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Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
As far as your question about the "Roman Coloseum": the answer is nope. We went into Iraq because there was genuine concern by several intelligence agencies (here and abroad) and BOTH parties, that Saddam had WMD. Taking Iraq when we did made sense to keep thoses WMD out of the hands of Islamists such as Al Queda.
Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
High gas prices in the US are not because the Saudi's have cut production--in fact they've increased production to the point where they're near maximum capacity. It's because of worldwide demand, including burgeoning economies such as India and China. It's also because the US hasn't built a new refinery in over 30 years, coupled with local regulatory requirements to have different cocktails of fuels to meet EPA guidlines.
You're belief about Iraq, its oil, and why we're there is completely off the mark and hardly worthy of comment.
Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
As far as your question about the "Roman Coloseum": the answer is nope. We went into Iraq because there was genuine concern by several intelligence agencies (here and abroad) and BOTH parties, that Saddam had WMD. Taking Iraq when we did made sense to keep thoses WMD out of the hands of Islamists such as Al Queda.
Originally posted by vincere7
It seems this tactic of fighting abroad will eventually cause a backlash once terrorists adapt to U.S. strategy. If terrorism picks up across Europe or perhaps U.S. soil, will another invasion take place, or another Colosseum be built to draw Jihadist crowds?
Originally posted by koji_K
You are only telling half the story. The CIA, MI6, and the DIA all thought it likely Saddam had WMD's BUT they recommended containment as the best method to prevent Saddam from selling or using those WMDs.
-koji K.
Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
I'm no personal fan of President Bush. But he's been consistent by stating all along that we were taking the fight to them.
The "It's the oil, stupid!" mantra constantly delivered by Michael Moore wannabes doesn't hold water as we haven't enjoyed the fruits of that oil since we've been in Iraq.
Originally posted by vincere7
Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
High gas prices in the US are not because the Saudi's have cut production--in fact they've increased production to the point where they're near maximum capacity. It's because of worldwide demand, including burgeoning economies such as India and China. It's also because the US hasn't built a new refinery in over 30 years, coupled with local regulatory requirements to have different cocktails of fuels to meet EPA guidlines.
You're belief about Iraq, its oil, and why we're there is completely off the mark and hardly worthy of comment.
I see you only know what you read about the commodities. Your oil opinions are as bad as your Iraqi fantasies. I assure you Saudi Arabia is not at peak production. Your comment on refineries is laughable. You're a child of propaganda my poor boy. The refinery excuse was born through the Venezuela cook off. I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about. Hardly worth comment? Maybe if you put something out there that has less to do with opinion and bred propaganda and more to do with reality your comments would have some weight. At this point I highly doubt you can be "re-educated".
Originally posted by Freedom_for_sum
They can make all the recommendations they want. Ultimately, decisions relating to our nation's security falls on the shoulders of one man--the President. And given the poor performance our intelligence agencies have demonstrated in the years leading up to 9/11, I wouldn't trust their recommendations.
I'm no personal fan of President Bush. But he's been consistent by stating all along that we were taking the fight to them. There's no doubt in my mind that if given the opportunity, Saddam would have delivered WMD into the hands of terrorists to be used against us. Saddam's reputation of thumbing his nose at the UN resolutions since the gulf war and his siphoning of Billions of dollars from the oil-for-food program indicated he had no interest in reforming his dictatorship to fall in line with what the world expected of him. He was a danger and a menace and needed to be removed.
The "It's the oil, stupid!" mantra constantly delivered by Michael Moore wannabes doesn't hold water as we haven't enjoyed the fruits of that oil since we've been in Iraq. The stated goal is and always has been, to remove Saddam Hussein, put in place an elected government that can forge a new Constitution; place their security in their own hands--and get the hell out. And so far, there has been nothing to convince me otherwise. I suggest that if you disagree, you ask ANY soldier, enlisted and commissioned, to explain why we are there.
Originally posted by nexus6
If I may quote from Michael Herr's book Dispatches on Vietnam...
[edit on 22-8-2005 by nexus6]
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
They had to do something big enough to provoke the U.S. to come to Afghanistan where the guerillas would have a chance to defeat the US army. That was the original plan of 9/11. To make the US come to him…
Originally posted by rstrik
Can you provide a place where you got all this secret information? Are you a member of the Saudi Royal Family? Just curious as to where one would find the exact level of Saudi Arabia's oil ouput currently if what they say is wrong.
Originally posted by xman_in_blackx
Vincere7,
I agree with what you say, but isn't one of the reasons why we are in Iraq is due to the fact that Saddam wanted to make all oil transactions in Euros and not US Dollars? Would that have a negative impact on the US economy, especially if other nations started doing the same thing? Was Saddam hedging his investments or was it a deliberate poke in the eye of the US?
Originally posted by BLUBBER
To imagine this war is over oil is beyond silly. This is a religious war, nothing more.
Originally posted by BLUBBER
To imagine this war is over oil is beyond silly. This is a religious war, nothing more.
Originally posted by vincere7
All Israeli friends were enemies, including the U.S. OPEC embargoed America and Europe. This is something they don't tell you in the history books. This little episode lasted a decade. Remember interest rates at 18%? OPEC's oil weapon was very successful.
[edit on 22-8-2005 by vincere7]