Soxy

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 05:09 PM) All true. WWII was a more "traditional" war... which is something that Bush has said lots, and that a lot of people here dismiss - that this is a war of ideals, not a "traditional" war with a "traditional enemy". All that said, I just don't think we should just say "meh, it's a sectarian (or civil) war, screw 'em, let them all kill each other and go home". More or less, that's what we're advocating with all of this. Is that ok? (By the way, for once, I'm not trying to be a smart ass. I'm asking serious questions.) To be honest, I agree with your general principle. I don't think we can just leave Iraq in a mess that we, basically, created with the war. But our current strategies are obviously not working. So, unless we're going to change strategies (and I have no idea to what) I don't see this getting any better. We need to change something somehow in our approach over there (and I don't count the surge as a new idea), so I'm not exactly sure what fresh ideas are being brought forth. All I know is if we keep doing the same stuff (that isn't working) then we're never going to make any headway. But I don't think we can, in good conscience, leave it in such a mess.

QUOTE(WhiteSoxFan1 @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 05:06 PM) How about all the stolen money and porn in my closet? Every woman (at least unconsciously) knows about that stuff.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 05:14 PM) You say that now, but sometimes you have no control of what you will do when you are drunk. I could not disagree with you more. And if people have that little control while drinking 1.) They probably have a drinking problem and 2.) They should stop drinking to that excess.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 04:54 PM) Thank you. So why shouldn't we try... to instill this in Iraq again? 4 years over a period of history is awful short. It took 20+ years to rebuild Europe after WWII... but I suppose that's different, right? And I'm asking a serious question. Well, yes, I do think Europe was different. First, after V-E day the fighting stopped. It wasn't a matter of civil war. Yes, there was some political differences (obviously resulting in the Iron Curtain), but overall there was a pretty international united front going on there. And a couple of years AFTER the war ended there still weren't bombings and heavily military action going on there. And Religion wasn't much of a factor in post-war Europe. So, um, yeah I would say it IS different and I imagine most history people would agree with me there.

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 02:03 PM) Last summer Brian's friend died and the night his friend died a bunch of the people that knew the kid that died threw a big party in honor of the kid. Wigged Brian out something fierce. Same thing happened after that bad crash in Oswego. Kids were talking about how they were drinking in honor of the ones in the accident. Really shocking.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 02:34 PM) This is a difficult one... because I don't think the ideals of Islam and "capitalism"/"democracy" really coincide. Am I wrong about that? And, if they don't coincide, then you all are right, and we really are wasting our time. Well, Christianity and capitalism don't go together either. Heck, none of the Big 5 Religions go with capitalism. Democracy I don't know.

QUOTE(SnB @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 01:52 PM) as all the old people have already said, don't even get involved, it's not going to end up positive for anyone. That's not true she and her boyfriend will probably have great make-up sex after he "catches" his girlfriend out with the new guy. That's a positive.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 01:57 PM) And that might be true - but shouldn't we at least try? A key point to all of this is, as well, we are there for Isreal, and Iran, and many other reasons as well... that is never talked about. But we have been trying. I think that's what is so frustrating about it--reading news reports everyday about kids my age and younger that have given their lives TRYING. We toppled Saddam's regime what, 3.5 years ago (probably more) and we've been trying to get things in order since then. It seems like just aren't calming down over there. I read Nuke's blog about finding that huge IED factory and it's just like, my god we just can't keep up with it. It's not for lack of trying, it's just (I think) futile to think we can end this sectarian violence. I mean there was just that announcement about Turkey's crackdown on the Kurds. It's mind-boggling. And I know we're there for Israel and Iran and Syria and all the rest of them. But, it's just so frustrating. I don't understand what kind of victory we think we're going to get over there.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 11:37 AM) They've got to rid the sectarian violence enough to not leave a power vacuum when we leave. Right now, they're not taking action because they don't want to "offend" (that is probably a really bad choice of words, but for lack of another word at the moment, that's what I'm using) or to not get the right people... They have to use more force, show they are serious about ridding the troublemakers, and then ensure that the Iraqi's keep the peace after the areas have been cleaned out. Another real problem is that the Shia vs. Sunni thing has gone on for 1,500 years, so there may not be an answer - but you certainly have to try, and just not "leave" right now. Oh, by the way, the "war czar" is insanely ignorant. I guess I just look at the way Israel is, Iran's probable involvement in Iraq, and the general climate in the area and I can't help but think if we wait that out we'll probably be there another 1000 years--especially after the recent parliament bombing. I don't think we can just leave now, but I really don't see us ever winning or even breaking even on this.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 11:15 AM) By "getting off the pot", I don't mean getting out. I mean, finish the job and THEN get the hell out of there. They need to stop politicizing the whole damn thing and give these guys the means and directions to clean things up and then leave - so hopefully at that point there's not the vacuum that exists now should they leave. Just a question: how would you operationally define "finish the job," I'm just curious.

So it goes. RIP to one of the Great American Authors.

QUOTE(juddling @ Apr 11, 2007 -> 05:12 PM) When Fantasia was on a few seasons ago, i was stunned at how often she and the show dropped the fact she was a single parent. Heck...i think the last three or four shows her son was shown on camera. I would think a single mom wouldn't 'play' in middle america but i guess i was wrong. Also...if above spoiler is correct i would be happy about tonight's show. There would be no loss of personality for the show I actually seem to remember there being controversy about that. I think at one point people were calling for Fantasia to quit the show. I might be remembering wrong though. . .

Hey Disturbia, Alfred Hitchcock called. He says hi.

Congrats! 3 more letters to add to your name!

I share your response. It's really frustrating to watch our country be run like this. I kind of liked Bill Bradley's interview on the Daily Show last night--he talks about how politics have become more and more like the stuff in this article. If you get a chance to catch it, it's interesting but a bit sad. But, perhaps this will make you feel better?

He was from where I live now (Broome County = BC) and designed lots of logos for the local sports teams. He's a huge local icon. Very sad.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Apr 7, 2007 -> 10:37 AM) Balta seems to be on a posting tear. So let's play, guess Balta's post count. Enter your guess as to his post count total on Monday afternoon at 5:00 pm. I'm taking 20,307 Cheater! You changed your guess--it was substantially lower earlier today!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful Easter (whether you're celebrating it or not)!

Over the past year the area where I live has been facing much of the same problem. I don't feel that bad for them--but this is one of the few topics where my bleeding heart turns to ice.

I'll admit that I didn't particularly care for Gina's vocal stylings--but I think she wanted it soooooo badly that I was sad to see her go.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 4, 2007 -> 05:07 PM) Bush appoints Swift Boat financier as ambassador -- avoiding Senate approval Aaaaahhh, your avatar is more appropriate now than usual. . .

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 11:12 AM) Well, when you have a paper like the Daily Prophet why would you bother with a rag like the Daily mail? That's true. I would actually give this paper more credibility if it was the Daily Prophet.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 3, 2007 -> 10:56 AM) Don't the get points for being mentioned in a Beatles song?!? Nope, none. It's also in the Harry Potter movies sometimes, and I award no points for that either.

Has anyone been following what's going on with the history textbooks in Japan? Apparently, they're dropping a lot of the atrocities committed by the Imperial army from textbooks. That being said, I highly doubt the holocaust will ever be dropped from US textbooks. And if it is, it probably would be dropped for a crazy like Davide Duke or his ilk more than any religious group. Like Balta said, lots of stuff gets dropped from American textbooks. Internment camps, slaughter of the Indians, a good deal of slavery issues, the Vietnam and Korean wars, all are really glossed over. Doesn't look positive on us, so we drop it. EDIT: Wait, I wasted my time commenting on something from the worst rag in the world: The Daily Mail? Damn.

Best directions ever!