The Iraq Thread

[foxer 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Wires @ Mar. 26 2003,15:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Go the Danish

Funny how a number of news site/channels ect have USA / Briton as the major players and list only Australia as having special forces in Iraq. We also have a number of ships and other forces such as navy clearance divers. There are also the Polish special forces in Iraq and I'm sure others we are not aware of  <span id='postcolor'>

Seen it on the news yesterday.No one knew because the poland gov't didn't want the world to know.Until some pose for pictures with an america flag(with seals).

[Longinius 1]

"I'm a paranoid person by nature, so when 100% of Europeans that end up on our t.v.s here have such an intense hatred for us... I guess I get more paranoid?  "

Those that you are refering to dont hate YOU, they hate your current government. If they even "hate" anything at all.

"Has the sympathy for 9/11 dwindled at all due to current events.  I shouldn't have let it sound directed at any one country."

I doubt it. The only ones connecting 9/11 to this war are Americans actually. I dont think most Europeans see any major relevance in it in connection with the war, since Iraq had nothing to do with it. Besides, there were many, many people from Europe in the WTC that day. It wasnt just American familys that lost fathers, mothers, children and siblings

[Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans 0]

of course the truth hurts, and the natural course of action is to censor it.

Listen up folks, there is a pattern here. Note the countries that do not support our just war with Iraq, and may I direct your attention to the reasons why:

Russia (selling GPS and satellite jamming technology to Iraq, Putin says he will look into the matter)

France ("the Worm" Chirac's  lucrative oil and other business deals with Iraq...etc)

Germany (lucrative pharmaceutical and chemical business deals)

And let's not forget N Korea. Don't know about any confirmed deals other than the missile exports to the middle east. Actually, I have not heard a peep out of that pimp-squeak Kim Jong II since we started the war. He piped down real quick when the bombs started falling. He needs to pay close attention and learn a lesson.

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans @ Mar. 26 2003,21:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">of course the truth hurts, and the natural course of action is to censor it.<span id='postcolor'>

Such as you telling me to Bite you when I point out that your version of the "truth" about Cuba isn't quite true? Yep, truth hurts, and the natural course of action is to censor it

[IsthatyouJohnWayne 0]

Actually i think Its important to have 'Tales_' opinion aired here as it seems to be fairly widespread in the US. Lets face it...Americans arent renowned for loving or having much time for the UN. I dont really like the UN myself though i think it works in some situations and has potential (like the EU).

If europeans here cant stomach even one guy airing these views (and with a typical level of contempt) then theres little hope for US/EU agreement when dealing with the large swathes of the US public and political classes who feel similar.

That said Mr_Oceans would do well to air his views(whatever they may be exactly) in a slightly less abrasive manner.

[Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">and the natural course of action is to censor it <span id='postcolor'>

WWCD (t-shirt and coffee mug slogan for What Would Castro Do)

The lil' narrative was an irreverent satirical analogy highlighting the similarities between the Spanish American War (1898) and the current war. That's all it was so don't read too much into it.

thanks

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans @ Mar. 26 2003,22:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The lil' narrative was an irreverent satirical analogy highlighting the similarities between the Spanish American War (1898) and the current war. That's all it was so don't read too much into it.

thanks<span id='postcolor'>

Fair enough, but after the Spanish-American war, the US installed a long string of puppet dictators in Cuba, who loved to hit "command", and "control" as much as Castro, and who incidentally, hit the "delete" and "execute" keys more often.

Being a Cuban it's hard not to read too much into a post about the US "liberating" Cuba from the Spanish and helping it gain "independence". Especially since the rebels who had been fighting the Spanish on their own for decades until the USS Maine misteriously blew up on the port of Havana and the US decided to jump into the fray, had no say whatsoever on the new government.

[Longinius 1]

"I dont really like the UN myself though i think it works in some situations and has potential (like the EU)."

Yeah, an organisation dedicated to helping starving children, distributing clothes and food and looking out for third world civilians. Its all bad

[foxer 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ Mar. 26 2003,22:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"I dont really like the UN myself though i think it works in some situations and has potential (like the EU)."

Yeah, an organisation dedicated to helping starving children, distributing clothes and food and looking out for third world civilians. Its all bad <span id='postcolor'>

Don't you think they kinda act late in war problems though ? The Us should never said anything about going to war with iraq.It should have been UN.They had to know something.Plus samething with north korea,the UN should step in and say your not talking to the US,your going talk to UN.The UN should show some balls too when they do.

[Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans 0]

Tovarish:

Did not mean to offend you. Sammy Sosa is a big baseball star up here. We like him.

I found another country providing assistance to the US War Effort <snicker> called Morocco. We all know this is North Africa. They are sending their suicide monkeys to help with land mines.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030324-064259-1443r

Folks, this is hilarious. It just does not get any better than this. I am going to follow this story carefully to make sure it’s not a prank.

IsthatyouJohnWayne:

thanks, it's only fair since you have also made crass remarks about Bush, US...etc

[FallenPaladin 0]

That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same.

[foxer 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 26 2003,23:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same. <span id='postcolor'>

How you feel about the US using train dolphins to find sea mines ?

I wonder how they train them.That would be cool to see on discovery channel or some other channel.

[IsthatyouJohnWayne 0]

Denoir-"Unless the war is a grand "success" from British point of view. Then all will be forgiven and forgotten and you'll support Bush's next war."

That is a danger i have considered as well. But the UK military (being modestly sized) would have to pull out of Iraq almost entirely before contemplating a new large scale war (with eg. Iran) and it looks like theyll need to be in Iraq for a long time(which country would replace them?). Perhaps the UK could provide some special forces/navy/aircraft etc though-so it would be a bit more like the Afghanistan attack for the British.

Even if that were possible Blair would really have to push it to get house of commons support for a new war-this one was REALLY pushing his party and the public (not to mention the budget) as it is- the Labour party would collapse if Britain started supporting major attacks on all the 'axis of evil' countries, Blair knows this. we're not a superpower anyway...quite simply Britain would run out of money.

I dont think we'll see great results or benefits from this Iraq war for a long while to come (years at least..assuming it goes well....or at all if it doesnt). It could at best become more like a Balkans type peacekeeping mission (ie a dangerous chore)

+ the British people are SCARED (some of them anyway). This unpopular war has brought people the possiblity of military defeat (or at least a lack of victory) staring them in the face. People will remember that i think, even if there are post-war benefits. If British people support the war now its because they would rather see the US/UK win a war than Saddam Hussein and they do not want to betray the troops.

The UK has provided the fig leaf of international friendship and support for the US (apart from Israel obviously). If we say no to their next war of choice then Bush (or whoever) will have a much harder time selling it to the US public. Thats not to say it would be totally impossible but Americans (like most peoples) like to think they are liked around the world....that idea has taken a big dent recently and if their only major ally Britain went against their next war plan i think a lot of americans would not just blame France or Russia but question what exactly their own government might be doing wrong to be pissing off so many people(as plenty already are).

Tony Blair has been a popular leader who has ridden military victories like waves...but now people are not happy with him. He will want to be seen by his party as more of a european (might even try and get Britain into the Euro after a good war) but then again who knows.

If necessary i would -personally- lead the revolution to depose Tony Blair if he started trying to convince the country to go into more wars of choice.

[PFC Mongoose 0]

.....I dunno, IMO, I'd much rather have apes do it than humans of any age...

I'd rather they used low-flying helicopters with MAD detectors, but aside from that...

As far as the Coalition goes, only a handful of countries are participating combat forces, but any country assisting with over-fly rights, support, intelligence, and even countries providing humanitarian assistance while the fighting is still going on are considered part of the coalition...

And as far as China goes, of course China is going to be opposed to it. Thier human rights record isn't much better than Iraqs, IIRC.

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (foxer @ Mar. 26 2003,23:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 26 2003,23:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same. <span id='postcolor'>

How you feel about the US using  train dolphins to find sea mines ?

I wonder how they train them.That would be cool to see on discovery channel or some other channel.<span id='postcolor'>

There's quite a big difference between "find" and "detonate" don't you think?

[foxer 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tovarish @ Mar. 26 2003,23:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (foxer @ Mar. 26 2003,23:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 26 2003,23:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same. <span id='postcolor'>

How you feel about the US using  train dolphins to find sea mines ?

I wonder how they train them.That would be cool to see on discovery channel or some other channel.<span id='postcolor'>

There's quite a big difference between "find" and "detonate" don't you think? <span id='postcolor'>

I was thinking from a Peta stand point.

[FallenPaladin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (foxer @ Mar. 26 2003,23:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 26 2003,23:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same. <span id='postcolor'>

How you feel about the US using  train dolphins to find sea mines ?

I wonder how they train them.That would be cool to see on discovery channel or some other channel.<span id='postcolor'>

As far as I know those dolphins are trained to find sea mines, not to explode them. If that`s their work, that`s ok, if they are treated well.

Edit: Ooops, Tovarish already gave the answer. Silly me

[FSPilot 0]

next thing you know they'll be complaining about the navy seals.

[IsthatyouJohnWayne 0]

Tales_From_Topographic_Oceans -I may have made crass remarks about Bush but its really more the ideology of his administration than a personal attack on your commander in chief. I have tried to be really nice about neo-conservatism in America. I would prefer Europe and America to be together rather than apart but the Bush Administration has really tested my patience.

That said, so have lots of Europeans governments, and the overpaid EU bureaucracy .

I dont think its even true as many have said that europeans only dislike the current administration.Thats a politically correct unrealistic view.

A number of people in various european countries just dont like Americans (or who they think americans are) or what they would regard as their wasteful uneuropean way of life, their loud voices or obnoxious minds. Americans for their part know little of europe and it appears want to know even less.

These are crude stereotypes of peoples thoughts granted and i hope they are inaccurate...but im not convinced they are.

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why dont they train the monkeys to find the mines as well? it must cost a bit anyway to train them not to just run up the nearest tree  

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Good news... The Turkish have 'decided' not to send in troops to southern Iraq.

[Harnu 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 26 2003,23:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That`s sick! Training apes for detonating landmines is like training 4-year old children to do the same. <span id='postcolor'>

Although I really doubt it, and it would be really sad...

But cmon. Exploding monkeys, that's frigin hilarious!

[FallenPaladin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Harnu @ Mar. 27 2003,00:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But cmon.  Exploding monkeys, that's frigin hilarious!  <span id='postcolor'>

Only in games like Donkey Kong. In reality it`s a bloody mess.

Regarding the seals. Those are even trained to attack enemy divers! How are they supposed to do that? Are blades attached to their heads in war times? I`m really curious.

[PFC Mongoose 0]

Seals are very strong mammals with sharp tusks. As long as the divers don't have harpoon guns, or other underwater weapons, I think it's not so farfetched.

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FallenPaladin @ Mar. 27 2003,00:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">4--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Harnu @ Mar. 27 2003,004)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But cmon.  Exploding monkeys, that's frigin hilarious!  <span id='postcolor'>

Only in games like Donkey Kong. In reality it`s a bloody mess.  

Regarding the seals. Those are even trained to attack enemy divers! How are they supposed to do that? Are blades attached to their heads in war times? I`m really curious.  <span id='postcolor'>

they have special trap that is attached to the seals and only thing a seal has to do is go close enough to attach that trap, and with baloon inside of it, the diver will float to surface.

[brgnorway 0]

Could we please talk about something else than bloody seals and monkeys?

How about the future Iraq?

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Mar. 27 2003,00:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Could we please talk about something else than bloody seals and monkeys?

How about the future Iraq?<span id='postcolor'>

I'm kinda liking the monkey and seal repartee