We're still working on it smart ass.

The former government of Afghanistan allowed terror groups to train and hide in their country and these terror groups attacked the United States. We trounced them and got rid of the government.

The US trained and supplied weapons to people that became radicals and committed act's of terror to other humans

Iraq was order by the UN to allow weapons inspectors inside the country to make sure that they did not have WBDs and they refused.

No they did not in the end, initially refused yes. WMD's have never been found.

They both violated International law and gave us legal grounds to attack them.

No it did not. International law clearly states that you can attack when directly attacked and act in self defense.

The answer to this inane question is no and it has been answered 1,000s of times before.

It is not an inane question.

No Iraq person has attacked the coalition forces directly before the invasion.

No Afghan person have directly attacked the coalition forces before the invasion

No Iranian person have ever attacked any coalition force before 9/11.

No Iraq person has attacked the coalition forces directly before the invasion.

No Afghan person have directly attacked the coalition forces before the invasion

No Iranian person have ever attacked any coalition force before 9/11.

Iraq was firing on coalition planes enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq on a daily basis for years before the war started.

The Taliban - who were ruling Afghanistan at the time - was giving safe refuge to bin Laden and al Qaeda. They must have taken advice from people that think a lot like you because they obviously weren't expecting to get "trounced".

As for Iran, they have been a major sponsor of world terrorism ever since they committed an act of war against the USA when they violently took over the US Embassy in Nov 1979 and held the Americans there hostage for 444 days.

It is not an inane question.

Of course it is, but not as inane as your comments on my answers.

To be honest, it is a waste of time answering your inane questions. You ignore obvious, sensible answers and go back to asking the same pointless nonsense like a broken record.

Just like most of your comrades, you are not discusing or debating; you are filibustering.

I agree. People always like to claim that America is carrying Israel's water in the Middle East, but the evidence shows who are the greatest beneficiaries of American involvement there. I don't think it's by accident. Major arms buyers, major banking interests both in and outside of US.

That's pretty provocative and it surprises me a bit. My post was referring to Arab nations.

Yes it is provocative & probably meant to be so....but does not surprise me in the least. Although I know your original post was aimed at Arab Nations... This fits right in for basically the same reasons. Odd though that the US would want to do such now in light of what is happening financially. While they may make 6B they stand to lose much more....K sara sara

It is also funny what is tolerated by the world or China in this case.... if this shoe were on the other foot it would not be tolerated at all.

Also funny is the thought that someday there be a Taiwaneeban

Yes it is provocative & probably meant to be so....but does not surprise me in the least. Although I know your original post was aimed at Arab Nations... This fits right in for basically the same reasons. Odd though that the US would want to do such now in light of what is happening financially. While they may make 6B they stand to lose much more....K sara sara

It is also funny what is tolerated by the world or China in this case.... if this shoe were on the other foot it would not be tolerated at all.

Also funny is the thought that someday there be a Taiwaneeban

The shoe is on the other foot. Venezuela has been purchasing weapons systems from Russia for years.

_____________________________________________________________

Venezuela may spend $5 bln on Russian arms in next decade

15:43 23/07/2008

MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela may purchase weaponry from Russia worth $5 billion over the next 10 years, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.

During his official visit to Russia on Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Russian leadership reaffirmed their mutual drive to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

"Regardless of the situation on global arms markets, Venezuela under Hugo Chavez will continue to buy Russian weaponry, and may spend $5 billion or more over the next 10 years on imports of Russian military equipment," said Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.

In 2005-2006, Venezuela bought over 50 combat helicopters, 24 Su-30MK2 fighters, 12 Tor-M1 air defense missile systems and 100,000 AK-103 rifles from Russia. Current contracts are worth about $4 billion, according to various sources.

Pukhov said Russia is the only country supplying a wide range of weaponry to Venezuela.

_____________________________________________________

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080723/114739388.html

Edit in:

Here are a couple of links on Chinese arms sales:

http://www.stoparmstosudan.org/pages.asp?id=24

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jan/03/...worry-india.htm

The shoe is on the other foot. Venezuela has been purchasing weapons systems from Russia for years.

Who does that piss off? If that pissed someone is the main supporter of Russian debt & holds more Russian $$$ than anyone else we may have a close fit of a shoe.

On the other hand I did ask before how would it be viewed by the US, if Russia were to deliver arms to Afghanistan at this time?

That would be a close shoe on the other foot analogy too

On the other hand I did ask before how would it be viewed by the US, if Russia were to deliver arms to Afghanistan at this time?

That would be a close shoe on the other foot analogy too

I thought Russia was supporting the coalition effort in Afghanistan?

On the other hand I did ask before how would it be viewed by the US, if Russia were to deliver arms to Afghanistan at this time?

That would be a close shoe on the other foot analogy too

I thought Russia was supporting the coalition effort in Afghanistan?

My statement above was basis for analogy only.....

That aside......

Yes Dimitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO has stated that while Russia does not agree with

the US approach to fighting terrorism that they do in fact support the NATO presence in Afghanistan.

The support it in the hopes of stopping the Heroin trade which easily crosses their border.

That seems moot now that the US has waved the white flag on the war on drugs.

Many pictures of US soldiers walking through poppy fields in Afghanistan.

Then again that may have something to do with who president Karzai's brother is & what his business is.

There was a time when they may have taken a flame thrower to them...

how would it be viewed by the US, if Russia were to deliver arms to Afghanistan at this time?

Taiwan has been a US ally for decades. The Russians have never been allies with Afghanistan (to put it mildly). The comparison is specious.

Taiwan has been a US ally for decades. The Russians have never been allies with Afghanistan (to put it mildly). The comparison is specious.

I guess that depends on which way you view it. As you are mixing two analogies.

A better question would be.... Was the US also allies with the Mujahideen for decades? Or just when it suited them?

Lastly I have no qualms about the US selling Taiwan any weapons they want...After all that is what they do as the biggest exporter of weaponry in the world? Money to be made supplying tools of the trade ya know?

My statement to Lannarebirth was directed more in the vein of biting a hand at possibly the worst time in history to do so.

Mai Bpen Rai though

There's no sense to be made trying to work out the alliances in Afghanistan. The "Northern Alliance" fought with the Russians against the Taliban and then gleefully joined the Americans after 9/11, deeply concerned about this attack on freedom and democracy.

In return they received opium growing rights and could continue murdering their wives for the crime of being alone in a room with a man not her husband.

It's a case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend".

Personally I prefer "If you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas"

Lastly I have no qualms about the US selling Taiwan any weapons they want...After all that is what they do as the biggest exporter of weaponry in the world? Money to be made supplying tools of the trade ya know?

And they are the only weapons that are on display every night on the nightly news. That creates a lot of demand.

According to wiki, here are the world's top arms exporters based on 2007 sales:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_industry..._arms_exporters

1 United States $7.454 billion

2 Russia $4.588

3 Germany $3.395

4 France $2.690

5 Ukraine $1.395

6 Netherlands $1.355

7 United Kingdom $1.151

8 South Korea $0.844

9 Italy $0.562

10 Sweden $0.529

Some of these countries never want to join in the fight themselves but have no problem selling weapons so that others can go out and kill. What hypocrites.

A better question would be.... Was the US also allies with the Mujahideen for decades?

I don't remember Taiwan ever attacking Americans.

As we are in the outside the box forum, perhaps the following article could be interesting.

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article16901.html

With a recent auction of concessions to exploit and develop some oil fields in Iraq, surprisingly the US got only two out of ten if I remember well.

Can this fact be used to debunk claim's that the war/invasion of Iraq (done by the US mainly) was for oil?

(What I mean is that many people believe that the US invaded Iraq because of the oil).

Blair clearly said that it was about regime change, so why would they want to change the regime, after all the US and others were pretty close with Iraq and Saddam before, and they have supported dictators before and sometimes still do.

Keeping Saddam and Chemical Ali alive and questioning them further about which (international) organizations were involved in providing chemical weapons(ore ingredients to produce them) and other ( mass destruction) weapons would have been revealing when questioned in international court.

As we are in the outside the box forum, perhaps the following article could be interesting.

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article16901.html

With a recent auction of concessions to exploit and develop some oil fields in Iraq, surprisingly the US got only two out of ten if I remember well.

Can this fact be used to debunk claim's that the war/invasion of Iraq (done by the US mainly) was for oil?

(What I mean is that many people believe that the US invaded Iraq because of the oil).

Blair clearly said that it was about regime change, so why would they want to change the regime, after all the US and others were pretty close with Iraq and Saddam before, and they have supported dictators before and sometimes still do.

Keeping Saddam and Chemical Ali alive and questioning them further about which (international) organizations were involved in providing chemical weapons(ore ingredients to produce them) and other ( mass destruction) weapons would have been revealing when questioned in international court.

Of course it is for oil Alex. Where you've drawn the wrong conclusion is that US national interests are superior to other nations/corpoate/tribal/finacial interests. The US military is an instrument that projects power and creates mayhem in the interets of it's masters. It is wrong to conclude that it is the American people, or even the American government that are pulling its strings.

A better question would be.... Was the US also allies with the Mujahideen for decades?

I don't remember Taiwan ever attacking Americans.

Neither had the Mujahideen when the US armed them.....

Hence my joke about the Taiwaneeban

I really have nothing against American humans or any other nationality LB.

Yes I blame it on our governments that make all these decisions but yes you are right, who is influencing our governments?

Are they the big corporations or banks perhaps?

The media sure have their influence as shown in the excellent docu: The century of the self which can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLFMIdMv2c

But indeed they are directed/manipulated by other forces.

I am in a position that allows me to have contacts with CEO's of big corporations as well as government people.

And I feel sickened by the way they think and feel about human life.

Finding ways to dump their company's chemical waste in places where only the poor live and then saying they saved the company money not even thinking about the result it will have on the local population and environment. Starting wars in places where there could be some kind of economic interest.

Who can be held accountable for all this madness?

Why are we (most people) believing all this crap?

I am in a position that allows me to have contacts with CEO's of big corporations as well as government people.

And I feel sickened by the way they think and feel about human life.

Finding ways to dump their company's chemical waste in places where only the poor live and then saying they saved the company money not even thinking about the result it will have on the local population and environment. Starting wars in places where there could be some kind of economic interest.

Like they would really tell you this crap. Someone around here speaks with a forked tongue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Lie

So you think the big corps don't do this?

How ignorant are you?

There's no doubting they've done it, I do doubt they'd admit it though.

So you think the big corps don't do this?

How ignorant are you?

I don't think they ALL do it - It is something like serial killers as opposed to normal people. In fact very few do, and they certainly don't tell you about it. Only a raving lunatic would insist otherwise.

Let me try to explain it.

Some of the board meetings I attend, the focus is first and always about saving costs after the numbers have been presented.

Can we save money by having less people producing the same or more output.

Can we find people that can do the same job for lower costs.

A lot more is discussed but I won't bother you all with this, lot's of bla bla from highly educated people that think they know it all.

After an hour or so the discussion tends to go in the direction what to do with our (chemical) waste.

Some say let's find a way to incorporate this waste into something that is widely used.

Others say let's find way's and a place where we can dump this stuff without being prosecuted.

A good example is this DU stuff that is now poisoning many people. And the chemical waste that was dumped a while ago in Africa by my own country.

These are undeniable fact's.

The question is if the majority of people ever will wake up and decide enough is enough.

We can live in peace, after all we are all humans, right.

Let me try to explain it.

Some of the board meetings I attend, the focus is first and always about saving costs after the numbers have been presented.

Can we save money by having less people producing the same or more output.

Can we find people that can do the same job for lower costs.

A lot more is discussed but I won't bother you all with this, lot's of bla bla from highly educated people that think they know it all.

After an hour or so the discussion tends to go in the direction what to do with our (chemical) waste.

Some say let's find a way to incorporate this waste into something that is widely used.

Others say let's find way's and a place where we can dump this stuff without being prosecuted.

A good example is this DU stuff that is now poisoning many people. And the chemical waste that was dumped a while ago in Africa by my own country.

These are undeniable fact's.

Sure, it happens sometimes, but you make it sound routine and it is not. I'm glad I've got my hip boots handy.

Let me try to explain it.

Some of the board meetings I attend, the focus is first and always about saving costs after the numbers have been presented.

Can we save money by having less people producing the same or more output.

Can we find people that can do the same job for lower costs.

A lot more is discussed but I won't bother you all with this, lot's of bla bla from highly educated people that think they know it all.

After an hour or so the discussion tends to go in the direction what to do with our (chemical) waste.

Some say let's find a way to incorporate this waste into something that is widely used.

Others say let's find way's and a place where we can dump this stuff without being prosecuted.

A good example is this DU stuff that is now poisoning many people. And the chemical waste that was dumped a while ago in Africa by my own country.

These are undeniable fact's.

The question is if the majority of people ever will wake up and decide enough is enough.

We can live in peace, after all we are all humans, right.

You work for a company that dumps it's chemical waste? I'm surprised you can take their money with a clear conscience.

One young soldiers view on Iraq/Afghanistan.....

Poignant and pertinant.

Was this speech ever publicised in mainstream media? It ought to be....although I could guess the reaction of the brainwashed rednecks....."Boooooo boooooo. Anti-American! Unpatriotic! Shut the hel_l up!"

Poignant and pertinant.

Was this speech ever publicised in mainstream media? It ought to be....although I could guess the reaction of the brainwashed rednecks....."Boooooo boooooo. Anti-American! Unpatriotic! Shut the hel_l up!"

Things like these are never allowed in the mainstream controlled media as well as many financial matters.....

As for the cheering of "anti american" crowd....Those are similar to the folks he spoke of when he said they ( those who send us to war )do not have to go to fight the war...merely sell it;)

Finally the closing statement written on the screen & spoken by James Madison is appropriate in the so call increased security many beg for.

If Tyranny & Oppression come to this land,

It will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

...The loss of Liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against the danger,

real...or imagined, from abroad.

James Madison

While many sheep see it & actually beg for it in the name of safety for themselves they know not what they give away in exchange for it. Never once looking to the actual cause for it. Instead only bleating for help/protection from they deemed to be the evil ones. If only they knew where the evil truly sprang from.

Not unlike another great man who said....

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Benjamin Franklin

Let me try to explain it.

Some of the board meetings I attend, the focus is first and always about saving costs after the numbers have been presented.

Can we save money by having less people producing the same or more output.

Can we find people that can do the same job for lower costs.

A lot more is discussed but I won't bother you all with this, lot's of bla bla from highly educated people that think they know it all.

After an hour or so the discussion tends to go in the direction what to do with our (chemical) waste.

Some say let's find a way to incorporate this waste into something that is widely used.

Others say let's find way's and a place where we can dump this stuff without being prosecuted.

A good example is this DU stuff that is now poisoning many people. And the chemical waste that was dumped a while ago in Africa by my own country.

These are undeniable fact's.

The question is if the majority of people ever will wake up and decide enough is enough.

We can live in peace, after all we are all humans, right.

You work for a company that dumps it's chemical waste? I'm surprised you can take their money with a clear conscience.

UG, first of all there are plenty examples of these atrocities committed by big corporations.

Kohee, I might be there to understand and uncover their despicable actions, just like I did before to uncover women and under aged child trafficking from East Europe and Asia from a certain ring.

I have seen and experienced enough and can say these wars are started for reasons most people cannot imagine.

Take care all and have a nice weekend.