reply to post by Jenna
So what should we do then? Change what we call them? What would that change? Just because you're tired of hearing it, doesn't make it less
true....Did you see the word "Personally" in my post? That is my opinion. My opinion is that I think he's dead already, but I don't know that he
is. Should everything be called off because I, an absolute nobody as far as Congress or the military are concerned, am of the opinion that he died
already? I didn't admit or claim anything, I posted a fact (Al Qaeda is our target) and followed with an opinion (I think bin Laden is dead).
It doesn't matter WHAT we call them....the result is the same...a disproportional response to group of 'perpetrators' that cannot be proven. I beg
to differ with your idea that 'Al Qeada is our target' is a fact. As you have pointed out, you, as well as I, am a nobody to the governement,
therefore, I don't think either of us is really qualified to speak on behalf of the 'strategists' and other boneheads that think it's ok to kill
whomever they choose.
You are aware that Pakistan and Afghanistan share a fairly large border, right? And you're aware that Parachinar not far from that border, right?
Yup...familiar with the geography involved. Your logic was that we are attacking Al Qeada. If we KNOW he's in Pakistan, why are we not in Pakistan
with 50 thousand troops killing women and children? Oh yeah, that's right, Pakistan doesn't have a pipeline.
Last I checked none of those countries flew our own planes into our own buildings. Maybe I missed it?
Last I checked, we didn't really have any proof that ANYONE was flying those planes...there are several discussions to that effect being played out
currently...including some very experienced pilots claiming the maneuvers would have been impossible for pilots with the level of training of the
alleged hijackers. People died, I don't dismiss that. A lot of people. My point is that unless you were in the cockpit when the planes hit the tower
how do you KNOW who was flying? Oh yeah, the government, who has NEVER lied by the way, has told us who we should be mad at, and where we should go to
find them.
That explains why there are never any news reports about civilian deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Again with the sarcasm? Of course they report on some of the casualties.They just don't care to do it accurately. Answer me this: When you found your
sources about the number of civilian deaths, were any of those sources from the military? I doubt it. They've gone on record as stating they are not
in the business of body counts. They don't care.
It's also safe for you to assume that I prefer sources that bother to differentiate between deaths caused by US troops and those caused by the
hundreds of bombs set off on roads and in markets by suicide bombers and cowards up front instead of making you dig to find out how many deaths were
caused by what.
So, if I am to understand correctly, in your opinion, a civilian death caused by an IED, a suicide bomber or some other type of cowardly action should
not apply towards the total civilian deaths? I think you should understand that there would be little need for these cowards to be using these
explosive devices, if the United States was not occupying their country militarily. If a person dies, as a result of me committing an unrelated
felony, I am now guilty of their murder. How is this not the same?
You're completely missing what I am saying. The people we are after blend in completely with the civilians around them. There is no outward sign to
differentiate between them until it is too late. You can't just take out someone when you don't know exactly what they look like and exactly where
they are going to be at any given time.
I'm not missing what you are saying. I'm following you perfectly well, I just don't agree with you about everything.
I agree that the issue of identification of targets is a huge concern. It leads to collateral damage and also ties the hands of the troops in the
field to do their job. The issue I have is that if the US were not there, it wouldn't be an issue. Had this been an actual attempt to bring members
of Al Qaeda to justice, it would have been finished seven years ago. It's not, so it drags on...costing more lives every day, wasting more of our
money and keeping more of our troops away from home.
Last I checked bin Laden doesn't have a direct satellite feed into all the news stations. Perhaps he didn't think of making a tape at first. Perhaps
he couldn't find anyone to air it when he did think of it. Perhaps he didn't have the equipment to make the tape and had to wait for someone to get
it for him.
I don't know a lot. Of that, I am certain. But I DO know that this can't POSSIBLY be your first rodeo. How many terrorist acts have you seen on the
news? How long does it usually take a group to claim responsibility? Nowhere NEAR three years. Usually not more than a day. That's part of the
terrorism. They want credit so you know who to be afraid of. I find it HIGHLY SUSPECT that Bin Laden, a very, VERY wealthy man would not have had the
means, or desire to spread the fear, if he were in fact responsible.
Do you have proof that they weren't? Do you have proof that someone else was? Not theories, not opinions, proof.
Innocent until PROVEN guilty is the way it's supposed to work in this country. The burden of proof lies with the accuser. If there is any doubt..ANY
AT ALL, that these people did not commit the crime they were accused of, then we have no right to be chasing them down. Regardless, we have no right
to be murdering, or causing by our close proximity, the deaths of thousand of Afghani civilians.
Our nation has been rallied, of that there is no doubt. We have remained on a hunt for over eight years for a person or group of persons we have been
conditioned to believe committed heinous crimes against our nation. We are killing thousands of people...almost TEN TIMES the number of those killed
on 911. My question to you, is when does it stop? When is it enough? When have we filled our quota of justice?
Edit for fat fingers
[edit on 17-7-2009 by KSPigpen]
