Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Friday, September 12, 2008
Michelle Malkin :: Townhall.com Columnist
The World Still Blames America
by Michelle Malkin
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


Al-Qaida's media relations department must be seething. Or rather, they must be seething beyond the usual Destroy America/Kill the Jews/Behead the Infidels/Convert-or-Die seething that is their second nature. After years of churning out throat-slitting propaganda videos, investing in the finest video editing software and studio sets, and establishing cozy relations with sympathetic international newspapers and global network news channels, the jihadists still don't get no respect from world opinion.

They are the Rodney al-Dangerfields of global mass murderers.

A poll released this week of more than 16,000 people in 17 nations revealed that "majorities in only nine countries believe al-Qaida was behind the attacks on New York and Washington that killed about 3,000 people in 2001." A mere 46 percent of individuals overall said they believed al-Qaida executed the attacks -- despite all the back-patting, fist-pumping video productions from AQ's media arm, al-Sahab, claiming credit.

In 2006, the AQ flacks released tape of Osama bin Laden at an Afghan training camp with several of the 9/11 hijackers. "I ask you to pray for them and to ask God to make them successful, aim their shots well, set their feet strong and strengthen their hearts," bin Laden urged in the sicko promo. In April, another clip showed irate and aggrieved jihadi leader Ayman al-Zawahri lambasting Hezbollah for crediting Israel for the 9/11 attacks. "The purpose of this lie is clear -- (to suggest) that there are no heroes among the Sunnis who can hurt America as no else did in history. Iranian media snapped up this lie and repeated it," he griped.

But to no avail. Maybe this is why FBI Most Wanted Terrorist Adam Yahiye Gadahn, the American-born Muslim convert turned al-Qaida publicist, has not been heard from in a while. He's been falling down on the job. Either that or those damned 9/11 Truther conspiracy nuts have surpassed the Islamic jihadis' recruitment efforts on YouTube. Time to hire a new viral violence marketing team.

So, who's stealing the bin Laden operation's thunder around the globe and getting all the blame (er, credit) for the September 11 terrorist attacks? The citizens of the world have cast their vote. Seven years after Mohamed Atta, Hani Hanjour and their Allahu Akbar-screaming team succeeded in slaughtering nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children, large numbers of our putative allies in the civilized world still blame America and Israel.

"Israel was behind the attacks, said 43 percent of people in Egypt, 31 percent in Jordan and 19 percent in the Palestinian Territories," according to the survey. "The U.S. government was blamed by 36 percent of Turks and 27 percent of Palestinians." The pollsters noted that no prompting was necessary: "These responses were given spontaneously to an open-ended question that did not offer response options."

Among our great friends south of the border, Mexico boasted "the second-largest number citing the U.S. government as the perpetrator of 9/11 (30 percent, after Turkey at 36 percent). Only 33 percent name al-Qaida." Which, of course, is no shock to those who remember when the U.S. soccer team was taunted with chants of "Osama! Osama! Osama!" after a match in Guadalajara four years ago; or when the team was booed again in 2005 and plastic bags filled with urine were reportedly tossed on American players.

They hate us. They still really, really hate us. And it is not all about Iraq. As a Mexican soccer fan told the Christian Science Monitor: "'Every schoolboy knows about 1848. When they robbed our territory,' referring to when Texas, California and New Mexico were annexed to the U.S. as part of a peace treaty ending the war between the two countries, 'that was the beginning.'"

Not coincidentally, another world opinion poll was released this week that dovetails with the 9/11 survey. While the global community refuses to unite against al-Qaida as a common enemy to humanity, it has decided on who should be America's next president. The BBC-commissioned poll named Barack Obama the world's favorite candidate by an overwhelming margin of four to one. They see in their fellow "citizen of the world" a kindred spirit:

Someone whose former spiritual mentor shares the European elite's "chickens coming home to roost" schadenfreude. Someone who has promoted the need for "empathy" toward the head-chopping jihadists. Someone who shares their fetishizing of terrorists as poor victims of imperialism in need of more "understanding" and "education." Someone who cynically hawks "Buy American" campaign stickers while courting the "Blame America" Left at home and abroad.

Obama is their man. Never forget.

Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Michelle Malkin makes news and waves with a unique combination of investigative journalism and incisive commentary. She is the author of Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild .

Be the first to read Michelle Malkin's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

©Creators Syndicate
Good article
And anyone who believes that Obama will somehow "fix" this is smoking something. There are large numbers of people around the world who hate us for no other reason than that we as a people are successful while large numbers of them are held down by their leaders.

No matter what we do these people will always hate us.

I will never forget
those who died.
I will also never forget those American politicians, media, and celebrities who criticize this country and blame it for the world's problems. What disgustingly selfish, ill-imformed little people they are.
The citizens of other countries who dishonor the people who lost their lives this way is wrong and disheartening but those who have prospered as American have no excuse.
May God bless the families of victims, especially today.

Hating America
The leftist news media has worked overtime to poison the minds of people all over the world. The left in America hates her,why should the world be different?

They blame us for being wealthier than them,but covet our money and look for handouts.They never thank us for bailing them out whenever disasters happen,but who is the first to help?

Read the liberal posts on these threads. Just a microcosism of the hatred the left has for their own country.These posters are mild compared to liberal blogs. They also blame America for everything that is wrong.

Colosteve
Think the European TV networks, Canada's CBC, and the state-owned TV outlets in the Muslim world showed their audience the videotape Osama Bin Laden released around Thanksgiving of last year in which OBL claimed SOLE responsibility for 9/11? Why do I get the feeling that the answer is no?

As Malkin pointed out, Al Qaeda has been PROUD to take credit for 9/11, over and over and over again. But Europe, Canada, and the U.S. have been overrun by Kool-Aid drinking leftists whose BDS is so acute that everything they think and believe is filtered through it.

Obama not only will not "fix" the problem, I think he will only embolden the terrorists to hit us even harder - which they'll again proudly take credit for in videotapes they WANT the world to see. And the Kool-Aid drinking left will probably STILL believe that somehow it's still all George Bush's fault, no matter how long he has been out of the White House.

not civilized
While I largely agree with this column, I think that in saying "...large numbers of our putative allies in the civilized world still blame America and Israel," she may be correct in saying "putative allies", but mistaken in saying "civilized".

Standshisground
You are so right about the European and Canadian media. And they are not much different from our own MSM who filters out the truth if it puts the US in a good light (such as the lack of violence in Iraq following the surge's success).

And you are correct about Obama--the genesis of much of the violence from the ME and the radical islamists started with Jimmuh and his lack of backbone when Iran attacked our soil (the US Embasy). He sat around pulling his pud worrying about what to do (and when he tried, we all remember the results in the desert of Iran).

Interesting thought
I know this is getting off topic but I could almost see the American military bring back the draft. Please keep in mind this is just hypothetical and bear with me for a moment.

If the USA brought back the military draft, just think of how many of those ungrateful, whining, pathetic liberals would leave the U.S. to avoid the draft. Almost makes me think it could be worth it.

I dunno
Maybe they don't hate us for our freedom or prosperity. Maybe they blame us for,I dunno, dropping bombs on their houses and killing their kids? Imposing crippling sanctions? Propping up evil dictators? Just a thought. Hey, how come you conservatives are SO critical of America's domestic programs like welfare, and the department of education, but as soon as the government forces leave the boundaries of the good ole US of A they become some sort of saints or something?

Rowly
As I observed in a reply to Bob Munck on Ann Coulter's latest thread, America-hatred has also become a sacrament of America's academia. I told Mr. Munck that I didn't like McCain's going to Columbia University yesterday - on the very anniversary of 9/11 - given that its president Lee Bollinger gave a speaking engagement there not long ago to a man - Iran's Mr. AhmaDinnerjacket - who if he had his druthers would have preferred to see the very university that opened its door to him as a smoldering ash heap rather than a functioning educational institution. This is the same university that bans ROTC from its campus.

And remember a few years when either Harvard or Yale, I can't remember which, admitted as a student a former functionary with the Taliban's Information Ministry who by all accounts had the equivalent of about a 4th-grade education. The fact that this individual could very well have had advance knowledge of 9/11 evidently didn't seem to bother the university's administration.

And let's not forget the University of Wisconsin a few years ago offering a for-credit coruse taught by an adjunct professor named Barrett which was billed as an introduction to Islam but whose subject matter was in reality Mr. Barrett's delusion that all the terrorist acts attributed to Al Qaeda from 9/11/2001 on were actually committed by the Bush Administration.

Apparently, in American academia today, if you want to DESTROY America - like Mr. AhmaDinnerjacket and the Taliban guy - they love you, but if you want to SAVE America - like the ROTC guys - you're even lower than the lowest.

Stearman
Your notion about bringing back the draft is not far-fetched at all. In fact, there are plenty of voices in Congress to do just this. And the ironic thing is, they're almost all on the left - led by that well-known tax-law-abiding New York Congressman, Charley Rangel. If Obama is our next president, given that you'll have a Democrat-controlled Congress, you could very easily see that happen.

And if Obama is in fact elected, I would love it if the liberals did this. Can you imagine how young American men (and maybe a few women) would like being drafted against their will to get killed in Democratic humanitarian missions -like in Darfur? Let's see if the young vote the Democrats are counting on in 2008 would stick with them afterwards. I'm betting not.

Paul, you need to quit
performing that auto-colorectal exam you're working on and get some perspective. Dropping bombs on their house and killing their kids? Don't we get any credit for the most accurate weapons ever developed?

Imposing crippling sanctions? I seem to recall some major UN involvement in Iraq, Iran and North Korea.

Propping up evil dictators? Are you talking about yesterday or today?

Just a thought? I think not!

Big Surprise
Yeah, what a shock that the world wants Obama. If I remember correctly, there were similar sentiments when GWBush was up for re-election.

I believe this information actually helped get Bush re-elected as it kind of ticked people off that the no backbone Europeans were trying to tell us who to vote for. The same will be true this time around.

We know the issues facing our country better than those on the outside. So, if they like Obama that just assures me that McCain/Palin is the right choice.

AQ's votes?
One last thing: Who would Al Qaida want as our next president? I wonder how they came out in this survey. 100% for Obama? I wonder why?

TIME TO CALL THE ROLL
Call the roll on all countries who are cashing our aid checks. STOP PAYMENT until further notice. Won't take long to find out who our friends really are...

We cast the largest shadow....so let others get out of our way. We will play by our rules now. And, the rules are in ENGLISH.!



Standinghisground
Hello there...I agree. These radical professors like Ward Churchill,Bill Ayers and others teaching in the 'prestigious' colleges are brainwashing the students.

The empty-headed kids who drink it up go out among the civilized masses and spread the venom.

After the older generation has passed on,this country will be just like the Eastern Countries. America is as Pres.Reagan was fond of saying "a shining city on the hill". It will not last.

I did hear John McCain complain about the ROTC not being allowed at Colunbia. He was in a debate with Obama hosted by Judy Woodruff and a guy named Risen,I believe.

They Hate Us Cause We're Beautiful!
For some reason, don't ask me why I never hear about a mass exodus of people voluntarily leaving America.
Correct me if I wrong, never and I mean never, and you know what they say "never say never" but here goes, never, have I heard in the entire 36 years I have lived here in the USA anybody leaving this country because they can't stand this country's so-called arrogant nature or what some of our staunchest critic's call "The Ugly Americanism".
Our South of the Border neighbour's may boo and throw urine filled balloons at our soccer players, but I will guarantee you, ten seconds after that soccer game 20 percent of the same idiots who booed us were heading for the border that night trying to sneak into this country.
I am so happy when I hear some of our lauded Academics and Celebrities criticising this country, it warms my heart and I laugh at those fockers, because I know deep down, they know, they couldn't do what they do, any where else in the world.

Still Angry
After 7 years I have to wonder if Americans are still mad.

http://blog.topicaltopics.net/2008/09/still-angry-after-sev en-years/

Paul's stupid argument
Paul, your argument falls flat on it's face when you consider that a lot of the folks who hate us the most, the French for example, have never been the target of our bombs, nor have their kids been killed by our military for over 200 years.

Like most leftists, you have an overactive imagination.

Standshisground

Your point about Darfur is right on the mark. Of all those left-wingers who have screamed about how we should go into Darfur and settle things there, you can bet most of them would do everything in their power to make sure none of THEIR family got drafted to help in the mission.

Liberals accuse us of being hypocrites and they are some of the biggest hypocrites around. If you get a chance, read a book called Do As I Say, Not As I Do. It reveals lots of famous liberals and their hypocrisy, including Al "huge electric bill" Gore.

"World"
The word "World" in the title should perhaps be footnoted as "World of the Left".

Solomon said: "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the morally deficient person ("fool" in Hebrew),to the left." (Eccl.10:2)

"Poor" Osama...
Hey do you think it's been easy for Osama? We took the fight to them, beat their fannies to a pulp in Iraq (where Islamists from all over the World flocked to in great numbers)and living in a cave...their best hope for improvement rests with the election of Oblahma-Bin-Biden.

The Draft.
The Draft has a number of beneficial features.

IF administered fairly, it calls upon many more Americans to make a sacrifice.

Right now, most of us can go about our merry way, safely ensconced in our airconditioned vehicles with the music from compact disks blaring in our ears, as we make our way to airconditioned malls to buy the latest products made in China...including computers where when we return to our airconditioned homes we become keyboard warriors pontificating over the "wisdom" of Iraq.

OR, on the "wisdom" of deploying American forces to Darfur, if a future president so ordered.

The Draft might cause the American people to undergo a moment of clarity or reflection as to what constitutes our national interest.

THAT would be a very good thing.

The "usual suspects" would not be called upon to do all the heavy lifting. And I don't mean anything derogatory by "usual suspects". They are among our finest Americans.

Only a relatively few people enlist, given the numbers of Americans that would be subject to the Draft, and often times those same enlistees are called upon to make repeated deployments.

A Draft would involve a much larger number of Americans. As the overwhelming majority of American families would be subject to the Draft, it would serve as a referendum on our foreign policy...more reflective of the will of the American people.

It would equalize the burden and sacrifice we Americans make.

In that way it would help to bring about the realization that we are all part of America, that we are all in this thing together.

It would give all of us a stake in the system, and in the outcome.

THOSE "UNION" TEACHERS ARE INDOCTRINATIN

EVEN IT'S BEGINNING IN THE GRADE SCHOOL LEVEL..THEIR PREACHING..

My daughter was THE ONLY ONE to take the conservative side in a religion class (CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL) and the rest of the 22 kids were on the liberal side with a liberal teacher..???

Gee' I remember an Archbishop recently saying that if you are a LIBERAL then you shouldn't call yourself CATHOLIC....IS IT IRONIC THE ABORTION BELIEVING DEMS ARE SENDING THEIR KIDDIES TO THE PRIVATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL KNOWING THE EDUCATION IS SUPERIOR TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS???

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT AND CONSERVATIVE TEACHERS OF AMERICA AND CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM NOT THIS YEARLY RAISE CRAP OF THE UNIONS..NO WONDER EDUCATION IS DROPPING AS THE COSTS KEEP RISING--DUH--NO INCENTIVE--THAT SHOULD BE TIED TO THEIR PAYCHECKS--PERFORMANCE!

WHAT AN IDEA?

OH, One thing that did tick me off w/
tHE rEPUBS....I am all for school choice and vouchers for private school..but that was something that W ran on..till he got in office..Then it was a non-mentioned non-issue..

I've notice Maverick/Hockey bringing it back up again...and people resoundedly responding to it..well it better ring true this time or I will SORELY LOSE FAITH..

Maybe that PTA mom will also take that up as a cause..I hope, I hope, desperetely needed..

Or we will be doomed to repeat history, 9/11 style...

jerabaub
I am assuming you are too old or too young (or have some other excuse) or you would already be a VOLUNTEER in the Armed Forces. Generally people who advocate forcing others into a situation they do not volunteer for have an escape route/excuse why This Does Not Mean Me.

Involuntary Servitude is against the Constitution. Look it up.

AudiR10
I already did my time.

Drafted.

And it was good for me.

Plus I utilized the G.I. bill to pay for college.

I think more Americans ought to be summoned to defend our Beloved Republic.

After all, we are all equally sharing in the blessings of freedom in our Beloved Republic.

Should we not equally share the sacrifice necessary for her preservation?

jerabaub
I didn't need to be drafted and I was not "summoned" to defend this country. I walked right in to a Marine Corps recruiter's office and signed up. I felt that I needed to give something back to this country that has been so good to me. I support the all-volunteer service. A draft is not necessary.

Publius42
The Draft was ok with the Greatest Generation of Americans during our finest hour(in warfare not waged on our land)...namely WW2.

If it was good enough for the Greatest Americans, I think we can live with it today.

Jerabaub's Draft Idea
He said:"A Draft would involve a much larger number of Americans. As the overwhelming majority of American families would be subject to the Draft, it would serve as a referendum on our foreign policy...more reflective of the will of the American people."
This is Charlie Rangel's BS all over again. Rangel has repeatedly sponsored a bill to bring back the draft, and his admitted purpose was to rile the American people into opposing the Iraq war. If we need a referendum on our foreign policy, it's called elections. But since Libs have a hard time winning elections (or as many as they would like), or since there are insufficient numbers of them in Congress to force their will upon the people, they would rather bring back the draft. Rangel said the draft would force us to be free. I don't think he saw the irony of his statement.

WE'RE # 1, WE'RE # 1
Who our enemies are, says a lot about us. We are the Yankees, Cowboys, Manchester Uniteds of the the world. The libs can spew lies all day long, but the fact is, people of the world hate us because we are so successful and they can't even come close to doing what we do, therefore they want to pull us down to their level.

They still cash our checks, though. For 30 years I've been advocating cutting off this stupid foreign policy of trying to buy friends. Never, ever works - not on the playground (from whence Matt Damon addressed us recently) or in the real world.

On public service - I had a job funded by Americorps; a joke and huge boondoggle. The program manager and I lamented daily on how we could distill a little of our work ethic and infuse it into the leftist inculcated children who "volunteered." What a bunch of spoiled, lazy little pukes. They spent most of their time bitching about the low wages and menial work.

They thought they were going to save the planet, and were highly insulted when they found out they needed to start at the bottom, like the rest of us did.

If we don't get gubmint out of the business of providing everyone's every want, every need - we're sunk. Ask any young person today if they believe in "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need," and you might be shocked.

Why the want Obama
The Muslims want Obama to be president because they know that he is still a Muslim. They recognize one when they see one.

BOTH A REAL SHOOTING & PROPAGANDA WAR !
NO SUPRISE HERE AT ALL...

Radical fundamentalist Islamo-fascist, jihadi terrorist, and there sympathizers of the world believe that lies & deception are allowed by Allah and the Quran to advance the spread of the Islamic cause & of jihad, against, & to subvert & convert the infidels & non-believers in the non-muslim nations of the world...

THAT IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THEIR MISSION & STATED GOAL ! ! !

AND until the rest of the peace loving western democratic & non-radical muslim nations and their citizens realize it, the situation most certainly WILL get much worst...

MAKE NO MISTAKE...
THIS is a WORLD WIDE STRUGGLE & WAR ! ! !

BOTH A REAL SHOOTING & PROPAGANDA WAR ! ! !

But HERE is the worst part of all,

The blame America first leftist and the left-leaning media contribute to the propaganda of our enemies almost daily...

Roadmaster: 2 comments
1. The Cowboys are hated because they have the nerve to declare themselve's "America's Team." Those of us in Steeler and Patriot nations tend to disagree.
2. Re: your comments on "public service". I am reminded often that one ofthe definitions of service has to do with animal husbandry. I don't consider it a service if you're being paid to do it. Like the inmates running the asylum, the "servants" are running the mansion.

AynRandLives
I accept your point about referendums and elections.

A referendum is the process of referring a political question to the electorate for a direct decision by general vote.

If Americans knew in 2003 what they know today about Iraq, I would have loved to have had a referendum on the war back then.

I disagree with you on the Draft.

To me, it is a matter of fulfilling a responsibility to the nation.

I am anything but a leftist, but isn't the right always bemoaning how we as a nation are so concerned with rights, but not with responsibilities?


The ABC interview
I watched the Sarah Palin interview this morning on ABC. I expect a hit piece and I got one. What I did not expect was a “reporter” to be so blatant as to ask a question and then tell the interviewer and the audience his negative opinion of the question. One has to assume that this was not done in a vacuum and that the “in between” questions and answers were edited out.

The liberals have been screaming for several days now that she has “hid from the press”. That in itself is a ridiculous charge to level at ANY politician, however it does remind me of something that my old bosses used to say regarding talking to the press.

The statement was that the press will ALWAYS do a hit piece and then edit the interview to make you look stupid and they look like the sages of the century. It does not matter what you say or what the facts are, the edited interview will not reflect what your true response was.

cont..

pt 2

We used to have a video that was made back in the 70s by a utility in Illinois that was involved in building a nuke plant. This video was filmed in parallel with a 60 Minutes and it was edited to show the 60 minutes question along with the answer, as it was asked AND as it was broadcast on 60 Minutes. Then difference was dramatic and had to be seen to believed. The broadcast answer was almost 180° out of what the real answer was. The intent of the utility was to get someone to broadcast their video and show the public what lying phonies 60 Minutes was. Little did they know the power of CBS lawyers and the fear of the other media. Even as it got down to local PBS stations who were threatened with legal action if they showed the video. As a result this video has never been seen by the general public. Before I saw this video I used to have a favorable opinion of 60 Minutes. After watching it my naivety was swept aside and I never watched 60 Minutes again.

I would have loved for one of those PBS stations to show the film and then take 60 Minutes to court. I feel that in any fair court they would have prevailed but in a world where the dollar is king it will never make it to court to begin with.

What the McCain camp should have done was film the interview in parallel and broadcast a side by side comparison and then INVITE ABC to sue. All I can say is ABC can kiss my *** because I will never watch ABC again. It has joined 60 Minutes as the agent of liberal propaganda and lies.

ABC, I hope you are reading this. If you are an agent of ABC, then KMA.

Solution
Nuke the world.. keep our allies.

They hate us because we're NOT FAIR
We haven't crippled our producers and innovators by large punitive taxes as most of the rest of the world has, although the US presently has the highest corporate taxes. Hey mr. lib? Do you think that could have anything to do with why jobs go overseas? That and the absolutely insane union contracts, most of which the French would be proud of.

Obama wants to sanction those corporations even more. Wonder why Haliburton, a huge, diverse company offering many essential services, moved it's headquarters to Dubai?

Back to public service - Investors Business Daily had a great article on Michele O's Boot Camp for Radicals: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=305420655 186700

It sounds like the equivalent of re-education camps to me, EXCEPT most youngsters already have their skulls full of touchy/feely, liberal mush; meaning they don't have far to go to become good little commiecrats like the Obamas are.

Note To The Rest Of The World
Eat My Shorts!!

When people start leaving this country to move to the middle east because it's a better place then here, then we'll have a problem. In the meantime, who really cares what the rest of the world thinks?

Also, It's really not the difficult to understand why much of the world hates us when you look at the continuous media barrage about us and our own, self-deprecating fools in academia and Hollywood.

I think a lot of this would go away if we as a society started having pride in ourselves again. If we put out movies that showed the good in America and taught patriotism and love of country in our schools, we would learn to stop putting up with these loons.

For Rowly, Colosteve, etc
Europeans (such as many Brits and French) have long had disdain for America--failing to recognise the irony that America pulled them out of being parts of Germany so they could have the right to do so.

For Standshisground: there is a partial truth about the statement that Canuckistan et al have been overrun with leftards--Canada almost reversed that in 2006 with election of Harper (who has opened Tarsands for development, and who learned at the feet of Ernest Manning), but it has to deal with the deadweight of groaty morOntario's dominance (1/3 of Canuckistan's population lives in morON, half of that in the Sodom of Toronto).

For all--please pray that Harper will win a majority on 10/14!

Shortly after 9/11
the democrats started working relentlessly to undermine Pres. Bush in order to regain power. Not a day went by the democrats didn't criticize him and his decisions and even demonized our soldiers as killers of women and children. Sen. Durbin compared them to Nazi's and Senator Reid declared the war lost. Add this daily barrage to Michael Moore's America hating so-called doocumentary which played all over the world,and there is no surprise that the world believe we did 9/11 to ourselves and that Al-Queada is the enemy.

Obama, with the help of his fellow democrats will wipe all this infamy clean and in the course of this wiping, if elected president, will endanger this country. For starters, he wants to cut back on the military, weapons research, missle defense etc. Along with "soak the rich", this money saved from the military will be given in the form of rebates to the 40% of voters who don't pay taxes. How will this keep us safe?

The Grassy Knowl of our Times
The idea that after all the proof, the admissions, the threats and the lies by democrats who said they stood with us to protect America and it's citizens. These people are sick as it gets to say that Israel and the US engineered an attack on America. For what reason, so we could attack Iraq, is somebody writing this down? Iraq, wasn't that back when we paid $1.50 a gallon for gas? I thought it was a war for oil, now those same idiots want to take it, is their any standard?

Vic
I recall that video. It was made by Union Electric, I saw it a a meeting of the Electrical Board of Trade in St. Louis Mo. It was very damning of 60 minutes and then oddly enough, it just disappeared. I also remember reading that the hierarchy at CBS, back when 60 minutes first started and the ratings were in the tank, stated that the show will succeed we will keep it on until it does.

BIGbelly
I knew a couple who went to Sweden because they thought of it as a socialist paradise. They came back hating the place. A friend told me she had never heard any people vilify a country as much as those two vilified Sweden.

Then there's Bruce Bawer, the gay writer. He left the U.S. because of the influence of the evangelicals here in the U.S. Now he says that Pat Robertson just wants to prevent him from getting married, while the Muslims in Europe want to kill him.

And then there's poor Amanda Knox (google her). I don't know if she went to Italy because she didn't like the U.S. Probably not. But I bet when she gets back (if she ever does), she will appreciate the U.S. a lot more than she does now.

midfielder
I have often wondered how may other people had seen this video.

I assume that you are with the utility industry. It would be nice if people outside the industry could see it. It would certainly open some eyes.

charles
I realize it is a far different country today than back then.

But I still think the American people, when apprised of the facts, will usually do the right thing.

Vic
Too bad we didn't have youtube back then and the internet. The video would have been seen by more than a hand-full of individuals. Just think of what happened to Dan Rather last election--wouldn't have happened without the alternate media and the internet

Just 1 word.......
JEALOUSY!!!!
They all want, desire and some will die for what we have(and sometimes take for granted). They will say how much they despise our "Rambo" or cowboy attitudes, butt just look at what their favorite movies are! How many boats full of desperatos do we see leaving our shores¿

The world will appreciate us...
... the day we lose power. On that day, what will happen is that a bully will take our place (either China, Russia, or the Muslims), and things will be much worse for most people. Leftists foolishly imagine that the world will be more peaceful once we lose power, but that isn't the way the world works.

Everyone will look nostalgically back on the pax Americana as a wonderful period, but it will be too late.

Texas
Texas became part of the US in 1845, not 1848. What 1848 brought via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the Mexican Cession which was California, Nevada and Utah as well as parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Arizona. As you should know that Mexico never accepted the independence of Texas and saw the inclusion of Texas into the US as basically an act of war. The war came about because there was a dispute where the "border" was--Mexico claimed it was the Nueces River while the US claimed it was the Rio Grande. The US sent troops into the disputed region and in 1846, the Mexican Army attacked US troops in what it felt was Mexican territory and as they say it was on.

You may note that Lincoln at the time felt that the claim that Americans were killed on American soil was dubious. The US wanted war with Mexico (or the British Empire or both) because it had designs on the Mexican part of New Mexico and California and it got what it wanted.

But even if Mexico is in the right, losing wars has consequencies and a little late to be crying over territory lost 160 years ago.

Texas independence had roots in illegal aliens (American ones coming into Texas) and Mexico's decision to abolish slavery in Texas, but that is a topic for another day.

Obama is not a world problem solution
Isn't Obama promising the World a large chunk of our taxpayer dollars. Some sort of World Poverty Program. We should vote for their messiah? If they had conservative values they would be as successful or even more so than we are. Especially Mexico, China and India. The people are such hard workers. These people have been convinced, by their masters, that the USA is eating to large of a slice of the Pie leaving crumbs for everyone else. Not knowing that a larger Pie can be created by their own free market system, they take their anger out on us. Our cup it overflows with blessings. Their cup could also overflow if they had governments that honor Truth, Freedom and Justice in the hands of a Free People. Not grasping,selfish,greedy,small dictators,statists and other rotters.

Standshisground
The reason Rangel wants to bring back the draft is 1) the false belief that only the poor and minority join the military (and in fact middle class whites are more likely to be in the combat arms than poor minorities) because of lack of jobs, education, etc--you know the rich man's war and a poor man's fight routine. So having a draft would be more "fair" as everyone would have to serve and who cares if the military says it doesn't need a draft and the fact that conscripts make poor soldiers. The military is for social engineering not simply to fight the nation's wars, right?

2) If there was a draft, the outrage over it would be so great the war in Iraq would end just like in Vietnam. When small numbers are joining the military on their own well not so much opposition, but when Johnny at Yale gets drafted well many people aren't going to accept that and thus the war ends. That was his reasoning.

Stearman
Bringing back the draft is a great idea if there are no exceptions and if politicians' children are not sent with a solider to guard them while they take pictures (AlGore). The lefties would leave and the gang bangers would have a chance to learn some discipline while they use a gun.

Aphone
"Call the roll on all countries who are cashing our aid checks. STOP PAYMENT until further notice. Won't take long to find out who our friends really are..."

US aid is mostly directed at countries for the benefit of the US. The problem with aid (and all OECD countries not just the US)is that aid has mostly benefited the donor country rather than the country being assited--various strings attached to the aid, countries given credits over cash which in turn are used to buy products from various special interests in the the donor country. The top two countries that are sent US aid are Israel and Iraq which makes up around 20 billion dollars. The other countries make up about 6 billion. More is given to Iraq alone than all other countries combined. Other aid is directly related to US interests, such as aid to Colombia for anti-drug efforts (#5 on the list) or Afghanistan (#4 on the list). For the rest of the countries, the US gives basically crumbs compared to Iraq and Israel.

"We cast the largest shadow....so let others get out of our way. We will play by our rules now. And, the rules are in ENGLISH.!"

The rules are in English now, long ago they were in French and before that Spanish. So we shall see how long this remains the case. Nothing lasts forever.

The dilemma
The draft enables us to increase our forces based on our needs, the volunteer army does not. For a year, our generals in Afghanistan have been begging for 5 brigades, yet we can't help them - because we don't have the forces and can't get the enlistees fast enough to train them up. Granted, a draft would be unpopular - and Rangel knows that. But that is quite anothe issue, as it demonstrates only how skin deep the commitment of the general public is to the war in Iraq - for example. We are trapped in an unpopular war without the resources we need. And, if you wish, as some do, to build up the military to counter what some believe are the threats that we face - then the only option is the draft. Without it, you cannot confront the threats. Thus, the dilemma. And all the posturing and all the demands by some to confront those threats achieves little. Those that believe the threats exist are unable to convince the young who fight wars of that threat.

And this issue, by the way, cuts across the entire political spectrum. In WWII we had 135 million people. Today, we have a population of 308 million, and those who are conservative and are firmly behind Bush make up 30% or more of the population. By definition, that involves 100 million or more people. Yet, we still cannot get those 5 brigades.

Explain please
"I am so happy when I hear some of our lauded Academics and Celebrities criticising this country, it warms my heart and I laugh at those fockers, because I know deep down, they know, they couldn't do what they do, any where else in the world."

Free speech is not unique to the US. Plenty of places in the world where you can bad mouth the country, the government, the president and on and on and nothing will be done to you. Yes, in some countries doing so would not go well with living a long, healthy life, but in many others you can bad mouth the country all you want.

U S Media influences the World
If anyone has watched CNN in Europe how can they can draw any other conclusion other than 9 /11 was as an inside job, the media does not have to come right out and say it. Through one opinion piece after another the world can see this is the most evil and corrupt country in the history of the earth, past present or future. Logic and reason be dammed, just because it would take a conspiracy of thousands to pull off this attack and KEEP QUIET about it. But because of what passes for news and the education system at this time, we have millions of people in America and the world that can hold and believe 2, 3, or 4 etc contradictory thoughts in their head at the same time, and firmly believe and defend all of them simultaneously.

I wonder if the good Rev. Wright took the famous “Chickens come home to roost” line from a famous Malcolm X speech concerning the JFK assassination. This may have come from a Chris Matthews show I think I saw in 2005, to paraphrase he said, I see no difference with the attack that the U.S. made (during the first Gulf War) on the highway of death (against Iraq soldiers) and what happened on 9/11.

AudiR10
"Involuntary Servitude is against the Constitution."

It is. But the courts have ruled that forced military service is constitutional. See Arver v. US (1918) and US v. Holmes (1968). The court also upheld the constitutionality of selective service in Rostker v. Goldberg (1981). There are good number of cases concerning the draft such as the courts giving the government great latitude in squashing criticisms of the draft--see Schenck v. US (1919) and Gilbert v. MN (1920) and US v. O'Brien (1968).

Sorry as foul as it is, forcing people into the US military is constitutional. Remember what I said about how handy dual nationality can be. Case in point.

jerabaub
"Should we not equally share the sacrifice necessary for her preservation?"

People sitting in Misawa or Camp Butler could hardly be seen as preserving the US Republic. As far as that goes neither can the troops now in Iraq nor the troops that served in the RVN or the ROK either in the 1950-1953 or this very day.

And in any event, the US military has stated over and over again it simply does not need a draft.


jerabaub again
The draft wasn't really needed then either, but FDR had already had it in place as of 1940 to get the nation ready for the Nazi threat. You think the US wouldn't have had enough troops to sign up after what Japan did? I don't.

As for being good for you, well, the military's purpose is to provide for that national defense and be a tool to pursue the national interest not a social engineering project.

Akagi...plz xplain
The military is for social engineering not simply to fight the nation's wars, right?

Sorry, but I'm not sure if you were being facetious?

Roadmaster
We're #1? I guess it depends what you mean by that. #1 in economic freedom? no. #1 is standard of living? no. #1 in lowest infant mortality? no Access to education? no and on and on.

The world dislikes the US (and that is a broad statement as the US is actually popular many places) is the US use of strong power--that is pushing is weight around, its military weight--and it is #1 in that by far.

Opppsssss...Akagi
Nothing lasts forever.

Love, hate and wars. As long as humans last that is.

you will be hated of all nations.
Jesus did say his people would be hated of all nations in the last day....
I am inclined to agree with his words...Even some in America hate the evangelicals...They dont hate the luke warm christians who think Jesus is not the only way and that all men are children of god.. They are in league with these... These are paving the way for allah to be enthroned as the god in America...It is the elect that know Jesus is god that is hated and feared and stand in the way of the allah devil reining over the entire world...It is the elect they hate and fear..And they should rightfully fear because according to Jesus words it is the elect of god who win the battle and are even the judges of both men and angels...BEWARE BARACK your judgement is coming soon..

I agree
The Gibson interview was a hit piece. First she is running for VP not president, Obama is though running for president. She is far more experienced that he is have they asked him these questions? Reagan, Clinton, Carter, Truman and a host of others had no clue about foreign policy either when they entered the Oval Office for the first time. A president must also deal with economic policy, tax policy, energy policy, transportation policy, social policy, environmental policy and on and on. Does Gibson expect a president to be an expert on them all. That is why there is something called the bureaucracy.

Her comments on NATO and Georgia were downright scary though. I hope she was just confused and didn't really mean the US would go to war with Russia over Georgia.

Never forget either that Barry O.

intends to balance the federal government's budget by gutting the Department of Defense.

JFP
Yes, when you have weird violent sex fantasies and end up killing your roommate with the help of your criminal African boyfriend the country you are in usually takes a dim view of that. She went to Itay to learn Italian (why anyone wants to learn a basically useless language like that is beyond me, but to each his or her own).

Oh and there are thousands of Americans who live outside the US. 30,000 in Taiwan alone, 110,000 in China, and on and on.

17Summers
If liberals like Charley Rangel manage to reinstate the draft, I can guarantee you that they will be sure to build in loopholes to allow their favored ones to avoid it - or at the very least, be able to avoid actual combat situations.

Of course, the problem with having a draft, especially if Obama is president, is that liberals still haven't gotten over their fondness for putting American lives on the line for "humanitarian missions" - and even now they're eyeing one such mission in Darfur. If the only way to get manpower for it is to draft young American men: well, can you imagine seeing Vietnam War era-style mass-protest demonstrations in Washington DC with the protestors directing the same kind of vitriol against the OBAMA ADMINISTRATION as they did in the Vietnam War era against the NIXON ADMINISTRATION? How delicious would THAT be?

Draft Dodger
I'm all for the draft even though I was a draft dodger. Many successful democracies have compulsory military service. I think two years active and 2 to 3 years reserve would be instructive to the sons and daughters of the WORST generation. If they have a problem with the military, there are other ways to serve the country.

By the way. I dodged the draft in 1970 by voluntarily joining the U.S. Navy. Served 28 years; 3 in Viet Nam, 1 in country (forward air controller). Probably didn't have to though. My draft lottery number was 322. Why take the chance.


Real reason Rangel favours draft
Because the rich (like Rangel) can/could easily bribe their (or their children's) way out of it!

George Bush and the war
I am tired of how the 'right' says this is a war on terror. If it were a real war we would bomb ALJAZEERA

We
have raised a spoiled and selfish generation, in fact several since Vietnam. Ideally in a time of crisis such as this World War, the draft would be a given however with younger generations brainwashed into despising this country, given revised history, our Founders
denigrated and our Founding papers scorned by the elite in politics,media, popular entertainment, and education we can't expect these kids to understand what is to be an American. I don't think that if our education was the same as many of us seasoned citizens experienced in grade school and higher education we'd need the draft. As McCain often says, they'd be willing to volunteer for something greater than themselves.
It's not just in America Corps or other government fiascos that the younger generation
expects to begin at the top with top wages without making the effort to learn or earn the
privilege of higher salaries or more important
jobs. My husband saw it years ago when he was
managing a small company..some of the interviews he had with 20 somethings' were hilarious, he'd be left shaking his head in disbelief. Now my younger 30 yr. old son is finding the same type of employees, he's had a difficult time retaining workers because so many refuse to work or show up for work etc.
He's been open just about two years and he's had a parade of young people go through business who had no idea what a work ethic is.
He's had some excellent employees, but they are few and far between.

sandcrab @ 10:35 wrote
"I dodged the draft in 1970 by voluntarily joining the U.S. Navy".

How is that dodging?

Cut off the money!
John McCain said the other night if elected he would cut off forigen aid to those countries who don't like us and aren't our friends. Go John McCain!!

Geminiguy
I was being sarcastic. The military has say over and over it doesn't need ot want a draft--ever former Secretary of Defense from Mel Laird onward has said the US military doesn't need a draft, but some people on this board and you know who I am talking about wants one anyway because it will be good for people. That is social engineering. Not do what is best for the military but do things for some social goal--like women on subs as some pushed for back in the 1990s.

jerabaub
I was a member of the all volunteer military and I can tell you that most members of the military do NOT want the draft. The members WANT to be there, that's why they are the best military in the world. If you bring in dissenters, whiners, and complainers who don't want to be there, they will no longer be the extremely professional force that makes me proud.
If you want to force a draft, force everyone to perform community service. Maybe they can appreciate their freedoms when they actually have to do something to earn it.
Bringing up the draft is just a way to protest the military and I for one don't want it.

The World Still Blames America
For Colosteve,

I am a Canadian citizen who lives part time in Arizona. You could not be more correct about Canada's government-funded "National" network, the CBC. There cannot be a more America-hating broadcaster in the western world.

Fortunately, many of our citizens are calling for the Conservative government to end all funding to the CBC and let it see if it can survive as a private network.

For all the time that I spend in the US, let me say that I have nothing but good things to say about your country and its citizens. I am absolutely ashamed of the America-bashing in Canada. We will never prove how great a nation we are by insulting our neighbor and best friend.

Every country has its share of problems, but isn't it interesting that that anyone who wants to immigrate to another country always chooses the western world and countries like the US, Canada and Australia.

Never let your government give up on tracking down and destroying Al-Qaida.

BabyBoom52
Well good for him, but it is mostly symbolic. Iraq and Israel get 20 billion while all the others combined get a little more than 6. Other countries which get a good amount of aid are countries like Afghanistan and Colombia, Peru and Boliva (for anti-drug efforts and this serves the interest of the US--or so it claims). Sorry there is simply not a tsunami of ODA coming from the US to a whole bunch of countries--just a handful and most of these are friendly to the US--Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan or the aid is directed toward a key policy goal (drugs). In other cases the aid is in the form of credits which the country then uses to buy American goods and thus cutting off this aid would hurt American producers like farmers (or better said agrobusinesses).

The US gives aid to prop up its so-called allies like Israel and countries it views as vital like Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia, to pursue policy goals of the US it deems important and to support American enterprises in the form of credits. It simply doesn't send wads of cash to bastions of anti-Americanism out of the goodness of its heart--this simply doesn't happen. I am sure McCain knows this, but it sure sounds good to the rubes though, so why not say it since it has no real impact after the election. How many Americans do you think can name the top five countries (by $ amount) that get US ODA? Or the top 2 as far as that goes?


What is so interesting about that
"but isn't it interesting that that anyone who wants to immigrate to another country always chooses the western world and countries like the US, Canada and Australia."

People don't immigrate to countries with low standards of living. How many immigrants do you think Haiti or Zimbaewe get? Since they have enough problems as it is these countries usually have very restrictive immigration laws as well so even if one wanted to say immigrate to Haiti, the law would make it virtually impossible to do so. Some countries that have high standard of livings also have high barriers to immigration--e.g. Japan.

That leaves just a few countries that 1) have high standards of living and 2) a fairly open immigration system thus leaving basically Canada, Australia and the United States.

GG @ 10:56
Can I then count on you to pray for a Harper victory 10/14?

Standhisground #50
Me neither, nor did I like Judy W's sorry attempt to bash Sarah. The only good thing I saw (didn't watch it all, it was sickening) was
McCain standing firm on ROTC. Obama said the same thing later, but comeon, if we are to believe he's serious, there's that bridge somewhere in Brooklyn with a for sale sign on it.
I am another one that's sick and tired of sending our hard earned and heavily taxed money to ingrates. I haven't a problem with helping out in crisis like the Tsunami, but to continually send money to countries that can
afford to defend themselves, etc while their
citizens look down their elite leftist noses at us is stupid. We've pulled Europes fanny out of the fire twice during the last century, it was our blood and our treasure that got them
out. Britain and the British of that time
were our friends, but unfortunately it has gone
so socialist that the younger generation like
ours haven't been taught their true history so
now they are on their way to dhimmitude.

Thnx Akagi
I ASSumed as much and it didn't seem to be your MO...LOL. But I think that most here would agree that there is a time and place for a draft. I'm not sure I would want to be around IF that situation were ever to develop.

Basically true
Yes Wyoming, but by the 1830s Mexico was getting concerned about the "foreign" presence in Texas and it enacted various laws to restrict the Americanization of Texas which included the ban on slavery as much of the immigrants were coming from what would one day be states of the Confederacy. The Mexican government also banned further immigration to Texas but Americans could immigrate to other states in Mexico. However, Americans still entered Texas and thus were illegal aliens, but not to say that before the law was passed that all Americans in Texas were.

Akagi
Initially, I believed the sensationalistic accounts of Amanda Knox. Later on, I read enough to back off from that position.

Anyway, what's important is that if she is innocent, she nevertheless has had to spend a year in an Italian jail. Here, she would have been out on bail.

You left off Egypt as a recipient of our aid. By treaty, they get 2/3 of what we give Israel. And so what if our aid to other countries is skewed? The West has been giving aid to Africa for some time now, and it hasn't done much of anything. I would rather go there myself and give it personally to people than have it be stolen by corrupt dictators.

As for free speech, here one can actually be a holocaust denier, but in parts (or maybe even all) of Europe, that is illegal. Which parts of the world were you thinking of that have speech as free as ours? Be specific.

"Oh and there are thousands of Americans who live outside the US. 30,000 in Taiwan alone, 110,000 in China, and on and on."

Did I say something denying this? I spent some time in Taiwan myself.

Akagi
That's the point. It is the high standard of living and opportunity that immigrants seek.

And yes svpallava, hoping for a Harper majority government on 10/14.

jerebaub
Regarding the draft being a referendum of the people on our foreign policy, I reckon then citizens would have to have a full security briefing. If you think we (even the well informed among us) know everything we need to know to make those kinds of decisions, you're deceiving yourself.

jan
A president can advocate for school vouchers, or fixing social security or anything else you want to name. It's CONGRESS who must make it so.

Bring back the draft????
Sure....let's draft them into the Peace Corps !!! Then they can really help to solve the world's problems. Let them see what it's like to REALLY live under an oppressive regime. Send them somewhere so that they can see what the real world is like. Get 'em away from their XBox and Play Stations. Let them see what most people on the planet have to do to survive! Let's send a few to Darfur and maybe to the Ossira province in India. Let them see what being oppressed because of your beliefs really feels like!

Geminiguy
There was a draft in the Union in 1863 and in the CSA in 1862. The US had drafts in WWI and WWII (probably didn't need either). The US continued the draft which was an emergency power given to the president by Congress and remained in place until 1972. Also of note is the fact that when they give "temporary" emergency powers or install a temporary tax they rarely are--the tax on phone service to fund the Spanish-American War stayed in place for over a hundred years after the war ended

In times of true emergencies--e.g. invasion, I'd agree with a draft, but this is not the case now. I also oppose forced "volunteerism" or service as well. You own your body and you own your time, the government has no right to make any claim on it. The only exception as I said I'd make for this is during some type of dire emergency where the survival of the state was at stake.

Even Taiwan which is under much more threat than the US is moving to phase out the draft.

the draft
is off topic, but young men between 18-24 are still supposed to register.

Did Obama do so?

rocketeer
Very well said (your 9:08am post).

The Mexican War
The history given in the thread is not quite correct.

1. Texas had been an independent republic for 9 years. Therefore, the U.S. did not take Mexican territory when it annexed Texas.

2. The U.S. continually tried to negotiate with Mexico starting with President Polk sending John Slidell (of Louisiana) to Mexico in 1845; but, the Mexican government chose to ignore Slidell.

3. California was minimally governed by Mexico and minimally settled. Great Britain, France, and Russia were considering settling and claiming California.

4. New Mexico was not actually governed by Mexico. History shows that it was left to the tribal nations (Native Americans) who had lived in what is now the state.

5. Mexico was paid $15,000,000 for its specious claims on territories it could not govern and in which it had minimal infrastructure to govern. Plus, we (the U.S.) assumed $3,250,000 in claims U.S. citizens had against Mexico.

Bring back the draft.
That would be a good idea if it could be done without any exceptions for any reason. Everyone serves for two years. Men, woman, rich, poor and even the lame and the lazy. Also it should never be used to populate the military, with perhaps the one exception being, volunteering for the military would serve as having filled the requirement.

Those with usable skills could serve as interns in their chosen fields.

My thinking for this would be to take the young indoctrinated youth emerging from academia, at all levels and give them a real lesson in life. Along the same principle as the CCC of the depression days. There are plenty of areas in this country that could use volunteers. For instance rebuilding New Orleans, (there will be more hurricanes) the building of the boarder fence, our National Parks and on and on. Minimum wage jobs (that no one else will do!!) A good dose of reality may just be what the youth of this country needs to appreciate those that came before. As in the military, some would even learn a trade and most would come to appreciate the real world.
By the way I spent three years in the military 45 years ago and learned a lot about life.

Vic-SVPallava
Were you REALLY surprised by Gibson’s attitude? YOU COULD SEE he disapproved/disliked Governor Palin. BFD! Hit The MSM, Oprah and their advertisers where it hurts. Boycott their programs and products and drop them an Email saying you are doing so.

BTW, does any REAL AMERICAN give a hoot what Muslim Murderers, Portugese Peter Puffers, Dutch Dopers and The French Track Team thinks of us?

The Mexican War -2
The U.S. captured Mexico City. Had we wanted to 'own' Mexico, we could have. Vastly larger Mexican forces could not defeat the U.S. forces.

The argument made that somehow we are a nation built on immigrants with the insinuation that the Mexican overflow of illegal aliens is somehow historically supported is sophomoric and absurd.

I note, as usual, the self-appointed 'historian' who set forth only a distorted history leaves out pertinent facts and speaks of the U.S. in the third person. This 'us' and 'them' attitude towards the U.S. and our citizens should be dropped at the border by anyone wishing to live in our country. It is fallacious to see the U.S. as an outside entity while living here, yet complaining that U.S. citizens see illegals as a problem. If you do not want to be a part of this great country, why come here other than to do us harm?

17 Summers
You forgot to mention that Mexico itself had only been a nation for twenty years in 1845. Spain has a much more valid claim to the American Southwest than Mexico. The Reconquista morons will never admit any of this stuff. They are eager to institute a PRI-style regime in this country and no amount of logic or facts will stand in their way. The most curious aspect of all this id that the people who fled Mexico to get away from the socialist policies that have robbed life of any hope are backing the losers who want to institute those same policies here.

JFP
I can pretty much say anyhting I like in Taiwan and no one is going to do a thing to me. I mean what hasn't DPP supporters said about Ma and the KMT lately? People protest this and that all over the place. Was this always the case, no. You'd end up on Green Island or dead or in exile, but you can now.

You can say anything in Japan as well. Now true if you say something about the Emperor or say bad things about Japan's actions in WWII some crazy people such as those that belong to the Ishin Shinpu Seitou will come and try to hurt you, but you have crazies like that in the US too. Australia and host of countries will allow you to say basically anything you like until it crosses into areas like slander, speech likely to cause a breach of the peace, etc but that is also the case in the US.

Really? Where did you live in Taiwan?

And from Me:

The Peace Corps is highly selective if I recall--basically a degree and work experience in things they are looking for like argiculture, community development, etc and the ability to learn or know another language. Not everyone fits this profile. Taiwan does have a program like this though, you can go to Mali and work on a irrigation product or something instead of the military obligation.


17Summers
All true, EXCEPT you don't give the twists that put the U.S. in a negative enough light. So be prepared to be discounted.

Al Qaida Truthers
I'd be nervous if I was calling Al Qaida a bunch of liars! Its funny that those same radicals who cheered when the Twin Towers went down now curse Bush for being behind it. Its getting so an honest blood-thirsty mass-murderer cant bask in the honest pride of his accomplishments any more. Just look at the Daniel Pearl situation. Al Qaida puts out a video showing clearly that they chopped his head off but when the movie comes out, who's the villian? George W Bush. Michelle's right, they cant get no respect!

On topic

Look: when people wandered out of the jungle after the tsunami, they were asking "are the Americans here yet?" Overall, America has been a force for good in the world.

Leftist socialists hate that, no matter what country they're in. The intellectual elites. And some of them are Americans. The Obamas, the Ayers, The Ward Churchills, the Sean Penns and other Hollyweirdos.

Ironically, the biggest America Bashers are the ones who purport to care so much about what people in other countries think of us. Maybe if they'd shut up...


Media Bias,McCain & Palin
If Sen.McCain and Sarah Palin expect to catch a break from any in the media,they will have a rude awakening They are all in the tank for Obama and have been since day one.

They put all their reputations on 'the little messiah' long ago and will ride that horse to victory or die trying.

RodT, Georgetwin
I second your posts!

Why can't the US government be honest?
Everyone needs to admit that the US gov doesn't help its cause by constantly being less than honest about what it's doing. Latest case in point: this week's bombing in Afghanistan, where officials originally claimed 7 civilian victims, and had to backtrack after several videos proved there were much more than that.

And please don't tell me that this is war and accidents happen... no matter whether you think the war in Afghanistan is justified or not, how can the lying about civilian casualties by the government be justified?

DrWho?, skep41
I fully realize the truth you point out. However, I was answering in immigrant who ALWAYS refers to our country and citizens in the third person while demeaning us.

skep41, good point.

ex-Wyomingite
You, sir, make the point I was making on the revisionist historian who haunts TH.

Taiwan phasing out draft
Was I wrong to think, all this time, that Taiwan was really going to defend itself if the ROC attacked it? Taiwan sits and whines waiting on our money and protection. The ROC can have it for all I care.

Need to be careful....
Al-Qaeda is a very lose fit organization. A very few Islamic extremists that will even claim they did something for recognition when they did not do it.

All you need is one dressed like a Muslim, go bomb something and Al-Qaeda will take credit, of course credit or support is all the same.

Yet, Americans need to be careful as we want to lump them Hamas and the many other groups into one basket. That is a grave mistake, but makes it easier to take care of with one mission of toppling every regime of Islam decent.

Iran is next? Prove you have no nukes, Iran? How can you prove something you do not have? It is for us to prove they have them or building them and never let that be dimished. Even then questionable to go to war.

Or is freedom only what the USA tells you, you can do?


Hi, Rowly!
I hope they die trying.

Dom
Looking at history, tell me when our U.S. military hid among civilians. That is SOP for the Islamofacists. If you want to protect civilians, go join the enemy (moreso than you currently have) and change the way they wage war.


Rowly
You want to see a first-hand example of the energizing effect Sarah Palin has had on conservatives? Go to Ann Coulter's latest thread and check out The Big Mick's post at 1:10 am this morning. I think you'll be stunned. I know I was!

The barometer
The more I hear other countries whine about America, the more I know we are doing the right thing.

Tibby

It is just not fair
The world should NOT be blaming the Americans.
They should be blaming the Republicans.

Have a nice day.

charley
When the often oppositional Islamic sects adhere to the adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, making distinctions becomes less relevant.

What are the 'regimes of Islamic decent' as opposed to Islamic regimes?

Your last thought verges on incoherent. Explain, please.

Steven
I am having a lovely day, thank you, as I evacuated from Houston yesterday.

Does your reasoning give proper latitude to blame the Dems for Viet Nam? What about Kosovo? How about the bombings of our embassies in Africa? What about Somalia? How about the bombing of the USS Cole? Obama says we can bomb Pakistan. Don't you agree?

GaryJ/Denver5280
Michelle - Cute, fiesty, smart, and always right on point - thats what you are

17Summers et al--Part I
Mexico had been a country for 34 years when Mexico lost Texas to the US and for 15 years when it lost Texas to Texas.

Mexican claims on much of the Mexican Cession could be seen as dubious--especially in the case of Nevada, Utah, and the parts of Colorado and Wyoming, but there were Mexican settlements in New Mexico such as in Taos, Santa fe and elsewhere and of course major settlements in southern California.

Saying that Spain has more claims is pure BS. As Mexico was now the sovereign any Spanish claims would now be Mexican claims.

However, the fact is that Mexico lost the war and was forced to renounce its claims to those territories. No matter if Mexico was in the right or not that day is past. You aren't going to get territory you lost 160 years ago.

The US could indeed have taken all of Mexico and there were reasons why it didn't. John C. Calhoun made the case why. Mexican territory beyond the virtually uninhabited territory in the north would eventually be states and those states would be non-white states. Calhoun and others were bitterly opposed to that turn of events.

Texas was indeed independent, but Mexico did not recognize it jsut as Lincoln didn't recognize Georgia's. Mexico also did not recognize the border as being the Rio Grande and even Lincoln among other view the US claims of "American blood spilled on American soil" as dubious.


17Summers et al Part II
And Summers if Japan offered to buy Aleutian Islands do you think the US would be obligated to listen to Japan? They are pretty thinly populated too aren't they? California was indeed governed minimally governed by Mexico and minimally settled, but the Russian, French and British claims were in the north, not southern California and no more minimally than Arizona or Utah or much of Nevada and a host of other US territories until well into the 19th century and in some cases 20th century. New Mexico was not actually governed by Mexico? That's odd since it had a Mexican governor. Then why did Mexico appoint governors then?

So if Summers tell me if I come to your house and at a point of a gun force you to sell me say 30 acres of your 100 acres, do you think that a fair deal?

As for illegal aliens using the loss of territory to jutify their illegal entry. It doesn't wash with me. Land changes hands both legally and illegally and 160 years after the fact is too late to complain. The fact is that the US owns the territory of the Mexican Cession and as sovereign has the right to enforce its laws there which includes immigration law. And I always try to use third person which talking about any country. And Summers how does my posts have anything to do with illegal aliens? But as for historically, the flow of people back and forth across the border in the border region such as south Texas is historically supported and the area is distinct culturally not being either American or Mexican but a blend of both and it has only been recently that this has changed with one-side trying to stop this flow and many people who live on the border itself are greatly opposed to the Great Wall of America being built in their neighborhood. The support for it are by people who live hundreds and thousands of miles away.




Miss Akagi
I think you are becoming overly anxious. Obviously, you are addressing matters I did not address. Maybe you should re-read who said what to give a cogent response to each. Don't tell me something that I said was 'BS' when I didn't say it, Little Lady.

Miss Akagi
Your hysterical blather, part 2, just came in. If I am incorrect in my read of your posts, so is ex-Wyomingite. English is our native language. You need to re-attend your English as a second language classes.

Have you ever learned the word 'succint' or the word 'relevant'? Make those your new vocabulary words for the day.

Ask not what your country can do for you
Ask what YOU can do for your country.

I believe that the majority here would agree that some sort of voluntary service....military, peace corps, community service(not as a organizer...LOL) or alike.....something to give back. I think that most young Americans have no sense of loyalty to the USA. Everything is mostly taken for granted by Americans and if they had a more positive role, it may serve as a reminder of just how good we have it here.

Liars
So many in the world believe lies these days. Egypt is full of these fools; Jordan and Mexico and Turkey too. America has it share of people who prefer lies and liars.

The truth is so hard to bear. With accepting the truth comes so much responsibility. Irresponsibility is deep in the heart of those who live lies. If a Muslim cuts off the head of Daniel Pearl, the murderer is not responsible, it is someone elses fault. If a Muslim destroys towels full of living human beings, he's not at fault. If northern Mexico sucks so bad that people are lining up to leave it, it is not Mexico's fault; America is to blame.

Sin comes in batches - waves. Find a liar and you are also looking at more; a thief, a con artist, maybe even a killer.

Those who tell lives also believe lies; all sorts of lies. They are lost. They end up badly. Hatred can consume these fools; witness Bush hatred. Bush has kept the Arab cutthroats away from striking America, but haters and liars cannot appreciate a job well done. They prefer a lie, even a weak indefensible lie for the truth. Many haters and liars end up murderers and of course, there is always someone else to blame.

Akagi @ 11:07 scribbled
"People don't immigrate to countries with low standards of living".

How about you go to Guwahati and make that statement in the main market--and then tell me afterwards how that went?

Last I checked, India still has a low standard of living for most rural (2/3 of population) and slum (around 1/6 of total population) dwellers, albeit higher than Bangladesh (at last estimate about 2.5 crore Muslim illegal migrants from Bangladesh are present in India--with largest numbers in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya).

Protection
US gives zero economic aid to Taiwan and the arms sales Taiwan pays for out of its own pocket. I might also add the weapons packages are often over priced as well. The F16 A/B sale that Bush sold Taiwan in 1992 (for domestic reasons I might add) which was the first major sale since Reagan cut them off in 1982 by signing the "Third Communique" was much more than the same planes sold to the Saudis. One criticism of the weapons sales in Taiwan has been the costs--that the US overcharges for them--and the fact the US often refuses to sell what Taiwan wants and feels it needs for its defense for example the refusal to sell the Aegis and instead sold the more primative-based Kidd-Class system.

The reason that Taiwan is moving to phasing out the draft is the same reason the US did--it simply doesn't need a conscription system for national defense. The modern ROC military doesn't need a bunch of high school students when it has basically a high tech military. The conscription of all male ROC citizens was expensive and unnecessary. As for the US coming to Taiwan's aid. Neither I nor Taiwan is counting on that and the TRA doesn't require it and Bush made it clear he was quite willing to throw Chen and Taiwan over the side when Chen was calling for even minor reforms like adopting a modern constitution for Taiwan--not one based on China in 1947.

Oh and Summers, be pretty hard for the ROC to attack Taiwan since Taiwan and the ROC are basically the same, you twit!

Taiwan=Zhonghuaminguo (zai Taiwan) which in English is the Republic of China (on Taiwan) or ROC. China=Zhonghuarenmingongheguo which in English is the People's Republic of China or PRC. The ROC can have it for all you care? Well that's good because it already does.

Oh do you work at the post office per chance, because I once sent a package to Taiwan and the idiots sent it to the PRC instead of the ROC?


svpallava
It's relative isn't it? I'll amend my remarks...people usually don't immigrate to countries with a lower standard of living than their own. Better?

Americans do move to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, etc but they are retirees and love the cost savings. Some Americans even moving to India I am told for the same reason, but pretty small numbers compared to the whole.

17Summers
Didn't take too long did it.

Daniel
Your points are well taken. Look at the governments worldwide that do nothing to improve the standards of living for their poor, stand with their hands out with demands to us, and their ruling class lives with more money than the 'rich' Obama wants so desperately to tax out of existence here.

Mexico is a wealthy country in terms of minerals, workforce for energy source work and agriculture, and scenic beauty for tourists. Yet, it is so corrupt that it has never prospered. We are not responsible. We are burdened with its illegal immigrants and its proclivity to let others across our southern border. In El Paso, Texas, alone, illegals from 147 nations have been caught. I can assure you they did not come across the southern Mexican border. If we exercised the border brutality that the Mexicans exercise on their southern border, we would not have the illegal alien problem we have today.

Steven

"It is just not fair
The world should NOT be blaming the Americans.
They should be blaming the Republicans.

Have a nice day."

What are you? New or two?

History doesn't begin anew each day. Quit blogging and get a real education.

17Summers
Have I ever confirmed I was an immigrant? And as I said I always refer to the US and every other country in the third person--at least I try to.

You will also note I said Summers et al which means "and others" in case you didn't know. That means I was addressing you as well as others. And while I do not proof read my replies as well as I should, I will put my English ability up against yours any time you would like. At least I am not so stupid to not understand the difference between the ROC and PRC.

Geminguy
No I do not agree.

Do you not know the meaning of volunteer? Forcing that kind of thing on people just makes them resentful and the lesson is lost. Ask those that burned their draft cards.

Dr.Who?
I do apologize for being distracted today as I am trying to settle in after the long evacuation trip yesterday! I expect the Moon Dogs to be out every day here regardless of the lunar cycle!

Please tell Miss Akagi that I typed in error and that I don't care if Red China takes over Taipei. Please assure her that I have no desire to revisit the Far-out East. I have been there and didn't want the tee shirt. She gets a little excited over her poor English and her hatred of the U.S. and our citizens who love her.

Miss Akagi
'And', 'and', 'and'..... I am a published writer, Little Girl. Your English sucks on a good day and most especially when you start getting hysterical. Go do something anatomically difficult and, thereby, do us a favor.

Summers
"I can assure you they did not come across the southern Mexican border."

And you'd be wrong. Which country do you think is the second largest source of illegal aliens to the US? Well, it is the Salvadorians and how do you think they get to the US, well they cross into Guatemala and then into Mexico and they work their way north and cross into the US along with the Mexicans and the other OTMs.

The difference between the US and Mexico in this regard is the illegal aliens in Mexico aren't wanting to stay in Mexico. Until the US has interior enforcement all the border enhancements in the world isn't going to stop the flow. You could build a DPRK-ROK style border and people would still cross.


Hello, Lo!
Please award Miss Akagi with either the Faux Confucious or Really Confused Award for the day. The poor girl is suffering.

Mexico is 3rd world
What we should really do for Mexico, and in reality, the whole world, is a favor and take over Mexico. This would benefit the people of Mexico so much more than their current “dictatorship”. It makes total sense as now people wont need to come over to America and steal from our great country. Instead, they can stay at their homes, with their family and enjoy the privileges in an area they grew up.

The old Mexico would benefit from improved roads, sanitation and education as well as getting the benefits of being an American. Frankly, I don’t see how Mexicans don’t ask that we do take control. Its what they want anyway based on all of the illegal’s coming over here.

17Summers
I am a published writer too. Great, we're tied. Now what...pissing contest?


Miss Akagi
You need to take a break from annoying the readers and posters at TH and catch up on the news, Sweetie. Your failure to be correct on the status of the southern Mexican border is dead wrong, little girl.

Tigger
Mexico could be transformed into the missing 7 states Obama has not visited. Dandy idea you have.

Akagi
Tian mu (or however you spell it), back in 1989.

Lolo
I am off to check on Houston family members to find out what they are doing in the face of the hurricane. I will be back later.

Redlac and the Draft
Redlac, the reason we cannot give those five brigades to Afghanistan (but soon will now that the Surge was so successful) is not because we do not have a draft, but because the Congress sets the ceiling on how many Soldiers, Sailors Airmen and Marines we cna have.

Put the blame on that shortage squarely where it lies and that is the Nancy Pelosi controlled Congress and Harry Reid Senate.

Now, if you will, imagine a sleigh, loaded with people, going down a lane through the woods being chased by a pack of wolves.

As the horse tires and the wolves gain ground, the people grab one of their own and throw him over to lighten the load.

That's the draft, in a nutshell.

Freedom is NOT free;

Few here today have ever had to go outside and pump water into buckets, carry it inside to heat on a stove so you could take a bath. Few have ever had to cut wood for the stove & fireplace in order to cook food and heat the home. Few here have ever had to rely on kerosene lamps to light the home. Few here have ever had to dig the hole for an outhouse or sit in the stench of one to relieve yourself and therefore do not understand what a pleasant, easy life you live.
Your grandparents provided you with indoor plumbing and electric lights you take for granted.
They were able to do these things because their grandparents and those who came before fought bloody wars to win and preserve the freedom that enabled them to prosper.
Your grandparents and many here today have also fought wars to preserve the freedom many take for granted just as many take electric lights and indoor plumbing for granted.
Freedom is not free nor can it be preserved by the weak and gullible nor the apathetic and cowardly.
To win and preserve our freedom has cost the lives of many brave men and we have many brave men today who are still willing to fight to the death to preserve our freedom.
America's enemies now work by stealth from within.
They dominate education to corrupt the innocent minds of our children.
http://www.anxietycenter.com/subversion.htm

Unless YOU do something to prevent it, THIS will be what Communists do to American freedom!
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5373

They also corrupt our politics. Democrats campaign one for President right now!

I am a great grandparent and WW2 veteran. My generation did their part to preserve freedom.
If Communists destroy American freedom without a fight, what will be the legacy of your generation?
Cowardice? Or just Ignorance & Apathy?

Summers
So I guess the 2 million illegals from El Salvador (heard of MS-13, most of the members of these are from here, not Mexico) must have used teleporters. And since 25% of the population of El Salvador now live in the US, it is not a country whose citizens are granted US visas with great ease.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens cross the Mexican border each year. In the last 5 years dententions and deportations are up 74%. Sure, it is a far cry from the 1 million to 3 million that cross the US border each year, but to state that no one crosses the Mexican southern border illegally let alone the hundreds of thousands that actually do just shows have stupid you really are, but what are we to expect from someone who can't tell the difference between the ROC and PRC.

Reply to 17summers @ 13:17
You wrote "Mexico is a wealthy country in terms of minerals, workforce for energy source work and agriculture, and scenic beauty for tourists. Yet, it is so corrupt that it has never prospered."

On the nail. I can remember in 1993 that many Canucks actually thought Canada would (through the latter's inclusion in NAFTA) lose quite badly to Mexico due to the latter's cheap labour. Reality: Canada improving (a Harper majority on 10/14 may stop/reverse the long transmogrification to Canuckistan; anyway, Canadian provinces now INVITING temporary-visa professionals in US to immigrate there), Mexico further down sewer now than in 1993!

I think they are blaming...
Bush and his neocon pals.

I was wondering while perusing knuckleheads column when she would pull the trigger and blame an American for this. I wasn't dissapointed. Weee the looney right!

Akagi-
The unrelenting quality of your posts seems to indicate a few things that you may not be intending to imply.
For instance, it seems that you wish to impose a draft, whether or not it was deemed inappropriate by the military, the public or the constitution in the current circumstance.
You also show a tiresome tendency to wander all over the map rather than sticking to the substance of the article under debate.
This seems to me to be a distraction, not substantive commentary, and regardless what your opinion of my opinion might be, you're boring.
You may be what you claim to be, however, you remind me of Robert ( aka Ranger29) in that you cannot be swayed into addressing the article instead of pushing an agenda of your own.
In other words, if you feel that you need more attention, call your Mom, and let the rest of us stick to business, as time is precious to those of us who value it more than being appreciated for our clever posts.

Akagi
Crossing the Mexican border in transit to America and crossing the Mexican border with intent to live in Mexico are drastically different things.

If you were to illegally enter Mexico and get caught attempting to find employment, you would quickly learn a new profession in a Mexican prison unless you have someone who will buy your freedom.
Immigration laws in Mexico are strictly enforced and they do not just deport you, they put you in prison where you will work for your keep or you won't eat!

This is a good partial solution to our problem.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/01/19/mexican-state-whines- about-influx-of-mexican-workers/

AND;
Criminals who come here to victimize Americans should be OUTSOURCED on open bid!
For both the trial & imprisonment.
You know the low bidder is not going to provide Country Club accommodations.

When Malkin said
"the usual Destroy America/Kill the Jews/Behead the Infidels/Convert-or-Die seething that is their second nature."

I thought she was going to write about TH, and had mistakenly written "Jews" instead of "Gays".

MyOpine
LOL, I have had the privilidge of using an outhose and drinking water pulled up from a well by bucket.

JFP
Tian Mu or as it is Romanized in Taiwan Tienmu--part of Taipei City--been a foreigner enclave since the 1960s or before when the US had troops in Taipei and where Americans basically the enlisted and low level officers were housed. It is where TAS is now. Taipei changed a good deal since 1989. There is a myth about how it got Tienmu name. A bunch of foreigners end up in Tienmu and seeing all the wonderful American stuff--like soda in the stores asked the locals where is this place? The locals not understanding English answered back "tiah-bo" meaning I don't understand in Taiwanese and they thought they heard Tien Mu and thus how it got its name--urban myth, but still a great story. It means heavenly mother actually.

Airgun
I oppose the draft. It was another here Jerabaub that wants a draft when the military says it is totally against one. Perhaps you lack the ability to read and understand what you have read. I simply follow the flow of the responses as if I am boring, well, not here for your entertainment. You want to be entertained, buy a dog or something.

True Independent
You are on the wrong site.
You Belong here;
http://www.islamonline.net/english/index.shtml

LoLo!!!
Reread my post.
believe that the majority here would agree that some sort of voluntary service....military, peace corps, community service(not as a organizer...LOL) or alike.....something to give back.

OK...just got back from lunch. But I caught your post back to me. I did say the word VOLUNTARY. You are right in the fact that those FORCED to serve aren't very happy. However, the ones that I knew back in the day that didn't to obey the draft LAWS were either stoned heads or just chicken s*^#$. Do you not agree that there should be some sort of service, return of thanks to the nation for what we have? Do you not agree that MOST younger people don't have any sence of allegiance to their country? Any ideas, opinions?

Akagi, you were sunk long ago.
Hiryu, Kaga, Soryu and you were history years ago.

akagi-
My humblest apologies, my mouse grabbed the wrong post; I meant it for jerabaub.

Akagi-
although you also tend to get distracted.

svpallava
Yes further down the drain and as I explained to you this is largely due to NAFTA.

Myopine:

Yes. I agree that if you tried to seek employment, etc in Mexico as an illegal the treatment would be harsh if they caught you. But that wasn't 17Summers the twit's point. His or her point was no illegals crossed the southern border when actually hundreds of thousands do each year and the numbers have actually increased over the last few years. The problem is mostly along the border with Guatemala where illegals from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. I also agree with your link that until there is real interior enforcement "beefing up" the border will have little impact.

The Obama Army
We won't need a draft if Obama gets elected. He is talking about creating a large, armed civilian force.

Guess who it would be reporting to and who would be indoctrinating it?

Perhaps, Barack Hussein Obama and Bill Ayers, you think?

Bobcat
If you take a trip to Gunma Prefecture which is located NW of Tokyo in the Kanto region you would come across a mountain of some 1,800 meters. You can guess the name. So is Arizona also sunk because a ship named for it lies rusting away at the bottom of Pearl Harbor?

In general, people who make comments about my name have the mental power just a few notches below a banana slug and no I don't mean the graduates of UC-Santa Cruz, but the real live slugs themselves.

Here is a link your enjoyment:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/ohirune/yk/photo/yama/jyomo/akagi/ak agia.htm




History Lesson
The following is a recount of some historical tidbits as I recalled from grade school, anybody can correct me if necessary. Why our affection for Europeans? Did we forget the great things they have done thru history? The Diaspora, Spanish Inquisition, The Crusades, Going to Africa and kidnapping their citizens and enslaving them and bringing them to America? Over 6million jewish people murdered while neighboring countries stood by and did NOTHING? Starting a fight with the Ottoman Empire because God forbit brown people conquer the world and after defeating the Turks they created that mess called the Middle East. They don't call The British Empire for nothing. The French and British establishing colonies in Africa, Asia and their consequences are felt to this day. Not long ago over 600,000 Rwandas killed and let's not forget the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. If we want the world to really hate us, we should stop sending billions of taxpayers money to feed the poor in the world and teach them self reliance, and stop sending billions of our money for Aids accross the world, unless we believe Obama's pastor that the US created Aids to kill black people and in that case we're guilty and should oblige. The fact is the US is cleaning up the mess started by the "world" and if they don't want to thank us, that's cool. So my friends forgive me if I don't give a rats behind what a bunch or murderers, racists, slave owners think about me.

Geminiguy
A military draft would be useless in this day & age.

BUT we need some compulsory form of teaching discipline and self control.

Compulsory ROTC?
Even compulsory BOY SCOUTS would be a big improvement over the present crop that have no sense of responsibility or loyalty.
It all stems from the fact that their forefathers have just made their lives too easy.

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE!
It is not a silly game to amuse simple minds.

Akagi,
If you actually knew to what I was referring, without looking it up, you have risen in my esteem. Watch out for SBD's.

WE STAND WITH ISAREAL!
B.HUSSEIN,DOESNT SOUND RIGHT!

Akagi
PS - lighten up. I consider Akagi a proud name and Saburo Sakai a hero.

Jerseyvet quite correct
Obama said in CO. (Off script by the way)
"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Amazing! Should they be called the SS or maybe the BO? I am astonished at how well statements like the above can be hidden from the public.

If McCain or Palin made such a quote it would be all we would hear about for months.

BARACK-HUSSEIN! NO-BON-JIVE!!
THE NAME DONT JIVE!NO-BON-JIVE.

Akagi
The fence they are building, "????"!
Anything made by people can be destroyed by people.
If they ever finish it, it will cost more to keep repairing the holes cut into it than it cost to build it.

The problem is people and until it is made unpleasant and risky to come here illegally they will continue to come here illegally.

Akagi's attribution of
Mexico's continued slide to NAFTA is like attributing Bihar's perennial awful state to British rule of India--basically cent-percent wrong. NAFTA did not even prepone the inevitable decline.

myopine
Your (1:43pm) post):

Well said. Bravo.

Akagi and Texas
Texas was a REPUBLIC that joined the United States. New Mexico was then part of Texas as was the western part of Oklahoma (The "Cherokee Strip") and part of Colorado.
What's more, Mexico was PAID for that land IN GOLD AND SILVER! I wonder how much they paid THE SPANISH for Mexico?

MyOp
Yes you are about a draft today. UNLESS the red baloons go up. Even the Boy Scouts are getting hit by the left....raising rents for their facilities, ACLU trying to get females in (give me a break....what part of BOY scouts is hard to understand?¿? Maybe something as well as ROTC can be adopted by high schools. I just think that something should be developed....anything to show our country it's appreciated.
I guess it's easier for me to say, as I did my service. Started out volunteering for the draft, as did someone else that posted here earlier. Ended up retiring after 21 yrs.....and I have NO regrets.

Bobcat
I was quite aware of the reference. Do you think you are the only one that has brought it up? Sorry, been done, many times.

Okay, for you.

The Akagi was a Amagi-class cruiser. The Akagi being named for Akagi-yama in Gunma and the Amagi being named for Amagi-yama in Shizuoka. The Amagi was destroyed during the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923. The Washington Naval Conference allowed Japan and other powers to transform some of their capital ships into carriers and thus the birth of the Akagi as an Akagi-class carrier (and the birth of the Kaga as a Kaga-calss carrier). The USS Lexington and Saratoga like the Akagi were transformed as well from cruisers to carriers. The Kaga started as a battleship.

The Akagi was the flagship of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo who led the attack on Pearl Harbor--and possibly the worst possible commander for that mission. It later saw action in the Indian Ocean. At Midway it was hit by bombs from planes from the USS Enterprise. The bombs hitting planes, fuel, and unexploded ordnance on the flight deck. The fires became uncontrollable and it was ordered scuttled by Yamamoto. The IJN destroyers Arashio, Hagikaze, Maikaze, and Nowaki launched a number of torpedoes into the ship causing it to sink.

While the remains of the Yorktown and Kaga have been found the Akagi, Hiryu, and Soryu are still missing.

So anything else you'd like to know vis-a-vis the name Akagi?


Ahh sooo.......
Akagi= anime heroine
;{>

Thank you SunThe1
Right now I am trying to think of the Countries who owe a debt of gratitude to America.
ALL of our foreign detractors are on that list!

The list might be shorter if I counted the Countries where America has not had to come to their aid in time of need.

No good deed goes unpunished?
Sure looks that way!

Greenhornet
Actually only part of New Mexico was claimed as part of Texas. The rest the US got as part of the Mexican Cession.

As for paying for the territory. Well, land sales done at the point of a gun usually aren't seen as either moral or legal--but as I said 160 years in the past. It is a done deal and Mexicans who are still clinging to the "US stole a third of Mexico" (some say half)need to get over it. The land ain't coming back and the US has every right to enforce its laws on that land.

Geminiguy
Yes, but the anime hero means "red tree" not "red castle." The Kanji is not the same. Also a name of a food company in suburban Tokyo and thus I can't get the domain akagi.com as they own it.



Yes but...
"The list might be shorter if I counted the Countries where America has not had to come to their aid in time of need."

It was often in the US interest to do just that not simply out of the kindness of its heart. This isn't a slap at the US--this is just the nature of states. That is self-interest properly understood.

Akagi
Yes, I heard that myth about the origin of the name Tienmu.

Also, it may have been an enclave for foreigners, but we lived with Taiwanese and seldom saw any other foreigners.

I miss the President's Formulated Soy Milk, in the little boxes with cows pictured on the side. Yummm! Every day I'd drop into a 7-11 and pick one up.

Akagi - draft
Out of curiosity about a similar conversation, I once looked it up, about 50% of Americans who fought in WWII were drafted. When a real shooting war starts (hint: Iraq, bad as it is, doesn't count), we can't really depend on volunteers.

My big concern with not having a draft is that the longer and longer we go without one, the more generations of people grow up thinking that protecting one's country in time of need is strictly optional, i.e., it is their RIGHT not to serve if they don't want to. If we were to determine it was necessary to re-institute a draft today, I'm not sure it would work - riots in the street and that sort of thing, eh?

BTW, I joined the USN in 1973, didn't know until today that I was a draft dodger. :-)

Draft
In the so-called Civil War, the Union draftees were only 2%. They didn't seem to have problems getting people to enlist. The US drafted 10 million between 1940 and 1946, did it need 10 million?

If 50% of them were draftees as you state that would mean it would have had 5 million volunteers (and this assumes none of the 5 million would have joined anyway if there had been no draft). You don't think it could have won the war with 5 million?

There were riots in 1863 too and in the CSA opposition to the draft was even more violent.

The US doesn't need a draft and using a justification of having one just so people will understand they are obligated to be at the Imperial Federal Government's beck and call is no more valid that Jerabaub's claim that military service is good for you. If the US attempted to reinstate the draft just for the hell of it I'd hope someone (or many someones) would sue and this time I would hope that the SCOTUS would rule that except in the most narrow of cases involuntary servitude to the US government or a state government outside of punishment for crimes is a violation of the 13th Amendment.


Akagi
No doubt it was politically advantageous to assist some Nations in their hour of need.
America also assisted Nations we had no political interest in.
It is logical to assume we would assist the former Nations also even if there was no political reason.

Americans are generous, thoughtful people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you given thought to what would happen if Obama was elected and unilaterally disarmed America and abandoned our missile defense system?
http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2008/02/27/obama-plans-to -disarm-america

How long do you think Israel & Taiwan would continue to exist?

Mexico is welcome to California...
Frankly, if Mexico wants California back, it's welcome to it. That's 55 fewer electoral votes for the socialist candidate...

But don't mess with Texas - which will, by the way, promptly secede from the Union if Obama is elected, and regain its former status as the Republic of Texas. I hope McCain and Palin make it unnecessary, but I'm ready to pack my bags and head down there to preserve my liberty. (The Republic of Alaska sounds okay also.)

After Texas and Alaska secede, of course, they should immediately refuse to sell their oil to any state that gave its electoral votes to Obama. After all, he promises not to be dependent on foreign oil...

More random thoughts, and anti-Obama articles and original campaign videos at:

http://www.colony14.net

Hard Thought @1:41
"Now, if you will, imagine a sleigh, loaded with people, going down a lane through the woods being chased by a pack of wolves.

As the horse tires and the wolves gain ground, the people grab one of their own and throw him over to lighten the load.

That's the draft, in a nutshell."

Another Heinlein fan! "Glory Road"

I read "Starship Troopers" in High school (early '60s) and it is the philosophical reason I became a Soldier.

Akagi @ 3:49:

Muslims, among others, don't get over things that happened 500 tears ago (Reconquista). Revanchists always carry a grudge.

Old Whig
While I agree with your sentiment-you couldnt be mre wrong about France-and btw -much of Europe did indeed feel the "wrath" of our bombs-if you know nothing else - just watch a few episodes of any footage of our bombs being dropped during WW@- who did you think was being bombed? the Atlantic coast of France was where the U-Boats were, the German Army was all over France and much of Europe- those houses in Ste Mere Eglise that you see being blown up are NOT in Germany - almost all of the destruction you see is of Western Europe being devastated - to free it.Those trains being blown up carrying the German war machine are manned by European crews etc etc.
Now you can make all the arguments you want about the pansy French surrendering-then that applies equally to the Belgians,Dutch, Danes, Norwegians etc etc.- but the battlefield was mostly non German-only at the end did the cities of Germany get obliterated- deservingly so I might add

Geminiguy
America does not need an empty gesture.
The youth of our Nation need training in self discipline.

Our High Schools once had ROTC classes.
I took one at Polytechnic in SF.

The ACLU & NAMBLA have been trying to destroy the Boy Scouts because they won't allow NAMBLA to furnish Scout Masters.

The rest of the world...
My perception is that the nations which embrace liberty and capitalism do support the United States and are "on our side." Those are the nations which deserve our respect and attention. The rest of the world can go to hell. I don't care if 200,000 screaming socialists cheered Obama. I don't care if the European socialist nations are opposed to our culture and laws and lifestyles.

I don't care if the world resents the fact that America consumes 25 per cent of the world's oil - mostly because America produces 25 per cent of the world's wealth. I have no desire to move to Somalia - where I may not use much oil but I also won't have much food.

(On a slightly unrelated note: What do Yoko Ono and Ethiopians have in common? They both live off dead beatles.)

More irreverance and anti-Obama "stuff" at
http://www.colony14.net

MyOpine
I don't want to see Obama win. While the GOP has often been flawed in its policies toward Taiwan, I trust the GOP much more than the DP in this regard. As flawed as McCain is, I hope he wins.

However since Israel has 400 nuclear weapons (a stockpile as large as China's) and since the KMT now controls the Li Fa Yuan and the Office of the President until at least 2012, I have no fears that Taiwan or Israel won't be there when Obama leaves office if the people in the US are stupid enough to elect him in the first place (and that is possible, they voted for Carter didn't they?).




Akagi
Ok as long as we don't go looking for Taiwan and find Formosa.

Rep. of Texas
"and regain its former status as the Republic of Texas."

Sam Houston when he saw Texas secession was inevitable did urge that Texas regain its previous independence as the Republic of Texas and not join the CSA. It did anyway with unpleasant results. The most unpleasant thing about Texas as part of the CSA was John Bell Hood.


Akagi
I must confess that I read some of your posts until I realized that you were just an agitator posing as an intelect--as opposed to an intelectual--then I happlily read a few other posts and had a good laugh at your banality.
Perhaps YOU would be happier elsewhere--or perhaps you could rewrite history so that Japan actually won the war?

Akagi
Unlike you, who seem to know exactly how many Americans would have been needed to win WWII, I wouldn't even begin to second guess the country's leaders at the time.

Just looked it up (again), looks like the total figures (approximate) are as follows:
16M total in army, navy, & marine corps
10M drafted
1M casualties (dead, wounded, missing)

Note: the 16M did not all serve for all four years of the war. That is the total number of people who served across the span of the war.

It appears they needed to draft 60% of the soldiers to meet the need. So much for the theory that people will volunteer in droves for a "just" war.

In any event, suggesting now that they didn't need that many soldiers is Monday morning QB'ing. I wasn't there, neither were you.