<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nicos @ Dec 31 2006, 08:56 AM) [snapback]368943[/snapback]</div> How do you explain Japan's modern government?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Dec 31 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]369007[/snapback]</div> Before the war it was corrupt in their traditional way; after the war is still corrupt, in our way. And do not forget that they have their revenge; just check the trade (in) balance between Japan and US.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nicos @ Dec 31 2006, 11:56 AM) [snapback]368943[/snapback]</div> Let's invade Israel. At least we know they've got WMDs. And besides, it's occupied lands already, so it's not like they can complain. B)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA @ Dec 31 2006, 04:35 PM) [snapback]369095[/snapback]</div> And besides, they're in violation of bunches of UN resolutions. Of course, I'm opposed to invading anyone, but the most convincing reason for not invading Israel is that we'd lose.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hitler @ Dec 30 2006, 11:42 PM) [snapback]368789[/snapback]</div> :blink:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Dec 31 2006, 07:05 PM) [snapback]369136[/snapback]</div> I am glad I am not the only one who feels that way about those two user names.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 30 2006, 05:54 AM) [snapback]368502[/snapback]</div> No problem, they keep coming every day. Around 55.000 Iraqi people were killed in the war, and counting.
This is from a very interesting OP-ED piece, it concludes... Entire article here... http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3346540,00.html
More and more I feel like the more "bad guys" we kill over there, the more we're just eliminating the competition for the other "bad guys" who are left. As Saddam is about to be hanged, one of those present yells out, "Moqtada! Moqtada! Moqtada!" This being Moqtada al-Sadr, who has already challenged the US Army with his Mehdi Army, who is implicated in running Shiite death squads, and who already had an arrest warrant out for him for having one of his rivals assassinated. The current Iraqi government protects him because it relies on his support; that is, he controls the new "democracy' in Iraq. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Only, this boss is aligned with Iran instead of against it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA @ Dec 31 2006, 07:35 PM) [snapback]369095[/snapback]</div> Yes they do - and that is why we could not invade them or come close to doing so - which is why we cannot let Iran go nuclear. In terms of occupied land - where do you live? And, the land of Israel if I am correct was initially "occupied" by the Jews? And, are you in favor of current european countries giving back property confiscated from european Jews during WWII - hence being currently illegally occupied? And, even if we tried to invade Israel - we would get the crap kicked out of us. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA @ Dec 31 2006, 07:35 PM) [snapback]369095[/snapback]</div> Forgot - they [Israel] have had them for over 40 years - they have somewhere between 200-400 of them - they have them on surface-to-surface missiles, on submarines, on cruise missiles, and certain airframes - and they have not used them ever - and no one fears them using them - EVER - unless attacked first. Tell me - if Iraq or Iran had a nuke or nukes - would you feel the same way as Israel having them?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Jan 5 2007, 04:57 PM) [snapback]371507[/snapback]</div> Today, no. But, as you've pointed out, Israel has no qualms with acting unilaterally in support of its policies. This makes me more concerned for tomorrow or the next day, when their aims and ours may become mutually exclusive.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jan 5 2007, 05:17 PM) [snapback]371521[/snapback]</div> So you think Saddam or Iran would act "responsibly" if they were to own nuclear weapons?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Jan 5 2007, 05:29 PM) [snapback]371525[/snapback]</div> If Saddam can get his hands on nukes where he is now, I'll be impressed.
News flash! News flash! Berman makes a true statement: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Jan 5 2007, 01:57 PM) [snapback]371507[/snapback]</div>
Hear about a Texas 10-yr old boy saw the Saddam hanging video then did so himself, not realizing this was NOT play? http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.as...et=Default.aspx
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Jan 5 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]371557[/snapback]</div> I think not... Total number of active, reserve, and paramilitary troops for the United States: 2.33 million Israel: 584,000 :lol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...f_active_troops Their troops may, MAY, be better (and this is only a rumor that seems to have been perpetuated, but I really don't know), but in the end, he with the most instruments of war wins... Plus, it's Israel, if, for whatever retarded reason, the US was to invade Israel, there would be many other countries raising their hands like Arnold Horeshack offering to help. Invading Israel is one of those things that would actually cause most of the world to unite under a single cause with unprecedented participation. ...and I'm just telling it like it is, no bias or bigotry. If there's one race that's been persecuted time, and time, again over the ages, by just about everyone under the sun, it's the Israeli's... ...one might think after all those attempts at annihilation they would have a clue as to why...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nicos @ Dec 31 2006, 03:23 PM) [snapback]369067[/snapback]</div> That's not a good answer. You said in your post: "Our flavor of democracy can not be forced, it has to evolve through cultural change – that takes time and can not be “installedâ€." I asked how you explain the modern government of Japan. Democracy was, indeed, "installed" in Japan after WWII. Their culture was entirely different than ours, even farther from the Arab culture we face today in Iraq. The Japanese had a religion even farther away from ours, not even recognizing us as "people of the book" as the Islamic world does. An Arab culture that shares a belief in monotheism, the "God of the Bible" and already has a well developed merchant class should be much easier to adopt a democratic system.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Jan 5 2007, 08:42 PM) [snapback]371647[/snapback]</div> You think a four-to-one advantage is enough? Not likely! I don't like Israel and I don't think any country ruled by clerics can be a decent place to live. But it would take a lot more than four-to-one for the U.S. to win a war against Israel. Hell, we can't even win the war in Iraq!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Jan 5 2007, 08:42 PM) [snapback]371647[/snapback]</div> Just when you thought that our resident anti Semite could not outdo himself, he now would have all believe that it is the Jews' fault that they have been persecuted by others. Yeah, always blame the victim. By the way Squid, your beloved Palestinians are heartbroken by Saddam's demise: [Excerpts]