| Who is the biggest international threat to peace and security? |
| Al Qaeda |
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10% |
[ 4 ] |
| Iran |
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7% |
[ 3 ] |
| Syria |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| North Korea |
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23% |
[ 9 ] |
| Israel |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| Palestinians |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| The United States |
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48% |
[ 19 ] |
| The European Union |
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2% |
[ 1 ] |
| The United Nations |
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7% |
[ 3 ] |
| Libya |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 39 |
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| Author |
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Jemah
Lieutenant
Joined: 04 Mar 2005
Posts: 209
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 Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:28 pm |
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not harvard, yale. because of his daddy's legacy. how convenient. xD hahahahahaha! what a joke.
not all texans. many of them are ignorant and ultra conservative. the educational standards are lower in texas than here in NY as well. why is that? 
no, iraq is not better. people are dying every day at a higher rathe even than when saddam was in power. i have friends in iraq and they are surely not happy with the united states. how can that be better?
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:37 pm |
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| Jemah wrote: | not harvard, yale. because of his daddy's legacy. how convenient. xD hahahahahaha! what a joke.
not all texans. many of them are ignorant and ultra conservative. the educational standards are lower in texas than here in NY as well. why is that?
no, iraq is not better. people are dying every day at a higher rathe even than when saddam was in power. i have friends in iraq and they are surely not happy with the united states. how can that be better? |
Yeah, and we won't be saying crap like that again, now will we? Didn't think so.
And it's amazing how everyone's "friends in Iraq" have a different story. I know six people who either live, or have been there for a long time. The general consensus? VERY glad Saddam is gone. Their biggest fear? The insurgents.
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:39 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | Jemah wrote: | not harvard, yale. because of his daddy's legacy. how convenient. xD hahahahahaha! what a joke.
not all texans. many of them are ignorant and ultra conservative. the educational standards are lower in texas than here in NY as well. why is that?
no, iraq is not better. people are dying every day at a higher rathe even than when saddam was in power. i have friends in iraq and they are surely not happy with the united states. how can that be better? |
Yeah, and we won't be saying crap like that again, now will we? Didn't think so.
And it's amazing how everyone's "friends in Iraq" have a different story. I know six people who either live, or have been there for a long time. The general consensus? VERY glad Saddam is gone. Their biggest fear? The insurgents. |
EXACTLY to everything.
But actually, he DID go to both Yale AND Harvard. And he did NOT get in to either school because of his dad. That's baloney.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Raven_voy
Lieutenant
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 149
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:45 pm |
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Oh look...52% say that The United States are the biggest threat to peace and security...and I agree.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:47 pm |
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| Jemah wrote: | he stated that his reasons were weapons of mass destruction. he claimed it would be a short war. where are the weapons? when is the killing to stop?  |
The war WAS short. I guess you don't watch CNN.
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:48 pm |
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| Raven_voy wrote: | | Oh look...52% say that The United States are the biggest threat to peace and security...and I agree. |
Yeah, we generally ask that when posting in WN, reasons are given. Thanks.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Jemah
Lieutenant
Joined: 04 Mar 2005
Posts: 209
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:53 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | And it's amazing how everyone's "friends in Iraq" have a different story. I know six people who either live, or have been there for a long time. The general consensus? VERY glad Saddam is gone. Their biggest fear? The insurgents. |
well being from Damascus, i do have friends in iraq. it's not that far away. so if you think i'm lying, that's your problem.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:55 pm |
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| Jemah wrote: | | Theresa wrote: | | And it's amazing how everyone's "friends in Iraq" have a different story. I know six people who either live, or have been there for a long time. The general consensus? VERY glad Saddam is gone. Their biggest fear? The insurgents. |
well being from Damascus, i do have friends in iraq. it's not that far away. so if you think i'm lying, that's your problem. |
I never indicated you were lying... If you felt that way, *shrug*, nothing I can do about it.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Raven_voy
Lieutenant
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 149
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:59 pm |
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Theresa, you want a reason? The US-government thinks they can just interfere anywhere and everywhere they want. That's my reason, thanks!
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Jemah
Lieutenant
Joined: 04 Mar 2005
Posts: 209
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:59 pm |
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oh.. i thought you did when you put the friends in iraq in quotes.  damn.. *feels soooooooooooo stupid*
i apologise theresa.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:59 pm |
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| Jemah wrote: | you make me so mad... 
there weren't terrorists involved with iraq. that wasn't among the reasons for attacking and there was no proof that they harbored terrorists. there are terrorists in iraq now as a result of this damned war. the UN was involved in inspecting. they found nothing. the the united states took it upon itself to attack. it was stupid and foolish. they didn't find anything. how in HELL can you claim that they were right and there were weapons of mass destruction? i mean really! bush can't even pronounce the word nuclear correctly, how can he, except under a slim suspicion (which has proven to be wrong), know that there were weapons (or you for that matter)? especially when the UN inspected multiple times. do you know how i can claim there weren't? NONE WERE BLOODY HELL FOUND! that's how.
he lied or he made a mistake. whatever it was, he was wrong! you can't deny this to be true! |
Hypothetical case: I have guns in my house. The neighbors tell me, "If you don't get rid of those guns, I'm calling the cops!". I bury the guns under my house in the dark of night. I tell the neighbors, "Go ahead, call the cops!" The next day, the cops show up and search my house. They don't find any guns. Does that mean I don't have any? Does that mean the neighbors were lying or even wrong?
Also, I have mentioned in a previous post that there were several reasons given to invade Iraq from the outset, and WMD's were never the only one.
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:00 pm |
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| Raven_voy wrote: | | Theresa, you want a reason? The US-government thinks they can just interfere anywhere and everywhere they want. That's my reason, thanks! |
[sarcasm]
Right! That's why we're invading North Korea tomorrow! 
[/sarcasm]
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:01 pm |
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| Raven_voy wrote: | | Theresa, you want a reason? The US-government thinks they can just interfere anywhere and everywhere they want. That's my reason, thanks! |
Ok, how about some proof, then. The invasion of Iraq? Is that the issue? Tell me where the US government "just intereferes". People ask for help and we go? That's a bad thing?
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:03 pm |
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I just watched an interview with two photojournalists who spent a good deal of time in Iraq, particularly finding out about the insurgents. It's true that the insurgents are a danger, not only because of the chaos because, but because they have no plan. According to the photojournalists, who asked them explicitly several times about what they would do if the American troops pulled out, and there was no clear consensus. The insurgents are basically using the presence of the U.S. troops as a target for anger.
That said, the troops' presence is also an aggravating factor. Obviously the majority of Iraqis are glad that Saddam's regime is over, and they aren't overly hostile to U.S. troops. As long as U.S. troops are there, however, the insurgents will also be there, and I think the Iraqis know this.
I hope that as soon as possible, the new government can start working with the U.S. to establish an effective Iraqi military and civil service, as well as work out a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal.
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Kyre
Commodore
Joined: 15 Mar 2002
Posts: 1263
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:03 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | Jemah wrote: | | Theresa wrote: | | And it's amazing how everyone's "friends in Iraq" have a different story. I know six people who either live, or have been there for a long time. The general consensus? VERY glad Saddam is gone. Their biggest fear? The insurgents. |
well being from Damascus, i do have friends in iraq. it's not that far away. so if you think i'm lying, that's your problem. |
I never indicated you were lying... If you felt that way, *shrug*, nothing I can do about it. |
It's the use of quotations and the way you followed it up with your own friends' stories, capitalising your adverbs. So while you say you didn't insinuate that he was lying, and I believe that, what you wrote seems to portray a different feeling.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:04 pm |
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| Hitchhiker wrote: | I just watched an interview with two photojournalists who spent a good deal of time in Iraq, particularly finding out about the insurgents. It's true that the insurgents are a danger, not only because of the chaos because, but because they have no plan. According to the photojournalists, who asked them explicitly several times about what they would do if the American troops pulled out, and there was no clear consensus. The insurgents are basically using the presence of the U.S. troops as a target for anger.
That said, the troops' presence is also an aggravating factor. Obviously the majority of Iraqis are glad that Saddam's regime is over, and they aren't overly hostile to U.S. troops. As long as U.S. troops are there, however, the insurgents will also be there, and I think the Iraqis know this.
I hope that as soon as possible, the new government can start working with the U.S. to establish an effective Iraqi military and civil service, as well as work out a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal. |
Hear! Hear!
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:10 pm |
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| webtaz99 wrote: | | Jemah wrote: | you make me so mad...
there weren't terrorists involved with iraq. that wasn't among the reasons for attacking and there was no proof that they harbored terrorists. there are terrorists in iraq now as a result of this damned war. the UN was involved in inspecting. they found nothing. the the united states took it upon itself to attack. it was stupid and foolish. they didn't find anything. how in HELL can you claim that they were right and there were weapons of mass destruction? i mean really! bush can't even pronounce the word nuclear correctly, how can he, except under a slim suspicion (which has proven to be wrong), know that there were weapons (or you for that matter)? especially when the UN inspected multiple times. do you know how i can claim there weren't? NONE WERE BLOODY HELL FOUND! that's how.
he lied or he made a mistake. whatever it was, he was wrong! you can't deny this to be true! |
Hypothetical case: I have guns in my house. The neighbors tell me, "If you don't get rid of those guns, I'm calling the cops!". I bury the guns under my house in the dark of night. I tell the neighbors, "Go ahead, call the cops!" The next day, the cops show up and search my house. They don't find any guns. Does that mean I don't have any? Does that mean the neighbors were lying or even wrong?
Also, I have mentioned in a previous post that there were several reasons given to invade Iraq from the outset, and WMD's were never the only one. |
Excellent analogy. And right, on the last.
| Theresa wrote: | | Raven_voy wrote: | | Theresa, you want a reason? The US-government thinks they can just interfere anywhere and everywhere they want. That's my reason, thanks! |
Ok, how about some proof, then. The invasion of Iraq? Is that the issue? Tell me where the US government "just intereferes". People ask for help and we go? That's a bad thing? |
Exactly. I think it is RIDICULOUS. You know, we do an action to defend our country and to promote peace and yet we are RIDICULED--ESPECIALLY when we promote democracy!
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:10 pm |
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| Kyre wrote: |
It's the use of quotations and the way you followed it up with your own friends' stories, capitalising your adverbs. So while you say you didn't insinuate that he was lying, and I believe that, what you wrote seems to portray a different feeling. |
Yeah, now we know what someone else is really saying? I was merely making a point. Wow, taking someone at face value, what a novel idea...
And capitalizing adverbs, come on. If I think you are lying, I'll say so. We should've learned that after all this time, eh, Kyre?
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Kyre
Commodore
Joined: 15 Mar 2002
Posts: 1263
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:15 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | Kyre wrote: |
It's the use of quotations and the way you followed it up with your own friends' stories, capitalising your adverbs. So while you say you didn't insinuate that he was lying, and I believe that, what you wrote seems to portray a different feeling. |
Yeah, now we know what someone else is really saying? I was merely making a point. Wow, taking someone at face value, what a novel idea...
And capitalizing adverbs, come on. If I think you are lying, I'll say so. We should've learned that after all this time, eh, Kyre? |
I'm not too sure I understand the first sentence. But regardless, there was no spite or malice in my post, merely an explanation of what I believed had caused the original assumption of your lying. And it appears I was bang on, too, after seeing Jemah's reply.
It's a shame that even after mentioning whose 'side' I was agreeing with, you still find the time, and desire, I suspect, to look for a sting in my words.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:17 pm |
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LOL! Come on, be real. Again, if I am "offended", or anything else by anyone, I will CLEARLY say so. There will be no assuming going on.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:21 am |
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Like I said foriegn people choose the US out of fear. They know we have power and can use it. Thus they maybe a target. Sadly they don't seem to comprehend that we can never attack them without any provocation. Especially because of the Iraq War.
As for the people in Iraq business. I think ther are a lot who don't like the war and there are a lot who do like the war or I mean support it. It depends on how they were affected by the war.
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:37 am |
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Who, in their right mind, tries to catch flies? 
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Mitt Romney for president 2008!
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lionhead
Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 4020
Location: The Delta Quadrant (or not...)
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| Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:46 am |
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| LightningBoy wrote: | | Who, in their right mind, tries to catch flies? |
Daniel san and Mr. miyagi.. i have seen it! with small sticks!
-------signature-------
Never explain comedy or satire or the ironic comment. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, never will. -Michael Moore
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Seven of Nine
Sammie's Mammy
Joined: 16 Jun 2001
Posts: 7871
Location: North East England
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| Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:28 am |
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For me, the reason why I voted for the US is for a combination of things.
They are a superpower with a lot of nuclear weapons. If they wanted to, they could destroy the earth. This doesn't mean they are going to, but the possibilty is there.
They are definitely the biggest threat to the environment. They are responisble for 25% of the greenhouse gases released, and yet they won't join the Kyoto agreement to try and reduce them. If things like that continue, there isn't going to be a world for them to be a superpower of.
They are making terrorism worse without meaning to. Unfortunately I don't think there is much they can do about this, but publically calling countries evil isn't going to help (I understand why, but I'm trying to think of things from another point of view).
Capitalism is causing poverty in the rest of the world. Big corporations (the majority of them being in the US) are using cheap labour in third world countries to make their products. The result being is that those countries become reliant on those corporations and cannot get themselves out of poverty.
The aid that is given by the US having too many conditions that are designed to make them reliant on the US. I know other rich countries do this as well, but the US as the biggest is the worst. For example, aid that is given for medicine can only be used to buy the very expensive American brand names, instead of buying generic medicine that would mean more people could be treated.
Third world debt. Again, I know other countries are guilty of this, but again the US is the biggest. Too much of a country's GNP is spent on interest payments on depts, meaning the debt will never be repayed. The only way these countries can get out of poverty is if their debts are wiped out. The original loans they were given, along with any aid, has been paid many times over with the interest payments. Also, the conditions attached to the loans also hinder development (such as having to reduce spending on health).
The human rights record. This is starting to get worse, not better. THe pentagon in 2002 (I think) redefined torture so that only torture that resulted in organ failure or death counted as torture. This is ridiculous. There have been reports of torture in many US led prisons, including Guantanamo Bay. However, it's now called coercive interrogation. This is unacceptable. The US does not agree with international law on human rights, and until it does so it is very hard to think of them as a civilised country.
It's the combination of factors that make the US the greatest threat to the world. However, there are things it can do to improve this. Just because they're a threat doesn't mean they are going to destroy the world, just they are capable of doing so.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:57 am |
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Finally, some reasons!
| Seven of Nine wrote: | For me, the reason why I voted for the US is for a combination of things.
They are a superpower with a lot of nuclear weapons. If they wanted to, they could destroy the earth. This doesn't mean they are going to, but the possibilty is there.
Over the last 3 decades the US has steadily altered its nuclear arsenal to contain smaller, cleaner warheads. Ever hear of the neutron bomb? Of all the nuclear powers, the US is capable of waging the cleanest nuclear confilct.
They are definitely the biggest threat to the environment. They are responisble for 25% of the greenhouse gases released, and yet they won't join the Kyoto agreement to try and reduce them. If things like that continue, there isn't going to be a world for them to be a superpower of.
Did you know that India has refused to ban the use of flourocarbons in air conditioners and refridgerators? Do you now how many countries still use chemicals which the US has banned? The overall amount of pollution produced by the US has actually peaked and is beginning to come down. The Kyoto agreement is not our last and only hope.
They are making terrorism worse without meaning to. Unfortunately I don't think there is much they can do about this, but publically calling countries evil isn't going to help (I understand why, but I'm trying to think of things from another point of view).
I see what you are saying, but bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is hardly going to make terrorism worse, nor will killing or imprisoning terrorists, or blowing up their training facilities.
Capitalism is causing poverty in the rest of the world. Big corporations (the majority of them being in the US) are using cheap labour in third world countries to make their products. The result being is that those countries become reliant on those corporations and cannot get themselves out of poverty.
While I deplore the way US business has operated both domestically and abroad, I challenge you to show me a place where the encroachment of big business has not (over several years) improved the overall standard of living for the area.
The aid that is given by the US having too many conditions that are designed to make them reliant on the US. I know other rich countries do this as well, but the US as the biggest is the worst. For example, aid that is given for medicine can only be used to buy the very expensive American brand names, instead of buying generic medicine that would mean more people could be treated.
Yeah, the US shouldn't offer aid with strings attached. Maybe the US shouldn't offer aid at all.
Third world debt. Again, I know other countries are guilty of this, but again the US is the biggest. Too much of a country's GNP is spent on interest payments on depts, meaning the debt will never be repayed. The only way these countries can get out of poverty is if their debts are wiped out. The original loans they were given, along with any aid, has been paid many times over with the interest payments. Also, the conditions attached to the loans also hinder development (such as having to reduce spending on health).
The US has its own national debt. No one forced those countries to borrow money, or to get it from the US.
The human rights record. This is starting to get worse, not better. THe pentagon in 2002 (I think) redefined torture so that only torture that resulted in organ failure or death counted as torture. This is ridiculous. There have been reports of torture in many US led prisons, including Guantanamo Bay. However, it's now called coercive interrogation. This is unacceptable. The US does not agree with international law on human rights, and until it does so it is very hard to think of them as a civilised country.
Please. 
It's the combination of factors that make the US the greatest threat to the world. However, there are things it can do to improve this. Just because they're a threat doesn't mean they are going to destroy the world, just they are capable of doing so. |
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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