Politics: J'accuse! - Page 318

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-17-2004, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
[SPREE- SEMI NUDE PIC OF KERRY'S DAUGHTER]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...slri5ml_photo0

EFS

I'll still take Jenna.

Secret_Agent_Man · 05-17-2004, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Me
Wrong. We feel vindicated simply by the ouster of a mass murderer. Regime change alone was enough for us.

I know you're a Republican, but I'm curious.

Do you consider yourself to be conservative?

Look, I know that sometimes big potential rewards require big risks. I say this as someone who supported the invasion based mostly on the promise of WMD, and also on the premise that Saddam desparately needed an ass-whipping.

However, when you take enormous risks, there should be a commensurate reward. In the absence of a stockpile of WMD in Iraq for us to have neutralized, I see no such big reward. As I think Hank acknowledges, a couple of leftover shells don't mean much, and I think there is no way know to tell which of club's scenarios is more likely.

The potential "soft power" rewards of us installing a glowing beacon of democracy in the Middle East and stabilizing that situation might still happen -- but are far off to say the very least. Those rewards also require the U.S. to not fuck up too badly, too often, which I think we have come perilously close to doing. It would be a damn tough job if we were perfect.

So chortle if you like, but we're still at the "So What?" stage.

S_A_M

Not Me · 05-17-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
[SPREE- SEMI NUDE PIC OF KERRY'S DAUGHTER]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...slri5ml_photo0

EFS

The Bush twins may be drunks, but at least they keep their clothes on in public.

BTW - Lucky for Kerry's daughter that she doesn't take after her dad in the looks department. I am questioning paternity.

Not Me · 05-17-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I know you're a Republican, but I'm curious.

Do you consider yourself to be conservative?

No pre-fab label correctly identifies my views. On some issues, like feminism and environment, I am very liberal. On others, like taxes and abortion, I am conservative.

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
However, when you take enormous risks, there should be a commensurate reward. In the absence of a stockpile of WMD in Iraq for us to have neutralized, I see no such big reward.

As I think Hank acknowledges, a couple of leftover shells don't mean much, and I think there is no way know to tell which of club's scenarios is more likely.

The potential "soft power" rewards of us installing a glowing beacon of democracy in the Middle East and stabilizing that situation might still happen -- but are far off to say the very least. Those rewards also require the U.S. to not fuck up too badly, too often, which I think we have come perilously close to doing. It would be a damn tough job if we were perfect.

So chortle if you like, but we're still at the "So What?" stage.

S_A_M

We didn't rebuild Japan or Germany in a day, either. If a secular democracy can be established in Iraq, the rewards to the US will be many. It will be the beginning of a new and better day in the Arab world. And hopefully, if more and more democratic reforms can be made in the Arab world, blowing yourself up to get to heaven will appeal to fewer and fewer young Arabs.

eta - AON, I had a lunctime glycolic acid treatment at a day spa this weekend and my face is as smooth as a baby's butt.

bilmore · 05-17-2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
The potential "soft power" rewards of us installing a glowing beacon of democracy in the Middle East and stabilizing that situation might still happen -- but are far off to say the very least.

I think they're far closer than your writing would intimate. I think our situation there has turned a rather huge corner in the last three weeks, and we are very close to having an actual, honest-to-goodness country over there. Support for Sadr is almost completely gone, Syria's and Iran's foray has been largely, if not completely, rebuffed, even the unfriendly pols are coming out with "let's get our shit together and build our country's processes instead of just fighting" sentiments, and the populace's mood is aimed more towards progress than anger. You speak of the "glowing beacon of democracy" with unfettered sarcasm, but I think you misjudge the situation, primarily because you are mostly reading the accounts and sentiments of people who either actively don't want it to happen, or who continue to pay too much attention to those who actively don't want it to happen.

sgtclub · 05-17-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Me
BTW - Lucky for Kerry's daughter that she doesn't take after her dad in the looks department. I am questioning paternity.

Disagree. She inherited the horse face.

Tyrone Slothrop · 05-17-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Me
Would that be the part of the world that lined its own pockets with the oil-for-food program funds?

Non-Chalabi-sourced cite, please.

Secret_Agent_Man · 05-17-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilmore
I think they're far closer than your writing would intimate, etc. . . .

I hope you're right (but that Bush still loses in November).

I'm not at all sure that a truly democratic Iraq would be much friendlier (in principle) to U.S./Western interests than was Saddam.

It would, however, presumably be less likely to bankrupt itself and starve its people in pursuit of ideology and regional dominance. That would be an improvement.

S_A_M

Did you just call me Coltrane? · 05-17-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
Disagree. She inherited the horse face.

Agree. She looks just like him but with longer hair and breasts. Of course, I doubt many of us even noticed her face...

Not Me · 05-17-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
Disagree. She inherited the horse face.

That is so harsh. I don't think she is ugly like her father. Her father is ugly. She is attractive. Not beautiful, but really, how many women are beautiful?

Secret_Agent_Man · 05-17-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgtclub
Disagree. She inherited the horse face.

A little bit, but she has a lithe frame and tice nitties.

S_A_M

Not Me · 05-17-2004, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Non-Chalabi-sourced cite, please.

This is a joke, right?

Secret_Agent_Man · 05-17-2004, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Not Me
eta - AON, I had a lunctime glycolic acid treatment at a day spa this weekend and my face is as smooth as a baby's butt.

Get a happy ending with that?

S_A_M

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 05-17-2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
A little bit, but she has a lithe frame and tice nitties.

S_A_M

Be fair. Have you seen John Kerry in a see-through dress?

Not Me · 05-17-2004, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I'm not at all sure that a truly democratic Iraq would be much friendlier (in principle) to U.S./Western interests than was Saddam.

It would, however, presumably be less likely to bankrupt itself and starve its people in pursuit of ideology and regional dominance. That would be an improvement.

You don't get it. THis is about the war on terrorism. It is about changing the conditions in the middle east that currently make it the perfect environment to ferment terrorists.

The reason the middle east is such a fertile breeding ground for terrorism is because of the totalitarian regimes and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. The regimes do everything they can to demonize Israel and the US so that their people won't revolt against them and instead will focus their anger against us and Israel. If things start to get better for the masses in the middle east, the message of the terrorists won't be so attractive. When you have a decent standard of living and freedom, you are less likely to want to fly airplanes into buildings.

Get it now?