i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
Will:
Comments like "if only Saddam had some of his nukes left", which I've read on this board I feel justified in ascribing to anti-Americanism.
Those who are anti-war who haven't made such comments (such as yourself and Robyn) I don't think are anti-American. I do think that a lot of the arguments painting the US in the same league as Saddam Hussein, or writing off the war as merely about oil, are in varying degrees delusional or just plain wrong.
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
Will:
I hope you wont take offense at this, but I've noticed that you always seem to use the distraction tactic in your posts on Iraq.
The above is a typical example. When we talk about Iraq you ask what about all the other dictators. When we talk about what should be done now, you bring up what was/wasn't done years ago.
If you want to talk about other dictators and regimes, you will find that I am very likely to agree with you about their despotism. Or if you want to talk about what has been done in previous years, you will find that I probably agree with you as to whether the actions were right or wrong.
But, the topic of these discussions is what to do about a specific regime at a specific time: Saddam Hussein and right now. My personal hope is that Saddam Hussein is merely the first of many dictators to fall, and that the US has learned valuable lessons from past dealings with him, but I firmly believe that military force is the only feasible way to get rid of him now, and that getting rid of him is a must if Iraqis are to have any hope of a better future.
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
Each of your comments have been shredded by better minds than mine in other threads.
Well I must have missed those threads. All I've seen is a combination of delusion and anti-Americanism.
So do explain it to me, Robyn. Is it that Saddam's regime isn't in fact brutal and despotic? Perhaps the Iraqi people haven't suffered horribly for 12 years? Or is it that diplomacy and sanctions have been in fact a stunning success?
Or if the Hussein regime is brutal and dangerous to the Iraqi people and the Middle East, then please tell me exactly how it can be dealt with without using the military? May there are some resolutions that could yet be tried that he will respond to? Perhaps a nice rousing chorus of Kumbaya will awaken his tender sensibilities?
So I wait with baited breath for you to lay out the anti-war faction's great answer to the question of Iraq. A solution that doesn't mean a return to twelve years of poverty and suffering and failed diplomacy, yet avoids the use of military force.
I can't wait!
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
when he was gassing the Kurds we just sat back and did nothing because at the time he was seen as an ally of America.
One mistake of inaction does not excuse another.
I feel for all my other humans regardless of the differences.
But obviously not enough to support action to free them from a brutal regime.
I think 99% of those Iraq's want to live and enjoy life as much as we do.
I know that they do. I've talked to Iraqis, I've talked to Arabs, I've been to their countries. They want the same as we do: happiness for their families and prosperity. The only way Iraqis have a chance of that is if the regime of Hussein is removed. Why are you against the only way to remove that regime?
I like millions of others have not bought the reasons why we are going to war,
What do you need to see? Saddam Hussein murder someone in your presence?
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
Simon: with respect, I find it mind boggling that the anti-war protestors cannot grasp this most obvious situation through their pink-tinted glasses. You don't like war? Then come up with an alternative that will not perpetuate the miserable diplomatic failure of the past 12 years!
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
It goes like this Robyn:
There are two ways to deal with the regime of Saddam Hussein.
There is diplomacy, or there is military action.
Diplomacy has been tried for the past twelve years. During that time the regime of Hussein has continued. Close to a million children have died prematurely, hundreds of thousands have been brutalised, beaten, raped, and murdered in a variety of sadistic ways. Diplomacy has failed utterly.
Then there is the military option. Bite the bullet, fight a (hopefully) short war, and destroy the regime. This removes any reason for sanctions and opens the country to massive amounts of aid. This is the option that is now finally being acknowledged as the only way to deal with Hussein.
If the war hadn't gone ahead, or if it is stopped now, it will be back to diplomacy, and the regime will survive and continue its brutalities. In protesting the war, that is the alternative you advocate by default.
So, next time you protest, please do give a thought or two to the children for whom "peace" means disease and starvation, or the women who would be left in the rough hands of the Republican Guard, or the men who would continue to be thrown into the plastic shredders for the entertainment of the Hussein family. It is their suffering that would purchase your "peace".
Expatbrit
i went to my first peace rally and march tonight.
it was incredible.
at one time there were probably 350 of us all joined in solidarity.
Well, I did the only thing that a red blooded American gal can do in this situation, I raised up my skirt and showed everybody some leg.
Better keep that trick with your leg up your sleeve, Robyn.
Because if the anti-war protestors get their way, one day you'll probably have to try it with the Republican Guard. Given their record of rape, I doubt it'll get you anywhere, as thousands of Iraqi women know all to well.
Maybe next time you protest, you could spare a thought for them, for by protesting against the war, you advocate the continuation of the regime that encourages their atrocities.
Expatbrit
a lot of us can have different opinions about going war... some can support it... other can protest it... and thats what freedom of speech is all about.
but there's a threshold and we're past that threshold... we're at war.
so no matter what your opinions were before or even now no one can change the fact that we are at war and that won't change no matter how much those that oppose it try.
Unfortunately Manchester United are now top of the league.
Impeach Ferguson!
Expatbrit
i cannot tell you how angry i am right now.
the rumor is that i was pregnant before my husband and i were married.
we were both witnesses and were married at the hall.
Moejojo:
I'm sorry to hear of that. It's sickening that they have to try and blacken your character because they can't accept the simple fact of your having rational reasons for not wanting to be a JW.
While I would agree that it is best to try and not let these rumours affect you negatively, you might wish to do a bit of research and find out some specifics. I don't know your circumstances, but it's possible that the JW's wont stop at circulating rumours amongst themselves. Should they meet people you know in field service, they may well spread these rumours as a form of "damage control". This could adversely affect your personal/business interests, and that is definitely sue-able.
This does happen, I've seen it. Ethics and responsibility are concepts that JW's are remarkably unencumbered by.
Expatbrit
in their rush to bomb iraq, it seem that america has cut a deal with turkey to allow overflights, thus allowing b52's from the uk to launch cruise missiles etc ... .
the turkish army is moving into northern iraq !!.
10,000 troops.
Maybe the UN can pass a resolution to deter the Turks.....
Expatbrit
