The Official Iraq War Thread...

[Hamster Huey]

Yeah - Africa's got it rough. It's almost to the point where you can throw a dart at a map of Africa and be reasonably sure that wherever it lands, there's "ethnic tensions" ravaging the nation. It's a damn shame, too. They need to get their act together so it's peaceful enough for me to visit.

[FactsOfLife]

Originally posted by Hamster Huey
Yeah - Africa's got it rough. It's almost to the point where you can throw a dart at a map of Africa and be reasonably sure that wherever it lands, there's "ethnic tensions" ravaging the nation. It's a damn shame, too. They need to get their act together so it's peaceful enough for me to visit.

I was able to bowhunt Kenya two years ago. It was awesome. anyone who gets the chance to go, should.

And it was cheap too.

but, back on topic, we've now taken shots at two Al Jazeera groups.

Co-incidence?

[Hamster Huey]

Coincidence. We would have very little to gain and a whole lot to lose by targeting journalists, especially Arabic ones. It would be plain stupid. Not to mention that we've taken out a couple other journalists, as well as some coalition troops, as well. Was that coincidence, too? I think trying to read too much into this won't be very fruitful.

[FactsOfLife]

Originally posted by Hamster Huey
Coincidence. We would have very little to gain and a whole lot to lose by targeting journalists, especially Arabic ones. It would be plain stupid. Not to mention that we've taken out a couple other journalists, as well as some coalition troops, as well. Was that coincidence, too? I think trying to read too much into this won't be very fruitful.

wasn't reading anything into it other than coincidence.

crap, CNN would be MY first choice to put a few rounds into...

[Hamster Huey]

Even before Geraldo Rivera, war correspondent extraordinaire?

[aaron_mag]

Originally posted by FactsOfLife

I had hardly missed AM's point. He's usually well spoken if in my opinion to the left of myself, which means wrong.

My dad always tells me that no matter how sure you are probably half of what any of us believe is BS . Older I get the more sure I am of that statement (does that mean it is BS????)

I don't know if any of you have been listening to NPR but they have been featuring stories on individual soldiers. Some of the ones featured have been casulties. Today they had a gulf war vet who was a psychologist. He spoke of battle stress during the Gulf War and brought up examples. One Sergeant learned that his wife had been raped in Germany (where his base was). She was in the hospital and his children were living with a neighbor. Despite the immense desire to go home this soldier could not leave his men while they were in combat. All the stories are depressing and uplifting at the same time. Sad that anyone should have to go through that sort of trauma but also inspiring that his committment to "the man next to him" was so strong that he could not leave despite the crisis at home. I recommend tuning into NPR and hearing these stories. It really gives you a small glimpse of the things soldiers must face and makes you realize the incredible sacrifice that they face.

We may disagree with the politicians but it is important to appreciate what these men and women go through!

[1stdeadeye]

He is turning!

Originally posted by aaron_mag


My dad always tells me that no matter how sure you are probably half of what any of us believe is BS . Older I get the more sure I am of that statement (does that mean it is BS????)

I don't know if any of you have been listening to NPR but they have been featuring stories on individual soldiers. Some of the ones featured have been casulties. Today they had a gulf war vet who was a psychologist. He spoke of battle stress during the Gulf War and brought up examples. One Sergeant learned that his wife had been raped in Germany (where his base was). She was in the hospital and his children were living with a neighbor. Despite the immense desire to go home this soldier could not leave his men while they were in combat. All the stories are depressing and uplifting at the same time. Sad that anyone should have to go through that sort of trauma but also inspiring that his committment to "the man next to him" was so strong that he could not leave despite the crisis at home. I recommend tuning into NPR and hearing these stories. It really gives you a small glimpse of the things soldiers must face and makes you realize the incredible sacrifice that they face.

We may disagree with the politicians but it is important to appreciate what these men and women go through!

Here here! Disagree on the war, but support the troops (unless you work at Columbia University)!

Aaron your birthday seems to have mellowed you with age! I guess you'll be sounding like a Facts clone in no time flat!

[FactsOfLife]

Re: He is turning!

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye


Here here! Disagree on the war, but support the troops (unless you work at Columbia University)!

Aaron your birthday seems to have mellowed you with age! I guess you'll be sounding like a Facts clone in no time flat!

He'd be so lucky.

[aaron_mag]

Didn't Winston Churchill say that if you weren't a liberal when you were young you were heartless and if you weren't a conservative by middle age you were a fool?

Seriously....my birthday did not mellow me. I was a little harsh on 1de yesterday because you listen to stories about American soldiers killed (where they are from, their fiance that they leave behind, etc) and then come to this board and it seemed that we were being a bit too nonchalant. Just put me in a bad mood yesterday. Darn Birthday made me too introspective/bitter/fatalistic.

While Facts and I will probably never see eye to eye on politics the more I learn about him the more I respect him. From the little I have figured out he has really learned some things on the facts of life and not all that life offers up to us is good. But we deal with it....

[FactsOfLife]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
While Facts and I will probably never see eye to eye on politics the more I learn about him the more I respect him. From the little I have figured out he has really learned some things on the facts of life and not all that life offers up to us is good. But we deal with it....

Some day if the cosmos spins right, you and I will sit down and have a beer and the world will be good.

[aaron_mag]

Back on topic it is sad that journalists died. The fact is, however, that this is war. Even friendly fire happens so how can you expect journalists that insist on being close to the fighting to be safe.

That is what I mean about things being non chalant. Some of the reporting acts like this is some kind of sporting event. Some of the reporters (both ours and other nations) seem to be pissed because the game spilled over onto their ring side seat. I heard one newsman talking about watching an A-10 Warthog opening up on a building as spectacular. People die in this including civilians and soldiers on both sides (thankfully significantly more on their side). So yes journalists can die as well.

[edweird]

here is something to take the edge off

[LittMag]

Who's watching the shots of the Iraqi people and the US soldiers taking down this statue of Sadam in Baghdad? Amazing.

[shartley]

Just turned it on.....

[pbzmag]

I'm watching it. And it's taken by Abu Dhabi TV! Statue is down! The Iraqi people are jumping up and down on it!