I see no one wants to help the good ol US of A out in Iraq. Seems as though everyone will accept our help though.<br>Maybe time for some strict trade sanctions? Whatta you guy's think?

 

Seems like we might be headed for a period of isolationism. Between our budget problems and the fact that it seems like 90% of the rest of the world seems to hate the U.S., I could see folks here getting fed up and demanding some changes. Course, they would actually have to vote first.

 

OH MY ! is our trade restriction hurting your sorry * country? maybe you should have thought of that when us ugly fat Americans asked you for a hand , I guess I'll just have too buy Cali wines, drink coffee not tea , &amp; my parts for my truck - after market

I made it here , I'll just have too make sure I can keep it here
&amp; if you don't like it here GET HELL OUT &amp; GO HOME !

 

[quote author=breakseverything link=board=10;threadid=17113;start=0#160325 date=1058319452]
OH MY ............
*Edited by Moderator
[/quote]

Please review the site rules on posting and check out this thread from our &quot;Suggestions, Comments, and Site Questions&quot; forum.
Profanity and the use of *@# symbols in posts

 

[quote author=trailblazenyj link=board=10;threadid=17113;start=0#160293 date=1058314488]<br>Course, they would actually have to vote first.<br>[/quote]<br><br>No kidding!

 

I'll take the soapbox , thanks ;D<br><br>The reasons the USA have produced for the war in Iraq are perceived as invalid over here. The claims made by Bush on nuclear mat. acquisition by the regime in Iraq have been proven wrong by the int.atomic energy commission. As to now no means of mass destruction have been found. <br>Now the museus and cultural properties of Iraq have been robbed and destroyed without any countermeasures from the US troops. <br>That's what we read in the newspapers over here. Do you wonder why the populationhas a &quot; Uncle Sam has spilled it, Uncle Sam has to clean it up&quot; mentality. <br>The view that Saddam had to be removed is uncontested. But to do so without a mandate from the UN, against the opposition of the allies in the NATO does leave a bad taste in the mouth of us Europeans.<br>On the other hand the US already have placed unilateral trade restrictions against European steel- if you look through the smoke shield the main reason appears to be that the US steel industry could not compete with the European for price and quality, even though the costs of transport for steel are quite high.<br>And this is also perceived as a kind of retaliation for the European laws that demand that products from genetically modified plants must be declared as such. The US demands that Europe must import genefood unrestricted and undeclared. So the US demands a changeover of our jurisdiction and our laws that were passed by a democratically elected parliament. <br>This is perceived as annoying arrogance over here. <br><br>Am I anti-american ??? No, I aint. But I do feel very strongly embarrassed when I read articles in US newspapers demanding more trade restrictions because there is no support for the US in Iraq. <br>I ask from the US to act as a grown up. Not as childish as they act now. If you break it then repair it. Respect the responsibility. And don't let transpire that you regard the rest of the world as vastly inferior. Don't close your eyes to the fact that international economy is a cooperation between a multitude of nations. <br><br>I'll give the soapbox back for the moment and have already prepped my asbestos underwear.<br><br>AlpineRAM

 

My turn on the soapbox.<br>Last time I checked, WE foot the UN's bills. (OK, only about 85% of them...) For a bunch of backward dictators from geopolitically insignificant nations to tell US that we can't reach out and touch someone who is threatening us is just plain garbage. <br>As for NATO nations disagreeing with us, the way I (and most of my brothers and sisters in arms who spend countless days away from our families in service to our nation) see the other countries in NATO can be summed up this way: they loved us when Mother Russia was knocking down all the doors in Eastern Europe and forcing communisim down their throats, but now that the commies aren't doing that anymore, to hell with Uncle Sam. They just want to reap the favored military trade status to fund their weekend warrior military clubs. (Don't tell me they are an effective fighting force, even collectively. I've done several NATO exercises and felt embarrassed for them by their performance!) Therefore, NATO should not be a factor in our determination of whether it is right for us to protect our citizens by preemptively toppling a terror supporting regime halfway around the world.<br>To the &quot;there is no evidence of a nuclear program, the U.N. and IAEA even said so&quot; argument, RUBBISH! Could they please explain the particle accelerator found buried in a scientist's backyard??? Maybe he was working on genetically enhancing a fig tree? The world knows Hussein was looking to become a nuclear threat. That's why the Israelis bombed his French-built weapons-grade reactors in 1981, and that's why we went in after him in April.<br>As for the &quot;Uncle Sam spilled it, Uncle Sam can clean it up&quot; argument, I have to say that's garbage, too. France and Germany are dying to get their hands on the lucrative business contracts to rebuild Iraq and are quite angry at the US for taking the lead in doing the rebuilding. Apparently it's okay to make a little money off of the US' efforts, they just don't want to get their noses bloody by doing so.<br>The bottom line: Europe has viewed the United States as the great sow from which they can suckle since we stepped in and cleaned up Germany's last little escapade in aggression. They don't want to be weaned from the flow of mother's milk (greenbacks) and stand on their own, but they think because they are attached to our nipples, that they have a say in how we take care of our business. If anyone needs to grow up, it's the European nations. Quit playing &quot;holier than thou&quot; when it comes to foreign policy, we've seen it and cleaned it up twice in the last century. IT WAS NOT UNCLE SAM'S MESS, BUT WE CLEANED IT UP, ANYWAY! If they want to help clean up the world now, great. Grab a rifle, there's plenty of work to do. If not, then they should just pour themselves a nice steaming cup of shut the heck up and let us police the world the way we see fit.<br><br>I'm off the soapbox now.

 

Oops! Let me jump back on that box a minute...

Apparently, there WERE'NT 170,000 items stolen in &quot;looting&quot; after the fall of the most evil regime since Adolph himself. (See here) As it turns out, it might have been an organized theft, not &quot;looting.&quot;
AlpineRam, have those leftist newspapers been lying to the people to whip them into an anti-American frenzy?
Nooo, thaaat couldn't be, could it? (SUCKLE SUCKLE SUCKLE.)

 

Thanks WHIFF - I was thinking along the same lines.

AlpineRam - is the media in Europe as left-leaning as the media in the US? If so, then what they are feeding the masses has already been processed, if you catch my meaning.

 

RedRamnc: Over here we regard some of teh media as right-leaning..you see it as left-leaning... A new theory of relativity ;D<br><br>WHIFF: I'd say let's keep it civil. I stated how the news are being perceived here. I do not regard any news as gospel. And no website too. <br><br>The NATO and the cold war times. Think what would have happened if western Europe had become a member of the Warsaw Pact. I don't think life in the US would have been fun then. Even though western Europe decided to remain democratic, and was able to do so thanks to the help of the USA the alternative would likely have brought major disadvantages to the USA.<br><br>And as I said I am not anti-american..........<br><br>AlpineRAM

 

Alpine, thanks for the viewpoint. Since many of us to don't get to travel away from this continent regularly it is hard to remember that many other viewpoints are out there. I think media bias, right and left is very pervasive and damaging. It would be nice if folks everywhere could get untainted news and draw their own conclusions about what is really happening.

 

Media is media, they have one agenda... find the dumbest person you can and put his opinion out as gospel before someone else can interview him. Don't take time to check the credibility of your sources, or interview a group of people and segregate the intelligent opinions.

My personal opinion (right or wrong) is for the U.N. to be more of an advisory capacity until they have the ability to dedicate more assetts to the greater cause.

Alpine, even if all of Europe went &quot;commy&quot;, I'm not so sure we could have been anymore paranoid during the 50'/60's.
Building bomb shelters in the back yard. :

 

Watching this thread with great interest because it is heading towards an area I have brought up a few times already. For now will stay off the soap box and go and find a nail to nail down my typing hands.<br>Lary, can you untie my hands please?

 

As a European (Portuguese) immigrant I think I have a slightly better perspective than most. The fact the Americans are paranoid that 90% of the world is out to get them, is mostly based on the fact they are right. For example as a little guy back in Portugal I remember the adults discussing the EU (European Union) the a little excitement in their voices. The reason they were thrilled for the formation of the EU is because it’s main purpose is to bring down the US (financially at first). So how can we possibly have any meaningful and honest dialogue with people that want us buried. Again as an immigrant I can honestly say they simple resent us for too many resons to list but some of the biggest ones you’d hear (if you lived over there) is “we (insert name of country here) have so much history and art and they are classless and uneducated and (here’s the key) THEY DON”T DESERVE WHAT THEY HAVE!!! WE DO!!!

The United States is greatest country in HISTORY! We have the best trained and equipped military EVER! And it’s through our benevolence that we haven’t turned entire countries into parking lots!!!
But don't blame America for not bringing peace and a thriving democratic republic to these miserable countries. Sorry to go off but this really bothers me personally

 

Gentlemen -<br><br>Countries, like people, are subject to inferiority complexes and petty jealousies. When you're the biggest and best, theres always someone who'll try to bring you down, just because you have it and they don't..As I recall, we were happily minding our own business on 9/11/01, when individuals with a fanatical belief forced their beliefs upon us. We responded as any reasonable person would. Were merely trying to preserve our way of life. Were not asking anyone to follow us. If you don't like what were doing, what we produce, what we watch, eat, see, etc, then don't partake. But don't try to enforce your will and beliefs upon us because they conflict with yours. I only know that fanatical Islamic followers have but one purpose. To eliminate us as a society. They're jealous of what we have as a people. I don't care what they want to do or believe in, as long as at doesn't interfere with MY RIGHT to exist. I have noooo problem with anything our gov't has done to this point to protect our way of life, even if some of it was and/or is misguided or misconstrued. Maybe we should just CLOSE OUR BORDERS...I really don't think theres much we can't live without that comes from that region of the world..I know, I know..OIL..The biggest reserves are in the Alaskan wilderness, and we own that..But the enviromentalists have the power right now..Maybe that will change. <br>And to those who say Ashcroft has taken away our rights, I ask..how many rights have YOU personally lost?? I haven't lost any..Have any of you?? Since I don't participate in subversive activities against our gov't and people, I don't think I'm affected..But I hope those who do are.