

What would you have done if you were President when 9-11 attack happened?

[blackbird]

4 hours ago, Nationalist said:

I would think the point is obvious. 

If the actual death rate/numbers have remained stable, is there really a pandemic? Is there really need for these draconian measures?

"

People recovering from Omicron can experience the following:

Muscle weakness and stiff joints

Extreme fatigue and feeling low on energy

Reduced mobility

Breathlessness

Phlegm build-up

Weaker physical fitness

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Lack of sense of smell or taste

Stomach problems and this includes heartburn, diarrhoea and vomiting

Difficulties swallowing

On the other hand, some people experience a mental and emotional toll from Covid. These include:

Sleep issues – and can affect people who have been in hospital, where it can be difficult to sleep on Covid wards

Mental fog such as being forgetful and not thinking clearly

Sudden changes in your mood

Depression or anxiety

Nightmares or flashbacks

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Confusion or delirium  "

The worrying side effect Omicron patients must watch out for even after recovering from Covid (the-sun.com)

So, is there any need for certain measures to fight the pandemic?   I wouldn't call the existing measures "draconian".  Yes there is a need for the measures.  It is still a serious threat to everyone.

There are no lockdowns and the measures in place are actually weak and half-hearted.  Everyone can still do almost everything they normally do with a few exceptions.  Nobody is locked in their apartment or home.

Edited January 22, 2022 by blackbird

[H B Lowrey]

10 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Of the issues stated in the OP, the only one that is political was the invasion of Iraq. IMO, President Bush was riding a wave of hubris and wanted to prove he could out perform his father. I mean, what could go wrong?

However, it wasn't a scam. It was promoted out of a lack of knowledge. I can't think of a single actual scam (ie. the long con) carried out by either the Canadian or US governments since Adams and Handcock in 1775.

See Edward L Bernays for the american scam machinery.

[Queenmandy85]

8 minutes ago, blackbird said:

What would you have done if you were President when 9-11 attack happened?

The 9-11 attacks came from Afganistan. Iraq's Saddam had nothing to do with it.

[H B Lowrey]

3 minutes ago, blackbird said:

"

People recovering from Omicron can experience the following:

Muscle weakness and stiff joints

Extreme fatigue and feeling low on energy

Reduced mobility

Breathlessness

Phlegm build-up

Weaker physical fitness

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Lack of sense of smell or taste

Stomach problems and this includes heartburn, diarrhoea and vomiting

Difficulties swallowing

On the other hand, some people experience a mental and emotional toll from Covid. These include:

Sleep issues – and can affect people who have been in hospital, where it can be difficult to sleep on Covid wards

Mental fog such as being forgetful and not thinking clearly

Sudden changes in your mood

Depression or anxiety

Nightmares or flashbacks

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Confusion or delirium  "

The worrying side effect Omicron patients must watch out for even after recovering from Covid (the-sun.com)

So, is there any need for certain measures to fight the pandemic?   I wouldn't call the existing measures "draconian".  Yes there is a need for the measures.  It is still a serious threat to everyone.

And then there's the 864,934 dead americans and counting.

Home - Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (jhu.edu)

[H B Lowrey]

Just now, Queenmandy85 said:

The 9-11 attacks came from Afganistan. Iraq's Saddam had nothing to do with it.

With quite a bit of Saudi participation at the very least.  America has this penchant for partnering with parties it later declares to be enemies deserving eradication.

[blackbird]

14 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

The 9-11 attacks came from Afganistan. Iraq's Saddam had nothing to do with it.

Saddam was thought to have WMDs at the time and he was not a friend of the west.  He had previously attacked Kuwait, remember?   Turned out Iraq was loaded with al Qaeda terrorists who travelled there from everywhere to fight the Americans.  They thought it was their chance to wage jihad against Americans.  Those are the people who attacked the U.S. on 9-11.   Remember?   

Edited January 22, 2022 by blackbird

[blackbird]

9 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

The 9-11 attacks came from Afganistan. Iraq's Saddam had nothing to do with it.

You must have very limited knowledge on al Qaeda.  al Qaeda was training in Afghanistan, but they are a international terrorist group spread out through the middle east and other countries.  They were in Iraq as well.  Where do you think ISIS came from?  They can attack anywhere and have.  The war on terror was not just in Afghanistan.  It was in other places as well such as Iraq which attracted al Qaeda fighters when the Americans were there.  That is who they were fighting in Iraq.

Edited January 22, 2022 by blackbird

[Queenmandy85]

14 minutes ago, blackbird said:

Saddam was thought to have WMDs at the time and he was not a friend of the west.  He had previously attacked Kuwait, remember?   Turned out the Iraq was loaded with al Qaeda terrorists who travelled there from everywhere to fight the Americans.  They thought it was their chance to wage jihad against Americans.  Those are the people who attacked the U.S. on 9-11.   Remember?   

The al Qaeda terrorists travelled to Iraq after Saddam was forced out. There was no evidence he had anything to do with 9-11. He was a Stalinist son of a bitch, but not because of 9-11. When the allies first invaded Iraq, they were fighting the Bathists. 

Edited January 22, 2022 by Queenmandy85

[Queenmandy85]

24 minutes ago, H B Lowrey said:

See Edward L Bernays for the american scam machinery.

Bernays worked in PR and marketing, but I can't find anything to link him to any long cons.

[H B Lowrey]

1 minute ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Bernays worked in PR and marketing, but I can't find anything to link him to any long cons.

He sold war before moving on to the Madison Ave stuff.  Pioneered the use of media in mass manipulation and the management of the perceptual reality of the masses.