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DanS
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Kickball Capital of the World
Jan 1970
time: 00:34
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quote:
We've found our "only" ally hasn't been there for us lately - Timor being the latest example - we had to do it ourselves. |
We leave the Pacific small-scale missionary work to you guys. You guys are better at it anyway.
Last edited by DanS on 27-03-2004 at 06:07
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Alexander's Horse
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Panmunjon, hands up!
Jan 1970
time: 15:34
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Well quite apart from anything else noone could accuse of not playing our part in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Getting ripped off on those wheat contracts was a real poke in the eye - the sort of thing that the public pays little attention to but in government circles is noticed and duly noted for the next time we're asked to help.
Wheat was our major export to Iraq. To add insult to injury we're now being asked to forgive debt for past wheat sales. And it isn't like Iraq can't pay - just ask Halliburton.
Last edited by Alexander's Horse on 27-03-2004 at 06:18
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Patroklos
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Back home in good ole Norfolk VA
Dec 2001
time: 05:34
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Well bieng that Iraq has one overwhelming industry, oil, wouldn't be prudent to get that one running as quickly as possible. Because guess what it takes to run oil refineries, pipelines, storage centers, docking and loading facilities, security, and other oil related industries? People!
And guess what a very large portion of the Iraqi working populous were employed doing before Iraq went to hell? They worked in oil refineries, pipelines, storage centers, docking and loading facilities, security, and other oil related industries. Shock!
So you want us to reduce unemployment but not supply jobs? You want us increace the standard of living but not allow anyone to draw sallary? You want the enconomy of Iraq to rebound but not through the growth of industry? Awesome line of thought there. you get a cookie 
Your right that any growth in Iraq would be good because the started and the level of nothing. The same level they were at under Saddam genius (and he put them there).
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Tripledoc
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Some people might say that the Ausrtalian and Spanish contingents are merely symbolic. However, if these forces are withdrawn it will not merely mean the actual physical removal, but it will also mean that if by some freak of nature, the US decided that the UN should take over, then both Spain and Australia will be unconvinced by the need to send the troops back in, and possibly boost the numbers.
So the main problem for Bush is that while there is no evidence that the resistance has been eroded, the possibility of outsourcing security to allies is becoming diminished. And even if Bush now wished for the UN to take over it would be impractical, because no one would have the will to supply troops. Especially if the allies who fall by the wayside are not handed out some sort of punishment. Nor can Bush send in more American troops.
So Bush's hands are pretty much tied. Meanwhile the resistance in Iraq has many options open to them still, and time is on their side.
As far as I can see the attempts at Iraqification has failed.
So it is all downhill from now on.
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Tripledoc
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quote:
Originally posted by Giancarlo
Not quite. Things are going well, and like it or not attacks are down in Iraq. The media just pays more attention to each individual one to make it seem like they are more, for inept simple minds as your own. |
American soldiers are still getting killed. I have not been keeping track but my guess is that it is somewhere around 3 a week. Add to that the number of Iraqi security personel killed.
And regarding the media interest it is important to remember that the the dead are flown in at night and the press is barred from filming the burials which I understand is done in secret. Add to that the wounded of which quite a few are seriously maimed for life.
I think the mainstream press is handling this with some discretion, and not overplaying it at all.
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Tripledoc
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quote:
Originally posted by Verto
Only in the eyes of the anti-Bush, anti-US crowd, who would love the chance to laugh at America, no matter what the costs to Iraq or the world. |
And the people who are responsible for taking the troops for a ride, are presumably being very serious?
Recall the phrase, "Bring them on"?
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Tripledoc
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Ok so the number of attacks are lower but the casualties are higher. Is this good news or bad news?
To me it is a sign that the opposition is less trigger happy, and yet more effective. Bad news.
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Tripledoc
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Hey wait a minute. You yourself said that the PERCEPTION was that Iraq is calming down. Then I say maybe but there are still more dead people. So its calm but there are more dead people! Is this some kind of newspeak. "All quiet on the eastern front, only 42 killed and 250 wounded" It seems to me that someone is hoping that people won't notice that the number of killed has DOUBLED from last month. Is this progress?
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Tripledoc
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Oh I see. Refering to American combat casualities is now considered anti-American. Do you reside in la-la land?
No, you are right. Nothing to see here! Everything is under control!
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Apolyton Time is 00:34. |
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27-03-2004 05:10
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