It's a real quandry isn't it? I would start by shutting down the borders for a while. And, all illegal aliens need to be deported.....now. No exceptions. Changing the constitution and Bill of Rights should be the last thing we do. Too many people have fought and died over those documents to start changing them now. Let's enforce all laws that are currently on the books. and use common sense. As far as surveillence, I'm all for it. But before the feds start busting into peoples houses, they better be sure they are not making any false arrests and entries. As far as the airlines are concerned, maybe we should look at how Israel runs their airlines and copy them. We have never had to worry about this before, I don't think anyone has the answers. o No:
I feel that something really awfull will happen before 99% of the US has the same mind set. This is called total WAR. I feel it will happen and this country will once again rise up and free the world of this kind of tearany. Many millions may die because we can not do nasty things right now.
I hope you're right David. (about us prevailing). I do, also however, think it will take a small holocaust before the idiots in our government wake up and start sh!tting bricks.
I think if we would've minded our own business from the very beginning and not have went out of our way for every country in the world (which we got shafted everytime), we would have never been in this mess to begin with. The only reason why people hate us is because we get in everybody's business! I think we need to take care of ourselves and screw everybody else's problems. I feel that the U.S.A. has to babysit everybody else because, they can't take care of themselves and the problems they get into. Now, as far as the past goes, I feel the things we did were greatly appreciated (ex: getting rid of Hitler and the Nazi regime) but, now-a-days it seems as though we care about everybody else and no one cares about us. Btw, I was watching CNN and they were interviewing a Kuwait citizen because of the uprising of anti-America in the mideast. When the reporter asked why there is so much hate of America after defending Kuwait from Iraq, the man being interviewed said that it was over 10 years ago and that was the past. When he said that, it sounded like they did us a favor. I think, if I was president, I would close all our bases overseas, kick all the illegal aliens out, have all the new citizens respect the American culture as their primary culture and if they feel offended tell them to get the hell out, have english spoken as the only language while living in the U.S.A. (none of this spanish crap being taught to our kids because of disrespecting outsiders), and take care of all the American people and problems were facing in our society. And if anyone tries to threaten or attack us, Nuke'em! Rob
The easy way to power in a nation is to stand on a soap box and blame a scapegoat. Let the people know its not thier fault, it's not thier leaders fault, it's group X causing all the problems...they're to blame for your lot in life. The middle east leaders are pulling this right now... don't make the same mistake they do... I gave up a lot of my younger years working for the DoD during the Cold War. It was a hell of a sacrafice but we were in it to preserve our way of life. I'd hate to see that all lost if the US became a self centred or worse, totalitarian state. Just makes me think of the USSR locked off behind the Iron Curtain. 40 years down the tubes? No thanks.
Not too radical. ou: You don't think that would put the icing on the world's opinion of us? :eek2: The reason we are so powerful today is because we have bases all around the world. If we didn't, Hitlers and Stalins would be marching everywhere to take control of countries. Unfortunately, taking care of business at home also includes taking care of business abroad, since we have so many interests abroad, that's WHY we're a superpower. You can't be a world superpower and live in a plastic bubble. We are a global financial and military power and that by default makes everybody's issues abroad our issues. If we were to live by the above scenario we would basically be France. The Muslim extremists will want us dead whether we bury our heads in the sand and cry or whether we stand up and act like the righteous country that I would like to believe we are. I'd rather not be a fence sitter. If I ever have to watch my son go off to protect the freedoms we have then I'd be damn proud to do it. And you're right. Nobody does care about us, which is why we have to. Also, don't misinterpret all the rest of the world's opinions of us as "hate". Every day thousands flock to our great nation to be free and to have a chance to make it. Most people in other countries couldn't possibly fathom what it means to be an American. You gotta live and breathe American freedom to understand. They may be jealous, or annoyed with our supposed arrogance if you want to call it that. To use an alalogy, lots of people thought the Yankees were arrogant. Well, yeah, maybe they were, but maybe they were just real good, believed in themselves, stuck together, played as a team, overcame adversity and found a way to win. We can too. And about the Kuwaiti citizen, how old was he/she? The past is the past huh? Did it ever occur to this person that if it were not for us that the past would be the present for this ingrate? It's funny how everyone hates us until they need our help. Please don't be offended by anything I've said. I know it's real touchy to talk about this stuff because people have real strong feelings. If the moderators step in I wouldn't blame them..... I'm getting exhausted from this thread anyway. :Comp:
Hi Ken, I'm not offended by what you said. I think its good to allow people to express there opionions. Thank god its one of our rights. To be honest with you on how other countries look at us, I could give a rat's a$$. I'm tired of seeing us getting used and looking like fools. All we do is help people and get disrespected for doing so. And, the only reason we have bases all over the world is because, we have the most destructive firepower that a military can posess. And, the government sees fit that we need to show that in order to make a presence to every country by stationing our troops overseas. I can see how we are a global financial power but, there is no need to be a global military power. This shows through our largest importer, China. We do a majority of our trading with china and what military influence do we have over them? And what other ways has China benefited from the U.S. besides our money? Heck, they're almost our enemies! So, I don't believe in order to be a global superpower financially, we need to be one militarily. There is no reason why other countries can't fend for themselves without U.S. presence. As far as Hitlers and Stalins, we have that going on right now. That's the reason why we'll be going to war with Iraq and possibly North Korea. All you have to do is watch CNN and see the reports of all the warlords and dictators that are in the world. If people don't see it, they need to open their eyes. I feel at this present time, the cold war is nothing compared to this situation we are dealing with now. We have so many countries that want us dead and they are showing it, not just saying it. To be honest, I'd rather go back into a cold war with Russia than seeing our country in the situation it's in now. At least with Russia we knew who we were dealing with and they were one country. Now, it seems the whole world is against us one way or another. Ken, I agree with you on the muslim extremists but, it didn't start until we got involved with the Russian/ Afghanistan war. Don't forget, we made those extremists what they are today by training them to fight against the Russians. Another thing that pisses the muslims off is our military presence in the mideast. They feel we are arrogant because, they think we are there for our own self-interest. Speaking to people from Pakistan over the internet recently, they feel the same way now. That the only reason we're there is for the oil. Also, quite awhile ago, I spoke with a gentleman that worked on an oil pipeline in Iraq during the 80's before the Gulf war started. He asked me one question. How would I feel if another country tried to tell me what to do? He explained this is how they felt and I understand their point. He also spoke with a high ranking soldier during his stay and he told me how it was the most interesting conversation that he ever had. He said, Just to hear their side of the story face-to-face definetly makes you think differently on how things really are from their point-of-view. That's why I feel if we gave these people enough respect to leave them alone and decide their own fate that, they wouldn't bother us at all. I feel the U.S. tries to play God in every situation that comes up from every country and we got to start taking care of ourselves. I think we should let all these other countries have the freedom to do what they want and not interfere. And, as long as we aren't the ones getting blown-up, so be it. But, the first time someone lays a hand on us, we take'em out. No if, and's, or but's. That's why my previous reply was so outspoken. If we didn't get ourselves involved with other people's business in the first place then, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in today. BTW, the Kuwati citizen that I spoke about in my last reply was in his early thirty's. When he spoke, he said he was speaking for the majority of the Kuwaiti people and with how they've been reacting lately, I believe him. Rob
Rob, I certainly must agree that if we get involved in any conflicts abroad, that we need to stop being so short sighted. The "my enemies enemy is my friend" scenario just doesn't cut it. We've paid the price for that and we're paying the price now. As far as China goes, I don't know what the hell the story is with our relationship with that country. It's probably so much more confusing and complex than what's on the surface. We obviously have no trust in one another, but yet we import and export to each other like no other country I can think of. Everything I pick up is "made in China". I'm sure we export an incredible amount of vegetable product toi China as well. Probably the single reason we have not gone to war with them yet. Maybe we do need to stay out of other people's business to an extent. As far as the middle east goes, indeed, I do think it is about oil. Whether that's bad or good, I'm not sure. We need oil. Everyone needs oil, unless the whole world switches to solar power in the near future. Supposedly, with all this oil reserve in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico and Texas, we don't need to worry about foreign dependency on oil, but then you've got all the tree huggers that won't let it happen. So we screw ourselves. So if we have to depend on foreign oil, we need to protect our interests over their. Even if they lead us to believe it's for another reason. I don't however, trust Hussein. I am convinced he will do whatever is necessary to ensure we all die. I fear leaving him alone, as well as North Korea, may be the biggest mistakes we ever make. Times are so different man. Great points Rob.
First, of all I would like to appolagise for my poor grammer and lack of spelling. During my last post, I do not want people thinking that our military is being operated by idiots. I would like now to discuss a few things after reading everyones views. 1. I think that we as a nation's people must be extremely careful not to enfringe on the rights of the people. Remember part of the enemy's tactics are to disrupt the Americian way of life. If the government starts to take a way constitutional rights that will cause major internal strife, civil unrest and antigovernment movement, this will tear us apart. (divide and conquer) 2. Having said that, I feel that congress must free up the president's hands to enable him to use first strike techniques. This is imparative in limiting the enemies ability to operate and plan freely without fear. 3. As I said this war is largely based on image and/or phsycoligical warfare. We must change the middle east's views of America. You would be surpised the number of Afgan people who know nothing of 9/11 but was all over the fact that the US dropped it's support for the Afgan cause against the USSR. To do this we must make it known to the common foke that we can help and will help. We in Special Forces call this winning the hearts and minds. You could not believe the changes I saw in the people with just a little tad of understanding and a good ear. Changing the image of the US, speaks volumes. 4. If you also attack key figure heads of this extreme group, your Suddams and such combined with the above hugs and kisses. You can remove the power base of danger against the free world and changes the views of generations by providing hope to the young. The last comment will tie into the first post on this topic. 5. If you notice or watch the news it is no secret that the rich nations of the middle east support the actions of the poorest people and nations of the area. These are not seperate events, but in my opion a well planned disconnect of the rich. It is also no secret that there has been talk of a Jiihud (hole war) against the west. Now this is not the view of all or even most of the Muslim world, but just a very small group. If a daily life is all about survival, and a struggle against life and death. There is not a lot to live for. But let's say that someone can provide hope or honor for the actions in the holy war against the very same enemy(US) that has time and again used and mislead the good people of the middle east to wage war against it's enemy or that has allowed Isreal(sp) to kill thousand of innoscent Plastines. As you can see it is not real hard to paint a bright picture of death to a man who is already dead. We must show these people that they are not dead and provide them real hope. In closing I would like to say that this is the greatest country in the world. It is now the time that we step up and provide the voice of one to our political leaders that we are behind them and that our vote will depend of their ability to take action not in the ability to enact. As it was said before we do not need to run as blind warriors, but we as a military will step up. Lastly I will make this statement to all of the people out there protesting this war. We are an all volunteer military, recruitment is good as is retention. No "boys" (for the most part) are be sent off to be killed. We are a large group of "men" who have trained their whole life to stand up and answer the call of a nation. If there ever was a time in our generation, that American need such a force to defend our children from the true faces of death it is now. Thank for your time Cory
Dude.......well said. :TU: I've thought for years that negative propaganda has been killing us. It's tough to fight and it's sure effective. You are right. Humans are humans and nobody but nobody would prefer to be ruled by a Saddam than to be free in America or in any free society to walk and talk and work and play as he/she pleases. Your post was a very straight forward sensible post, stating facts and your experiences as well as opinions, which I tend to agree with. :Smarty: Glad you're out there. :TU:
