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25,000 potential reasons Bush will use to expand the war in the Middle East
admriker444
Member Posts: 1,526
Anyone find it curious that we have 25,000 americans stuck in Lebanon ? Our ally Israel has made sure of this by continually bombing every bridge and runway in the country.
I wont be the least bit suprised when an american gets killed or kidnapped, we'll see Fox News screaming for retaliation. You'll see pictures of this brave american and his family he left behind. If its one of the young college girls visiting, you'll see pictures of her and her puppy and hear about her volunteer work.
Things could get very ugly over there.
Comments
I am surprised that ordinary Americans would be stupid enough to vacation in the Middle East, when they know they are targets for terrorists and kidnapping ransom artists. Forget about the current conflict that Israel is involved in, that's a completely justified response and they can't wait for non Lebanese to leave before retaliating as they have.
It's one thing if your job requires placement in the Middle East, but to travel there voluntarily during these times is dumb. Those Amercians and other nationalities do so at their own risk and don't deserve special considerations.
"What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."
well isreal isnt as much of an "ally" in my mind as they are the pyschopathic anti terrorist nation
seriously some of their crowd control techniques in dealing with palestine are quite terrible.
their are some videos of them just unleashing rubber bullets or some "non lethal round" into crowds and fingers geting not blown off but basically pulls off at high speed.
they are ruthless but justified in a significant amount of their actions.
not to mention they are nearly untouchable by the UN due to the fact that the UN doesnt care enough to stop them. And also has given them little support in situations where they both deserved and desperately needed it.
the first real difference of opinion and action between the US and the UN all stems from isreals fights in the middle east in 1947 and the 60's.
isreal is a rogue cannon that is almost necessary to strike fear into the hearts of middle eastern radical islamic terrorists and nations.
without them a lot more enemies of the US would be a lot more bold.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
"What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."
well the fact is they have droped just about as much bombs over iraq as we have.
and more over Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudia Arabia, and anyone they can reach who they deam a threat.
and they have deployed more special forces since 1960 then any nation in its whole history, in 40 years they have used more special forces troops then britain and most long lasting european nations in their entire history.
they just dont care about retaliation cus they already face it every day.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
Not exactly true, but they have an extremely well trained and serious military nevertheless.
At the top end of Beirut there is 2,000 UN peacekeepers on the ground. The Brits have a marine assault fleet standing by off the cost of Beirut. Everybody who wants out, can leave.
I think Hisbollah are a little to busy dodging bombs to attack foreign civvies right now.
I'm sorry, but the 'Big Name Oil Companies' benefitting from all this is a stupid theory. The people who benefit from the high oil prices are the Saudis, the Iranians, the Venezuelans, etc. That is where the overwhelming majority of the profit is in oil. The oil companies make a pittance compared to them. The oil companies would much prefer a steady supply of oil coming from these countries and an ever growing demand. THAT is how the oil companies make their money, not through international turmoil and supply disruption. Using the 'big named oil companies' as a scapegoat is just the easy way out, so noone has to really think too hard.
The other people who benefit are a large part of the problem... the speculators in the futures markets. I have felt for a while that removing oil from the futures markets would help the situation, so people couldn't manipulate the price upwards. I don't know all the ramifications or the feasability of this, but it would go a long way towards lowering prices. The impact on the industry may be too negative to do it, I'm just not sure... but I would be curious to find out if it would be possible.
2,000 peacekeepers? Ok, so basically there is just a British marine assault fleet out there. Blue helmets are irrelevant.
H.
Well "Mesopotamia" was the center of the world and, Christ was born near there, the founding father of Christianity which is a giant religion over here.. hmmm maybe that's the reason why American's are there? Naw...
Professor Hubert Farnsworth - That question is less stupid but, you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
only took a few days for this to be blamed on bush. awesome.!!
I saw an article yesterday that blamed Zindanes headbutt on Bush... and it was a serious article.
Tin Foil hats dont work.. its all a conspiracy
Tin Foil hats dont work.. its all a conspiracy
For some reason you guys seem to think that the 25k American's in Lebanon are white anglo saxons? There is more going on in the middle east than just a war in Iraq and tourists you know. Some Americans actually live there, work there, and have family there.
I'm sorry, but the 'Big Name Oil Companies' benefitting from all this is a stupid theory. The people who benefit from the high oil prices are the Saudis, the Iranians, the Venezuelans, etc. That is where the overwhelming majority of the profit is in oil. The oil companies make a pittance compared to them. The oil companies would much prefer a steady supply of oil coming from these countries and an ever growing demand. THAT is how the oil companies make their money, not through international turmoil and supply disruption. Using the 'big named oil companies' as a scapegoat is just the easy way out, so noone has to really think too hard.
The other people who benefit are a large part of the problem... the speculators in the futures markets. I have felt for a while that removing oil from the futures markets would help the situation, so people couldn't manipulate the price upwards. I don't know all the ramifications or the feasability of this, but it would go a long way towards lowering prices. The impact on the industry may be too negative to do it, I'm just not sure... but I would be curious to find out if it would be possible.
Umm incorrect. Big oil companies and their subsidiery companies like Haliburton are making record profits. Exxon made over 400 billion dollars last quarter alone. They are on pace to make a record 1 trillion dollars in a single year.
The oil may come from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, etc but the oil companies are the ones pumping it from the ground.
It sure isn’t easy to differentiate Democrats from terrorists these days. 1) Both Democrats and terrorists want American troops out of Iraq. 2) Both Democrats and terrorists hate George W. Bush.
3) Both Democrats and terrorists claim American troops are killing and harassing innocent women and children in Iraq.
4) Both Democrats and terrorists claim American troops are an occupying force.
5) Both Democrats and terrorists claim that the war in Iraq was all about oil.
6) Both Democrats and terrorists claim that Bush lied to get the congress to agree to the war against Saddam.
7) Both Democrats and terrorists claim that America is losing the war in Iraq.
8) Both Democrats and terrorists claim that Bush “rushed” into the war, and neither appears to have noticed the year of delay while gathering numerous UN and congressional resolutions and authorizations.
But, to be sure, there is one way to tell Democrats from terrorists: Democrats claim that they support the troops, while terrorists don’t.
Close this thread. Things like this @ a very sensitive time shouldn't be posted.
It will lead to flames and it usually always falls back on America.
These wars threads do NOT belong here. Please bring them to a forum about politics.
Not sure exactly why you've dragged Halliburton into the conversation... guess you can't help it... kind of a knee jerk reaction. Hehe.
You are correct, the oil companies did make record profits last year, but that is because of record demand. They operate with an 8-9 percent profit margin which is hardly outrageous. The point of what I was saying was that the real profit goes to the countries that the oil comes from. If you compare what the oil companies make to that, the oil companies are dwarfed.
'Big Oil' is just an easy scapegoat for you. Kinda like Halliburton. That kind of thinking is simpleminded, IMO.
We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment;
We are choosing to be here right now -Tool, Parabola
Personally, I would be in favor of an intervention in Syria or Iran.
I would be against the very idea of an intervention in Korea whatsoever (or any other state in either area).
I still think that Iraq was a mistake and I feel bad for the fact they went there. No matter what the US will ever say, the worst of Iraq was over, he was an old man and he was most definitely a terrorist hunter, althought for the wrong reasons. I think it was more for ego reasons and emotives reasons that the US went into Iraq. By saying he would died for his cause on the battlefield, yet hide...it was possible to bargain and handle him.
There was a reason why the US were supporting Iraq...it is called Iran/Syria. Sept 11 must have blind them...despite all his wrong doing, I still don't think Iraq was a problem in itself, letting Saddam died of old age was definitely the best approach. US were able to work stuff out with the descendant state of Stalin...and for everything, I believe Saddam was a mini-Stalin, not half as bad, not half as effective...still kinda an anti-hero, yet succesful in his wicked way. He was prolly in favor of letting his country "fall" toward americanism, after his death, seeing that as the best option for his country and for his sons and great childs who would unlikely has his skill and leadership...but that means trying to understand that wreaked guy...
I don't see how time can improve Iran or Syria however, not the same situation at all...and the US are freaking busy in Iraq. Heck, I am even sure the US could have talk Iraq into some agreement...and they probably try...and the fact they initially fail make them all angry, especially after Kuweit...but I am pretty sure Saddam had learn his lesson, he was just not cooperative, that didn't nothing could have been work around...and I think the French where able to somehow negociate it...heck, if the French have found another approach it must be wrong, isn't it? Just imagine one moment, having the help of these Iraqis troops to maintain peace in a neighbor country...No Saddam would not have been able to conquer Iran...he could have handle the peacekeeping however...and whatever his wrong stuff, it wouldn't have been any worser than what Iran is doing to it population itself. And guess what...I am pretty sure he would have accept the peacekeeping if wrapped nicely enough, he would have been an Islamic hero, a leader...just imagine...you take Iran, make Iraq it peacekeeper...pacified Syria and maintain troops there, so Iraq would be in your debt but also under check (not to mention Iran has borders with ex-USSR states)...and Israel would prolly be extremely happy to have a border with US troops...not to mention, you make sure the Frenchs get a supervision role, do you have any idea of how they would have react should Iraq betray the US(they wouldn't have dare after kuweit), that would have been worth it alone...but no...the US are in Iraq instead...oh well...their choice.
I dunno how the international community would react however to the US if they go in Syria or Iran. Iraq was wrong and it is having consequences. At least if they work hard in Iraq they might eventually convince us it was right...in 30 years maybe!
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
@ Anolfaye,
What's your beef with Syria?
Seem like a nice bunch of people to me.