I agree with you FAO that the anti-war pacifists are very welcome to display their leadership by removing themselves from the equation. I would like to add to that the Global Warming hysterics who are so ready to strip away our rights, destroy our economy, and micromanage out lives in their absurd quest to affect something that is not even understood.

They should show leadership and commitment by ceasing their personal emission of CO2. It is time for them to take action, step up to the plate, demonstrate their commitment. Any who are unwilling to do this are not worth listening to. And those who do, well, we’ll listen to them after they prove they are worthy…

I for one am perfectly willing to allow any pacifist who desire to follow Ghandi’s advise to do so. As long as they don’t hurt anyone else in the process (that would be very unpacifistic anyway), I am perfectly willing to allow them all to kill themselves in protest. Might I suggest Cyanide. Mixed with Koolaid it worked wonders for the followers of Jim Jones.

Mattias, your commander had every right to incarcerate a soldier who was AWOL. You would’ve been guilty of disobeying a direct order had you refused to guard the prisoner. There is a substantial difference between guarding a prisoner who has violated military regulations and committing war crimes. Ask your father to explain the difference to you. As an officer, he should know, seeing as you do not.

Here’s a thought to ponder. Why is it that anti government anarchists tend to become big government should control everything liberals ? How does that change occur? Wouldn’t it be more logical for the Anarchists to become limited government Conservatives or Libertarians? Of course, seeing the kind of people who tend to be anarchists in college, common sense really isn’t their strong suit. These are the same people who get multiple body piercings, brandings, and outrageous vulgar tattoos and then wonder why businesses won’t hire them. Here’s a hint to anyone out there that this describes, first impressions matter. If you’re trying to put forth an image of being a trouble making nonconformist, you’re probably going to succeed. However, most companies aren’t looking for trouble making nonconformists.

A little bit of advice for those thinking about getting a tattoo, before you get it think about whether you’d want your small grandchildren to see it and choose its design and location accordingly. Tattoos are reasonably permanent. While they are removable, it isn’t cheap, painfree or guaranteed successful. The last price I heard for tattoo removal was around $10,000 per square inch. I’m certain that has gone down, but insurance doesn’t cover tat removal. Even at $1000 per square inch, that 3 inch by 4 inch tattoo that might look good now, will cost as much as a small new car to remove later.

US Soldiers do not intentionally target civilians. That is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

As for Iraq having a civil war, I just can’t see it. Sectarian violence? Yes. A civil war? No. Here is my logic. Iraq has a population in excess of 25 million. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect at least 10 percent of that population to be actively involved in hostilities were it a true civil war? That would mean that at least 2.5 million Iraqis would have to be fighting against each other and that is simply not happening. The numbers of active combatants other than the Iraqi police and Army are estimated at under 10,000 among both the Sunnis and the Shia militias. Al Quada in Iraq being under 500. That means that with over 200,000 members in the Iraqi police and army, the total number of Iraqi combatants total less than 1% of the total population. That hardly sounds like a civil war does it? A small rebellion perhaps but hardly a civil war. Hell we had more illegal Mexicans than that walking down the streets of LA or Phoenix last spring. Does that mean we’re having a civil war with the Mexicans in this country illegally? They kill and wound more American citizens annually than the Iraqi terrorists do.

I’m off for the weekend but I’ll be in touch.

If you want my email address, Peejz will give it to you if you need to talk, vent, or sound out ideas.

I live in an area where the unions almost destroyed the town with their extreme socialist ideas. A few of those goofballs still think profits are stolen from the workers and that after 20 years the workers should own a piece of the company. Those are the tamer ideas.

The UAW local was demanding that John Deere pay for union member’s hearing loss no matter what the cause, and they were getting the backing of the local Democrat hacks.

I often ask myself (and liberals) how they intend to fight terrorists after we leave Iraq and turn over the worlds oil to terrorists. They don’t have any answer. They look at me like I’m nuts but I don’t think I’m nuts when 2,973 people died in ONE day here on our shores. That doesn’t even begin to count the people who have died in other countries.

And the bumper sticker I see alot around here that says “When Clinton lied no one died” just about makes me puke.

But I ramble….today I’m really pissed over an issue so I’m venting. Thanks G _ d there are people in this country who seem to have some modicum of common sense. Hope you have a great weekend.:cool: