Job Discussion Forums

[tjpnz2000]

Dear Richard,

It is I

I was deliberately staying out of this thread because it is a very heated one and I sure as hell don't have any answers.

However, I have just finished reading George Orwell`s wonderful, if unbelievably depressing, 1984. I hope the American people don't give in to:

Doublethink; there are no WMD in Iraq, and we all know it, but there are WMD in Iraq because if there aren't then Bush and Co lied and this is unacceptable, or

Newspeak; Illegal combatants (Prisoners of War, POW for short, in the war on terror), Collateral damage (the accidental killing of civilians), Iraqi fighers (soldiers), whatever the currently acceptable terms for `forces of armed occupation`, `Military rule`, `invasion` and so forth are.


I can't vote in US elections as I am not from the US, therefore in this case at least I am niether responsible nor to blame. However, I know enough decent, reasonable, thinking americans to have hope.

T

[M.]

2pents worth,

Well this thread has no end. So I will jump in a bit. First, John, sorry to heave pushed those buttons. Second, you are the first Vet that I have me that has similiar views to me , Third, My father and Step-father were in Nam, and one of them claims that we never lost that war, Plus my hugely, "liberal" family, believes all the bull coming from the Bush Admin.

I liked your assessment on Afgan. Should have finished it and stopped there. I am afraid the Bush admin will push this "terrorist issue/WMD to the brink. In five years we will attack Iceland because of the Icelandic Liberation Army!

As far as CNN goes it is as warped as every news I read on the web/radio....etc....I witnessed that first hand in Russia, during the Kosovo crisis. First I would see CNN/ BBC, and then the Russian News...like RTR...and it looked like I was watching news from two different wars.

I think some of us, me included, are a bit too critical of the US government at times and suffer from the Expat hate syndrome. But I think the Bush Admin, has definitely overdone it this time. As for Ashcroft and Rumsfeld........yet more to criticize..........

P.s. where is everyone living these days anyways? Berlin Here.....

M.......

P.P.S...... Tom waits has a following in Russia, too bad most of them cant get the lyrics...........

[johnslat]

Dear M,
No problem about the " button-pushing " - I guess we all have buttons of some kind, and what else are they for but to be pushed? I may be the first vet to have view similar to yours, but I assure you I'm not the only one. I belong to VVAW ( Vietnam Vets Against the War ), and most of us are pretty, well the nice word would be skeptical, about the government and its policies, especially as regards foreign conflicts ( once burned, twice shy ). But I know a few guys who also have that " we never lost " notion - what they usually mean is: if they'd just let us do what needed to be done, " unleashed us ", so to speak, we could have been in Hanoi in about 2 weeks. Well, maybe so - but, as seems to be happening in Iraq, we also might STILL be in Vietnam then, losing another few guys every day or so. But I just can't understand how/why so many people in the States are swallowing all this junk that Bush and Co. are putting out. I'm afraid the answer is probably - yes, they really are that gullible and/or indifferent. And that, to me, is both sad and scary.
Regards,
John

[Irish]

johnslat wrote:

[johnslat]

Dear Irish,
The " rude " word would be " cynical " - but it would also be inappropriate, because cynicism usually implies jeering from the sidelines but refusing to get involved. After all, if you're cynical, you don't believe in anything, even in the possibility of your actions making any kind of difference. But cynicism is attractive to some because it makes them appear ever so worldly-wise and experienced. " Ha, you fools - trying to change the world; you're such stupid idealists. Nothing you can say or do will make the slightest difference ". A nice, smug attitude, and an excuse for inaction. It may indeed be a " losing battle ", but by God, I'd much rather go down fighting than stand idly by and watch greed and stupidity triumph.

" In order for evil to prevail, all that need happen is for good people to do nothing. '
Edmund Burke

" The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Albert Einstein

And I like the company I keep.
Regards,
John

[richard ame]

Hi its me
Since I last posted the brits have taken a bashing and six soldiers were killed in attack that apparently was a revenge attack .Apparently our boys used sniffer dogs in house searchs and this caused enough hysteria among the local populace to go out mob handed and blow up a police station,did I get that right courtsey of cnn btw .

[kimo]

Interesting thread here. The problem, IMHO, with American politics is that there is no one dumb enough to step to the fore and try to be a real leader. American politicians are led around on leashes like little puppy dogs. (Can you lead sharks around on leashes?) Polls or cash! Whoever said it on the China forum was right! It's all about money and a few votes too I might add. Remember how Ronald Reagan supposedly bankrupted the country? Of course he did it all by himself with a Democratic House and Senate. They got to spend all the money they wanted on their little pork barrel projects then blame the great actor for their own votes and wanton spending. What a coalition? The Democratic Party today is happy with Bush or it would offer the American public something (read that as a real leader) better.

Sorry, I have just been released from the hospital after six weeks with SARnS (Serious Attitude Readjustment (needed) Syndrome).