Re: [OT] I hate being American

From: Everett Hickey (everett_at_ev1.net)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 16:10:50 -0600

"Franz Heymann" <notfranz.heymann@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:cr1tib$nbd$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> "Everett Hickey" <everett@ev1.net> wrote in message
> news:10t8dnjav3nvub7@corp.supernews.com...
>
> [snip]
>
> > For one thing, our military spending is considerably
> > higher, because unlike many smaller countries we actually have to
> worry
> > about being defensible...
>
> It is a great pity that Iraq did not worry more about being defensible
> before you barged in there.

While people over here (the US) are generally upset over how the thing was
handled (both before and after), complaints about it having been done at all
don't affect us a great deal, considering that it's widely agreed upon that
it needed to be done. It didn't need to be done as badly as it was, and the
timing wasn't great... but unlike Iran and other neighbors of his that we
don't get along well with, he was the only one who had repeatedly used ANY
weapon at his disposal to kill ANYONE who stood in his way (just ask Iran,
or your average Kurd). We knew Iran had similar weapons, but have never
been known to use them (plus they've always been a bit more honest, if
blunt, than Hussein - and they do change leadership periodically).

How many unstoppable human disasters have occured in Europe (where racial
holocaust seems to be a somewhat common occurance) because everyone was
afraid to get their hands a little dirty until it was too late? Once people
begin to die by the millions (as they often do), it's a little late to start
worrying about putting a stop to what never should have been allowed to
start.

And Iraq DID worry about being defensible. What did you think most of that
UN Food program was paying for? Food? Another reason the US isn't quite so
big on shelling out cash to other countries - much better to give them the
goods we intended to give them, and not worry about what they're doing with
the cash. If they're starving, give them food. If they're freezing, give
them heaters and blankets and clothing. If someone's harassing them, and
their enemies aren't willing to talk, give them bullets - at extremely high
speed. If you look at the actual aid given out by the US, we supply more
FOOD for the rest of the world than even the most prosperous agricultural
nations, even after you count cash value.

History, both recent and otherwise, demonstrates that talk is a great way to
resolve most disputes... but when it fails, it all means nothing if the
words weren't backed up by a willingness to act on them. That applies to
aid as well as anything else.

Relevant Pages

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