[SamuraiProgrammer]

Originally posted by Andr&eacutes Lescano:
Samurai, so you're saying I'm the one who should mind my own damn business.

What I really want is for you to realize that this country must find a way to make sure that 9/11 does not happen again.

I personally feel that we are less likely to have such an attack if we dethrone Saddam Hussein that if we don't.

That financial aid is payback of the money you're taking from us.

Taking from you? How? I am not aware of my country stealing from you.

If you don't like the terms of trade, then by all means trade with someone else. We like the free world economic model.

And of course that your ideology of civil freedom is ok, (BTW that's not something exclusive of the US as you're implying)

I wasn't aware I implied exclusivity. I certainly didn't mean to. I did mean to imply leadership.

but your ideology of maintaining your illusion of safety by fear is not.

You are entitled to your opinion. Whether we like it or not (I don't BTW), might makes right by virtue of the mighty being the only ones left after the defacatory material hits the oscillatory object.

Of course US government has the right and the duty to ensure its people safety.

Unfortunately, much of the world seems to think that is not so.

They should concentrate in preventing terrorist attacks, and in bringing those responsible to justice, not bombing innocents.
But again, the US is not the police of the world.

Ask the conquered and then liberated portions of Europe and Asia about WWI, WWII, and the Korean Conflict. At the time, they might have disagreed.

Someone has to do it. If we didn't, I suspect another set of people would likely be complaining that with all of our resources, we should do something.

Fear of a US retaliation is not what maintains "peace" in the world.

Fear of US or Soviet retailiation kept the peace in Europe for about 40 years. As soon as the Berlin Wall came down (signifying the beginning of the end of cold war tensions) the same old factions that had been fighting for hundreds of years started all over again. A prime example of this would be what used to be known as Yugoslavia. Oh, by the way, put down the war crime victims of that time period in your list to ask about who is the police force.

The fact that the US is passing through an economic golden era does not mean they are morally superior to others.

No, I would say any moral superiority (if we have it) comes from the willingness to spend our resources in improving the standard of living of people around the world who hate us. I defy you to find another culture in history that did this much for this many without occupying first.

I think that the chose of target in 9-11 was clear enough. It was not the military, not the government, not the innocent civilians (just a little collateral damage),

A little collateral damage? My response would get me Banned from this newsgroup. I encourage anyone who is offended by this statement to voice that offense.

the WTC was canter and symbol of the large neo-imperialistic corporations.

Please note that the corporate structure of this country is what fuels the economy that provides the foreign aid. More on this in a moment.

That's what they consider their enemy is, what they see as imperialistic companies ravaging their people and the country that supports them.

Actually, I think you are on to something here. The foreign aid encourages people around the world to appreciate the USA and, to some extent, our values. THIS is what really bothers some of these people. They know that if the concept of educating the masses ever gets to their turf, they will likely lose their power base. THAT is why the leadership hates us.

This is not even a question if your feeling of safety is worth the weight of lives of millions of lives in your consciousness.

I sincerely do not believe that millions of lives are at stake at this time. If we let this go on, someday it could come to that. If we end it now, nowhere near that many people are likely to be affected.

Think of this a pulling a thorn. We have already waited 12 years too long and it is now infected. If wait much longer, we may lose the limb.

I say pull it now while we still can (if it is not already too late).

Even if everything is this war goes nicely, you manage to kill Saddam, innocent Iraquis casualties are as little as possible, and you help install a new government.
What then?
Will the world be a safer place?

It will be for the Kurds. Oh by the way, add them to your list about who is the police. Ask them how many would have died in the Last 12 years had it not been for the forces we have kept in the area. They were the targets of chemical warfare before. Maybe you will accept their opinion.

Will the US be any safer? Will there be fewer terrorists willing to attack the US?

I honestly think so. Bullies never seem to attack the strong, only the weak. I think that the weakness shown by our government in the 8 years prior to 9/11 is part of the problem.

Our government uncovered evidence showing there had been a failed assasination attempt on the president by the IRAQI GOVERNMENT. Not some rogue band of terrorists --- THE GOVERNMENT.

Our response was one missile. One.

Weak.

And as for your rating.. I have not voted your rank down. You earned your rating for activities pertinent to Space Empires. I think your shipsets are exceptionally fine. You have great talent in that area.

I disagree with your politics. I think you have said some things for effect that you really don't mean (like collateral damage). I hope that I can give you food for thought that might sway your opinion. (As you are trying to sway mine.)

I have no idea how old you are, but I suspect that in 10 or 20 years, you will feel much different than you do today. Unfortunately, idealism is usually a casualty of experience. (It is not as bad as it sounds... Realism is more reliable.)

If I have said anything that angers you, I apologize. It is not my intent.

Sincerely

[ February 27, 2003, 06:21: Message edited by: SamuraiProgrammer ]