So let me get this all straight. Hezbullah kidnaps 2 US soldiers.
Gets pounded on by Israel in response.
And SOMEHOW wants to turn the attention on the US.
Now they are basically threatening the US with terror and of course there will still be many LIBS living here in america that say we deserve it. Or that Israel deserves it. Riiiight.
Liberalism HAS to be a mental disorder.
Right up there with Religious Muslim Extremists.
The internet is all abuzz about this Israeli/Hamas/Hezbollah war.
There are some that are just regurgitate constant BS of revolutionary propaganda while sitting at a computer screen whacking off. Talking of Puerto Rico and how it should be free of so called "US imperialism" yet living in the imperialist's nation.
Not to mention constantly Filling themselves with one sided garbage from obviously slanted left wing sites, and views only to further strengthen the thought that there are more like minded individuals in the world.
When presented with facts from any angle they will deny it. They wont accept it, they will call it unfounded sources, they will throw everything they possibly can at it. Just because their views aren't represented by another. Then they go off searching for one that does have their view and tout it as gospel.
This definitely shouldn't be about someone's ego nor should it be about people trying to push their own left wing agendas on others. Information is subjective. You either decide to believe facts presented or you continue to look for someone that will post something along your lines of thinking. Just to make yourself feel better.
The world spoke out against Israel in the 80's when it bomb Iraq. Now it is hailed.
The world spoke out against Northern Lebanon being occupied so Israel concedes the land, only to have itself being attacked from that same land not 5 years later.
It returns areas in Gaza, it gives areas in the west bank and still called a bully.
it doesn't have a right to defend itself at all it seems.
It seems to me that those that constantly profess about Israel being so evil would love it if they were off the planet. If Israelis were again moved from one country to another.
That is what it seems like.
Then you have those that talk of reparations. As though that will solve ANYTHING for those affected. So what native Americans don't pay taxes, that isn't enough the US should give them BILLIONS. Screw it if it reaches the Trillions, They should have it. It call comes down to money. So what the US gives the most foreign aide around the world that doesn't matter the US is evil.
So what that Israel is being bombed from two fronts and has suffering huge losses from suicide bombers daily in the 90's that doesn't matter. They deserved it right? They deserved every death that they have gone through. They are the aggressor here. They are the ones that took Lebanese soldiers and Palestinian soldiers and are holding them hostage in return for a few thousand soldiers.
So what Israel gave 400+ prisoners for the bodies of 4 of its own. That doesn't matter. They should have give them all back. Then following that they shouldn't have stopped at Gaza they should have given back the entire country to Palestine. Its only fair.
Then spread across the globe to different parts of the planet.
Had in WW2 they put them in Argentina like was talked about it would have been bad as well.
Had they put them anywhere on the planet, it would have been wrong.
They should have had to settle on the same grounds where millions of their own where cooked alive in giant ovens. Ohh wait let me guess you lefties (excuse me SUPPER REVOLUTIONARY HYPOCRITES) don't think the holocaust happened. That is right.
Facts speak for themselves. Both sides are guilty in this case of being BRUTAL to each other. Killing of innocents. Israel kills some innocent people they get condemned. Palestinians (HAMAS or Hezbollah kill innocents, those Jews they deserved it. But Israel was NOT the aggressor with this current war. THAT IS A FACT that none in here have accepted. And the cycle continues.
This is perhaps the best representation of what you are seeing from Europe.
Typical. Another reason why I just cant consider myself catholic was displayed by the Vatican infuriate. And you kind of expect this from Chirac but from Putin? The man with such a heavy hand on his own area? He himself is battling his own version of religious extremism and has seen the effects it first hand with chechnyan rebles.
Ohh the hypocrisy of it all.
I am all for spanking a child but WOW. What in the world would warrant this?
Ahh yes you guess it, the religion of Peace is what they call it right. Yet this little girl apparently got her face smashed in by a Imam that saw the little girl ACCIDENTALLY walk on his prayer rug.
Courtesy of Debbie Schlussel.
Read story here
It seem almost futile to talk about peace in the middle east.
It seems to be pretty clear that neither side wants peace. At least that is that I get from it.
You have on one side the Palestinians voting in HAMAS as their new leadership, and on the other you have the Israelis which seem to show a lot of restraint but also have short fuses at times. Not to mention Islamic Jihad on one end and Hezbollah to the north.
Seems to be that Israel has EVERY right to protect itself.
After all the Orlando sentinel today FAILED to note in their report that the initial conflict with Lebanon started with 2 Israeli soldiers being captured and taking into Lebanon.
And Contrary to what the Cease Fire listed Hezbollah has OBVIOUSLY not disarmed at all and Lebanon has done little to actually facilitate the disarmament of the terrorist organization.
I liken the actions of Israel to what we did with Afghanistan. We went in and took out the Al-Queda hell hole that was in there and took out the govt that was harboring them as well.
Lets pray that this does not get any further escalation and Israel heeds the cease fire on Lebanon and that it doesn't spread into Syria. However I don't see any clear ending to the current "WAR" in the region.
If these polls are correct then in goes back and feeds exactly what many have been saying.
That the reps are destroying the very values that make them better then the democrats.
It serviced them right for becoming so power hungry as the democrats have.
Now will I vote for a democrat?
Sure as hell would if they follow better principles then the republicans have shown in the last 8 years. I have seen nothing but bloated budges, pork spending and a list of corruption that makes Nixon smile.
The message needs to be sent to all REPUBLICANS that they need to go back to the REAGAN MODEL. Conservative on spending and GROW SOME BALLZ!
A pretty simple model that worked for 12 years and is now in jeopardy because Republicans couldn't control their power hungry egos.
So today it seems that the US senate has let us down yet AGAIN.
Somehow I always knew that it was all political banter as usual in the capital.
Today they voted NOT to fund the very wall they voted to BUILD not 2 months ago.
Is it just me or do the Reps keep digging their own hole for the coming elections.
I dont know about the rest of you but I am starting to get VERY VERY Annoyed at all this constant bull**** that they keep feeding us.
We SO need a third party in this country that actually goes to the senate with what WE want in mind.
I am sure we have all seen the recent events with N.K.
They have been talking tough about shooting off missles that can hit alaska (barely).
However I am shocked to hear so many talk about going in there and blowing them up, or bombing their facilities. I must admit that at one point back when the Iraq war started I was one of those that said why them why not North Korea or Iran. I guess I may have pulled a Kerry on this one and flip flopped.
I have been looking at this whole pre-emptive strike thing that so many Americans seem to be adapting. Its as though they want to just go around being the worlds police. Now while on the surface the may seem like a good idea (get them before they get us) its really long term a horrible one. One that may have longer consequences and lead to more dire situations. Such as what we are seeing in Iran. Where Iran wants to have a bomb to be at an "equal" with the US. Its their solution that is the equivalent to Cold War tactics. If we both have enough bombs to blow each other up then you wont attack me pre-emptively.
Now with North Korea I feel that we may be making the same mistakes that we carelessly made going into Iraq. By taking Iraq as such a huge danger. When in fact it has turned out that Iraq was nothing more then a country barely hanging on in terms of military capability. While yes North Korea can shoot a big missle into the air. They still lack the knowledge to make it even work properly. Less than 1 minue into flight and the missles came crashing down in the Japan Sea.
Now call me crazy but that doesnt seem like a country that has everything all set up very well now does it?
So it beckons the question what do we do?
Do we follow more Clintonesk type of action where we bend to their will and give them nuclear power plants as long as they are "inspected" or do we continue on the current Bush path of having other regional nations join in the talks.
I must say that I choose the latter. While Russia and China arent exactly HELPING the situation since they are basically selling NK the missles we need to look at the alternatives.
We obviously cant go back to GIVING Kim Jong Il what he wants in terms of power etc. etc. without some consession from his end.
Lets face it the ones that hurt the most with economic sanctions has been proven time and time again to be the people. Which rarely actually uprise against the govt. Unless the govt is totally inept in the military aspect.
We can only I think stay on the course of pushing for regional leaders to make strong movement on NK.
The very last thing is to start bombing their facilities.
It will lead again I think down a path that will evetually have nations like China, Venezuela, Iran firing at us in pre-emption. Seeing us as a threat to them, they attack us.
What Kim Jon Il actually I think wants is for the US to intervine to give him as well as others like Chavez and the Iraninan president the fuel they need to lead an attack at the US.
Lets face it part of the reason we went into Iraq was because we KNEW they wouldnt put up much of a fight militarily. Not many in the world can hang with the US in that respect. We went in to send a message of some sort that we can do this and to establish a great military presence in the area.
Setting the stage that has always been a problem for the US.
To defend Israel as well as to have a foot hold on a airport that sorties can be carried out in neighboring countries that may eventually sway too far out of control. Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan come to mind.
Some may call this Impreialism. But that fails the test of past imperialistic countries where we arent rulling the people there. Just setting up a base there. No different then we have done in Germany and Japan. Which by the way is something that I think we should seriously look at re-working. We really dont need to have those bases there. That is for another day.
Today MSNBC's hardball shows an interview of Cindy Shehan actually saying she would much rather live under Hugo Chavez instead of GWB. Which in turn to me tells me she really doesnt want to be an american. Regardless of your thinking of what you think of Bush and his practices you cant go around saying I rather live somewhere else and still want to be called an american.
I would be more then happy to pay for a one way ticket for her.
And if more would like to join her I would think that there are plenty more that would be more then happy to accomidate them.
To call Hugo Chavez anything BUT a dictator is a JOKE!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
I just found this too funny and just had to comment on it.
After years of Civil Rights Violations, aggression torwards his own people, repression and acting as a thug and abusing his power Castro and his goons have the cojones to actually sentence someone for "abuse of power"
You have got to be kidding me!
Read Here: Cuban Official gets 12-year Prison Term
Well as if the debate about what to do with the Illegal Immigration population or as I like to say, Pre-Citizens (thanks Pat Campbel) couldn't take another turn. Here comes the English is a must crowd.
I have got to admit I am right there with them.
I am a Hispanic American. I however was not born here.
Sure I have an advantage over some that have come here with how young I arrived to the land of milk and honey but that shouldnt be an excuse for anyone NOT to learn the language.
Take for example when you go to say your local Chinese Restaurant. Do you need to order your General TSO's Chicken with Porkfried rice in Mandarin? OF COURSE NOT. There people come here learn the language and sell their food.
Sure behind the counter they talk to each other in Mandarin but that doesnt remove the fact that they have someone there that learned English after not knowing a LICK of it back home.
One thing I will stand by is that you dont HAVE to know english perfectly to be successful in this country. Of course you will only reach a certain level however it should be mandetory for anyone that wants to be a citizen to at least speak SOME ENGLISH. I say this because my dear mother whom I love very very much doesnt know much english much. She can understand it very very well, she doesnt speak it very well but that is partly to her own fault because she hasnt ever worked somewhere where she needed to know english.
She has been here for well over 25 years and doesnt speak it very well. She can say some things but isnt perfect at it by no stretch. However she has been very successful in america, opening her own business and such. Of course there is only ohh so high on the social ladder she can reach because she cant read or speak english properly shes done most of what she has done through sheer determination and will. I applaud my mom for that. She is my rock.
Then on the flip side my father has learned english pretty well, can read it write it fairly well etc but of course with an accent. He learned it because he wanted to, because he didnt want to be stuck as a busboy in a restaurant forever or drive a cab and only know addresses in english. He is my other Rock. The man is my inspiration to what a real man is to be for a family.
Again I am a proponent of having it as a necessity to LEARN the english language if you are in america. Not perfectly but enough. Take some classes, practice it at home, something. I mean to be here 20-30 years and never speak it even a little is CRAZY. So what you always worked in an area where you only spoke your native toungue. LEARN ENGLISH.
I think it bothers me mostly because I see it as an insult. Its annoying to always having my culture being dumbed down to cater to us. I mean why the hell do we have to press 2 for spanish. How about saying everything just in english. The custom catering that is being done in businesses and in govt agencies is ridiculous. Its as if to say you guys that come from latin america just arent smart enough to learn english so we will just say it in spanish so we can get your money.
I cant be the only Hispanic that thinks this way.
Lets look at it this way. If you are going to just cater and want to make things "easier" for anyone then why not go the next step. Have 3 for French, 4 for German, 5 for Mandarin, 6 for Japanese, etc etc etc. Heck go the next step, have all your govt forms in every language on the planet, from Sweedish to Hebrew from Turkish to African dialects. Why not.
Dont stop there we need to make all signs on addresses translated, stop signs, yeild signs, right turn only signs, next exit 50 miles signs. While your at it make sure you convert miles to Kilometers and Gallons to Litters. I mean we need to make sure we cater to everyone right? Gotta make everyone comfortable. GEEEET THE HELL OUTA HERE!
Ok so its been a while since I posted.
No big deal, I'll start making my opinions more known on here then on web boards.
Hopefully someday I'll get as large as a Michelle Malkin or Bablu blogs.
Till then my humble beginings will be here.
Here we are more then 6 months after Katrina and something "SHOCKING" happens to come back into the media. Its funny how everything is so blown out of preportion. I was reading all this in the news today and came to the conclusion that if anything this video does show how the Admin was actually working on this and not just sitting back doing nothing about it. Actually being pro-active. Unlike how the media and liberals want to spin the events.
People seem to forget again and again and again that the levee systems didnt fail the day of the hurricane. In fact they failed in the afternoon the following day. There are pictures that do great at actually following the events from day 1 till day 5.
Below is the link:
Katrina Pictures
Also everyone in the liberal media and every damn liberal on the planet wants to point the finger only at this president. As though he is at fault for everything that has occured during Katrina.
And somehow everyone still thinks that it was cause the people in the area were black. GIVE ME A BREAK! There were videos on National Geographics of Coast Guard Helicopters being lowered down to roofs of peoples homes to save the people only to have to sit there for 15 minutes or more to plead with the people to let them get saved! OMFG!
Everyone seems to forget documents like this that somehow magically have disapeared from the New Orleans government website. Luckily I saved it anticipating it to magically disapear once Nagin got his Tech guys back into the city for damage control.
Hurricane Evacuation Plans
Its a PDF that details EXACTLY what the City of New Orleans should have been doing in preperation for the storm but didnt do any of it.
It also strikes me as annoying that New Orleans is the only city that gets vast amounts of coverage about this huricane but other states and cities arent even mentioned at all. Even places like Slidel that were literally destroyed and whiped off the map.
People need to wake the hell up and realize that yes the failures came from all forms of govt but the first responders to this and the ones that could have prevented so many being stranded in the city failed them miserably. Namely the City and State govts.
Last week while every new agency was concerned about cheynne's hunting accident I happen to come across some actual NEWS!
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has approved a deal in which a United Arab Emirates company would operate six major ports in the
United States.A U.S. government panel has determined that the UAE firm, DP World, would not endanger national security.
DP World, based in Dubai, has offered $6.8 billion for the purchase of a British firm that operates the ports of Baltimore, Miami, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
DP World intends to acquire the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation [P&O] Co. The sale was expected to be approved on Monday.
"The P&O directors have withdrawn their recommendation of the offer by PSA, which was announced on Jan. 26, 2006, and unanimously recommend that P&O Stockholders vote in favor of the revised proposals at the meetings, which are now scheduled to take place on Feb. 13," DP World said in a statement.
The company said the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States "thoroughly reviewed the potential transaction and concluded they had no objection." The committee includes representatives from the departments of Treasury, Defense, Justice, Commerce, State and Homeland Security.
The United Arab Emirates has been described as a leading military ally of the United States. In 2005, the UAE acquired the first 10 of 80 F-16E/F Block 60 multi-role fighters in a $6.4 billion purchase.
But officials said the UAE has not fully responded to repeated appeals from the Treasury Department to halt money-laundering activities exploited by Al Qaida and aligned groups. They said that for years Dubai served as a base for Al Qaida operatives, including those who destroyed the World Trade Center and a Pentagon wing in 2001.
"America's busiest ports are vital to our economy and to the international economy, and that is why they remain top terrorist targets," Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. "Just as we would not outsource military operations or law enforcement duties, we should be very careful before we outsource such sensitive homeland security duties."
From - pc540.blogspot.com
Another prespective...
My husband works in the international transportation industry. In fact, his boss at one time was Dave Sanborn, the man that the White House has appointed to a post within the Maritime Commission. Dave was most recently working for DWI in the Dominican Republic and has worked for them before. DWI is not "buying the American ports" as I see frequently misrepresented in articles about this in the MSM. American ports cannot be bought.
They are buying the port operating division of a London-based, British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. That purchase will include current contracts that P&O ports has with the various ports listed in the stories. There are other port operation companies out there. The port in New York or any of the other ports mentioned could choose to contract with some other company if they do not want DWI being responsible for operating terminals in these ports. As we understand it the same employees who work for P&O currently will still be the employees that work there after the purchase goes through.
I don't think there are suddenly going to be Arabs running all over the ports. Anymore so than there already are. Actually because of regulations and unions, more and more of ocean shipping, port operations and terminal operations in America are being run by non-American companies. Just a heads up...as we read the stories the information is so fact challenged. My husband does think there is room for some clarification, but to have Chucky [Schumer] out there trying to make this into a "the Bush adminstration IS NOT concerned about port security" is just spin.
I found this interesting and very fascinating. The whole domestic spying thing that the Senate is trying to accuse the president of abusing.
Link below for more on the A.G opening speech.
Attorney General Opening Statement
I was actually drawn to listening to this at work today so I listened to it from NPR. (one of the few free outlets to get info still) But it was interesting how the dems seem to be the only ones really hammering this "illegal" thing on what he is doing. Yet he is trying to keep us safe.
What I found really interesting was a part I just heard that talks about the fact that if FISA or rather the courts find that the govt has spyed on this person wrongly or hasnt presented their case properly they can once the 72 hours is up notify the person being spyed on. I find that interesting for 2 reasons. Pro and Con. If you are not the person that should have been searched you have just been notified of it. But if you were a person that was part of a terrorist organization you are now alerted that you were under electronic surveillance and would most likely lead to either a complete change of any plans to either move forward immediatley? OR it will lead to them goin even deeper with their plans.
I dont know about this card the dems are trying play. It seems dangerous.
And those that follow that thinking and are all anti bush confuse me tremendously. You want the govt to protect you following 9/11 but when something is done that targets the ones that want to kill you it becomes a problem of epic propotions that need a senate hearing.
Yet when this was done in the past with say... Ehhh Clinton it was never even brought up as an issue.
Its like the Democrats in the senate want the terrorists to get a hand book on what the US Gov is doing to catch them and how to avoid it. That is the impression I get from this.
Why is change so difficult for some people?
Is it because of the unknown?
Or is that to general of a question?
Change can be anything, from leaping into a new job to accepting gay marriage.
From jumping into a new relationship to ending a freindship.
Why is change so hard for some people and for others so simple? Its is a lack of compassion or lack of knowledge? Lack of money or lack of faith? Interesting.
Change I guess is a double edged sword it can be good and it can be bad depending on the choices made. Most I would venture to say make changes for the better.
I am not a big person on new years resolutions, mostly because I find them useless. Why wait till a specific date to make a change, like the classics, stop smoking, and loose weigth, blah blah blah.
I wonder if I will go forward with the changes in my life I have been contemplating. Some I am fearful of doing others are really no brainers but am just I guess content with the way they are. Then there are others that I would love to do but I have come to the point where I just accept them as they are.
Which brings up another question. What is the point of change or wanting change if you have tried repeatedly to have something change but it stayed the same.
Goes kind of with the saming no matter how much things change they still remain the same.
"In contrast, socialism is the control of commodities through a government that produces only to serve people (the working class)."
If that was the case then Socialist countries that do exhist would not have extremely rich folks and extremely poor. But that is not the case for socialism. France comes to mind.
"Capitalists gain their wealth from the labor of others--not from their own work. "
Again the thought that the entrepenurial spirit should be squashed. That the person that began the business at first was not putting in 60-80 hour work weeks to keep the books balanced, the bills paid, the workers paid, and money coming in to support and keep people working.
What is so wrong with a person after years of creating a business actually get to just sit back and let the business run with qualified people to run for it.
That is what confuses me about people that are for communism and socialism.
You want the govt to basically control every aspect of money in the system. You dont want free enterprise to take shape and that everyone basically is an ant working for the queen (in this case the govt) yet you ALSO dont want govt all in your face. You dont want govt controlling your lives.
That is retarded to say the least. How can you want a system that is controlled by the govt from all aspects but you dont want govt in your lives. You flip out about wire taps and the like but you are fine with systems that will litterally be your engine that controls your movements weather you like it or not.
"Why should someone be a millionaire, with three houses, a private plane, and the like when other folks can't even afford enough to eat?"
Why should they not? Not all millionares inherit their wealth. Some as shocking as this maybe actually worked for it. *SHOCKING*
How can you say something like that and then follow it up with making a case for socialism and communism... Like govts have not been known to let the most basic of human instincts take over. GREED and POWER! Even in pure socialistic system like in France there is a system that only the high class get into power.
"What that means is when you only get to choose between millionaires running for election, working class people (the vast majority of society) aren't really represented."
That is in any system.
What it seems like many are arguing when they try to make the case for communism and socialism is that we revert back to cave man times. When money was no object. It didnt exhist. Eveyone worked just to work and survive within themselves. Like one big massive ant colony.
Its unrealistic. Because even with a ant colony or with socialsim, or with capitalism, democracy you need or rather have a hierarchy. There is no way around that. And the hierarchy will more then likely be the rich and priveledged. Rarely will you get an average joe.
"By limiting bureaucracy, establishing human-rights laws"
That is like an oxy-moron for communism. Its a system that is controlled by govt. How can you limit bureacracy and still have communism. Human rights have also been trampled over in every form of communism that has been made. From basic speech freedoms, to labor laws. All of which are trampled.
I still believe that the US has the better system. A mixture of both socialism and capitalism. A system that serves the people although it is obvious there is some corruption at the top like in ANY system and it is a system that lets the free market take its course. Restricting and balancing it as we go along.
I was reading the news today. Usually what I do around lunch time and came accross 2 articles which I found of intrest. One is the new book that has been released about the NSA wire taps on US citizens phone numbers and E-Mails that were captured from the phone numbers of KNOWN al quaeda terrorists.
The other was this little snippit from www.cnn.com
---Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum announced Monday that he had resigned his post in a protest over higher gas prices. Ahmed Chalabi -- the controversial former exile who has had a rocky relationship with the United States since the war began -- took over as interim oil minister.---
What the fuck is that all about? Chalabi was and has been known to be a liar to our CIA and our govt yet he is allowed to continue to pursue elected positions in IRAQ? His testimony was part of what lead us into this war yet suddenly the former Oil Minister steps down and Chalabi steps up? WTF??
Something definetly doesnt seem right. I am not liking the way things seem to be shaping out with this one. Chalabi ran for a cabbinet poistion in Iraq and didnt make it and now suddenly is going to be Oil minister? Hmmmmmm.......
Well another year has rolled by. Mostly just a blur now. Lets see what this new year has in store for my family and I. See what it has in store for the world. See where exactly the year takes us.
Woke up today feeling great. Aside from my Asthma that has been plauging me since New Years Day. VERY VERY ODD! I woke up with a smile on my face and everything. Then I get to work. BLAH... Shot the whole day to shit. Wont even go into the details about it but it just sucked.
06 I am hopping will be a good year. But something tells me that its just my wishful thinking that is blinding my reality right now. Trying to stay positive is the key. Hoepfully its one of those phases that pass.
Happy Freaking New Year!
Quite a few things have happened since the last time I posted.
From scandals in the White House to a complete remodel of my home. Which I am still working on. LOL
White House Blues-
I must say that I think I am a bit disapointed with Bush so far this year. He hasnt shown enough poise for me. I still think he was the better of the two choices but I havent seen too much come from the administration other then the normal left wing media bashing.
The New York Times thing bothered me a bit at first with all the talk of secret wire taps but after more information on the wire taps was revealed I realized that as long as it was limited to the "bad guys" I think I am ok with it. The problem I see with giving a govt and that means any govt, too much power is that govts tend to abuse that power and overstep their boundaries.
I think there has to be a form of checks and balances in order to obtain a sense of order in the world. You cant just give a govt carte blanche on doing what ever it is they feel like doing. Which is part of my problem with this story and how it has developed.
Now before someone reads this I want to assure them that I am niether a Republican NOR a Democrat. Personally I see them both as corrupt in one way or another. I just happen to have some "conservative" thoughts and beliefs as well as some "liberal" ones. Hence why I registered as an independent to vote. I dont follow party lines on either issue to a tee.
On the Patriot Act. I believe in its power that it gives our law enforcement agenies as well as the power it gives our intel agencies. I just feel that it should always have a sunset clause. So that the two sides can hammer out some details from time to time. Make sure nothing is being overstepped. Perhaps every 2-3 years? That way it doesnt fall on an election year and all the political grandstanding that is done in washington can take a back seat to the real issue of fixing our intel gathering and law enforcement of terrorist activities.
On Iraq. I'll clarify my point on here as I have done countless times on forums debating politics. I was never for the war in the first place. I guess I was one of the few that never really thought saddam was much of a threat to the US as long as we kept him in a box. Yes the world I think is better off without a crazy dictator running a country but I don't think he was such a threat that a war was necessary. I always think war should be a far off resolution to a problem.
On that same note I truely do think that we need to stay in Iraq and make sure that the country gets some sort of stabalization and the Iraqi Police and Army can take over. Then I think we should do a gradual pull out but like every major conflict the US has been involved in not completely leave.
I predicted a gradual pull back in 2004 for mid 2005, But I didnt really consider the again political grandstanding that would need to take place for election time for senators. So in 2005 I moved that up to mid 2006. I think the Military will pull out 1/3 - 1/2 by then and another 1/2 of that by 2008. Leaving maybe 40K troops stationed in the area for the furture.
