Albert Schweitzer

Wether you like Bush or not but I think it was a nice move. And it was especially nice to see that he was kind of shy to look into the faces of the soldiers he sent to war and it was even more nice how touched he was by the positive reactions. That didnt look like acting..I think that was real..so he is human after all? Wether it was such a great risk for him to come there or not is of little relevance!

I wouldnt mind getting a message once your project is ready. And then...well hell lets get into a air-combat. And we will see if you are as good in flying as you are in constructing this machine!

So true!!! I think it is the old David against Goliath syndrom. I sympathise and admire "David" ALWAYS! Even if, like in the case of Iraq it quickly comes to my mind that David, in other words the Baathists, are the actual enemies to peace. And no doubt, the donkey cart is a masterpiece! And the message is clear: Even the most technologically advanced army can no longer occupy a country for a long time without the ideological support of the people. There is so many examples out there, from Northern Ireland to palestine that Bush could have learned from. "But eh, our army is the strongest in the world, some towelheads will not be capable to stop our Abrams!" Correct Mr. Rumsfield, it is gonna be donkeys that gonna do that job! (offtopic: by the way, we should do a poll on which democrat will be the final candidate!)

Do you think that the donkey now gets transported to Guantanamo Bay and gets interrogated by proffessionals? Hell, I hope that donkey doesnt have british predecessors, that would ruin the intercontinental relations once again. The Iraqis tried to equip the cart with cruise missiles, but it seems it was slightly overarmed! They had to reduce fire-power! Yes, times get hard and harder. Imagine you are private Naivesoldierfromkentucky and you are confronted with the following creatures approaching you. Now the question is which of the 2 is the civillian and which the terorist. What hints are there for you to judge. There is only one way out, you have to mark areas in  Bagdad that are dangerous and pose potential threat. The US-army intelligence service has chosen the following sign-post to warn its soldiers. The message is: be aware, this road might be a terorist trap! I assume Denoir would argue that if the donkeys would have better grain to eat and fresh water to drink they wouldnt have a reason to socialise with the Baathists. It is a cry for help, once the donkey infrastructure is rebuild in Iraq the donkeys will reduce or even stop their fight against the US occupational forces!

kind off... it is threats!

Step one: Fire your former Marketing Manager. This person barely knows how to do a SWOT analysis but he sure had no clue of how to create awareness of the game when it came out. He is as lucky as a hell that the game was so good that it became popular. It surely wasnt his effort! I know, it is kind of rude to accuse someone of incompetence if you have no clue of the circumstances. It could also be that the budget for PR and advertising was relatively low and lets not forget campaigns are realy realy expensive investments. But to spare them out is more than risk-taking, it is naive optimism!

Are you kidding? The only reason why we discuss peacefully is because we have blood-sucking moderators that threaten to bann, burn and put a spell on you (i mean me). To make one thing clear. I dissagree with all of you anytime and in every issue to be discussed. In case you change your opnion to agree well then will I change mine to disagree again!

I refer back to our discussion Denoir, 1. I think the political and cultural issues of the Kosovo are far too exquisite in order to use it as a standard example for conflicts. 2. Baathists are indeed willing to commit suicide bombings. The national guard did not loose so miserably during the war because it was illoyal but because it wasnt coordinated. There are many stories about loyal fighters that ran towards tanks with simply old Aks and grenades in their hands. That is suicide! However I assume that Suicide bombings is not a long-term strategy of the Baathists. That was meant to errupt the fundament of the occupation, but the upcoming attacks will be roadside bombs and LAW's. They have enough AA missiles but unfortunately limited steering units! But we are still talking about several thousand AA missiles. The exact number I can tell u tomorrow. The Spiegel recently undertook an interview with 2 baathist fighters. 3. If you look at the areas where the attacks took place you will see that they are mostly on the outskirts or from less inhabited areas. The Baathists are hiding and seeking alienated hide-outs. The americans are offering quite a lot of money for information and the iraqis are fed up of war anyway. Without the fear-factor most iraqi civillian would have no remources to hand over information about hiding fighters. And how come there are reports of several iraqis with tongues that have been cut. No, the only reason why the Baathists are successful is because they are hiding from everyone!Saddam wasnt only hated, many people profited from his system and kept it alive. Now many feel responsible to put the old struture back in place. This is not an Anti-american war of resistance fighters against oppressing occupiers. This former system-profiteers struggling to get back power and influence.

I think you are wrong there Denoir. Your thesis: "only bread and love can weaken resistance" is very romantic indeed but far off the hook! Right now the resistance is by 95% composed of Baathist supporters. Neither religous fundamentalists (Al Quaida) nor anti-american expatriots are involved. Baathists are not dependant on new recruits. There are more than 100'000 loyal supporters that can easily be reactivated. Also, they dont need protection from civillians cause they act mostly from deserted areas rather than populated ones. Their intention is not to be seen, not even from fellow iraqis. But in case a civillian knows about the hideout of a Baathist, he still wouldnt tell it to the US-forces, not because he supports Saddam but because he is afraid of a Baathist revenge. And in this disorder and lack of US-supervision many US-colaborators have lost their tongue or their family. Electricity and water wont change anything. The americans have to remain civilised in their way to bring peace to the country. Those western values, and as a consequence the perceived lack of charisma and authority makes the americans appear as ridiculous whimps. Iraqis never supported leaders because of the sympathy factor but simply because of the fear factor. It disgusts me to say the following but I believe that right now only a 1945 SS division would be able to reduce disorder in the Capital. Luckily enough these divisions dont exist anymore but sad enough that it means noone can bring peace to the country except Saddam himself. That was the message from before the war: This war is an irevertable step with tremendous unforseeable consequences. If Iraq is fucked up...it will stay fucked up. Simple as that! No matter who is president, how many soldiers patrol the streets and how few iraqis support terrorism! Sometimes u ruin things when u try to fix them!

Operation iron hammer, eh? I thought against terorist hideouts and "pockets of resistance" it would need rather precise needle-stitches than clumsy hits with a hammer. It reminds me of when I try to hit a fly. This little thing is so damn anoying and I cant hit it, I cant beat it, the fly is just too damn fast to me. So consequently, what is my last reaction? I get furious about my lack of success and hit all around me....untill I have broken everything in the room.. but the fly is still there. This new operation (campaign) is a marketing trick but it wont help at all. The reistance is organised in a very intelligent way and composed of groups and subgroups..each with its own dedicated hidden amunition-depots. But who decides on success or failure of the US-troops. Whether it may be democrats or republicans it wont matter, the Iraqwar will be considered as a success. They will withdraw sooner or later and just call it a "finished job". But we know from Afghanistan what that means. During the last weeks I followed my favourite hobby. Screening through the fori with rather extremist opinions. The last one was a real US-military  forum for soldiers and associate workers, retirees or simply enthusiasts. Would you believe that noone has even the slightest doubt about the success of the campaign? It seems that the military is so republican-brainwashed that even the slightest criticism would be considered unpatriotic. Republicans are always right eh? And our statements, the european point of view is seen not only seen as treachery but the creation of a new enemy to the US. Scary, I tell you, realy realy scary. But having watched "US rocks the vote" on CNN(presentation of democrat candidates) I must say: The is more than just hope for the US. Â

too lazy to research and to post a comment! I see what I can do tomorrow <- this is a yawn!

Hell this is a good way of presenting it!  See yourself! I am realy surprised. So many soldiers died because of rocket proppelled grenades...and many many simply died overnight....not waking up anymore (what is that about???). Then this huge amount of car accidents....Any comments? And then: Pfc. Mack died after jumping into the Euphrates  river and did not resurface? And what is special tactics squadron?

Oh my god! We have new evidence. WMD smuggling

And in december this person invites his wife to Paris for a romantic holiday. "half of those countries are in bed with terorists" I must say that propaganda has improved and diversified quite a lot since "Mein Kampf". Maybe it is time I read some american books in order to study the evolution of propaganda since 1945. Oh and of course listen to radio messages!

Board is back in action! NO NEW SMILIES?

That is what the UN said during the 80ies indeed. But nowadays the thesis has shifted towards: the man has to go through the evolutional process himself. He has to develop a system himself, something that adapts to his lifestle and from which he is capable to advance. The UN now sais that e.g. african countries have to learn to help themselves. They have to create a body that represents several countries and can cater to individual needs from which the entire continent suffers. The varied african troops now stationed in countries suffering from war is one example!

Lets see how far my career will have advanced when OFP2 comes out. If I work day and night and kiss some company's as.ses I might be able to reserve some 100 rooms in a 5star resort (maybe somewhere on Tahiti) for a rate of 9.99$ per night and we could have a decent discussion by the pool about TBA, WMD and addon-bugs for a whole week! I work in the hotel-industry. Is there someone working in the for Star-alliance and sponsor the flight tickets? Just imagine the signs in the lobby of the hotel. Welcome dear Operation Flashpoint members. Floor 1: Conference on Addon Modding Floor 2: Brainstorm on Mission editing Floor 3: Speech on Hardware compatibility Floor 4: Offtopic cafteria (just kiddin, dont take me too serious on that)

I have developed a new hobby. I now like to read governmental Science fiction books!

This is a realy great one. I wonder whether they had to remake it after those "bad words" or whether they just cut out his comments, or maybe they just converted them into "oh geee" or "bless me" or "lucky me"

Example Guantanamo Bay. Strangely enough you dont even need to change the constitution to withdraw someone's human rights. What is the constitution for if it cant even protect THE most essential RIGHTS?  Oh and a constitution can be chopped into pieces bit by bit. This  commentthat I found in a different forum (which noone should take too serious) has some valid points. Hitler used "external factors" to justify his centralisation of power, And the people supported him!

I know, we all hate those COPY-PASTE postings. And especially the realy long ones that the poster himself probably never read to the bottom line. But I assure you that the following is entertaining and even skipping a few lines is okay. Dont take it too seriously and start nodding or scratching you chin in confusion! Â AND FOR THE YOUNGER ONES: DONT TAKE THIS TOO SERIOUS WILL YA! Germany (1930ies) & USA (2003) What worries me is that we are imaging pre WWII Germany. The parallels are striking.... --lack of real political opposition (weak Weimar government--weak Democratic Party) --consolidation of massive amounts of power without a clear mandate from the people (1932 election--2000 election) --usurpation of leftist terminology to further a RW agenda (national socialism--compassionate conservatism) --the use of propaganda (Goebbels--Rove, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, FoxNews, CNN) --hatred of the French --an appeasing British Prime Minister (Chamberlain--Blair) --contempt for the international community (Hitler ignores the Treaty of Versailles--Bush ignores the ABM treaty and U.N. treaties on global warming, the international criminal court, landmines, chemical and biological weapons) --hatred directed at leftists and other groups in opposition to the government (communists-- war protesters) --hatred directed at minority groups (Jews--Arabs) --weapons of mass destruction cited as a reason to invade other countries (Hitler claims that Poland could use poison gas against Germany--Bush claims Saddam Hussein could use poison gas against the U.S.) --a terrorist attack on the country as the final catalyst for fascism (Reichstag fire -- 9/11 attacks) --the merging of big business with government (Krupps -- Halliburton) --extreme nationalism (Nazi flags everywhere--American flags everywhere) --a culture that emphasizes the physical over the intellectual (Aryan *supermen*--American redneckism) --leader worship (Hitler as Der Fuhrer--Bush as God's child) --the creation of an internal security department (Gestapo--Department of Homeland Security) --massive build-up of military and police forces (paramilitary SS dressed in black--paramilitary cops dressed in black) --the use *lightning* warfare (blitzkrieg--shock and awe) --easy military victories setting the stage for other conquests (Sudentenland--Poland and France, Iraq--Syria and Iran) --eventual disastrous conflict with the Russians (WW2--Armageddon?) The only real difference is that this time Jews are on the side of the fascists, and of course this crossover of Jews is the final nail in the coffin of the Democratic Party. There is no way Democrats can mount an effective opposition to Republican imperialism without taking on the Jewish neo-cons and the fascist Sharon government, and there is no way they're going to do that and risk alienating Jewish voters. In the end, whatever disasters may befall this country, it will be because the Democratic Party placed the feelings of 2% of American voters over the best interests of the U.S. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- part 2 Everyone likes to say, "Hitler did this", and, "Hitler did that". But the truth is Hitler did very little. He was a world class tyrant, but the evil actually done by the Third Reich, from the death camps to WW2 was all done by German citizens who were afraid to question if what they were told by their government was the truth or not, and who because they did not want to admit to themselves that they were afraid to question the government, refused to see the truth behind the Reichstag Fire, refused to see the invasion by Poland was a staged fake, and followed Hitler into national disaster. The German people of the late 1930s imagined themselves to be brave. They saw themselves as the heroic Germans depicted by the Wagnerian Operas, the descendants of the fierce Germanic warriors who had hunted wild boar with nothing but spears and who had defeated three of Rome's mightiest legions in the Tuetenberg Forest. But in truth, by the 1930s, the German people had become civilized and tamed, culturally obsessed with fine details in both science and society. Their self-image of bravery was both salve and slavery. Germans were required to behave as if they were brave, even when they were not. It's easy to look back and realize what a jerk Hitler was. But at the time, Hitler looked pretty good to the German people, with the help of the media. He was TIME Magazine's Man Of The Year in 1938. The German people assumed they were safe from a tyrant. They lived in a Republic, after all, with strict laws regarding what the government could and more importantly could not do. Their leader was a devoutly religious man, and had even sung with the boy's choir of a monastery in his youth. The reality was that the German people, as individuals, had lost their courage. The German government preferred it that way as a fearful people are easier to rule than a courageous one. But the German people didn't wish to lose their self-image of courage. So, when confronted with a situation demanding individual courage, in the form of a government gone wrong, the German people simply pretended that the situation did not exist. And in that simple self-deception lay the ruin of an entire nation and the coming of the second World War. When the Reichstag burned down, most Germans simply refused to believe suggestions that the fire had been staged by Hitler himself. They were afraid to. But so trapped were the Germans by their belief in their own bravery that they willed themselves to be blind to the evidence before their eyes, so that they could nod in agreement with Der Fuhrer while still imagining themselves to have courage, even as they avoided the one situation which most required real courage; to stand up to Hitler's lies and deceptions. When Hitler requested temporary extraordinary powers, powers specifically banned under German law, but powers Hitler claimed he needed to have to deal with the "terrorists", the German people, having already sold their souls to their self-delusions, agreed. The temporary powers were conferred, and once conferred lasted until Germany itself was destroyed. When Hitler staged a phony invasion from Poland, the vast majority of the German people, their own self-image dependant on continuing blindness to Hitler's deceptions, did not question why Poland would have done something so stupid, and found themselves in a war. But Hitler knew he ruled a nation of cowards, and knew he had to spend the money to make the new war something cowards could fight and win. He decorated his troops with regalia to make them proud of themselves, further trapping them in their self-image. Hitler copied the parade regalia of ancient Rome, to remind the Germans of the defeat of the legions at the Tuetenberg Forest. Talismans were added from orthodox religions and the occult to fill the soldiers with delusions of mystical strengths and an afterlife if they fell in battle. Finally, knowing that it takes courage to kill the enemy face to face, Hitler spent vast sums of money on his wonder weapons, airplanes, submarines, ultra-long range artillery, the world's first cruise missile and the world's first guided missile, weapons that could be used to kill at a distance, so that those doing the killing need not have to face the reality of what they were doing. The German people were lured into WW2 not because they were brave, but because they were cowards who wanted to be seen as brave, and found that shooting long range weapons at people they could not see took less courage than standing up to Hitler. Sent into battle by that false image of courage, the Germans were dependent on their wonder-weapons. When the wonder-weapons stopped working, the Germans lost the war. I remember as a child listening to the stories of WW2 from my grandfather and my uncles who had served in Europe. I wondered how the German people could have been so stupid as to have ever elected Hitler dog catcher, let alone leader of the nation. Such is the clarity of historical hindsight. And with that clarity, I see the exact same mechanism that Hitler used at work here in this nation. The American people imagine themselves to be brave. They see themselves as the heroic Americans depicted by Western Movies, the descendants of the fierce patriot warriors who had tamed the frontier and defeated the might of the British Empire. But in truth, by the dawn of the third millennium, the American people have become civilized and tamed, culturally obsessed with fine details in both science and society. Their self-image of bravery is both salve and slavery. Americans are required to behave as if they are brave, even when they are not. The American people assume they are safe. They live in a Republic, after all, with strict laws regarding what the government can and more importantly cannot do. Their leader is a devoutly religious man. The reality is that the American people, as individuals, have lost their courage. The government prefers it that way as a fearful people are easier to rule than a courageous one. But Americans don't wish to lose their self-image of courage. So, when confronted with a situation demanding courage, in the form of a government gone wrong, the American people simply pretend that the situation does not exist. When the World Trade Towers collapsed, most Americans simply refused to believe suggestions that the attacks had been staged by parties working for the US Government itself. Americans were afraid to, even as news reports surfaced proving that the US Government had announced plans for the invasion of Afghanistan early in the year, plans into which the attacks on the World Trade Towers which angered the American people into support of the already-planned war fit entirely too conveniently. But so trapped are Americans by their belief in their own bravery that they will themselves to be blind to the evidence before their eyes, so that they can nod in agreement with the government while still imagining themselves to have courage, even as they avoid the one situation which most requires real courage; to stand up to the government's lies and deceptions. The vast majority of the American people, their own self-image dependant on continuing blindness to the government's deceptions, never question why Afghanistan would have done something so stupid as to attack the United States, and as a result, Americans find themselves in a war. Now the US Government has requested temporary extraordinary powers, powers specifically banned under Constitutional law, but powers the government is claiming they need to have to deal with the "terrorists". The American people, having already sold their souls to their self-delusions, are agreeing. The temporary powers recently conferred will be no more temporary in America than they were in Germany. The US Government knows they rule a nation of cowards. The government has had to spend the money to make the new war something cowards can fight. The government has decorated the troops with regalia to make them proud of themselves, further trapping them in their self-image. Talismans are added from orthodox religions and the occult to fill the soldiers with delusions of mystical strengths and an afterlife if they fall in battle. Finally, knowing that it takes courage to kill the enemy face to face, the United States government has spent vast sums of money on wonder weapons, airplanes, submarines, ultra-long range artillery, cruise missiles, and guided missiles, weapons that kill at a distance, so that those doing the killing need not have to face the reality of what they are doing. As I mentioned above, Hitler was TIME Magazine's Man Of The Year in 1938. Stalin was TIME Magazine's Man Of The Year for 1939 and 1942. Both of these men, and many others also celebrated by the media, were unimaginable monsters. The lesson from these facts is that it isn't easy to spot a genocidal tyrant when you live with one, especially one whom the press supports and promotes. Tyrants become obvious only when looking back, after what they have done becomes known. The German people did not stand up to Hitler because their media betrayed them, just as the American media is betraying the American people by willingly, voluntarily, even proudly, abandoning its traditional role as watchdog against government abuse. It is the very nature of power that it attracts the sort of people who should not have it. The United States, as the world's last superpower, is a prize that attracts men and women willing to do absolutely anything to win that power, and hence are also willing to do absolutely anything with that power once they have it. If one thinks about it long enough, one will realize that all tyrants, past and most especially present, MUST use deception on their population to initiate a war. No citizen of a modern industrialized nation will send their children off to die in a war to grab another nation's resources and assets, yet resources and assets are what all wars are fought over. The nation that wishes to initiate a war of conquest must create the illusion of an attack or a threat to start a war, and must always give their population of cowards an excuse never to question that carefully crafted illusion. It is naive, not to mention racist to assume that tyrants appear only in other nations and that somehow America is immune simply because we're Americans. America has escaped the clutches of a dictatorship thus far only through the efforts of those citizens who, unlike the Germans of the 1930s, have the moral courage to stand up and point out where the government is lying to the people. And unless more Americans are willing to have that kind of individual courage, then future generations may well look back on the American people with the same harshness of judgment with which we look back on the 1930s Germans.

I liked to read this letter from a soldier stationed in Iraq (the first part is boring). Just have a look. In case you dont like it please refer to the 24h-Albert-Schweitzer-complaint-hotline. press here  ----> CLICK And if you want to get realy realy REALY angry (or terribly satisfied) then read this http://www.military.com/NewContent?file=FreedomAlliance_090403

I would chose countries like Vietnam (kicked everyone out who tried to occupy it), Switzerland (they have developed their very own way of defending their country. In case they are being attacked they retreat into the mountains where there are tremedous bunkers and tunnels inside the mountains. They have hidden airports up in artificial valleys and some of the largest batteries in the world. Israel (I dont know how such a small nation living on rocks and sand can afford such a military. Military budget probably 30% of GDP.) China (I dont even want to know what kind of weapons and war-tools those people are inventing during the next 2 decades)

The proposed solutions are good guidelines, but what forces the two parties to stick to them? Has there ever been open trial for those soldiers having shot civillians/ journalists? Has Arafat ever openly proclaimed that he is disgusted by what his peasants do to the Israelis? And what about the terorists he shelters? This is all just pretentious and there IS NO JUSTICE. Each of the both sides protects its own people, no matter whether they murderers, terorists or fanatics. And it appears that a "murderer from my side" is worth more than a "civillian from his side". My solution is slightly more extravagant. I would use UN soldiers to enforce the Roadmap. And this with all brutality required. Smoke the settlers out of their villages (they only chose this dry useless land to piss of palestinians), flatten their houses, and on the other hand take away the employment rights of all family members related to a suicide bomber. Fully controll Arafats daily communication with his ministers and introduce a trial for Isrealian war crimes. Also, I would enforce mixed kindergardens/ schools/ universities/ hospitals and all those little tools that helped to bring down Apartheit. If something has to be changed in their minds then one generation has to be educated apart from their parents, whose heads are blocked with extremism.

dont forget that in the end Rome fell victim to its own arrogance! I dont like historical comparisons, they usually fail miserably! Fact is that the war-phase was perfectly planned and organised, the after-war period however wasnt! And it seems noone is realy capable to correcting this misorganisation!