Land of the Free

[speeder]

Indonesia. At least if anyone has a brain.

[turbo6bar]

Originally posted by Aurel
In january 2004, the US GDP is $10,836Bn and the account balance is -$537.3 Bn, nearly 5% of GDP.
The EU-15 GDP is comparable, $8,736Bn in 2003, but the balance is +$65Bn.

Aurel

Ah, but that statistic is slightly askew.

France and Germany deficits

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Ahhh, the Enrony of it all....

[Aurel]

Ah, but that statistic is slightly askew

Good pick turbo6bar. A 5% debt of a GDP that is growing 8% is clearly better than a 4% debt of a GDP that is growing 0.3%.
To that one I have nothing to reply. France sucks. I am glad to be a european
living in the US

Aurel

[turbo6bar]

Originally posted by Aurel
Good pick turbo6bar. A 5% debt of a GDP that is growing 8% is clearly better than a 4% debt of a GDP that is growing 0.3%.
To that one I have nothing to reply. France sucks. I am glad to be a european
living in the US

Just making sure we are picking apples from the same tree.

[tabs]

Pakistan....

1.Musharefe has had 2 assination attempts on his life in the past month or so.

2. He has made an agreement with the fundlmentalists to step down from command of the army next year. While retaining the Presidency.

3. During a speech he made to the Pakistani parliment last week he was booed by the fundlementalist faction.

4. He is making arrests of people connected with Al Queada, who Musharefe claims were behind the assination attempts.

5. He is entering negioations with India over Kashmir. Which is not making the fundlmentalist factions happy.


It is thought that Bin Laden is in the NW Terrritory of Pakistan, being protected by tribal forces who revere him. It is known that various elements of the Pakistani Intelligence agencies have close ties to the Taliban, and have fudlementalist leanings. Even the most senior of pakistani Nuclear Scientists have had discussions with the Taliban and Bin Laden. The pakistani street is decidely anti USA and pro Bin Laden.

So Musharef has considerable Political pressure being put on him, it could come to the point of critical mass and he is over thrown. The very least that would happen is that Pakistan would be in chaos politically. Then whose hands do the Nuclear aresnal fall into.


It is likely that Bin Laden is funding the fundlementalist faction in Pakistan with the hopes of overthrowing Musharefe and installing an Islamic government that would be favorable to his aims.

So boyz keep your eyes on developments outa Pakistan, cause thats where the real action is happening.

[Aurel]

Just making sure we are picking apples from the same tree.

We are. However, comparing the economies of France and the US is a little bit comparing apples and oranges, since one is a single country, the other a confederation. Hence my comparison of the US and EU economies. To compare apples and apples, one should compare the economies of France and say California. I bet California would still beat France on the GDP growth, but I wonder what fraction of the GDP the debt represents there. 20%, 30% ?

Aurel

[Aurel]

Pakistan....

Pakistan has nukes and no oil...Not a good candidate for invasion However, a coup is still possible.

Aurel

[tabs]

If a coup takes place in Pakistan, and a fundlementalist government takes over...it's a good bet Bin Laden will have his hands on Nukes.

What does the USA do when a country that is harboring Bin Laden has Nukes and has given them to him to use against the USA. His MO strongly suggests he will use them against the USA at quickly as he can.

Then how would you asses the security risk Bin Laden poses to the USA. Is Afganistan stilll viable or will USA have to pull out?

WILL THE USA THEN HAVE LOST THE WAR ON TERROR?

[Aurel]

Common Tabs, you know as well as I do that the war on terror is nothing else than a big excuse to invade oil rich countries and strategically reposition american interrests while Russia is emasculated and China still a teenager. I have never seen terrorism being fought by armed forces, this is complete nonsense. Terrorist networks are inflitrated by intelligence agents, and destroyed by special forces. Trying to hit a mosquito with a B52 is costly, ineffective, and causes lots of colateral damage. Furthermore, the argument that nukes and WMDs could be passed on terrorists, justifying the invasion of countries that possess them, is total BS. It is total BS because the BEST place to buy WMDs for cheap is Russia, and I would be talking to the russian mafia if I where from Al Quaeda. So is Russia next on the list of Rummy ? I doubt it. By the way, there are also muslim republics in the former soviet union. I wonder why Rummy is not worried that Al Quaeda camps could be run there too...

Aurel

[dd74]

Iraq served Bush's purpose. We'll have another four years because of his "success" there. So whatever threat Russia, Iran, this country or that posses, will soon be inconsequential for the man because he will already be on his second term.

In fact, after '08, I don't think he'll care if a Republican gets elected or not. His special interest agenda will see to his becoming a very wealthy man long before his second term is up, which should satisfy him quite nicely.

The real question is does special interest supplant international security (or the illusion thereof) for the United States. I don't think it does, which is why Bush will probably win.

[Aurel]

Looks a little bit like a twisted plan on Bush`s behalf to just become rich: starting to get elected president of the US, then launch a war against terror, then invade Iraq, then give the reconstruction contracts to buddies...it even looks like a twisted plan to become reelected...in fact, I don`t thing Bush has anything to do with the plan. He just does what daddy`s buddies tell him to do.

Aurel

[cegerer]

You guy's have been spending a little bit too much time up on the grassy knoll! To think that Bush (or any President) is sending soldiers to war for personal financial gain is cynical, partisan and simplistic in the extreme. Come up with some real arguments. Bush had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life long before he took any political office. Jeeezus .......

[tabs]

Aurel and dd you forget that Bushy made a ton of money on the Rangers Baseball team...

I'm not talking about what the US is planning to do with regards to Pakistan. I'm talking about what Bin Laden is up to. I'm also thinking about the consequences if he succeeds?

[beepbeep]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Because life was so very much better under the Taliban or Saddam, right?

Err...so that's the only two possibilities there is or what? ...you are either americanized or you "live under Saddam"??

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Yep.

You're either Americanized (democracy not over-run with socialists) or you're living under Saddam or friends with him.




FWIW, I'm only half kidding.

[beepbeep]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Yep.

You're either Americanized (democracy not over-run with socialists) or you're living under Saddam or friends with him.




FWIW, I'm only half kidding.

Well then i guess we are friends with him then...come and save us from ourselves!