Knowing what you know now would you still support the withdrawal of troops from Iraq

Last-12-Exit

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

BS44325

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

brianlux

rr165892 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

Brian,If we want to help those here at home we are going to need to do it not just with Govt but with the benevolence of the private sector.Not just charities and orginazations but Also wealthy individuals and buisness charities(think Ronald McDonald House,Bill Gates charities,etc).
It is crucial that we protect our interests from a financial perspective,in order to continue the work we need to do at home.
We can't say Fuck it and let other economies and Markets take big hits and losses hits without feeling it's butterfly effect here.Even the ones some think are evil(oil,resources) must be kept stable to not offset our markets here.

I know it dosent fit into the utopian vision of peace love and help ,but you can't have the utopia and help the helpless without it.As strong as we are as a union we have an obligation to reach beyond our borders to also help.

For example ,Yes we have drought here,but should we not try to also bring clean water to remote areas of Africa?Or should we not respond to Enviormental or Natural issues because we have them also at home.

And yes the big bad military machine is also needed worldwide to keep transport ,rail and air and shipping lanes free and clear of pirates and those who want to stop the free flow of commerce goods and services.Its our job to help police the worlds idiots who want to do no good stuff with Nuclear items not just weapons but waste.

We have good allies all over who maybe couldn't stand up to bigger,stronger regimes.We can't let them be bullied.It will hurt us domestically in the long run.
And we cannot just sit by while non state actors continue to try to force there perversions onto innocent people.Letting them take over countries and gain power is not the right thing to do.Regardless of who gave them power to begin with.

Yes, there are a few wealthy philanthropists but, really, this in not the aim of corporate America.

As for the classic vision of Utopia- that might someday exist in a few isolated areas after the complete collapse of civilization. It might be able to come about with a massive awakening or enlightenment of sorts. But it always amuses me when I am seen an a Utopian. I don't expect my idealist notions or a Utopian society to evolve. I only aim for the top of the mountain hoping we might actually get half way there.

As much as I sometimes probably seem like the type to sit wearing beads over a tie-dyed t-shirt smoking dope all day hugging a tree while chanting a mantra, burning incense, soaking in a wood burning hot tub, and dropping acid while listening to psychedelic music, I'm not that one-sided a kind of guy. I've never worn beads.

I'll get back to you on this some more later but I'm really in the mood to listen to some Fugazi right now.

hippies listen to the Dead not Fugazi.So there you go.But if it makes you feel better,I think you would look stunning in beads.lol

Beads- yikes! Dread the thought! I never considered myself a hippie. I guess if I had to give myself a label I would call myself a conservatively progressive punk semi-hippie radical iconoclast and audio/biblio/zoophile with environmental concerns with mixed philanthropic and misanthropic tendencies.

But anyway- no we should not forget or disparage our ability and (sometimes) propensity to be altruistic and generous but that is not the aim of the military industrial complex that turns the gears of our society.

badbrains

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

Halifax2TheMax

rr165892 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

Brian,If we want to help those here at home we are going to need to do it not just with Govt but with the benevolence of the private sector.Not just charities and orginazations but Also wealthy individuals and buisness charities(think Ronald McDonald House,Bill Gates charities,etc).
It is crucial that we protect our interests from a financial perspective,in order to continue the work we need to do at home.
We can't say Fuck it and let other economies and Markets take big hits and losses hits without feeling it's butterfly effect here.Even the ones some think are evil(oil,resources) must be kept stable to not offset our markets here.

I know it dosent fit into the utopian vision of peace love and help ,but you can't have the utopia and help the helpless without it.As strong as we are as a union we have an obligation to reach beyond our borders to also help.

For example ,Yes we have drought here,but should we not try to also bring clean water to remote areas of Africa?Or should we not respond to Enviormental or Natural issues because we have them also at home.

And yes the big bad military machine is also needed worldwide to keep transport ,rail and air and shipping lanes free and clear of pirates and those who want to stop the free flow of commerce goods and services.Its our job to help police the worlds idiots who want to do no good stuff with Nuclear items not just weapons but waste.

We have good allies all over who maybe couldn't stand up to bigger,stronger regimes.We can't let them be bullied.It will hurt us domestically in the long run.
And we cannot just sit by while non state actors continue to try to force there perversions onto innocent people.Letting them take over countries and gain power is not the right thing to do.Regardless of who gave them power to begin with.

Say what? Are you serious?

rgambs

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

There's some South Americans that would beg to differ. A thorough history of our SA relations shows your nonsense to be nonsense.

rgambs

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Does anyone have a count on how many democratically elected governments we have ousted?
Drowned Out probably does. There's been a few throughout the years...more than a few probably.

brianlux

Hopefully this doesn't stray from the topic at hand but we have been talking about what the role of the US is in world affairs. We always poke our noses into everything. Maybe a better idea would be to go back to looking at who we are and what we are about. I came across this quote in reading more Bill Zimmerman today and this idea seems to me to make good, solid, logical sense:

"Our revolutionary objective, to build an egalitarian society free from discrimination with a guaranteed standard of living for all, remained an ultimate goal."

Hard to argue with that. And if we became that kind of society, others would likely want the same. Rather than going and and trying to police and bully other countries, we could help set into motion similar objectives.

BS44325

brianlux said:

Hopefully this doesn't stray from the topic at hand but we have been talking about what the role of the US is in world affairs. We always poke our noses into everything. Maybe a better idea would be to go back to looking at who we are and what we are about. I came across this quote in reading more Bill Zimmerman today and this idea seems to me to make good, solid, logical sense:

"Our revolutionary objective, to build an egalitarian society free from discrimination with a guaranteed standard of living for all, remained an ultimate goal."

Hard to argue with that. And if we became that kind of society, others would likely want the same. Rather than going and and trying to police and bully other countries, we could help set into motion similar objectives.

Cheers to that. Where I quibble is that when our egalitarian society rubs up against polar opposite societies the oppressive forces of those societies tend to react very badly. At that point the question becomes do we respond and if so how?

brianlux

BS44325 said:

brianlux said:

Hopefully this doesn't stray from the topic at hand but we have been talking about what the role of the US is in world affairs. We always poke our noses into everything. Maybe a better idea would be to go back to looking at who we are and what we are about. I came across this quote in reading more Bill Zimmerman today and this idea seems to me to make good, solid, logical sense:

"Our revolutionary objective, to build an egalitarian society free from discrimination with a guaranteed standard of living for all, remained an ultimate goal."

Hard to argue with that. And if we became that kind of society, others would likely want the same. Rather than going and and trying to police and bully other countries, we could help set into motion similar objectives.

Cheers to that. Where I quibble is that when our egalitarian society rubs up against polar opposite societies the oppressive forces of those societies tend to react very badly. At that point the question becomes do we respond and if so how?

Simple: hit them with flowers.

But seriously, war has not worked so why not try peace and setting a good example that others will be attracted to? What do we have to loose when we are closing in on collapse anyway?

gimmesometruth27

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

yes we will. and we have. and we do.

gimmesometruth27

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

Last-12-Exit

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

rgambs

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

Perhaps they would have had we not supported coups in Syria ('49), Iran ('53), Iraq ('63, never came to fruition), and Afghanistan (from '69-79).

badbrains

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

Sorry, if you've never been to the Middle East then you can't make a statement like this. I've been there numerous times and they coexisted until we stuck our nose there.

rgambs

Maybe throw in Turkey 1980. I'm not placing blame solely on the US, but we have meddled for sure.

Last-12-Exit

badbrains said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

Sorry, if you've never been to the Middle East then you can't make a statement like this. I've been there numerous times and they coexisted until we stuck our nose there.

So the entire problem in the middle east is the United states fault? They have been fighting for 1500 years and America is to blame. Sorry, I won't buy that. And no, I don't have to visit the middle east to comment on it. I've never been to Miami either, does that mean I can't comment on the dolphins?

badbrains

Last-12-Exit said:

badbrains said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

Sorry, if you've never been to the Middle East then you can't make a statement like this. I've been there numerous times and they coexisted until we stuck our nose there.

So the entire problem in the middle east is the United states fault? They have been fighting for 1500 years and America is to blame. Sorry, I won't buy that. And no, I don't have to visit the middle east to comment on it. I've never been to Miami either, does that mean I can't comment on the dolphins?

It is now yes. Show me a place in the entire Middle East that has a conflict going on and were "not" some how involved. Name me 1 conflict.

As for the Dolphins, ya they suck.

callen

Christian Armies in Middle East will never make things better.

The argument that we are there to help the folks in Middle East is silly considering those that support war want to kill the Evildoers which I feel = Muslims.

We pussy foot around and work so hard to justify our positions yet history gives us the answers.

callen

Last-12-Exit said:

badbrains said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

badbrains said:

BS44325 said:

Last-12-Exit said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

rr165892 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

americans are responsible for the pain in suffering and poverty and death in their own country. how about we start fixing that first.

I'm not opposed to seeing what's happening in our own backyard and working on fixing some of what is broken(as long as we aren't just throwing more wasteful entitlements around).but you still can't ignore our interests around the globe.Unfortunatly they all tie together.

But rr, what are our interests around the globe? International cooperation, mutual exchange of cultures and working for the common good? Or control, power, and appropriation of resources? And which of those is ultimately better for everyone?

exactly my thoughts. what are our interests around the world?

so far our interests are to have a military footprint in every corner of the world to make sure the developing countries don't get all upity and try to throw us out. we will take their land, take their resources, keep their people poor, insure that friendly parties are in power, and just maintain status quo. that is the american interest. america uber alles.

We will?

Of course not. It's just absolute nonsense.

Maybe for someone who cant comprehend facts as you.

it is called "living in a bubble", nart.

either that poster is very young, or very naive. or very brainwashed by right wing radio and tv. either way, i am not going to hold it against them.

I know it has happened. But to say it happens all the time and everywhere is believing every conspiracy theory you read. The United states is not the root problem in the middle east. Is the US a source of suffering? Sure. But from my view, the people of the middle east should learn coexist. It seems like they have never grasped that concept.

Sorry, if you've never been to the Middle East then you can't make a statement like this. I've been there numerous times and they coexisted until we stuck our nose there.

So the entire problem in the middle east is the United states fault? They have been fighting for 1500 years and America is to blame. Sorry, I won't buy that. And no, I don't have to visit the middle east to comment on it. I've never been to Miami either, does that mean I can't comment on the dolphins?

I agree, we didn't start but we also are not the solution. Also agree one can offer opinions without being there But should realize sometimes information gotten from second parties can be tainted.

Peeling away the news perspective can be done. I use empathy and put myself in shoes of Iraqi citizen then see a Christian tank rolling down my street.

Done after that. We need to get out and stay out.

Drop some medicine/ food maybe?