Tabs isolated view of the World.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by tabs

What prompted this Thread was a conversation with my neighbor. His friend has spent the last 3 years working as a PSF operative in Iraq. During that time 4 of his buddies were waxed in a car when it was hit by an RPG. He goes back today this time hired by the US State Department for 250K a year to head a team of 20 operatives to recon buildings for possible corporate use. For this position he was recommended by a general in the US Military. Basically the situation in Iraq is that there are multitudes of Multinational Corporations both foreign and domestic in Iraq scooping up the 100s of Billions of dollars that is lieing around for reconstruction and that every company has its own private security force. They are even planning on creating their own air support system when the US Military draws down. My neighbor said that he told him the situation in Iraq is "BAD,"far worse than anything the media has reported so far. He wouldn't elorbrate.

Whoa, wait a second, this is new news Ted? Liberals have been spouting this traitorous trash for years now. My favorite is the $8billion in cash airlifted over and disappeared.

Conservatives waste more $ than Liberals ever could simply because their pet projects like global war just cost more than giving no-good douche bags food stamps so they can sell them and buy some heroin. So instead of Social Welfare provided by Democrats, we have Corporate Welfare supplied by the blood of US Troops, thanks to Republicans. Good to see you are finally realizing it.

You are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay smarter than this, and we'll prove it when I'm in town later this month.

[livi]

Anyone please make an intellectual condensation of tabīs fairly long document. Too long and complicated to grasp the essence of for a poor durn for'ner.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Whoa, wait a second, this is new news Ted? Liberals have been spouting this traitorous trash for years now. My favorite is the $8billion in cash airlifted over and disappeared.

Conservatives waste more $ than Liberals ever could simply because their pet projects like global war just cost more than giving no-good douche bags food stamps so they can sell them and buy some heroin. So instead of Social Welfare provided by Democrats, we have Corporate Welfare supplied by the blood of US Troops, thanks to Republicans.

:

This sounds more like the Shaun of old. Your posts infers that the Democratic Party is the party of virtue, that their hands are free of corruption. Quiet frankly BC was also a free trade president as well, and had use of the Wallmart Corporate aircraft during his campaign. Notice that the Most Favored Nation status was confered so easily to China under his admin. and that Wallmart has capitalized nicely on that status. What I'm trying to get at is that no matter who the President is or party he represents, globalization and supporting corporate "welfare" is his job. That has increasingly become the true constituency of the American government since 1945.

A question arises from that fact. Do the American people benfit from that arrangement? The answer is yes they largely do, Americans standard of living overall is the highest in the world. What other peoples see as luxurys we think of as standard.

Further Shaun..I wanted to add in the orginal Thread..that while out on the Rim, you must have also seen just how serious a threat the Islamic Jihad is.

I want to add alittle something else here as well. I was watching a movie called "Going South" It was a foreign film about single middle aged women going to Haiti on "Holiday." In the movie a solique was given by the owner of the resort. To paraphrase he said that "All White Men" are animals and that Americans are what is meant by the term "White Men. " That they nolonger come with their cannons but with their dollars and that everything they touch turns to garbage.

The US Empire doesn't rule like empires of old, with military force but with economics, business and dollars as the coercive medium.

In conclusion I don't believe that the War in Iraq was designed to be a "Corporate Welfare" situation. The risks to the global economy were too high just to satisify a few corporations.

PS..Its not only US Corps that are in on the feeding frenzy in Iraq, it is truly multinational corps from all over the world.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

NOTE: the end is the meat and potatoes. Everything else is just rambling until then.

Old Shaun, new Shaun. Does it really matter (unless you are Joe that is).

Let me tell you what I saw while in Frankfurt, Dubai and Chennai, that is talking with folks on the plane, in the airports, on the ground. By contrast with my conversations, I saw the U.S. as an ignorant little brat on the world stage playground more concerned about Walmart sales, overplanned and coddled lives with no understanding of Duty and Sacrifice. I saw 150K Soldiers carrying our Nation on their backs in Iraq while we throw down beer and chips and "go shopping". More concerned about taxes and a plasma TV than a top shelf Education. I saw the U.S. as ignorant of the World around it and instead of wanting to learn about it, simply wanting to smash it with the biggest hammer it could find, more out of fear than anything else. By contrast, I saw that our lack of understanding of other people's cultures around the world will be our Downfall. The world around us is growing up faster than we are adapting, whether by choice or by ignorance. We are a country of cattle who would rather bash each other than work together. Critical, independent thought is dead. We blindly swallow down government pabulum and questioning authority has been labeled as traitorous. Lastly, if you can't hit it with a hammer, no one wants to know about it.

When I was in Chennai, a local politician was holding a "50 years in office" citywide celebration the weekend I was leaving. The entire city was grid locked, truly 100% wall to wall people on every surface beaming with pride over their politician, who was both corrupt and magnanimous. He helped the ultra poor as much as the wealthy and powerful. That duality in itself was very interesting. He has 2 sons, one of which will take over for him someday soon. It's a given. When one of the major newspapers ran poll favoring one at 80%, the other at 5%, 15 undecided, the son with 5% got his followers together and bombed the newspaper. 5 people died. I learned a lot about that entire part of the world from that one incident. How people reacted to it and why. the backlash against this son was huge. His followers were hunted down, he was publicly excoriated. Pictures of him (these huge posters of politicians are everywhere) were defamed. I'm sure he felt great about bombing the newspaper. I'm sure he won't live to see 2008, and if he does, he'll be a pariah.

This is when I realized I was dead wrong about there being a political solution to Iraq and there isn't a "glassification" solution. if you remember, I was pro-pullout for a variety of reasons, the two main ones being that only a political solution was viable as a long-term solution with military getting in the way; the second was that Iraq is the largest entitlement program ever conceived, our soldiers dying so their politicians can take a stand (and take a vacation), which is wrong on so many levels.

Fact is, either we are prolonging the war for a reason, don't have the political courage to win or are just plain stupid. I think it's a combination of all 3. You've seen my 300k troop plan to seal borders, turn the country upside down, etc. so I won't repeat it here, but it's the only logical solution given how much Time, Money and Blood that has been spent in Iraq.

"Further Shaun..I wanted to add in the orginal Thread..that while out on the Rim, you must have also seen just how serious a threat the Islamic Jihad is."

you know what I saw? really want to know? What sunk in more than anything while abroad is that Islamic Jihad is the same conjured up boogeyman as the Communist Threat. It isn't real. Let me say that again. It isn't real at all. We've done everything but roll out the red carpet to terrorists with completely open borders and ports. Fact is if it were real, we'd have been hit ages ago, and many times. And while I'm sure we've got some great black ops teams who have stopped attacks, again, it's just way to easy to hit us because we have done nothing to protect ourselves. if it were real we'd have OBL's head on a pike on top of the White House. Instead he roams free. That in itself says more than anything. The man who killed over 3000 Americans is free in the world. That is unacceptable on any level. Instead we have a couple hundred goat herders and 50 serious terrorists locked up in Gitmo. Did you hear Bush today? Did you hear him say he's going to bring al Quaeda to justice? Man I wish I had a bat and could just bash his brains in, or maybe a big hammer. What a joke. The Taliban are stronger than ever. Does that seem like good Military strategy executed to you? 6 years after we attack, the enemy is stronger. What the füch is that about?

Oh, I could ramble on incoherently for some time, and hope to better discuss over a buffet or two, but I've got to get back to work.

the net net of what I saw overseas was how small the U.S. is, and is becoming. Democratic India, Communist China (our bankers), those the folks you need to watch in the next 50 years. Islamic jihad is tiny tiny thing compared to the monumental task of keeping our country competitive with these two giants down the road.

it's all about scale, and big hammers, and leadership. Sadly, we only have one. "hey look, a nail..."

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by MRM

No, I'm just literate.

Good for you MRM, stick to your guns

[sammyg2]

J-I-N-GO, J-I-N-GO, J-I-N-GO and JINGO was his name-o.
And this one time? At band camp?

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

N
you know what I saw? really want to know? What sunk in more than anything while abroad is that Islamic Jihad is the same conjured up boogeyman as the Communist Threat. It isn't real. Let me say that again. It isn't real at all. We've done everything but roll out the red carpet to terrorists with completely open borders and ports. Fact is if it were real, we'd have been hit ages ago, and many times. And while I'm sure we've got some great black ops teams who have stopped attacks, again, it's just way to easy to hit us because we have done nothing to protect ourselves. if it were real we'd have OBL's head on a pike on top of the White House. Instead he roams free. That in itself says more than anything. The man who killed over 3000 Americans is free in the world. That is unacceptable on any level. Instead we have a couple hundred goat herders and 50 serious terrorists locked up in Gitmo. Did you hear Bush today? Did you hear him say he's going to bring al Quaeda to justice? Man I wish I had a bat and could just bash his brains in, or maybe a big hammer. What a joke. The Taliban are stronger than ever. Does that seem like good Military strategy executed to you? 6 years after we attack, the enemy is stronger. What the füch is that about?

Put down the torch and step away from the crack pipe!

So jihad is a govt conjured up bogeyman and thank God we are lucky enough to have Shaun the magnificent to tell us the truth. Your post made it difficult to maintain my balance while reading. Allow me to suggest a change to your tag line so it might be more in line with your posts: "I'm a space cowboy, bet you weren't ready for that."

Here my friends is proof beyond the shadow of doubt that America is the greatest country in the history of man. Where else can a person this confused still make enough money to buy a Porsche. Praise be to allah.

[tabs]

The danger of Al Qaedea is that so few can cause so much carnage.

Shaun How many times have U heard me say that Americans are distracted with the Super Bowl and bought off with their SUVs, Big Screen TV and Ranch style home in the burbs. How many times have U heard me say Americans are the fatted calf, that their job is to consume.

The Bush admin can scream anything they like about everybody who has a question about their policies being traitors. That don't make it so, and the next Prez is gona be complaining about something else. Remember Hillary complaining about the vast Right Wing conspiracy....

More frightening to me is that students on college campus' are shouted down and ostrasized for stating unpopular postions.

I have long said Americans since the end of WW2 have never gone through hard times, never felt that they were at the mercy of events and had no control. Americans have been living off the fat of the land for so long they feel they are ENTITLED to being number 1 and don't have to make sacrafices. The rest of the world for the most part doesn't have that luxury.

I went to China back in the late 80s and when I returned to the USA I was struck that America is like Disneyland by comparison. I also had seen the economic development in China where they were making something out of nothing...they were pulling themselves up by the boot straps as it were.

[MRM]

Originally Posted by Mule

Put down the torch and step away from the crack pipe!

Here my friends is proof beyond the shadow of doubt that America is the greatest country in the history of man. Where else can a person this confused still make enough money to buy a Porsche. Praise be to allah.

It should be "Allah". You capitalize the names of proper nouns, including all dieties, regardless of whether you recognize them.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by tabs

The danger of Al Qaedea is that so few can cause so much carnage.

Shaun How many times have U heard me say that Americans are distracted with the Super Bowl and bought off with their SUVs, Big Screen TV and Ranch style home in the burbs. How many times have U heard me say Americans are the fatted calf, that their job is to consume.

The Bush admin can scream anything they like about everybody who has a question about their policies being traitors. That don't make it so, and the next Prez is gona be complaining about something else. Remember Hillary complaining about the vast Right Wing conspiracy....

More frightening to me is that students on college campus' are shouted down and ostrasized for stating unpopular postions.

I have long said Americans since the end of WW2 have never gone through hard times, never felt that they were at the mercy of events and had no control. Americans have been living off the fat of the land for so long they feel they are ENTITLED to being number 1 and don't have to make sacrafices. The rest of the world for the most part doesn't have that luxury.

I went to China back in the late 80s and when I returned to the USA I was struck that America is like Disneyland by comparison. I also had seen the economic development in China where they were making something out of nothing...they were pulling themselves up by the boot straps as it were.

The danger of al Quaeda is minimal in the grand scheme and nothing that covert operations can't handle. I've been saying we should greatly expand that side of the Military for a while now. We need 200 teams of 5 doing what needs to be done around the world. the standard US Military can't keep dirty bombs, gas and such out of their hands, but ops teams can. With our current level of technology, it's about time and money to make this happen. Al Quaeda is spread all around the world. Big hammers don't apply.

You've been and continue to be spot on concerning the American public.

The Bush Admin is irrelevant by now with only 20% of the public really paying attention. People have moved on to their Mochalattas, fascinated with the new crop coming up. It is at least comforting to know we have a few true leaders and smart people running on both sides. I'm looking forward to the day, sometime early in 09 when it won't be cool to be stupid anymore.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by MRM

It should be "Allah". You capitalize the names of proper nouns, including all dieties, regardless of whether you recognize them.

My own little touch for expression's sake. And oh allah please save us all, you misspelled deities. Go grade some papers our something.

[MRM]

C'mon. Be honest. You forgot the capital A on Allah just like I forgot the exceptions to the i after e except after c rule. I thought dieties looked wrong but I didn't pay much attention to it. My hourly rate is a tad bit high to grade papers, but I will flatter my former English teachers with your thoughts if I go to my next high school reunion. They seemed to think I had some potential as a young lad, although they weren't shy about saying that I wasn't living up to my potential back then.

[MRM]

Tabs, all of your thoughts are explained by the simple fact that GWB is the Republican Lyndon Johnson for this generation. He has no ideology other than power and money and he doesn't even have basic comptetence to pull off anything more complicated than an election, let alone something as complex as a land war is Asia.

[speeder]

Amen to that, my literate Minnesota brother!

[Hawktel]

Actually, when I speak with people outside of the USA, they mostly seem to say they are not happy with our current government, but like the American people.


Lots of people dislike Bush. I readily concede there is a lot to dislike. I do value the man though, I think he was/is the right man for the current job.

Bush, does have a few things going for him, and for us perhaps.

First, in another 18 months, he is gone. Foot note in history. A new bunch steps in, and the self correction in our government steps into play. All the old mess will get blamed on Bush.

Second, He is doing a good job of reminding people that, its best not to mess with the USA in certain ways. I'm sure if you sat down Osama Bin Ladin, or any of the other Islamic fundamentalists who happened to be involved in this, if they were truthful, they would tell you they didn't expect this reaction. I don't think anyone did. I'm sure Saddam Hussein in whatever hell he is in, wishs Osama hadn't pulled 9/11. He'd still be in power, living the good life, killing kurds.

I also think that is the part that makes a lot of the world fairly uncomfortable with the USA right now. Its easier to deal with the US that is a irresolute on major issues. A nation that wasn't Dangerous really. A nation that you could depend on to fracture when the going got tough.

Bush's one man drive has shown this isn't always the case.


In the end, I'm happy. Another 18 months, and we can reassure the world, "oops sorry about that" And go back to a more peaceful time. But people ain't going to forget. And that will help us more than it will hurt us in the long run.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by MRM

C'mon. Be honest. You forgot the capital A on Allah just like I forgot the exceptions to the i after e except after c rule. I thought dieties looked wrong but I didn't pay much attention to it. My hourly rate is a tad bit high to grade papers, but I will flatter my former English teachers with your thoughts if I go to my next high school reunion. They seemed to think I had some potential as a young lad, although they weren't shy about saying that I wasn't living up to my potential back then.

You are wrong oh god of language & grammatical protocol. Regardless, your mistakes are ok while the mistakes of others merit your infantile criticism?

[tabs]

I fully admit that I am a poor speller, have forgotten my Grammer and my syntax is askew...mea culpa

Now what the fk else is new?

[tabs]

The Bush/Cheney team has been a dream come true for many Conservatives in the US. They are a coupla guyz that aren't afraid to tell you where to get get off. If you displease them they tell U to "Go fk yourself." Their attitude is that you need us more than we need you. The only problem is that after awhile the US under Bush/Cheney found that they had gotten themselves into deep Caca in Iraq and that they needed help.

My opinion on the matter is that all is well and good if you don't wind up fking yourself doing it. However the Bush/Cheney obstinace about not talking to your enemies is retarded, why would one want to give up a usefull tool in your bag of tricks. I would continue to talk to my enemies if for no other reason than to fk with their heads.

There is an old LBJ story, that he told a fellow Congressman when he first came to Washington DC "to go to he11." LBJs mentor Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn said, "Never tell anyone to go to he11 unless you can put them there." Unfortunately Bush/Cheney have wound up there instead of their adversaries.

[Mule]

We should have learned from Korea & Viet Nam that you cant fight a war half-assed.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by tabs

The Bush/Cheney team has been a dream come true for many Conservatives in the US.

The Bush/Cheney team has been a dream come true for terrorists around the world.