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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 22, 2008 23:32:18 GMT -5
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
“The world is waiting to love America again.” That is a quote from a recent editorial in a British newspaper, and many Europeans are hoping Barack Obama will provide them with just that chance. When Obama travels to Europe later this week, it’s expected he’ll be treated like a rock star – mobbed by cheering fans in Berlin, Paris and London.
A recent poll from England found 70% of Italians, 67% of Germans, 65% of the French and 49% of Britons would vote for Obama. Compare that to Republican John McCain, who gets support from 15% of Italians, 6% of Germans, 8% of the French and 14% in Britain.
Books about Obama are hot sellers in France, and some European newspapers describe him as a “John Kennedy of our times.” After eight years of unilateral “my way or the highway” George Bush, Europeans are hungry for the change Obama is offering, especially when it comes to America’s role on the world stage.
It’s been a long time since the visit by an American politician has been so highly anticipated in Europe. Some European supporters are mindful that too much swooning over Obama could actually hurt the candidate back here in the states. The Illinois senator could be seen as elitist among some working-class voters if he’s perceived as being too chummy with the Europeans.
The other caution flag for Obama is his relative inexperience in foreign affairs, which might explain why Obama was careful to point out that this trip was going to mostly be spent listening rather than offering a lot of his own views.
Here’s my question to you: Why do polls indicate four European countries prefer Barack Obama to John McCain by a margin of 5 to1?
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 0:36:05 GMT -5
Not sure I know how to articulate this....where, and upon whom do they conduct these polls, and how reliable are they?
I'm still not sure why, yet, but Obama as president of the united states of america might have it's pitfalls...what those are, are yet to be seen.
What I can think of, though, is how he has sworn allegiance to AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the lobby that has more influence in Washington than even the American people.
Obama will get in....maybe I am narrow minded on this, but imo, America should have the interests of America at heart, and not be practically obligated to Israel, in so many ways and make decisions based on what is best for Israel, not America. That's where this whole mess is going wrong.
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 23, 2008 4:36:40 GMT -5
It's important to stick by allies, yes? Israel is the only country in the middle east that in some ways emulates us. Also, consider a large number of Israelis are actually American expatriates. We really need show loyalty to no other middle-east country but we do it because we need the oil.
If we could go to alternative fuels and stop importing oil, we could stop paying lip service to Arab concerns, in which case Israel would be our only consideration. As you saw in the "Fitna" video posted by Chernobyl, Islam must be opposed. No one but the Israelis, outnumbered 200-to-1, stands between us and Islamic dominance.
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 16:02:37 GMT -5
Israel is one of our allies?
Israel believe that they are the chosen, special people.
Where does that leave the rest of humanity?
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 23, 2008 16:35:11 GMT -5
Only the most orthodox Jews believe that they are "chosen," and their favorite saying is "Just for one day, Lord, couldn't you chose someone else?"
Those I have asked about the "chosen" thing, is that they were chosen to be "a light unto the world," that is, to set an example for righteousness. This means that they were also chosen for extra burdens and suffering so that they could rise in faith and be an inspiration to the rest of us.
That's not what I believe, but it does make the "chosen" thing more empathetic. Unlike Evangelical Christians, they do not believe that they are the only ones "chosen" to enter Heaven. They are certainly an inspiration to me, since they always seem to rise above adversity. To be faced with obstacles in life and to overcome them only strengthens a people, but to win wars of annhilation, where they are outnumbered 200-to-1 makes a nation "chosen" by me if no one else.
There have been corrupt Israeli politicians, but the concept of the Nation of Israel is one of pure goodness, utterly without fault. For this reason, we must commit everything to their preservation, no matter what the sacrifice.
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 16:53:07 GMT -5
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 17:17:56 GMT -5
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 17:34:43 GMT -5
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 23, 2008 17:47:03 GMT -5
Well, they certainly blew it with Lebanon, especially since prior to this, I think the majority of Lebanese were pro-Israeli. But, that is the fault of politicians like Sharon and such. The one with the death threat against a journalist was obviously from some student wack job, since anyone trained in the Israeli Army would have some sort of accent.
I am quite disappointed that Obama has come out in favor of a Palestinian state, but I accept that's just something all politicians have to do. I would personally be opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, since it already exists. It's called Jordan.
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 17:54:41 GMT -5
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 23, 2008 18:20:37 GMT -5
I certainly supported the helicopter attacks on Hammas leaders. The American and British citizens who were killed are rare and unfortunate, but in all cases were supporting Islamic militants and got themselves caught in the crossfire.
Whatever the case, the Israelis have all but stopped the suicide bombings in places like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, so they're doing something right here.
All the problems would end if the "Palestinians" were simply removed from Gaza and the West Bank and and sent to their homeland, which is Jordan.
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 19:06:18 GMT -5
I would be all for Palestinians moving to Jordan, if that stopped the massacres and the persecution of Palestinians by Israeli forces once and for all.
Before long now, we will be faced with an even greater crisis, as the US engages in an illegal war on Iran, on Israel's behalf. They will retaliate if attacked, they have assured us.
PS: Iran is in compliance with the IAEA and the NPT, and are within their rights to legally produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The globalist powers that be, are dissatisfied with this, and intollerant, due to extreme racism and prejudism against the Islamic nation.
These wars, are seemingly without end. The only way to deal with them now is through diplomacy. Otherwise, using force against them for something they are within their legal rights to do....is asking for a global conflict, war without end. A global crisis, that can only result in the earth floating around in outer space as a smoldering cinder.
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 23, 2008 21:25:11 GMT -5
Well, actually, Iran is being more cooperative and the threat of an attack seems to be diminishing. Having said that, I still think Bush will be very dangerous in the two months following the election, and the time he leaves office on January 21st. He needs to be watched very carefully during that period.
I don't seem much chance of the Arab-Palestinians being moved into Jordan, but it seems an ideal situation with all the vacant desert. Jordan is a poor nation, and cannot absorb 3 million more people, unless Israel, which made their own vacant desert bloom, would render the aid to build them up, make their arid land fertile, and thus acheive peace. It could work beautifully, and I'm sure the Israelis would love to do it.
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Post by Shadout Mapes on Jul 23, 2008 22:11:41 GMT -5
I'd get rid of that goddamn mosque in Palestine, and then turn the west bank into very unhappy place for all the Pallies! One they wouldn't even dream to stay in, let alone keep trying to over populate with new Islamic warrior children against the Jew etc. But get rid of that fucking Mosque for ever! Death to Islam/Muslims/Moslems, death to Iran! >< Tomasina ChicaWolverina!
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 22:13:28 GMT -5
"Well, actually, Iran is being more cooperative and the threat of an attack seems to be diminishing." I wish that were true.....have you heard of Operation Brimstone? The US is conducting drills in the straight of hormuz now, french, UK, even Canada is involved...this operation began on the 21st, and is slated to continue till 31st of this month. IOW, the drills to attack Iran are being conducted right now. Read this thread on GLP and see what's really happening: www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message576791/pg1
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Post by shewolfe on Jul 23, 2008 22:15:00 GMT -5
By the way, don't get me wrong, I despise Islam. But to nuke Iran is not wise....
Even though I support the Palestinian people, does not mean I support their religion or ways, infact I don't. What I want to see is a diplomatic solution, because you can't put the nuclear genie back in the bottle.
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 24, 2008 4:50:41 GMT -5
There's always drills going on. Even when I was in the Navy, we conducted "war games" to play out "what if" scenarios. Mostly, we pretended to attack San Clemente Island, off the coast of California, which was called "Agressor Nation."
But, then we conducted joint exercises with Taiwan, with the intent of attacking China. This was when China was still under Mao.
We can't invade Iran. Someday, we may attempt to bomb their nuclear facilities if it looks like they're close to developing a nuke, but that's about it. And, I really doubt that will happen, because Iran sells too much oil on the world market. If they cut it off, along with the Straits of Hormuz, we'd all be in a pickle.
So, we can't even think of attacking Iran until we develop enough alternatives to stop importing oil.
Hell, even that joke I got Dave Barry in about invading Canada....the last time we tried it, we left DC unguarded and with all the US troops galavanting up in the Great White North, you guys came around our backside and torched the White House!
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Post by Roland of Gilead on Jul 24, 2008 18:00:27 GMT -5
I had a chance to check out Operation Brimstone. It's just another typical naval exercise, the likes of which my ship often participated in. One very shocking scenario I remember pre-supposed the invasion and occupation of the UK. They prepare for any conceivable circumstance, and the UK invasion assumed a Soviet takeover of Britain along with nuclear threats. Our mission was to invade and liberate the country. I assume similar scenarios have been envisioned for invading Canada and Australia, although Iran is a more realistic possibility. Any attack on Iran would be limited to air and naval attacks, since no troops are available for a manned invasion. Beware of anything occurring between November 5th and January 20th. ___________________________ JTFEX 08-4 "Operation Brimstone" Flexes Allied Force Training Navy NewsStand Story Number: NNS080715-21 Release Date: 7/15/2008 5:17:00 PM From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 15,000 service members from four countries will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone", July 21-31 in North Carolina and off the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida. JTFEX 08-4 serves as a ready-for-deployment certification event for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TR CSG) and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (IWO ESG). The exercise will also serve as a Joint Task Force Capable Headquarters sustainment event. In addition, JTFEX 08-4 will offer preliminary accreditation for 2nd Fleet's Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center (MHQ with MOC)). MHQ with MOC is a new approach to command and control for fleet commanders. "This exercise is a tremendous opportunity to train; not only as the Navy and Marine Corps team, but with our joint and coalition partners as well," said Commander, 2nd Fleet Vice Adm. Marty Chanik. "JTFEX 08-4 will flex our warfighting capabilities from the operational level through expeditionary strike force and strike group operations with several of our coalition partners – France, Brazil and the United Kingdom." The exercise also marks the first time that forces from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command are participating in an East-Coast JTFEX. NECC forces operating in the littorals and riverine environment are supporting integrated operations. "Navy Expeditionary Combat Command provides a self-contained adaptive force package with a command element tailored to support the full spectrum of operations from major combat operations to unconventional and irregular warfare," said NECC commander Rear Adm. Mike Tillotson. U.S. and coalition naval assets underway for the exercise include the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) with associated units including the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (RO 7), the Brazilian Navy frigate Greenhalgh (F-46) and the French submarine FS Amethyste (S 605). BNS Greenhalgh is the first Brazilian Navy ship to operate integrated in a U.S. strike group. French Rafale fighter aircraft assigned to the 12th Squadron, and Hawkeye early warning aircraft assigned to the 4th Squadron will conduct carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations with U.S. Carrier Air Wing 8 during Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group's Joint Task Force Exercise. This marks the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. The TR CSG is made up of: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 (CCSG-2); Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8); Commander, Destroyer Squadron 22 (CDS-22); the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61); the guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87), and USS Nitze (DDG 94) homeported in Norfolk; the attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) homeported in Groton, Conn.; and the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) homeported in Mayport, Fla. The IWO ESG consists of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (CPR-4) based at Little Creek, Va.; the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU) based at Camp Lejune, N.C.; the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio (LPD 17); guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); and the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), homeported in Norfolk; the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) homeported at Little Creek, Va.; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) homeported in Mayport, Fla., and the attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) homeported in Groton, Conn. The Navy Expeditionary Combat Task Group (NECTG) is made up of: Riverine Group 1 staff augmented with personnel from throughout the NECC force, Riverine Squadron 1, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Ten, based in Jacksonville, Fla.; an air detachment from Naval Construction Forces Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 based in Gulfport, Miss.; Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 3, based in Alameda, Calif.), and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 6 plus EOD Support Unit based at Little Creek, Va. In addition, the following forces are participating in the exercise simulating opposition forces: the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), homeported in Mayport, Fla.; the guided missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Anzio (CG 68) and USS Normandy (CG 60), the guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81); and the guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52), all homeported in Norfolk. For more news from Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c2f/.
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