Like I said, the Indians are leaving the reservation.

[merrylander]

Medicare will be around longer than anyone thinks, it has a very simple plan, everytime there is a COLA adjustment to SS they increase the Part B premium to take it all.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by noonereal

I think it matters tremendously. Had we not gone to war against a "contained" country we would not have been in such bad economic shape and the money we spent could have been for national health care instead of for Exxon.

As to Afghanistan, we should have prosecuted this war with all our strength and not allowed the terrorists to keep a foothall there. Both wars were executed in an inept manner that did not put or safety first.

Oil greases the wheels of modern society. It's a necessity, without it, we're going to see an economic collapse that likes you can't imagine. At least at this time.

IMO, tha war protected ARAMCO more that Exxon. Besides, who owns Exxon? Lots of folks, they have part of their retirements tied up there. Buy some stock, you can be an "Oil Man" just like Shrub and Cheney.

Do you really think that Shrub, his Pa, and Cheney are out driving down a dirt road in a 3/4 ton International, looking for a spot to set up their wildcat rig? They're simply investors, just like millions of folks.

As to war...it's a little more complicated than changing a light bulb. Was going to war necessary? Hell if I know...but doing nothing wasn't working.

Shrub had no good choices, a point that I'm sure that you disagree with me on.

Chas

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by Charles

Oil greases the wheels of modern society. It's a necessity, without it, we're going to see an economic collapse that likes you can't imagine. At least at this time.

IMO, tha war protected ARAMCO more that Exxon. Besides, who owns Exxon? Lots of folks, they have part of their retirements tied up there. Buy some stock, you can be an "Oil Man" just like Shrub and Cheney.

Do you really think that Shrub, his Pa, and Cheney are out driving down a dirt road in a 3/4 ton International, looking for a spot to set up their wildcat rig? They're simply investors, just like millions of folks.

As to war...it's a little more complicated than changing a light bulb. Was going to war necessary? Hell if I know...but doing nothing wasn't working.

Shrub had no good choices, a point that I'm sure that you disagree with me on.

Chas

No I do agree that Bush boy had no good choices.
But I still don't understand why given the poor choices he had, he had to go out and lauch a war that is longer than WW II

[Charles]

Originally Posted by noonereal

No I do agree that Bush boy had no good choices.
But I still don't understand why given the poor choices he had, he had to go out and lauch a war that is longer than WW II

It's the nature of war after the atom was split. Had he fought it like WWII, I have a feeling that "Mother Earth" would resemble a grapefruit what's been shot with a .30-06.

Actually, the war in Iraq went according to plans, if not easier than planned. It was the guerrilla conflict that caused the problems. Guerrilla conflicts, by their nature, are much more difficult. You want to shoot the "bad" guys, and support the "good" guys. Every time you shoot a "good" guy, you create ten more "bad" guys. And they don't wear white hats and black hats so that you can tell them apart.

"Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy, Guerrilla Warfare in the West 1861-1865" by Richard Brownlee is an interesting read, and one which gives a certain amount of insight into guerrilla warfare. IMHO, a recommend read.

Chas

[painter]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Medicare will be around longer than anyone thinks, it has a very simple plan, everytime there is a COLA adjustment to SS they increase the Part B premium to take it all.

Yes they do. But you and I seem to be the only seasoned citizens who know that. I guess you have to be there to know how it works.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by Charles

It's the nature of war after the atom was split. Had he fought it like WWII, I have a feeling that "Mother Earth" would resemble a grapefruit what's been shot with a .30-06.

Actually, the war in Iraq went according to plans, if not easier than planned. It was the guerrilla conflict that caused the problems. Guerrilla conflicts, by their nature, are much more difficult. You want to shoot the "bad" guys, and support the "good" guys. Every time you shoot a "good" guy, you create ten more "bad" guys. And they don't wear white hats and black hats so that you can tell them apart.

"Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy, Guerrilla Warfare in the West 1861-1865" by Richard Brownlee is an interesting read, and one which gives a certain amount of insight into guerrilla warfare. IMHO, a recommend read.

Chas

We had no reason to be in Iraq to start, also gorilla warfare is war, how can you say "Iraq went according to plans"???????
The plan was to be out and have them loving us years ago.
I think you may want to rephrase that statement.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by noonereal

We had no reason to be in Iraq to start, also gorilla warfare is war, how can you say "Iraq went according to plans"???????
The plan was to be out and have them loving us years ago.
I think you may want to rephrase that statement.

The plan was not to be "out". The plan was to station our troops next to Iran, and Saudi Arabia, where we could apply pressure on the Islamic extremists, and the governments which allowed them to flourish.

We still have troops in Germany, Japan, and North Korea. Hell, we still have troops in the Philliphines.

Our troops ousted Saddam, and defeated the Iraq military in what, app 30 days?
That part went very well. I will admit, I don't think that Bush, or his advisors, were prepared for the intensity of the insurgent campaign which followed. Apparently, Gen. Petraeus was.

As I said, war does not equate with changing a light bulb.

Chas

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by Charles

The plan was not to be "out". The plan was to station our troops next to Iran, and Saudi Arabia, where we could apply pressure on the Islamic extremists, and the governments which allowed them to flourish.

We still have troops in Germany, Japan, and North Korea. Hell, we still have troops in the Philliphines.

Our troops ousted Saddam, and defeated the Iraq military in what, app 30 days?
That part went very well. I will admit, I don't think that Bush, or his advisors, were prepared for the intensity of the insurgent campaign which followed. Apparently, Gen. Petraeus was.

As I said, war does not equate with changing a light bulb.

Chas

" defeated the Iraq military in what, app 30 days?"
Yes, that PART of the war was ok.
The occupation was not done well and there was still no positive reason to go in the first place.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by painter

Yes they do. But you and I seem to be the only seasoned citizens who know that. I guess you have to be there to know how it works.

Seasoned citizens, I like it, has a certain cachet.

[painter]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Seasoned citizens, I like it, has a certain cachet.

Better than a lame duck...eh?