If they genuinely believe this they are stupider than I thought. Everyone knows the US is basing it's timetable of withdrawal on when the violences quells. Continued violence is going to prolong that and keep us there longer. Answer this Fras, or Indi who thanked it. Am I missing something? Are they that stupid? I think the answer is no, you and Fras are just wrong in thinking they only want the US to withdraw. They want the US to withdraw and THEM to look like victors. Should have mentioned that for the sake of completeness

What I meant by what you have quoted there, Mish, is that those caught on the battlefield (which is really hard to do because they're just like every other Iraq with weapons, except the only difference is that they point their guns at US troops and shoot) should be shot and killed on the battlefield and we should stop taking prisoners


Umm, just about everyone knows it is meant to bypass the US constitution, they mention that in about every news article ever written about Guantanamo. Similarly we have CIA locations in Egypt and other random countries to do interrogations that can involve some light torture because we "can't" do that here in the US

Hardly Indi. Religious fundamentalist nutbars don't even begin to cover it? I can tell you don't live in the US because you don't have a clue

Guessing from the people you likely associate with, they're probably a bunch of pretentious "smarter-than-thou" asshats

That's the game Indi likes to play, she says that intellectuals always side with her and that she is just oh so much smarter than everyone else and sometimes can avoid real arguments as a result of this (cough other thread cough).


Actually blue the implication is clearly there. She says she knows many Americans completely embarassed by our foreign policy and they are all very intelligent, strongly suggesting that is the side an intelligent individual would make

I could say similar things as Indi too just for the hell of it. I have 2 friends at school, the ones who probably agree with me most, and they are both engineering physics majors, at the best school for undergrad engineering physics in the world. I would consider them extremely smart and guess what? They agree that this half-assing a war and complaining about American "atrocities" in Iraq is bullshit. Oh look at that, some other people agree with me, I'm now more correct

I said this before and I'll say it again. Why don't you make a proper analogy and say this invading country spends hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars building new SCHOOLS for us, new HOSPITALS for us, new ROADS for us, new INFRASTRUCTURE of every type, and just an assload of money in general. And to make the analogy complete, the US would have had to have been FIRST a dictatorship and the invading country made it a DEMOCRACY. Don't you see how piss-poor your comparison was? Yeah, I'd be up in arms over that

This isn't an actual war, it's policing a bunch of civilians with AKs, IEDs, and RPGs. The WAR took what, 3 weeks, when we fought a legitimate army in uniform. NOW the people are dressed in civilian clothes and kill American soldiers secretely, and then put away their guns and walk around American soldiers in the daylight. Do soldiers act like that? Or do murderers act like that?

__________________
"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul"

Congratulations, DM. You are part of the problem.

I lived in the US for almost a decade.

Intellectuals DO agree w/me. Just look at the blue/red state election results for Bush vs. Gore. As for my intellect, that's pretty self evident. I don't need to apologize for it, if it makes others uncomfortable, that's their problem.

As for avoiding an argument, not at all. I'm trying to direct ppl to have a productive one, tho. A concept you seem unaware of.

I have to add, tho, that at least you are discussing it. I don't agree w/most of your opinions, but I expect that given your personal background. By at least engaging in dialogue you allow for the possibility of ideas to change, on both sides. Its the ppl who have their heads so far stuck up their ass that they don't even want to think about it that I really find a waste of food & air. Unfortunately, there are an awful lot of them.

Both sides my ass. You don't want to change your views on shit. All you want to do is continue to run your mouth bashing the United States and hope that you can turn our opinions around. At least you left this country. I wish that every other ****ing hippie that doesn't like the country they live in... get the **** out.

Yeah, you're intelligent. But you're also an egotistical snob sometimes.

You always bring up the fact that you're intelligent. You always demean others and tell them to read up on the topic more before talking with you, because you obviously know so much more than everyone on every subject. If people don't agree with you, they're stupid.

I didn't bring it up, DM did. As for the rest, that is your interpretation & it largely stems from your own insecurities. I never call anyone stupid. I have a gift, much like some ppl have a gift for helping ppl or doing art, music, etc. I'm aware of it as such and, contrary to what you say, I don't hold anyone else in contempt for having a different set of skills.

Its a pretty normal human response, tho. Its not the first time I've had to deal with it. IRL, I'm more delicate about how I express my opinions to others--I do recognize it takes time for most others to get up to speed on my ideas. But here is the internet & thoughts are left for those who wish to mull over at their leisure. Or not. Shrug.

I know this fits in your post, but it seems more designed to inflame than to support your argument, and you're fully aware of it.

Yeah, you don't call anyone or their opinions stupid. Looks like you even went so far as to call someone an idiot. But you're allowed, because you're one of those high intellect individuals and none of us are on your level.

Thanks Aegis, for asking about that. No, it wasn't intended that way for the forum. I was referring to how I interact w/ppl in real life.

Cain, you are sadly very insecure. Its a pity. You don't know the difference b/t calling an idea & a person stupid.

DM is a different case. I expect more from him, true.

Yeah, that's it.

Well, thank you for the thanks.

y wuld i kno wut tha diffrince iz? i aint as smuhrt az u r duh!

Good you caught that. So there are some neurons firing up there. But you do exhibit signs of insecurity. What you want to do about it, tho, is up to you.

You'd rather try to 'teach' me how to post properly, ironic coming from you, instead of focussing on the issue we were discussing. I simply don't have the time to go thru all your posts & come up w/all the insults you have given ppl, lol.

DM knows full well he has slung at me just as hard, lol. But he also knows I'm not insecure if someone calls me stupid, idiot, or whatever.

*sigh* I wish OV posted more. Unlike me, tho, he can't be bothered to try to change anyone's opinion. I notice you had some issues w/him also, Cain. If you think I'm intellectually offensive, you have fun times ahead to be on his receiving end, lol. The image that comes to mind is flies & laser cannons.

Yeah? I insult people... so what? I don't deny it. The difference is, I don't claim to be superior because of my intellect. I try to avoid being in these heavy debates because NO ONE is going to change their opinion. All it serves to do is provide a little bitching thread for people to whine and cry in. But when you say that it's all of the highly intelligent people that have strong educational backgrounds that agree with your opinion, that's bullshit.

I wish the US would just ****ing take Canada over already.

Cain, I could continue to reel you in, but frankly I have no interest. Its the initial argument I was posting for, not to analyze your psyche over the internet. I'm not going to change my behaviour, it has worked far too well for me in my life. If it really offends, just ignore my posts. Or try to see past what you find offensive & look for the main ideas. Then decide for yourself whether they have any merit or not. Consider it a learning experience.

For the record, I still really enjoy your posts Cain, & I think you are a good person. I said this before.