Cost Of War: $186m/day

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21

You make some excellent points Charlie. Some of which I did not consider, but I do disagree with some.

I do not remember in my comments inferring that the pathetic state of Canada in any way has any relationship to the legitimacy of the US war in Iraq. My point is we could do nothing about it any way! In 1954 we could have intervened, not today. We are “kind” by necessity, it is a survival mechanism. I hear a lot of US bashing going on by Canadians all the time, and my point is we better take a look at our selves first!

Also the US has moved from a colonial to protectionist (back-and-forth) foreign policy over the decades (what ever suites their present agenda) which reflects their support and non support of Canadian policies (1954). I do not really care if the US supports a decision we make, but I do care if we can stand by it, and enforce it.

There are no longer borders and countries to fight, only cowardly groups of brainwashed zealots infesting themselves in countries around the world. They take advantage of the chaos in certain countries and the kindness of others. The US can no longer wait until a battle comes to them (9-11), they must preemptively, and unilaterally make decisions (they are not about to wait for a vote from the UN). Iraq pragmatically might have been the best target, to get the message across to terrorist groups, as to the extent to which the US is willing to go to protect its interests and its country (-they know the terrain, -they have intel from that region, -Hussein is a target many did not like around the world, -what was the likelihood of intervention from other countries?).

The UN and its mandates do not function in the real world and the realities that surround modern terrorism. The UN is a typical European bureaucratic quagmire, ineffective and without any leadership or enforcement. Where has it been in Africa in the decades of civil wars and genocide? If the war in Iraq is illegal why has it not intervened in Iraq’s defense and removed the US. The US has also refused to pay its “UN dues” (YEARS OVER DUE), and still allows them to be a voting member! The reason is because the issues are very complicated with many unforeseen consequences, and take time to resolve, but unfortunately time becomes the enemy.

Weather the war in Iraq is illegal or not (the present evidence has shown it to be) it does not dismiss the fact that our Canada’s present readiness to defend our borders, or other nations in need of our support, does not exist.
Rationalizing the fact that all governments are corrupt, but some times less visible, is not a legitimate excuse. It is our responsibility not our right; rights exist because they have been fought for, or have we forgotten that; to remove corrupt leaders and governments from power.

22

Has Al Quaida taken credit for “Katrina” yet? Or is it just another domestic policy initiative on the part of the Bush gov’t to artificially inflate oil prices? Yet another reason to invade Syria and Iran.

Gotta go change another diaper on my kid. Priorities!

23

I wonder how some of you guys in the US feel thinking of all that money going into a fruitless war with thousands in New Orleans begging for money to fight Katrina?

24

Pretty much Hell’s version of Mardi Gras…

25

You are making two arguements. One regards Iraq and the other is our military and political state of affairs.

26

Bush suporter by any chance? What was the reason then? certainly not human rights! If it were why isnt he invading Zimbabwe?

27

Yes to both arguements.

28

NAP Not about Halliburton eh?
1: The US claims to be in the Middle East to promote democracy, yet when Iran HAD a democracy under Mossedeh, it was overthrown because of its oil policy. As a result, no one there is buying that US claim.
2: You say the Iraq war has nothing to do with Halliburton, yet Halliburton’s chief profiteer, Dick Cheney went to CIA headquarters over and over to browbeat the CIA into comming out with pretexts for invasion, which everyone now acknowledges were false.
When a former Ambasador publicly de-bunked the BS about the Iraqis buying “yellowcake” (uranium) from Africa, Condoleeza Rice and GOP chief dirty trickster, Carl Rove (remember the Willie Horton ads?) outed his CIA wife, compromizing her network of operatives, proving that American security was NOT on their agenda (of course, nothing has been done about this).
Even the weak-kneed leadership at the CIA refused to sign off on this deliberate falsehood in Bush’s speech, so Bush attributed this bogus info to BRITISH intelligence.
3: When weapons inspector, Scott Ritter went public that the WMD claims were patently false, he suddenly found himself facing child molestation charges! How did that come about so conveniently? As Carl Rove says:" Never answer charges. Attack the messenger."
4:The terrorists are in Afganistan and Pakistan, but the US invaded Iraq- yet it’s not about Haliburton and Bechtel, you say?
5: Despite the supposed protections of the “Whistle Blower” legislation, the official who leaked that Halliburton was given over 10 Billion in No-Bid contracts was demoted by the Bush Administration for “poor performance”!
6:40% of the entire US National Guard and its equipment is in Iraq. The cost of this is now amply illustrated by the pathetic response to the situation in New Orleans. But this administration is about national security, not personal enrichment?
7: Billions have been poured into a reorganization of Homeland Security and FEMA, and this is the response to a catastrophy? Where did the money go?
After cowering from a dead soldier’s mother at his ranch and dithering at the Whte House, The Commander in Chief has finally hit the ground to visit the devastation, just in time for a photo-op as the first of the belated aid finally begins to arrive. Yet even now, Bush cannot resist praising the efforts of Mississippi’s Republican Governor, former GOP chairman Haley Barbour, while calling Democratic Louisiana’s efforts inadequate even though both have been equally paralysed by events and New Orleans is still under water. Until this very moment, I had not realized how truly small a man can be.

How much longer till the public catches on???

29

Scumbag works…
I always think dumba*s when I see him on tv… very smug guy… maybe it’s because “God wanted me to be President”
When the almighty chooses you, I guess you get full of yourself??!!
I am sure if Katrina hit Houston & it was Bush & Cheney’s rich friends sitting on their roofs waiting to be rescued, help would come a little faster (IMHO).

30

Cheney chose him?

31

“40% of the entire US National Guard and its equipment is in Iraq. The cost of this is now amply illustrated by the pathetic response to the situation in New Orleans. But this administration is about national security, not personal enrichment?”

I have a friend in the NO area and anyone thinking they have an understanding of the problem and thinking the entire national guard could make an impact is a joke. The entire middle gulf is destroyed…

Zimbabwe? Africa is fine with Brad Pitt and his new girlfriend taking care of business!

32

This is a national disaster with consequences that have been predicted for DECADES, whether by natural causes or misadventure. The response to the threat required the repair of the levys and, in the meantime an evacuation plan to:
1: Have FEMA subsidize the costs of one-way commercial air transport to keep flights going out as long as possible BEFORE the storm hit. The airlines could not afford to bear this cost alone.
2: Provide for bus transport for the poor to shelters outside the flood risk area. People were told to leave- but how and to where?
This required the identification of a safe distance inland and the school gyms, rec centers etc in that area that could house the numbers involved. It would also require cots, blankets, emergency water etc.
3: The only way to make an evacuation work is to get EVERYONE out by order, not request.
In Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto a train derailment involving toxic chemicals required the evacuation of all 250,000 residents for a couple of weeks in 1979. This was done without incident. America can’t organize something like this?
Was a plan too much to ask for after all the billions spent on “homeland security”? What’s the plan for San Francisco? Have these guys got any plan in place for anyone but themselves anywhere?
Yet now, what’s happened has happened and the National Guard is needed in huge numbers for the domestic purpose for which it was created.
The CNN correspondant summed the Federal Gov’ts performance up best- EMBARRASSING.

33

1: Have FEMA subsidize the costs of one-way commercial air transport to keep flights going out as long as possible BEFORE the storm hit. The airlines could not afford to bear this cost alone.

Good idea at first but Airports don’t work that way. I am sure if an accident from an overworked airtraffic controller we would be mocked. And how many people would that be and where would they go?

2: Provide for bus transport for the poor to shelters outside the flood risk area. People were told to leave- but how and to where?
This required the identification of a safe distance inland and the school gyms, rec centers etc in that area that could house the numbers involved. It would also require cots, blankets, emergency water etc.

Better idea. That would be the plan.

3: The only way to make an evacuation work is to get EVERYONE out by order, not request.
In Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto a train derailment involving toxic chemicals required the evacuation of all 250,000 residents for a couple of weeks in 1979. This was done without incident. America can’t organize something like this?

add in a flood charlie…compare apples to apples not Mississippi to Mississagua. Weeks? Compare the conditions since this is only days old.

Was a plan too much to ask for after all the billions spent on “homeland security”? What’s the plan for San Francisco? Have these guys got any plan in place for anyone but themselves anywhere?

I wonder what the plan will be now…I guess less efforts to help other nations.

The CNN correspondant summed the Federal Gov’ts performance up best- EMBARRASSING.

34

First, I was suggesting keeping the originally scheduled flights out as long as possible. They were cancelled as soon as there were no seats sold going in, stranding large numbers of tourists.

Second. Mississauga was evacuated BEFORE everyone was killed by a poisonous gas cloud- just as everyone in New Orleans should have been evacuated BEFORE the storm and flood.

Third: Maybe less of Bush’s kind of help for other nations (like the help for Iraq) would be in order.

35

Bush don’t give a f@#k about all those “n****rs”, that is the whole truth.

36

The Bush Administration was/is stalling on aid to Democratic Louisiana, blaming the Dem Governor for failing to ask for aid properly (pretty please?).
Emboldened by all they’ve gotten away with since taking office, they are punishing Dems and rewarding Reps with disaster money that belongs to ALL of the people.
Monstrous behaviour from a vindictive, self-entitled Plutocrat.
I don’t think he’s a racist, however. I think he has equal disdain for everyone he considers beneath him, regardless of race, creed, or colour.
When will this Administration be called to account!

37

Charlie, you may be right, (Bush not being a racist) however, it’s hard for me to give the benefit of the doubt to someone with such suspicious character. I don’t see Democrats out there, I see a lot of black people being treated like $hit.

38

The history of the present President is a history of repeated injuries and an usurpation, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Terror over these States. (paraphrase of part of Declaration of Independence).

‘What luck for rulers that men do not think’ - Hitler.

The administration is not going to be called to account, because most voters aren’t thinking enough. Under the D of I it don’t look like this government can be thrown out, don’t know about the rest of U.S law.

39

Perhaps when most voters realise that history isn’t bunk, and politicsbabble is.

I predict a riot, but not a revolution. Not in the age of terror.

40

What about the guv of NO? He had no plan of action. I don’t like pointing fingers but telling people that they can go to the superdome when no water was available is not wise. The locals had no plan themselves and the national guard is part time regulars not a super army.