The Benefits of the Current War

(aside: I've noticed a tendency of Berman to say something like "have a nice day" at the end of a post for which he expects to be flamed... some might even call it, dare I say, flame-baiting.)

1. Is there? I hadn't noticed. Or are countries like Pakistan and India ok? Personally I think adding ANY country to the list of countries with Nuclear arms is a very bad sign. That list should be getting shorter, not longer.

2. If you could just extend your arm, and from a great distance, put your thumb and forefinger together and say "I squish your head," then maybe this would be a better strategy. As it is, we're providing fodder for their training in Iraq, and although some have died, many more now have 3-4 years of combat experience, which seems like more training than I'd like to hand over.

3. I can't speak to this and neither can you. Quoting opinion polls has hardly ever been proof of anything. Go there. Learn Arabic. Ask around. We'd probably both be surprised by what we learn.

4. Ah... finally we might be regaining some of the international good will that Bush squandered. Maybe some day we'll return to the level of cooperation that we had with other countries.

5. You hedged that one enough, so I don't need to comment

6. Oh really? Where's OBL's sanctuary then?

7. What technology? Actually, to be fair, I'll lump this one with your # 8, and give you the points. In fact, I see this is the #2 reason Bush went to war in the first place: I think people around him decided that our military was atrophying and needed a real war to get the morale/country/economy into the mode that they think is most beneficial to their aims. We now have an active military that's at least trying to flex its muscle over there. Now the real concern to the warlords over here is that the peaceniks will win out and our troops will come home before our warlords' political careers are over... which will of course end their political careers.

9. I'll refer back to #4... we're just starting to move in the right direction, but since Bush effectively severed allegiances globally by declaring himself King Cowboy, there's really nowhere to go from there but up. Bully for us!

10. I see little to back up the claim that we're technologically more ready... it's the low-tech stuff that will sneak through anyway. And I'd also say we have been attacked. We've lost several thousand brave soldiers in attacks. It's like we're just giving them away.

 

At what expense?

1 the american dollar is worth less than the canadian dollar
2 most of the world hates us
3 we still have a health care crisis
4 most of the orient is more technologically advanced than us
5 the rich are richer, the middle class is getting wiped out
6 illegals are stealing jobs, not to mention the lack of security of them coming in
7 most surveys show most americans dont feel any safer re: terrorist attacks
the list goes on, but i need to see if i can find some work since there isnt much out there for me even tho i am college degreed, born and raised here..at 55 yo its getting scary out there...maybe starbucks..lol..
anyone care to continue the list

 

Berman is an Adam Henry like no other......

but I will speak up on some points.

1. Who cares what they WORRY about on a daily basis? I don't. And countries like Iraq were not trying to invade us and use nuclear weapons on us.

2. Good, I can't argue against the deaths of those dirtwads. Al Qaeda was responsible for 9/11, let them bear the brunt of our revenge.

3. Who cares, I still don't see them massing daily against the radicals that have taken over their religion. When I see that, I'll believe it. Actually, I'd like us to respond more to the polls that say they want us to go home. (but I do not believe we will be leaving anytime soon) Our Air Force has been active since 91 in Iraq, another 4 more years and that makes twenty years on station in the skies over Iraq. Big deal about polls anyway, juniors poll numbers are nose diving too.

4. Oooooh, I'll bet French sabre rattling really scares them.....Ooooooh...spoooky, sacre-bleu!! Maybe the French will start another Pastry War like they did in Mexico. One of the rare French military victories of history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastry_War

5 and 6. blah blah yada shmear

7. I'll agree that many advancements have been made, too bad that some of them will be used against Americans emails and phone calls, no knock warrants and big brother scrutiny from now on.


8. I agree in the sense that our troops are now battle-hardened.

9. Get real, where are the coalition of the willing? What happened there? There are a few dozen troops from other countries, and I think Belgium sent a burgermeister and a BB gun to help us. (tongue in cheek)

10. We could do more to improve the port security...period. But I see it as impossible to inspect everything in the future.

What about the girls on PC, why don't you say good morning to them?

by the way, where is Pinto girl? good morning out there wherever you are. Maybe she has me on ignore?

Berman, go lay down.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 2 2007, 07:19 AM) [snapback]520210[/snapback]</div>

Iraq didn't do jack towards this - remember, they had NO WMD's!

There's also been a non-trivial amount of death and destruction on the US military and the civilians in the area. At what point does the cost become too great for you? Of course, you're ignoring the experience we've given all those who are still alive and have had a chance to learn from the mistakes of others...

Do you have a similar poll for these areas from sometime before the war? find a 2000 poll of egypt with that wording... oh wait, you can't.

Iran's a completely separate issue. Remember, before the war the UN (and thus all the countries that comprised it) were against Iraq having WMD's, and they were actually successful, as there were no WMD's in Iraq! This still doesn't change the fact that Bush & co pissed away most of our international goodwill

You certainly couched that one well... no more troops, but plenty of influence. the may be on a path towards peace... geez.

If there are so few, then why haven't we captured them all? how are they still a threat to us if they're on the run like this with few hiding places?

Such as...??? We're fighting against an enemy that has simply guns and explosives - it's not rocket science to fight/defend against that. they haven't presented any real technological challenges.

I'll give you this one. Having more practical experience will certainly strengthen our military... what's left of it, that is.

It's pretty easy to improve after we knocked it down to its lowest point in history. Heck, we gained our independence by working with the French, we fought in WWI and WWII alongside Europe. But we had to start this war pretty much alone and it took a rather long time to build up support from other countries for it...

True, none of our buildings were bombed here, but we've lost more citizens during the war than we did from 9/11. And that doesn't even begin to count the estimated 80,000 civilian deaths caused by the war so far...

The other benefits you mention here in #10 aren't due to the war, but rather the response to 9/11, which aren't the same. improvements in homeland security and communication between the FBI, CIA, NSA, local law enforcement, etc are in no way, shape, or form related to the war.

As usual, a whole bunch of hot air...

 

Talking points? Hoping for something more original and insightful? Right back at ya, slick!

 

dbermanmd,

Are you trying to suggest the war was justified and/or carried out competently? In both accounts you have been proven wrong.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 2 2007, 08:19 AM) [snapback]520210[/snapback]</div>

Answer: There has not been any real progress in this "War on Terror"! All your original talking points are about the Bush's extended military occupation of a foreign country.

Have a good one
Compfool

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Oct 2 2007, 11:33 AM) [snapback]520321[/snapback]</div>

were you sleeping when you started this post

 

Are you suggesting that your talking points are somehow smarter and more original than ours?

Claiming that our responses to your clearly baited line are just not "smart enough" does not make you a good debater. Back up any of your statements with irrefutable facts, or refute any of the responses so far, and maybe we'll have a conversation going.

 

I don't know why everyone responds to the troll. He loves to put out his own version of history and bait everyone with less than half-truths and general garbage based on the world according to dbermanmd. Maybe if we all stop all the replies he will just go away. As you notice he doesn't even own a Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear @ Oct 2 2007, 12:23 PM) [snapback]520386[/snapback]</div>

+1. Couldn't have said it better.

 

Woof.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear @ Oct 2 2007, 01:23 PM) [snapback]520386[/snapback]</div>

Occasionally, the guy will actually post lucid thoughts. Whether it's done as a way of prolonging his 'trolling' efforts, I don't know, but I'm not entirely sure his posts are intended as pure trolls in the usual sense of the term and suspect that many of those that reply are simply taking pity on the poor, demented bastard. I think someone once said he's on meds.

I really can't think of any other justification for otherwise intelligent people to be replying to what on the surface appear to be obvious trolls.

 

I'll shed a little light: we're on an online forum trying to kill some time, and talking to Berman is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube. It seems like a relatively easy puzzle, it's moderately entertaining with some satisfying moments of clarity where a solution seems imminent, but ultimately you lose interest and put it down.