Sometimes I hate this country's leadership

[batmanuel]

House terrorism debate turns bitter
Republicans blast Spain's new government
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/17/congress.terror.reut/index.html

<RANT>
Why is it OK for our government to criticize Spain's voters and new government just days after they have a pretty serious terror attack? Had someone done this in the first week after Sept 11 we'd probably have an occupation force there. Okay that may be an exaggeration, but from an 'OMFG I can't believe that happened, what help do you need' perspective everyone was behind us and helping... and here it happens elsewhere and within a week we're criticizing them for the choices they are making.

I just think it's self-centered and pathetic, and really disappointed that it's happening by people in power in this country (I don't care which side of the aisle they sit on).
</RANT>

[SauerKraut]

Amen brother. Say it out loud!

[LilPuppy]

So true , and well put Bat.

[AnalogKid]

What's particularly gauling, is the Republicans are still associating Iraq with terrorism, as though Iraq & al Qaeda were/are allies, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Spain pulling their forces from Iraq != appeasing terrorists.
Spain pulling their forces from Iraq == belief that intel was wrong, war was wrong, Bush hoodwinked the world.

Hopefully, that is why Spain is pulling their forces from Iraq. What I would hope Spain would do is reposition those forces (or 13,000 other troops) to Pakghanistan and fight the true war on terrorism.

[batmanuel]

I think it is 1300 troops actually, so the impact will really be minimal.

My boss pointed out to me that this does sort of prove to terrorist that they can have a big impact... especially just before an election. May be true, but still, I am disappointed that these guys are handling it by bashing Spain instead of appealing to them.

[Chalybos]

Yeah, I think it's apalling that the government is reacting to Spain's pullout like that. What, we haven't alienated enough European nations yet? Let's see, we crapped on the French and the Germans, because they had better and more reliable intel than us, we left Blair and the UK swingin' in the breeze, and now we're blasting our strongest European supporter? We're headed toward an isolationist state like we haven't seen in a century. Talk about ass-backward progress. While we're at it, why don't we tell the Japanese and South Koreans that we don't need their help in Asia, we can do it all by ourselves. Last time somebody honked off as much of the world as we are, it was around 1940. And we know what happened to them.

[batmanuel]

I didn't start this thread in an attempt to justify or not the war in Iraq. I guess I should have thought more before I posted... just disgusted with this morning's news...

Not right or wrong on the "war on terror", how it's being "fought", where it's being "fought", etc... just that these guys were, IMHO, being sort of insensitive.

[Chalybos]

Agreed, Bat. That's like telling a rape victim she shouldn't have gone out wearing a skirt. Not going to win over anyone.

[Vygramul]

What's particularly gauling, is the Republicans are still associating Iraq with terrorism, as though Iraq & al Qaeda were/are allies, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Spain pulling their forces from Iraq != appeasing terrorists.


But it's unlikely the TERRORISTS see it that way. Since it appears that the attack was an Al Qaeda attack, we must ask ourselves, "Why Spain?" Well, the obvious answer (though perhaps not necessarily the right one) is that Spain was one of the, "Big Three," that supported going into Iraq. If so, it is not unreasonable for the terrorists to come to the conclusion this IS appeasing them. Spain attacks Iraq. Al Qaeda attacks Spain. Spain pulls out. The worst kind of lesson the world could have taught the terrorists was a direct cause and effect, something that has never been so clear in the past, except in the negative. Only days before the attack, the incumbent party had a significant lead in the poll. Three days after the attack, they lose significantly.

The Spanish voters just inadvertantly taught terrorists to attack them a few days before an election if the terrorists don't like the ruling party. What does this teach the Basques if a new party comes in to finally wipe the Basque terrorists out?

But there's no point in the US gov't in saying any of that. They should have simply stuck to, "We're sorry, what can we do, today we are all Spaniards." (The Bush administration would probably hose that up and say, "We're all Hispanic.") The pundits can do the job of lampooning the Spanish voters well enough.

[LilPuppy]

I must agree, we don't appear to be winning any friends lately.

Well if it is any consilation I love ya's....... :D

[Chalybos]

I must agree, we don't appear to be winning any friends lately.

Well if it is any consolation I love ya's....... :D

Get.........off..........my..............leg! 8O
You know, that'll never wash out.

[LilPuppy]

I must agree, we don't appear to be winning any friends lately.

Well if it is any consolation I love ya's....... :D

Get.........off..........my..............leg! 8O
You know, that'll never wash out.

HHmmm!! thought I was fixed.........or it just seems that way lately.. :cry:

[Vygramul]

Already, unfriendly countries are taking this lesson:

"The Spanish Government fell because of a terror attack. Could other "anti-terror allies" of the Bush administration similarly collapse because of terror attacks, while the extremists start more fatal attacks?"

-China's Communist Party Paper, the People's Daily

This was not a lesson the world could afford in its attempts to end terrorism.

[Chalybos]

Already, unfriendly countries are taking this lesson:

"The Spanish Government fell because of a terror attack. Could other "anti-terror allies" of the Bush administration similarly collapse because of terror attacks, while the extremists start more fatal attacks?"

-China's Communist Party Paper, the People's Daily

This was not a lesson the world could afford in its attempts to end terrorism.
No argument there, I don't think things are going to do anything but escalate at this point. I wish they hadn't pulled out, but I also think the way our current governing party handled it was deplorable. I mean, could they just stop botching our foreign relations? Before it really is us against the world?

[Chalybos]

Roland, whatthehellizat?!

[Angry Kid]

Roland, whatthehellizat?!

That's what Letterman is saying!

Just trying to lighten up the conversation today! :D

Drew Barrymore > Courtney Love

[LilPuppy]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20040318/mdf499012.jpg

NEWSFLASH! David Letterman goes blind! :scared: :sour: 8O


Letterman records at 4:30 p.m. if I'm not mistaken.....look what she was up to later.... :lol: :lol: :lol:


http://www.ktok.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=273500&pagecontent=nat ionalnews&feed_id=59

[SauerKraut]

Roland, whatthehellizat?!

That's what Letterman is saying!

Just trying to lighten up the conversation today! :D

Drew Barrymore > Courtney Love


That's Courtney Love? I thought it was probably a promo for the zombies in that new Dawn of the Dead remake.

Seriously.



LOL anyway.

[batmanuel]

She looks fake. Did she throw a mic stand at Letterman, too?

[Angry Kid]

That's Courtney Love? I thought it was probably a promo for the zombies in that new Dawn of the Dead remake.

Seriously.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Chalybos]

That's Courtney Love? I thought it was probably a promo for the zombies in that new Dawn of the Dead remake.

Seriously.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Well, what do you know? Heroin really is bad for you. :roll:

[Chalybos]

And so the house of cards continues to fall... (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040318/ap_on_re_eu/poland_iraq) You've got to love the response when he was asked to comment on it. "I'm here to eat." It's Homer Simpson, all the way.

[laters]

They must've edited that part out shortly after you quoted it. The context they put it in was irrelevant, anyway. Bush probably just meant to say he didn't feel it was appropriate for him to respond at the time. Still, I agree with you on the part about him being a Homer. :D

[MASH]

Spain.... the new France.

[Chalybos]

:scared:

[DrGreen]

All I know about this thread is;

Republicans
Love
Kielbasa

:roll: :D

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=82572

[Chalybos]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?

[LionRampant]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.

[SauerKraut]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.


:lol: :lol: :lol:



classic

[Chalybos]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.


:lol: :lol: :lol:



classic
Scotland? You serious? I mean, if you were all a bunch of Sean Connery's, then sure, but really, you'd have to leave your sheep(s) behind. :D You couldn't last a week.

[LionRampant]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.


:lol: :lol: :lol:



classic
Scotland? You serious? I mean, if you were all a bunch of Sean Connery's, then sure, but really, you'd have to leave your sheep(s) behind. :D You couldn't last a week.
No, not Scotland. I'm a Unionist.

[Maratek]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.


:lol: :lol: :lol:



classic


Scotland? You serious? I mean, if you were all a bunch of Sean Connery's, then sure, but really, you'd have to leave your sheep(s) behind. :D You couldn't last a week.
No, not Scotland. I'm a Unionist.

I don't know what this is all about, but if you mess with the Lion, you mess with me.

[LilPuppy]

Spain.... the new France.

And will the Whole World soon be the "new France"?
Getting kind of lonely in this part of the world. I wonder what'll happen when Blair gets the boot?
Pfft, we'd kick all yer arses any day.


:lol: :lol: :lol:



classic


Scotland? You serious? I mean, if you were all a bunch of Sean Connery's, then sure, but really, you'd have to leave your sheep(s) behind. :D You couldn't last a week.
No, not Scotland. I'm a Unionist.

I don't know what this is all about, but if you mess with the Lion, you mess with me.

Uh okay Mary........ :roll:

And where the heck are you , Radio Maratek is on the air in the Kasong Valley Dude............ :wink: