A Democratic view I fully agree with....

[Tobra]

Our pre WW II talks with Japan worked out really well for us, right up until December 1941. Pre WW II talks with Germany, how many promises did they keep to anyone during that period of time?

How exactly is it that his saying
"Lets see, Reagan did not fear applying force against the Soviets. Were they dominated by the West, I would say yes and that resolve by the West is what eventually bleed them dry, not to mention their inability to compete at that time against the shear power of western economies. I would say Reagan understood the rules of the game and appeased no one."

indicative in any way that military force was the only hammer Mr Reagan held.

If one does not learn from history, they are doomed to repeat it. Negotiating with Japan and Germany allowed them to consolidate and strengthen their positions.

Sitting down with Iran's President would serve several useful purposes for that regime, all of which are delineated in several places here

[kach22i]

Lets just kill everyone that does not agree with us.

That's the quickest path to lasting peace, right?

[RKC]

Actually, even talking about talking to Iran serves the interests of that rogue regime.....

Shhh!!!! Pelicans!!!! You don't wan to give comfort to the.....

Oh, no, I've said their name! Oh, please, Great Pumpkin, we sincerely hate the Iranians. Please come back!!!!!

Oh, no, one little slip up and we're DOOOOOOOMED! I've got to clutch my security blanket now.



Come on now. Lighten up a little. Us vs. the Axis - that could have been it. Us vs. the USSR? Ditto. But the Western world vs. IRAN? Please. I'm not scared of increasing their legitimacy, or whatever silly, stupid, modern business/advertising phrase is used. They can't get us, fellows. A little chat? That's OK if Obama wins. A little missile raid? We'll live to fight another day if McCain wins. Jeez....the sky isn't falling. A nuclear bomb or two (or three) isn't going to wipe the West off the face of the world....

[Tobra]

put your head back in the sand

[RKC]

Put my head back in the sand? You first.

Why do all those who fear Iran idolize Reagan when they so clearly do not measure up to his legacy?

Reagan was a great leader, willing to risk confrontation and NUCLEAR WAR to defeat the evil communists. He was willing to put the entire nation - the entire world - at risk to lead us to our current sunlit uplands of peace and prosperity. He, not alone perhaps, but more than anyone else, ended the cold war and brought down the Soviet Union. He was content to risk the destruction that tens of thousands of discharged nuclear bombs would cause for a philosophy and a way of life he thought was worth living.

Many of the "conservatives" on this board won't even risk a city or two to fight the Iranians. They seem to feel that if a single nuclear bomb goes off the entire world will be ruined. Reagan must be rolling over in his grave if this is what it now means to be a conservative and a patriot.

Reagan talked. Reagan threatened. Reagan worked the possibilities in every nook and cranny and won the Cold War. How is it that we must now fight with one hand tied behind our back? Either we lob missiles or we hold talks - but not both. We are too stupid and prejudiced for that. We must do what Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken tell us. Wow....

Gallipolli happened because the British Admiralty was unwilling to lose ships during wartime. How is the fear of people who say we "are sticking our heads in the sand" - be they peaceniks or armchair warriors - any different?

This isn't "Stratego" This is the real world. We are adults. We need to work every angle, attack every problem. We need to talk, negotiate, threaten, attack, as the situation warrents. Isn't our way of life worth using every weapon at our disposal? Do you really think that Hitler was stopped by the RAF alone? Not by the scientists who invented radar? Not by the people who rejoiced at the false peace of Munich and would gladly have sued for peace, but then were transformed by the rhetoric of the great Churchill?

People make the difference. The soldiers on the front lines, yes, of course. But also the diplomates, the scientists, the women in the workforce, the computer guy in the wheelchair who gets the good parking. In America we use EVERYBODY as best we can. That is WHY we are BEST. That is why we will WIN. That is WHY we have little to fear except from fools who try to keep us from using some portion of our national strength due to specious and childish partisan politics. United we stand, divided we fall is what they said all those centuries ago. It is still true today....

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by RKC

Put my head back in the sand? You first.

Why do all those who fear Iran idolize Reagan when they so clearly do not measure up to his legacy?

Reagan was a great leader, willing to risk confrontation and NUCLEAR WAR to defeat the evil communists. He was willing to put the entire nation - the entire world - at risk to lead us to our current sunlit uplands of peace and prosperity. He, not alone perhaps, but more than anyone else, ended the cold war and brought down the Soviet Union. He was content to risk the destruction that tens of thousands of discharged nuclear bombs would cause for a philosophy and a way of life he thought was worth living.

Many of the "conservatives" on this board won't even risk a city or two to fight the Iranians. They seem to feel that if a single nuclear bomb goes off the entire world will be ruined. Reagan must be rolling over in his grave if this is what it now means to be a conservative and a patriot.

Reagan talked. Reagan threatened. Reagan worked the possibilities in every nook and cranny and won the Cold War. How is it that we must now fight with one hand tied behind our back? Either we lob missiles or we hold talks - but not both. We are too stupid and prejudiced for that. We must do what Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken tell us. Wow....

Gallipolli happened because the British Admiralty was unwilling to lose ships during wartime. How is the fear of people who say we "are sticking our heads in the sand" - be they peaceniks or armchair warriors - any different?

This isn't "Stratego" This is the real world. We are adults. We need to work every angle, attack every problem. We need to talk, negotiate, threaten, attack, as the situation warrents. Isn't our way of life worth using every weapon at our disposal? Do you really think that Hitler was stopped by the RAF alone? Not by the scientists who invented radar? Not by the people who rejoiced at the false peace of Munich and would gladly have sued for peace, but then were transformed by the rhetoric of the great Churchill?

People make the difference. The soldiers on the front lines, yes, of course. But also the diplomates, the scientists, the women in the workforce, the computer guy in the wheelchair who gets the good parking. In America we use EVERYBODY as best we can. That is WHY we are BEST. That is why we will WIN. That is WHY we have little to fear except from fools who try to keep us from using some portion of our national strength due to specious and childish partisan politics. United we stand, divided we fall is what they said all those centuries ago. It is still true today....

Great "let's start a war for any reason" rant.

Not much of an example for critical thinking ability or historical knowledge. Do you have any idea why Britain was so reluctant to lose ships at Gallipoli?

[Mule]

Well the picture is pretty clear here. If a nation calls for our death and the death of our allies, the proper response for a civilized nation is negotiations with the murderers. Maybe they'll settle for only killing half of us!

To tell them that we will not accept the aggression of murderous regimes and will respond fiercely is obviously the rantings of warmongers. Glad ya'll cleared us up.

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by Mule

Well the picture is pretty clear here. If a nation calls for our death and the death of our allies, the proper response for a civilized nation is negotiations with the murderers. Maybe they'll settle for only killing half of us!

To tell them that we will not accept the aggression of murderous regimes and will respond fiercely is obviously the rantings of warmongers. Glad ya'll cleared us up.

Glad you finally understand.

Words for words. Swords for swords. There is a difference.

[Tobra]

RKC, WTF are you on about? You are the one saying we don't need to be concerned about little old Iran, which is just stupid.

No big deal? It is a pretty big deal if a suicide cult gets a hold of 2 or 3 nuclear weapons, or it would be to a sentient being.

BTW, it is not the "Western World" vs Iran. It is the US, the Brits, the Aussies and the Israelis. The French, Germans, Russians and a lot of the rest are in bed with Iran.

When you say we are too stupid and prejudiced, does that mean you and the Cracker Mouse you have in your pocket?