At this point in time, I agree with Jesse. So far (besides the 9/11) it's been a walk in the park. Giving them whatever, is a plus. Who's going to be looking after them in the long term??? As far as water. If the media takes a bath on a daily basis, they must have enough to boil. Hot liquids would retard any constipation...Maybe they are 'that' ignorant....I see mostly smiles on they're faces.

**collateral damages have been mimimal. I'm sure there would be more, pin-pointing UBL!!! A $25,000,000,000.00 ransom, is not gonna stop the killing of children, women, or villages?

****************************************

I know God
Wont give me
Anything
I can't handle
I just wish
He didn't
Trust me so much

'Mother Teresa'

I cannot speak Cantonese, but I think if some food packets that were written in 'that' language arrived in my yard (and I was starving) I'd get the fucking drift...

Bombs, or no fuckin bombs...Getting shot at, is not new to these people...America (with a little help from our friends) just sort of got off the pot....FOR A CHANGE......<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/idea.gif" width=15 height=32>

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by rbrown on Dec 16, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

So far as I know, the peanut butter was used in those packets as the inside part of peanut butter crackers -- the same square crackers wrapped in cellophane that you get at your local convenience store. There was a little scoop of grape jelly on the side to go on them, if so desired. The PB is included to boost the protein content mostly, I believe. The bags that hold the rations make stylish bookbags too, I noticed in pictures coming from Afghanistan. Verrry trendy. Very hip.

What's weirdest for me is agreeing with Republicans about anything. Texas Republicans, at that. Just <u>cannot</u> get used to the idea. Not with the brand of Republicans who've held the power in that party for the last half century, anyway.

I must say, I do get a kick out of some of the statements coming from the leadership over there. The juxtaposition of their concept of reality onto our own is downright bizarre sometimes, and often funny (to me). Being stuck in the Middle Ages, they must consider Richard the Lionheart to be a current rallying point for us, in (what they believe to be) our quest to take the Holy Land for Christendom. Obviously they think we have coup d'etats as often as they do, too, and that they're equally bloody (as well as being equally obfuscated once they're over). Even weirder is hearing this stuff coming from people that you know spent time here. It's like that culture takes them back over once they return home, and any other way of life becomes inconceivable again -- even if they do know better.

Our foreign policy does have plenty of room for improvement. Can't argue that one. Why, if we get any more parochial and naive ...
Wait a minute. Is it actually possible to be any more parochial or naive? (I kinda' think not.)

Our domestic policies sure could use some serious adjustments too, come to think of it. (Imagine people being treated like they're people here, even if they don't have a ton of money and/or aren't even celebrities. WOW! What a concept.) It's going to take some incredible leadership to set things right -- or just to get them headed in the right direction -- both here and abroad. I sure do hope our own leadership is up to the task. Yiiiiiii! These are such times as try men's souls ... (Who said that? Shakespeare? Churchill?)

Hey Rob, maybe those food packets that they are dropping over there coulda helped bring this conflict to a quicker end if they put an ounce or so of some good Columbian in each one too? I mean the government just urns the stuff anyway, it's not like it would cost them anything. I mean if we got those Taliban guys smokin' that stuff, they would be coming out of those caves looking for more peanut butter crackers to be sure, and would probalbly just tell bin laden to "get real man" or something. Ya know what I'm sayin'? <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Yes Larry, I most certainly do!

*If only it were that easy, aye?....<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>
I remember 'Willie Nelson' saying in a Rolling stone interview. "If only for one day, there could be a giant pipe. And have that pipe blow pot-smoke into EVERY house-hold in the U.S. of A." It was in Willie's opinion, there'd be a lil less fussin and fighting...especially over all the small stuff.....THE VERY WORST CASE SCENARIO was just that!!! what you said....that EVERYONE would get hungry and eat together.....It would be nice if the whole world could just 'chill' for awhile. It would make it, so much easier, for all of us to do the same..

Sounds to me like if we're going to have world peace, we'll need more 7-11's globally, so the whole world can make a midight run together, hunting snack cakes and ice cream.

Yeah, Pat, and all-night pancake houses. Those used to be real popular around here. But then the whole world will have to join Weight Watchers. Still, it's better to count points than bullets.

GOOD MORNING AFGANISTAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*been a tough wk. end here in the Bora region. I've had a hard time, getting guest, for KBEAR....Chris swore he'd never come back? I believe he was in possession of illegal aliens....(seeing they were all women, I don't think it will raise any eye-brows)....TOMMY CHONG decided to drop by, so we're gonna ride with Tommy for awhile...Cheech is home, watching repeats of his TV show, but we hope to get him here soon...
*Rb: So Tommy it's nice you could make it!
Tommy: Yeah, man, it's the least I could do.
Rb: You have a commitment, for the people of Afganistan, Tommy??
Tommy: HELL NO, MAN. I heard they were giving out FREE peanut butter.
Rb: OH, I see.
Tommy: BTW, do you have any extra crackers?
Rb: Sure, you'll find them under my stash.
Tommy: Cool man....Can I get into your stash?
Rb: Tommy you promised me a radio interview. That didn't include, raping my stash.....
Tommy: Jesus man, did anyone every tell you, your too uptight???
Rb: actually no!!!
Tommy: I was only kiddin man. Your mellow. Mellow, like the inside of a marshmellow...Ya know what I'm sayin man?
Rb: Go ahead Tommy....Open the stash...
Tommy: HMMMM, can I like play a song man???
Rb: Well, that was the idea...Tommy!
Tommy: How about the Star Spangled Banner???
Rb: The Jimi Hendrix version...
Tommy: It's either that or I can sing.
Rb: Quite allright, the Jimi rendition!!!
Tommy:: Cool man. Did anyone tell you, this is REALLY good dope???
Rb: That's not mine Tommy!!! Chris must have left it.
Tommy: Chris who??
Rb: Never mind!

***oh, a say, can you see???..<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>..vs...<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>...=piece

A long term world problem cannot be solved by short term popular action. If terrorism is to be stopped, the world must eliminate its causes.
Economic inequality is top of the list of these causes. The US has now decided not to play a major role in peace keeping in Afghanistan, probably because this doesn't involve lining the pockets of arms manufacturers, or dropping daisy cutters (evil), or abandoning non-proliferation treaties. Once again, as in Bosnia, Kosavo, Iraq etc, when making war to protect US interests or win votes at home isn't the game, the US refuses to play, or to clean up its own mess.

As the richest country on earth, the USA has a responsibility outside it's own borders. It could be the greatest power for good we've ever seen, but it isn't, and it doesn't look like it is going to be.

Ask kids dying due to embargos in Iraq what they think of US for. policy

Don't get me wrong, the UK's little if any better (Tony generally does what George tells him), and we've continued to bomb Iraq for the last ten years, for no apparent reason, and with little media coverage.

War is seldom the answer

Steve from Scotland

[quote]
"Economic inequality is top of the list of these causes"
Point well taken. But that shouldn't hinder, anyone from living the American dream. This is sort of like star trek where, it wouldn't be right, to over take thier primary objective....

***it's my opinion we should give em all the help they need...RE-BUILD schools, and Mosque (sp.ck)??? Definately we will be feeding and rebuilding these people...as far as running thier lives, that's not what they want>>>OBVIOUSLY

quote:
"Point well taken. But that shouldn't hinder, anyone from living the American dream."

We certainly should when the 'American dream' damages others. especially those who are too poor or poverty stricken to have
any conception of a 'dream' other than having enough to eat. When the dream involves consumer or corporate wealth at the expense of others, or gross inequality, or acting purely out of economic self interest, then it has to be tempered.

When the rest of the world is in a position to follow the 'american dream' then I think it will become a valid aim. They aren't though.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Stevie B:
As the richest country on earth, the USA has a responsibility outside it's own borders. It could be the greatest power for good we've ever seen, but it isn't, and it doesn't look like it is going to be.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Steve, respectfully, the USA is as close as it gets to that power for good that you speak of.Certainly not perfect, but closer than any other country on the planet.I sure as hell do not aprove of everything my own government does. The "American dream", and the pursuit of it that has been talked about on this thread is WHY the USA is in the position that it is in, and able to help other countries in the first place. No other country does more, if you know of one, please enlighten the rest of us.
I'd be curious to see how quickly we could get the average Scotsman to open his purse for example. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15> ( Don't shoot! That was a bit of fun!)

Larry, I fully take your point. My charges are levelled at the west generally, but I suppose the USA is an easy target. sorry for that. My simple point is this - losing 1$ means little to most americans (or scots), but would do far more good elsewhere. therefore, I think there can be a large but gradual(ish) redistribution of wealth withing and between societies with little perceptible negative effect for those who give, and vast positive effects for those who recieve. However, we have to move beyond the 'but its MINE!!' attitude which we in the West have. The pursuit of happiness must be the pursuit of happiness for all, not just for us.

Those who give do not 'lose', as violence and terrorism, which we now know do not respect people, let alone borders, seldom arise from affluence, but from poverty. when others have what we need, problems arise. When we all have, there is less to fight about. we all benefit from a peaceful world, and I think the first step to this is some level of equality. we have, and others need.

As for the Scots, you have a point, but I only live here, and when it comes to whiskey, they don't stop giving.<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/naughty.gif" width=15 height=15>

Happy holidays

I think this whole thing has been enlightening, and has made me look at both sides of a lot of questions for the first time in a very, very long time, including the fact that it's a lot harder to be force for good than it would appear. I'd like to see a redistribution of wealth - fewer very wealthy people and nations and no poor ones. But I'm learning that there actually is a lot of truth to what we've been told about aiding some third world countries. People don't get help because factions in power at the time don't want them to. It's not at all always a matter of our propping up terrible regimes. There are frequently no "good" regimes or potential regimes to work with. The only thing we can really do in those cases is become involved in internal wars. That hasn't worked out well more often than it has.

Also, I don't think it's going to stop terrorism. I think terrorism exists, not because of poverty and inequities, but because a certain number of people like it. It's kind of like capital punishment in this country, in that there are tons of reasons given for it, but basically, it's a hit. Just real popular. Terrorism is more of a niche market, of course, but the perpetrators of it are all too often relatively prosperous people. It's been practiced by people right here in this country, too. Not by the people at the bottom of the socio-economic scale either, but by people kind of in the middle, or who could be in the middle if they so desired, at least based on their demographics. The fact that they may be incensed by the plight of those less fortunate is not a rationale that works, because terrorism generally fails to achieve its long term goals and there are a lot of other things people with resources and strong commitment could be doing to serve their causes.

I still want us to do good in the world where we can, but I do believe that the only thing that will help to reduce terrorism is to make sure that it doesn't pay off and that everyone is aware that terrorist activities will only bring trouble on any country or people that support them.

Thanks for saying that, Pat.

Yeah. What Pat said.