Boycott the Saudi's. dont buy their gas! <-----

[themacko]

Originally posted by doemel
Boycott the whole industry! Use public transport where possible, start car sharing pools...

I can't agree with doemel's statements enough. With all the technology we have, it's amazing we are still riding around in cars using the basic engine design of 100 years ago. Combustion engines are only about 15% productive, that means we lose about 85% of the energry created from fuel in heat.

If you really want to make a statement, walk ... like Gandhi did.

[toast]

Off-topic (anyway the topic is so stoopid…</flame>) : is this you, themacko ?

[chevy]

Paranoia never helped to solve any conflict.

[dixonbm]

I'm an American. I really am tired of this debate. I believe my country may be acting a bit rash. I do read a few international sites, the BBC, German papers(occassionally using my rough German), and the Bangkok Post. But when I do I still come away feeling the same. When I look to the middle east I see a group that largely resents us. I'm sure they have their reasons. We've been screwing with them for years, although so has France and Britain, even longer in their case. I also see a dictator in Iraq, who we have sadly supported in the past, play diplomatic head games with the world. He has been doing this for the past 12 years. My question (rhetorical) is why didn't we do something when he kicked out the inspectors in the first place. Sadaam's end was marked long ago. For some reason the world just stood idly by.

I believe my President is just in going after this man who has defied the world through a diplomatic chess game. How many overtimes is Sadaam going to get?

I also believe my President is just persuing any other group or country that in any way threatens the safety and integrity of my country. You can say what you will about Americans not using their brains. Maybe we are blinded by the tragedy on 11. September. All I do know is that most Americans are willing to stand behind their president and destroy those who would threaten America. America will not lie idle while the threats against us grow.

I leave those in Europe with some words. You might be next.

I have said my piece. I do not intend to comment anymore in this column.

God Bless us and keep us safe during this time of imminent danger.

[chevy]

If I would still believe in God, I would suggest he blesses everybody, including the Iraqi population.

One bomb may kill Saddam. Not many people will cry.

Who will be killed by the other bombs ?

What do you suggest by "Europe may be next" ? Do you suggest that no terrorism attack have been made in Europe yet ? Or do you suggest that Iraq organised 9.11 and that "they" will organize something similar in Europe ? Or do you suggest that Europe will be the next target of the US army ?

Yes, the danger is imminent, and this is why European diplomats work that hard to prevent it. We in Europe most often think that war is the last solution, the worst one. Sometimes it applies... most often they are better ways. Less impessive, less fun for TVs, less "orgasmic" for some people, less revengeful, less unwinding, less "kick-assing", but so much efficient on the long term.

[Cat]

I believe my President is just in going after this man who has defied the world through a diplomatic chess game.

It would be just and justified if and only if he would go after him like any normal citizen goes after a criminal: not by beating him up but by trail and court, thus through the UN, and by proving his guilt. What unnerves the rest of the world is that the USA seem a bully rather than a police officer. Moreover the support the USA have given in the past to what they now call terrorists throw the shadow of empty rethoric on otherwise noble motives.

Didn't the USA unilaterally cancel treaties like Kyoto (environment) and ABM (nuclear non-proliferation)? Shouldn't the UN send some inspectors to check the nuclear developments in the USA?

[xaqintosh]

Originally posted by Cat
Shouldn't the UN send some inspectors to check the nuclear developments in the USA?

The thing is, the US doesn't have a history of violence toward other nations using atomic bombs or weapons of mass destruction unless it was defensive. Iraq has *relatively* recently invaded Kuwait, not to mention their country is a dictatorship, which in itself is bad enough IMO.

[Zammy-Sam]

Originally posted by dixonbm
All I do know is that most Americans are willing to stand behind their president and destroy those who would threaten America.

There is the problem! "destroy". The mentality I see behind this is:
a boy hits you in your face and you just hit back (not to say how much harder).

Does this make you different than the guy who hit you first?