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Chad Irby
June 3rd 04, 07:47 AM
In article >,
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote:

> In message >, Chad Irby
> > writes
> >In article >,
> > "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
> >> Thousands-to-one odds, anyway.
> >
> >Nope. Millions. Out of the couple of dozen artillery rounds
>
> How many shells do you think have been used as IEDs? It's not 'dozens'.

Nope. Pretty close to that. Most of them have been explosives of other
types.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Presidente Alcazar
June 3rd 04, 11:04 AM
On Thu, 3 Jun 2004 00:46:43 +0100, "Paul J. Adam"
> wrote:

>The claim was that there was a clear and obvious threat. Where was it?
>What made Iraq so special compared to more evident proliferators and
>producers of WME?
>
>I asked eighteen months ago and never got an answer.

Some of us have made no secret of this: I was saying at the time that
the most I expected anybody to find were old stockpiles of chemical
munitions buried amongst a blundering Arab totalitarian bureaucracy.
Taking intelligence intercepts of what people amongst Saddam's
headquarters were saying as gospel made as much sense as assuming that
Hitler's spring-1945 gibbering about moving entire Panzer armies from
his bunker had some basis in fact, instead of referring to an
under-equipped rabble of Volkstrum.

So to my mind the whole WMD thing was simply a legalistic fig-leaf for
the removal of Saddam from the very beginning. Having said that, I'm
confident his regime was in breach of UN resolutions, if only because
it didn't have the capacity to run things efficiently enough to ensure
the complete disposal of it's WMD programmes, even if it had adopted
that as a policy.

Gavin Bailey

--

Apply three phase AC 415V direct to MB. This work real good. How you know, you
ask? Simple, chip get real HOT. System not work, but no can tell from this.
Exactly same as before. Do it now. - Bart Kwan En

WalterM140
June 3rd 04, 11:23 AM
>> This is a war nobody believes in any more.
>>
>
>This war is universally supported by informed, intelligent people.
>
>

Consider this -- Anthony Cordesman writing in today's NY Times::

"It is all very well to talk about a global war on terrorism. To win it,
however, you have to fight it — on every front. We know that by the time of
the 9/11 attacks, some 70,000 to 100,000 young men had been through some form
of Islamist training camp, and that Al Qaeda had affiliates or some kind of tie
to movements in more than 60 countries. In the years that have followed, the
United States defeated the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but failed to
capture many of the leaders or secure the country, and has not completed the
nation-building that could bring true victory. The dispersal of terrorists has
destabilized western Pakistan, and the resulting political struggle has
strengthened Islamists in the rest of the country and created a new regional
threat.

Yet instead of wrapping up that fight, Washington invaded Iraq. While getting
rid of Saddam Hussein was wonderful for the Iraqi people, there is still no
evidence that Iraq was ever a center of terrorism or had strong ties to
Islamist extremists. As in Afghanistan, we failed to secure the country after
our military success and have been far to slow to create a meaningful plan for
nation-building. There is daily, violent evidence that the American invasion
has bred a mix of Iraqi Islamists and foreign volunteers that is a growing
threat.

The International Institute of Strategic Studies in London has estimates that
Al Qaeda and its affiliates now have a strength of 18,000 men, many joining the
movement as a result of the Afghan and Iraq conflicts. Some American
intelligence experts on Iraq feel that the number of insurgents may still be
growing faster than Coalition Provision Authority's military operations can
reduce them."

We are -less- safe now, because of Bush.

Walt

William Wright
June 3rd 04, 04:43 PM
"Howard Berkowitz" > wrote in message
...
> In article <IImvc.32080$3x.1788@attbi_s54>, "William Wright"
> > wrote:
>
> > "Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
> > news:E2Suc.26929$js4.6877@attbi_s51...
> > <snip>
> > > Me too. If the shrub had been President in December of 1941, we'd
have
> > > conquered Mexico City by June of '42.
> >
> >
> > And yet we in reality attacked FRENCH North Africa in November 1942.
> > Since
> > we were not at war with the French at the time and they had nothing what
> > ever to do with the Pearl Harbor attack, with your simple reasoning that
> > was
> > a bad. Perhaps you should leave strategy and grand strategy to the
people
> > who actually formulate it.
>
> Before the TORCH invasions, Vichy had been given a British ultimatum to
> have the North African fleet sail to a neutral or allied port, scuttle
> them, or suffer the consequences of having them destroyed. Britain was
> at war with Germany, and had substantial concerns that the French
> vessels might be taken by the Axis.

Hmmm. Sounds like us, Iraq and WMD.

>
> By 1942, of course, the US was also at war with Germany. The French
> were sheltering and supporting German forces. Neutrality becomes
> stretched or violated when one side is providing protection or support
> to the others. The principal purpose of TORCH was to go after German and
> Italian forces that happened to be in French territory. The US and UK
> also had not recognized Vichy. Much the same as recently in
> Afghanistan, where the Taliban were told they would be left alone if
> they stopped providing al-Qaeda with sanctuary.

Sounds like Iraq again.

Also you left out the part about supporting the grand strategy of the United
States. It was the strategy to defeat Germany first. It was politically
important to get US forces into combat against the Germans in 1942 lest
those forces get siphoned off to the Pacific. The British made it abundantly
clear that a return to Europe was flat impossible in 1942, something the
Americans had a hard time letting go of. TORCH was the compromise.

People should be some what cautious about judging our current strategy
because unless they are on the National Security Council, they are making an
awful lot of assumptions. One thing is for sure. We are deluged in
information and most of it is crap. A good portion of what we see reported
is just plain wrong and another good portion is just plain lies. But then
misinformation is also a weapon of war.

Howard Berkowitz
June 3rd 04, 05:45 PM
In article <yGHvc.37385$3x.8154@attbi_s54>, "William Wright"
> wrote:

> "Howard Berkowitz" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article <IImvc.32080$3x.1788@attbi_s54>, "William Wright"
> > > wrote:
> >

> >
> > Before the TORCH invasions, Vichy had been given a British ultimatum to
> > have the North African fleet sail to a neutral or allied port, scuttle
> > them, or suffer the consequences of having them destroyed. Britain was
> > at war with Germany, and had substantial concerns that the French
> > vessels might be taken by the Axis.
>
> Hmmm. Sounds like us, Iraq and WMD.

Similar enough situations to be worth using. There also have been many
cases, by many nations, of hot pursuit of attackers into other
countries, once the country to which they escaped has been warned that
they need to take action.
>
> >
> > By 1942, of course, the US was also at war with Germany. The French
> > were sheltering and supporting German forces. Neutrality becomes
> > stretched or violated when one side is providing protection or support
> > to the others. The principal purpose of TORCH was to go after German
> > and
> > Italian forces that happened to be in French territory. The US and UK
> > also had not recognized Vichy. Much the same as recently in
> > Afghanistan, where the Taliban were told they would be left alone if
> > they stopped providing al-Qaeda with sanctuary.
>
> Sounds like Iraq again.

I'm not sure I follow your point, unless you are referring to Iraq as a
large-scale supporter of terrorism. The al-Qaeda relation to the Taliban
was much more apparent.
>
> Also you left out the part about supporting the grand strategy of the
> United States.

No, I didn't leave it out -- it wasn't relevant to the discussion, which
was dealing at the operational level of the French fleet and Vichy
support for Germany. I wasn't aware the discussion was extending to the
strategic level.

>It was the strategy to defeat Germany first. It was politically
> important to get US forces into combat against the Germans in 1942 lest
> those forces get siphoned off to the Pacific.

Politically important to whom?

>The British made it abundantly clear that a return to Europe

The US SLEDGEHAMMER proposal, which the British (quite correctly)
rejected, was for a major landing on the scale of Normandy. The British
were not opposed to raids and peripheral actions.

> was flat >impossible in 1942, something the
> Americans had a hard time letting go of. TORCH was the compromise.
>
> People should be some what cautious about judging our current strategy
> because unless they are on the National Security Council, they are making
> an
> awful lot of assumptions.

In like manner, US intelligence had to be somewhat cautious in judging
the strategy of the fUSSR Defense Council, or whatever strategy was
inside Hitler's head. That still doesn't mean that it isn't necessary
to make judgements, in order to select one's own actions. A National
Intelligence Estimate is an estimate, not revelation.


>One thing is for sure. We are deluged in
> information and most of it is crap. A good portion of what we see
> reported
> is just plain wrong and another good portion is just plain lies. But then
> misinformation is also a weapon of war.

Of course. See _Bodyguard of Lies_ (Anthony Cave-Brown) for the
primarily British cover and deception history of WWII. Unfortunately,
the US Field Manual on Cover & Deception is no longer available for
public release. The fUSSR put disinformation at a very high level of the
General Staff.
>

WalterM140
June 4th 04, 10:44 AM
>Walt, I have to wonder why that slack media doesn't get credit for reporting
>that one of Kerry's supervisors in Viet Nam who had written a glowing fitness
>report on him at the time and who now, thirty plus years later, came out from
>under his rock whining that he didn't really mean it and that Kerry really
>did a
>lousy job. Doesn't that kind of examination and reporting of minutia count?
>I
>think Vietnam IS an issue and it'll remain one.
>
>George Z.
>

It definitely is and the Dems need to pound on the fact that Junior did not
complete his military service honorably.

Walt

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 03:02 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: (WalterM140)
>Date: 6/4/04 2:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>>Walt, I have to wonder why that slack media doesn't get credit for reporting
>>that one of Kerry's supervisors in Viet Nam who had written a glowing
>fitness
>>report on him at the time and who now, thirty plus years later, came out
>from
>>under his rock whining that he didn't really mean it and that Kerry really
>>did a
>>lousy job. Doesn't that kind of examination and reporting of minutia count?
>>I
>>think Vietnam IS an issue and it'll remain one.
>>
>>George Z.
>>
>
>It definitely is and the Dems need to pound on the fact that Junior did not
>complete his military service honorably.
>
>Walt
>

What military service?

..
Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Ed Rasimus
June 4th 04, 04:46 PM
On 04 Jun 2004 14:02:04 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>
>What military service?
>.
>Arthur Kramer

Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
it for four and a half years.

Did you serve that long?

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Paul J. Adam
June 4th 04, 05:00 PM
In message >, Chad Irby
> writes
>In article >,
> "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
>> How many shells do you think have been used as IEDs? It's not 'dozens'.
>
>Nope. Pretty close to that. Most of them have been explosives of other
>types.

How many IEDs do you think have been detonated or disarmed?

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Kevin Brooks
June 4th 04, 05:22 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: (WalterM140)
> >Date: 6/4/04 2:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >>Walt, I have to wonder why that slack media doesn't get credit for
reporting
> >>that one of Kerry's supervisors in Viet Nam who had written a glowing
> >fitness
> >>report on him at the time and who now, thirty plus years later, came out
> >from
> >>under his rock whining that he didn't really mean it and that Kerry
really
> >>did a
> >>lousy job. Doesn't that kind of examination and reporting of minutia
count?
> >>I
> >>think Vietnam IS an issue and it'll remain one.
> >>
> >>George Z.
> >>
> >
> >It definitely is and the Dems need to pound on the fact that Junior did
not
> >complete his military service honorably.
> >
> >Walt
> >
>
> What military service?

Oh, boy...Art, the originator of that infamous claim that the Guard/Reserve
were doing nothing much during WWII (having completely missed the fact that
the entire Guard and Reserve structure had been mobilized and off to war
some three years before he even became old enough to enter the service), now
wants to go back to his "Guard is not service" BS. Hey, Art, have you
happened to notice what organizations are sustaining disproportionate combat
casualties the last few weeks in Iraq? You might be surprised...

Brooks

>
> .
> Arthur Kramer

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 05:48 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/4/04 8:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On 04 Jun 2004 14:02:04 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
>>
>>What military service?
>>.
>>Arthur Kramer
>
>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>it for four and a half years.
>
>Did you serve that long?
>
>Ed Rasimus
>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>"When Thunder Rolled"
>Smithsonian Institution Press
>ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>
'

Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of 50
missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in Texas
while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Jarg
June 4th 04, 06:06 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes

>
> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
50
> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
Texas
> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.

President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.

Jarg

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 06:13 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: "Jarg"
>Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>
>>
>> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>50
>> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
>Texas
>> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>>
>>
>> Arthur Kramer
>> 344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>>
>
>Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
>Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
>
>President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
>most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.
>
>Jarg
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: "Jarg"
>Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>
>>
>> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>50
>> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
>Texas
>> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>>
>>
>> Arthur Kramer
>> 344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>>
>
>Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
>Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
>
>President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
>most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.
>
>Jarg


Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an American as a
guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him. I thought you got 20
years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff. One more point. Kerry went to war.
Bush hid in Texas.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Ed Rasimus
June 4th 04, 06:23 PM
On 04 Jun 2004 16:48:14 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>From: Ed Rasimus
>>Date: 6/4/04 8:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time

>>On 04 Jun 2004 14:02:04 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>>>
>>>What military service?
>>>.
>>>Arthur Kramer
>>
>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>it for four and a half years.
>>
>>Did you serve that long?
>>
>>Ed Rasimus
>
>Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of 50
>missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in Texas
>while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>
>
>Arthur Kramer

No, Art, you shouldn't be ashamed for your service. You are
justifiably proud. But, you should be at least a bit sheepish for
continually repeating an assertion that has no merit.

George Bush served in the TANG. He spent many years (my point was that
his length of service was at least equal if not longer than yours.) He
did make a choice, but his choice to take a commission, go to pilot
training and fly a fighter might be arguably superior to folks like Al
Gore, who despite his college education and leadership capabilities
chose to serve as a private admin clerk and spend less than half of
the required combat tour in-country. Or John Kerry who chose to demean
and insult his fellow warriors calling them traitors, war criminals,
rapists and murderers.

Bush "showed" for a year of pilot training, several months of various
survival schools, almost a year of F-102 qualification and a couple of
years of operational alert. His eight months in Alabama after all of
that service is the time in question and there are still the facts
that the organization he was attached to was in transition from an
aircraft he did not fly to another aircraft he was not qualified in.
It was a simple administrative posting of an ANG officer. Duty
requirements were minimal and that was exactly the reason he had
requested the posting.

Bush flew an airplane that could have killed him on any given day. He
could not have known the future when he started, but at that time the
F-102 was in Vietnam and it was flown predominantly by ANG pilots. By
the time he was qualified in the system that was no longer the case.
And, as previously mentioned ANG pilots don't get to pick and choose
between systems. The fly what their state owns.

You can have whatever political opinions you want, but you have to
stop ignoring the facts and making these groundless assertions.
Respect others as you wish to have them respect you. Different people
serve in different ways and for different reasons.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Steven P. McNicoll
June 4th 04, 06:29 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>
> What military service?
>

Bush served in the Texas ANG.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 4th 04, 06:35 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>
> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
> American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.
> I thought you got 20 years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff.
>

If he hadn't shown up for duty you can be sure he'd have paid the penalty.


>
> One more point. Kerry went to war.
>

Any idea why he declined to serve his full tour?


>
> Bush hid in Texas.
>

Bush's location was known. He could have been sent to Vietnam at any time.
How do you feel about Bill Clinton? He went to England without telling his
draft board.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 4th 04, 06:40 PM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> George Bush served in the TANG. He spent many years (my point was that
> his length of service was at least equal if not longer than yours.) He
> did make a choice, but his choice to take a commission, go to pilot
> training and fly a fighter might be arguably superior to folks like Al
> Gore, who despite his college education and leadership capabilities
> chose to serve as a private admin clerk and spend less than half of
> the required combat tour in-country. Or John Kerry who chose to demean
> and insult his fellow warriors calling them traitors, war criminals,
> rapists and murderers.
>

And also served less than half of his combat tour.


>
> You can have whatever political opinions you want, but you have to
> stop ignoring the facts and making these groundless assertions.
>

That's not possible. One cannot hold the political opinions that Art holds
unless one ignores the facts.

Chad Irby
June 4th 04, 07:08 PM
In article >,
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote:

> In message >, Chad Irby
> > writes
> >In article >,
> > "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
> >> How many shells do you think have been used as IEDs? It's not 'dozens'.
> >
> >Nope. Pretty close to that. Most of them have been explosives of other
> >types.
>
> How many IEDs do you think have been detonated or disarmed?

Quite a few, but most of them have been made out of much smaller devices
or just plain old plastic explosives.

It takes a lot of work and more skill to make an artillery shell into a
remote-detonated bomb, compared to using the other materials they have
available. Making an RPG into an IED is much, much easier (a piece of
string tied to the trigger), and they have a *lot* of those.

An "IED" isn't always made up of normal explosives, anyway. Cans full
of gasoline, a grenade tied to the gas tank of a bus sitting by the side
of the road, fertilizer and diesel in a plastic bag... there's a lot of
different ways to make them. Artillery shells are popular, but with all
of the explosive crap sitting around in undiscovered bunkers in Iraq,
there's a wide variety to choose from.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby
June 4th 04, 07:15 PM
In article >,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
> American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.

Except, of course, he did, by the records, despite the frantic efforts
of some to pretend otherwise.

Meanwhile, he's been in a job for the last three years which has a
*very* high mortality rate, after serving in a plane in the National
Guard which had a mortality rate *in training* about equal to combat
flying.

Since you're claiming that this guy isn't brave, and that he didn't do
his duty, you're nowhere near as good an American as you thought.

Sorry, but you brought it up.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Billy Beck
June 4th 04, 07:35 PM
On 04 Jun 2004 16:48:14 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>>From: Ed Rasimus
>>Date: 6/4/04 8:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>On 04 Jun 2004 14:02:04 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>What military service?
>>>.
>>>Arthur Kramer
>>
>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>it for four and a half years.
>>
>>Did you serve that long?

>Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of 50
>missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in Texas
>while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.

I cannot *wait* until your rotten horse**** no longer appears in
this group, Kramer. Do you understand? I long for the day when
you're gone.

No bull****.


Billy

http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php

Jarg
June 4th 04, 07:39 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: "Jarg"
> >Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >
> >>
> >> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record
of
> >50
> >> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
> >Texas
> >> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
> >>
> >>
> >> Arthur Kramer
> >> 344th BG 494th BS
> >> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> >> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> >> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
> >>
> >
> >Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
> >Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
> >
> >President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
> >most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.
> >
> >Jarg
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: "Jarg"
> >Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes

>
>
> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an American
as a
> guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him. I thought you got
20
> years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff. One more point. Kerry went to
war.
> Bush hid in Texas.
>
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

Your willingness to apologize is a good start, now let's see if we can get
you focused on doing so for the right reasons.

Please cite a reputable source showing President Bush "hid" in Texas and
that he did not fulfil his service requirements. I can cite plenty that
detail his service and convincingly counter the lies of his politically
motivated oppoents (like yourself).

Jarg

p.s I don't think anyone is questioning your service which makes me wonder
why you are compelled to repeatedly remind us of it. I hope you don't think
it will somehow counterbalance your sloppy thinking!

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 08:03 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Chad Irby
>Date: 6/4/04 11:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >

>Since you're claiming that this guy isn't brave, and that he didn't do
>his duty, you're nowhere near as good an American as you thought.
>
>Sorry, but you brought it up.
>
>--

Yeah. Thats what I said.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 08:07 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Billy Beck
>Date: 6/4/04 11:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>On 04 Jun 2004 16:48:14 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
>>>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>>>From: Ed Rasimus
>>>Date: 6/4/04 8:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>>>Message-id: >
>>>
>>>On 04 Jun 2004 14:02:04 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>What military service?
>>>>.
>>>>Arthur Kramer
>>>
>>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>>it for four and a half years.
>>>
>>>Did you serve that long?
>
>>Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>50
>>missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in Texas
>>while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>
> I cannot *wait* until your rotten horse**** no longer appears in
>this group, Kramer. Do you understand? I long for the day when
>you're gone.
>
> No bull****.

I'm very old. You won't have long to wait. Take joy in that fact.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Robey Price
June 4th 04, 08:17 PM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ed Rasimus
confessed the following:

>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>it for four and a half years.

Minor point of order...gwb graduated from UPT in Nov 1969 (IIRC),
qualified in the 102 in July 1970 and his last flight in a single
engine/single seat fighter was April 1972. He never flew the F-102
again.

My poor math skills indicate that he was operational for less than two
years, of course your math may come up with a different answer.
Perhaps he got bored with it.

Robey

ArtKramr
June 4th 04, 08:22 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Robey Price
>Date: 6/4/04 12:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ed Rasimus
>confessed the following:
>
>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>it for four and a half years.
>
>Minor point of order...gwb graduated from UPT in Nov 1969 (IIRC),
>qualified in the 102 in July 1970 and his last flight in a single
>engine/single seat fighter was April 1972. He never flew the F-102
>again.
>
>My poor math skills indicate that he was operational for less than two
>years, of course your math may come up with a different answer.
>Perhaps he got bored with it.
>
>Robey
>


Time in service isn't an indicition of much of anything. I know guys who spent
20 years in and spent it all behind a desk in Ohio. A guy with 10 minutes on
Omaha Beach outranks him no matter what the rank. It's not the time it's the
action.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Billy Beck
June 4th 04, 09:24 PM
On 04 Jun 2004 19:07:44 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>From: Billy Beck

>>On 04 Jun 2004 16:48:14 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>>>From: Ed Rasimus

>>>>>What military service?

>>>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>>>it for four and a half years.
>>>>
>>>>Did you serve that long?
>>
>>>Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>>>50 missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
>>>Texas while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>>
>> I cannot *wait* until your rotten horse**** no longer appears in
>>this group, Kramer. Do you understand? I long for the day when
>>you're gone.
>>
>> No bull****.
>
>I'm very old. You won't have long to wait. Take joy in that fact.

No, I won't, and certainly not on *your* word. And it doesn't
have to come to that. It would suit my purposes if you only came to
your senses, but I know better than to wait for that. At this point,
I'd be satisfied to know that you'd taken up potting geraniums and
didn't have time for what you do around here.

Let me tell you something: your suvival of your ordeal was once a
big fat credit in my books, but you've long since traded that account
to a flat zero. You did it with your utterly ridiculous
pronouncements, *explicitly trading* on the credit of your experience,
as if that entitled you to strut what you think are you politics here.
The whole while -- and most amply illustrated in the latest round with
Ed -- you've been pleased to deliberately ignore *facts*, and, whether
you know it or not, that is the very essence of depravity.

It's been said that "Man is the only creature that can sink below
its nature."

You're living proof, right here in this newsgroup.

Nothing about it is "joy[ful]" to me, but I hold higher values
than that.


Billy

http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php

Chad Irby
June 4th 04, 09:49 PM
In article >,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: Chad Irby
> >Date: 6/4/04 11:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
>
> >Since you're claiming that this guy isn't brave, and that he didn't do
> >his duty, you're nowhere near as good an American as you thought.
> >
> >Sorry, but you brought it up.
>
> Yeah. Thats what I said.

....except that your previous attempts at sarcasm failed, because you
were wrong about the particulars.

You pretty much just threw away your entire WWII record, all in a failed
try at making someone else with a not-as-good record look bad.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Paul J. Adam
June 4th 04, 10:03 PM
In message >, Chad Irby
> writes
>In article >,
> "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
>> How many IEDs do you think have been detonated or disarmed?
>
>Quite a few, but most of them have been made out of much smaller devices
>or just plain old plastic explosives.
>
>It takes a lot of work and more skill to make an artillery shell into a
>remote-detonated bomb, compared to using the other materials they have
>available.

How difficult do you believe it is to fill the fusewell of an artillery
shell with plastic explosive and insert a detonator linked to (for
example) a garage door-opener receiver?

>Making an RPG into an IED is much, much easier (a piece of
>string tied to the trigger), and they have a *lot* of those.

However, an RPG's warhead is measured in ounces and has a relatively
poor fragmentation effect: artillery shells have payloads of pounds and
are *designed* for area fragmentation.

>An "IED" isn't always made up of normal explosives, anyway. Cans full
>of gasoline, a grenade tied to the gas tank of a bus sitting by the side
>of the road, fertilizer and diesel in a plastic bag... there's a lot of
>different ways to make them.

Yes, I know - they were an ongoing risk.

Interesting experience: checking out a white van parked on double yellow
lines (illegally, if there's no direct US equivalent) but a look through
the windows shows it's full of fertiliser bags.

Glad I was just the guard that day: and *very* glad that the driver ran
out of a house, saw the armed soldiers examining his van (probably not
in that order), and stuttered "I'll move it! I'm going!" and raced off.

>Artillery shells are popular, but with all
>of the explosive crap sitting around in undiscovered bunkers in Iraq,
>there's a wide variety to choose from.

So, again, what's your estimate of the number of IEDs found to date?

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Leslie Swartz
June 4th 04, 10:22 PM
Once more, Art shows why an all-volunteer force is superior to a draft . . .

Steve Swartz



"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: "Jarg"
> >Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >
> >>
> >> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record
of
> >50
> >> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
> >Texas
> >> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
> >>
> >>
> >> Arthur Kramer
> >> 344th BG 494th BS
> >> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> >> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> >> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
> >>
> >
> >Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
> >Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
> >
> >President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
> >most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.
> >
> >Jarg
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: "Jarg"
> >Date: 6/4/04 10:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >
> >>
> >> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record
of
> >50
> >> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
> >Texas
> >> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
> >>
> >>
> >> Arthur Kramer
> >> 344th BG 494th BS
> >> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> >> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> >> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
> >>
> >
> >Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
> >Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
> >
> >President Bush fulfilled his duty. He is currently serving in one of the
> >most dangerous jobs around. Your mudslinging doesn't change that.
> >
> >Jarg
>
>
> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an American
as a
> guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him. I thought you got
20
> years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff. One more point. Kerry went to
war.
> Bush hid in Texas.
>
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

Leslie Swartz
June 4th 04, 10:27 PM
It's amazing how so many WWII vets risked life and limb to save the French
from Totalitarianism, then scurry back to the U.S. and try to ram it down
our throats . . .

Art, for one, is a "Big Government Liberal" who doesn't seem to realize that
yes, Totalitarianism is a necessary condition to support his Welfare State.
And his welfare checks.

Perhaps his generation has been trained to expect that the world now owes
them a debt of servitude err I mean gratitude . . .

Steve Swartz



"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
> "ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
> > American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.
> > I thought you got 20 years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff.
> >
>
> If he hadn't shown up for duty you can be sure he'd have paid the penalty.
>
>
> >
> > One more point. Kerry went to war.
> >
>
> Any idea why he declined to serve his full tour?
>
>
> >
> > Bush hid in Texas.
> >
>
> Bush's location was known. He could have been sent to Vietnam at any
time.
> How do you feel about Bill Clinton? He went to England without telling
his
> draft board.
>
>

Paul J. Adam
June 4th 04, 10:48 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> Okay, we found a buried MiG-25, isn't that a "large and capable" air
>> force?
>
>You need to calibrate your "humor" switch.

Why? One aircraft isn't an "air force", especially not one buried in
sand. Claiming "We said he had a massive air force! Look! See his air
force!" falls down somewhat.

I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
shot at because of this.

>> Yet which we knew he was working on.
>
>Which he claimed was R&D only, with no weapons listed as produced from the
>effort.

Of course, Iraqi accounting was always honest and believable?

Trouble is, R&D produces prototypes, which were "suspected" and not
accounted for, and one of which *may* have turned up. (But if this was a
serious WME threat, where's the rest of the stockpile, and the
production line?)

>This was a weapon. It was not reported.

And the discrepancy was noted years ago.

>Bad on him; you can defend
>Saddam all you want in this regard, but it is clear he did not provide a
>"full, final, and complete" accounting of all WMD's he had built,

Of course he didn't! Trouble is, even *he* didn't know what he had.


And it was claimed that he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and
entire production lines, and that was why we had to invade and secure
that threat Right Now. Forty-five minutes from order to firing, with
weapons able to reach as far as Cyprus - the UK Government claimed that
was its experts' judgement. (Trouble is, when analysts say 'probably
not' and the political advisors suggest 'can we delete that "not" to
tighten up the sentence?' then the message changes a little in
transit...)

As it turns out... "whoops", to date.

>> Or that predated 687.
>
>Big question mark. Saddam did not declare any rounds produced of this nature
>at any time--being as his disclosures did include some pretty "low density"
>items (numbers in the single and double digits for other systems), then why
>was this left out?

You've got him in custody, ask him.

>Neither UNSCOM nor the later UNMOVIC were able to reach
>any kind of definitive conclusion about exactly *what* the Iraqis had or had
>not been able to do, or did, in terms of manufacturing 155mm binary rounds.

Which makes insisting that they must be recent, something of a stretch,
no? They were strongly suspected of having a R&D effort aimed at such
rounds, and Iraq denied it, but then if you believe the Hussein regime
then the US military was exterminated outside Baghdad and are currently
having their bellies barbecued in Hell.

Perhaps yet again it might be wise to wait for the results of the
detailed analysis before making too many firm claims.

>Interestingly, Saddam did not see fitt to even acknowledge the R&D effort
>(which he was required to do) until after it was discovered via some
>documentaion by UNSCOM inspectors. But hey, you still want to defend him
>here, right?

No, I'm just accustomed to the fact that he was both an accomplished
liar and that he may not have known as much as he believed about the
projects he sponsored.

Shades of the Hitler days: you can report "encouraging progress" on the
250,000-ton fantasy battleship and get more funding to stay in Kiel, or
you can admit it's a ludicrous pipedream and you and your entire design
team can pick up your rifles and go fight on the Eastern Front.

We're stuck with what we can find after a year and a half of searching,
for the "true picture" of what he had. Is the US so grossly incompetent
that, having much of the regime's top staff in custody and under
interrogation, that it can't get *one* of them to admit to one of the
Vast Concealed Stockpiles or the Hidden Underground Factories?

>> Because out of 200,000 rounds produced, one round turning up is absolute
>> proof?
>
>Back to the old, "How many weapons does a violation make?" argument, eh?

Yep. One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent.

>> Do I scent desperation here?
>
>No, you scent disbelief that folks are still trying to defend Saddam and
>claim that he was not guilty of continuing proscribed WMD activities, or of
>hiding those that he had already conducted and wanted to keep out of sight.

So, where are the weapons? There was supposed to be a threat. Where is
it?

>> From "Hussein may be exporting kilotons of WME to his US-hating
>> neigbbours" we're down to "we've found one or two decade-old shells".
>
>That would be your quote, I presume? I mean, we all now know how willing you
>are to doctor/create a quote and assign it to another poster, right?

I don't doctor quotes. If I quote, I make it properly attributable so it
can be checked. If you don't see a name on it, then it's not a quote.
(Who would I be quoting? If I write "Kevin Brooks is a big fat poopie
head" then who, precisely, is supposed to have said this and how could
you challenge them?)

I told you this already - I'm willing to be charitable and accept you
ignored it in a fit of pique, but if you prefer I'll find a less amiable
interpretation.

I find false accusations unpleasant, personally, but again you may just
have been indulging in histrionics and refused to read it.

>> There were supposedly vast factories and stockpiles of chemical and/or
>> biological weapons. It seems our intelligence was incorrect, since those
>> vast stockpiles and the factories that produced them remain elusive.
>
>Our intel in those regards may indeed have been incorrect.

You don't think?

>But that does not
>change the FACT that Saddam was violating the requirements set forth before
>him.

I'm sure he had some unpaid parking tickets too. So what? Less than a
ton is "research quantities" for other nations interested in
self-defence against chemical weapons, and there's the minor
_realpolitik_ that Iraq still has a border and a recent bloody war with
Iran, who is *also* an enthusiastic producer of chemical weapons. Tricky
to handle that one, unless you want to commit US troops to protecting
the Shi'a south against an Iranian rescue from Iraq's hateful
oppression...


There was meant to be a major threat. There was, allegedly, "solid
evidence" confirming it. There were significant quantities of weapons
and we claimed to know where they were.

Whoops.

>Gee, I wonder *why* he was so interested in ricin, which is admittedly
>not likely to be the best of battlefield agents, but would likely perform
>nicely if used by terrorist types, or his own intel folks (you remember, the
>same guys who were implicated in that kill-the-former-President scheme?).

Because it's cheap and easy. You can cook up ricin in a domestic kitchen
(we arrested a group doing just that in London). You can talk up how
hugely lethal it is and how many thousands you could kill with Just This
Test-Tube! While carefully skipping over the inconvenient problems of
administration (best-known ricin victim is Georgi Markov - you're going
to get an agent close enough to a President to jab an umbrella in his
leg?) Ricin just needs castorbeans and some commercial equipment to
produce.

Chicken and egg - were they after ricin for its enormous battlefield
effectiveness, or were they proudly developing a hugely lethal
biological weapon for the glory of Saddam Hussein (may blessings rain
from Heaven on His name) with resources they could easily get hold of
and which they'd get funding and prestige for?

>> The claim was that there was a clear and obvious threat. Where was it?
>
>Saddam continuing to work towards proscribed goals is good enough for me. I
>personally don't think he was the kind of guy I'd want to be controlling
>*any* WMD's, in whatever quantities; you may differ, but I could care less
>to be honest.

I'd be worried about the *confirmed* threats, but that's just me.

>Then of course there were the other (non-WMD) related reasons
>for conducting this operation--the ones that you can't seem to understand do
>indeed exist?

The ones you won't state?

Or perhaps I'm mistaken and you *did* state them - in which case I
apologise (again) for missing them. Could you point me to them, please?
(asked again)

>> What made Iraq so special compared to more evident proliferators and
>> producers of WME?
>>
>> I asked eighteen months ago and never got an answer.
>
>Because your question remains as stupid now as it was then--and yes, you got
>an answer, you just can't seem to (or more accurately don't want to) grasp
>it.

No, I didn't. "It's Iraq and it's a special case." was the best summary.
Which may be true, but the evasiveness is an automatic hackle-raiser.

>No standard playbook for handling threats/potential threats in the
>geopolitical realm--it is all situationally dependent. I suspect you can
>understand that, but apparently as usual you just find it easier to ignore
>the obvious in your quest to, for some unknown reason, defend Saddam as the
>poor whipping boy.

Or perhaps I'm more interested in real issues than demonising Saddam
Hussein?

>BTW, did you notice that the Saudis have again been in
>AQ's target ring?

But how can this be? Aren't all the al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq? How can
there be terrorists in other countries?

>You remember--the country that IIRC you were claiming was
>more of a threat to the US and more deserving of US action than Iraq?

That's okay - the hugely efficient Saudi military and security services
will handle the problem.

If they can't, the large US presence in the country will handle it.


(Your last sentence is extremely troubling, though. How much do you
actually understand about the general situation in Saudi Arabia, and the
particulars of the House of Saud's relationship with the Wahabbi sect
and al-Qaeda's reaction to all the above? Or do you really believe that
"because al-Qaeda attacks in Saudi then the house of Saud must be their
sworn enemies and our true and trusted allies?")


--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Ed Rasimus
June 4th 04, 11:27 PM
On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 19:17:33 GMT, Robey Price >
wrote:

>After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ed Rasimus
>confessed the following:
>
>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>it for four and a half years.
>
>Minor point of order...gwb graduated from UPT in Nov 1969 (IIRC),
>qualified in the 102 in July 1970 and his last flight in a single
>engine/single seat fighter was April 1972. He never flew the F-102
>again.
>
>My poor math skills indicate that he was operational for less than two
>years, of course your math may come up with a different answer.
>Perhaps he got bored with it.
>
>Robey

Language is so imprecise. The whole sentence says he went to UPT (one
year), qualified in the Deuce (with survival about another year), went
operational (about four-six months) and then flew in his unit pulling
periodic alert duty. Total military service, including almost two full
years of full-time duty was about 4 and a half years.

I don't know any reasonable way for any one, no matter how well
connected, to do UPT and operational training without showing up.

But, you knew that as well.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 4th 04, 11:30 PM
On 04 Jun 2004 19:22:57 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>Time in service isn't an indicition of much of anything. I know guys who spent
>20 years in and spent it all behind a desk in Ohio. A guy with 10 minutes on
>Omaha Beach outranks him no matter what the rank. It's not the time it's the
>action.
>
>
>Arthur Kramer

And you don't owe your combat survival to literally hundreds of folks
who weren't in combat but who worked hard to qualify and support your
effort?

If time is the criteria (stand by for cheap shot...), how much time to
you have as pilot-in-command? As a rated AF pilot? As pilot of a
Century Series jet? Solo?

C'mon, Art, we know you don't like Bush. That's fine and perfectly
acceptable. But, don't manipulate facts in the hope that somehow you
will prove that he is less of a man than you.

And, you really don't want to start on Kerry and his Winter Soldier
activities, do you?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Chad Irby
June 5th 04, 12:20 AM
In article >,
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote:

> In message >, Chad Irby
> > writes
> >In article >,
> > "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
> >> How many IEDs do you think have been detonated or disarmed?
> >
> >Quite a few, but most of them have been made out of much smaller devices
> >or just plain old plastic explosives.
> >
> >It takes a lot of work and more skill to make an artillery shell into a
> >remote-detonated bomb, compared to using the other materials they have
> >available.
>
> How difficult do you believe it is to fill the fusewell of an artillery
> shell with plastic explosive and insert a detonator linked to (for
> example) a garage door-opener receiver?

Much more difficult and risky to your own hide than the example I gave:

> >Making an RPG into an IED is much, much easier (a piece of
> >string tied to the trigger), and they have a *lot* of those.

....and somewhat more difficult than taking one of a whole lot of
leftover blocks of plastic explosive and sticking a detonator into it.

> However, an RPG's warhead is measured in ounces and has a relatively
> poor fragmentation effect: artillery shells have payloads of pounds and
> are *designed* for area fragmentation.

But are very bad for portability and pretty much useless against
anything except soft targets unless you get them right up against the
hull of an armored vehicle. If you want frag damage, use mortar shells,
they've got a more useful payload and weigh less per round.

> >An "IED" isn't always made up of normal explosives, anyway. Cans
> >full of gasoline, a grenade tied to the gas tank of a bus sitting by
> >the side of the road, fertilizer and diesel in a plastic bag...
> >there's a lot of different ways to make them.
>
> Yes, I know - they were an ongoing risk.

And *are*. What we're seeing now is the leftovers, and items from
undiscovered weapons caches. Like the sarin shell.

> >Artillery shells are popular, but with all of the explosive crap
> >sitting around in undiscovered bunkers in Iraq, there's a wide
> >variety to choose from.
>
> So, again, what's your estimate of the number of IEDs found to date?

A couple of thousand, from what I've read. They were rare at first,
started coming in after the first three months or so, hit a peak a while
back, and are trailing off (since a lot of the people who were trying to
set them got blown up or shot while making the attempts).

You might also note that they were counting *anything* that could be
considered explosives as "IEDs" for a while, even if it was just an
unattended artillery shell sitting by the road.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby
June 5th 04, 12:22 AM
In article >,
Ed Rasimus > wrote:

> And you don't owe your combat survival to literally hundreds of folks
> who weren't in combat but who worked hard to qualify and support your
> effort?

You know, like the guys who flew around in less-than-wonderful aircraft
protecting the States while the rest of them were dropping bombs
somewhere.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

ArtKramr
June 5th 04, 01:26 AM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/4/04 3:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On 04 Jun 2004 19:22:57 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
>>Time in service isn't an indicition of much of anything. I know guys who
>spent
>>20 years in and spent it all behind a desk in Ohio. A guy with 10 minutes on
>>Omaha Beach outranks him no matter what the rank. It's not the time it's
>the
>>action.
>>
>>
>>Arthur Kramer
>
>And you don't owe your combat survival to literally hundreds of folks
>who weren't in combat but who worked hard to qualify and support your
>effort?
>
>If time is the criteria (stand by for cheap shot...), how much time to
>you have as pilot-in-command? As a rated AF pilot? As pilot of a
>Century Series jet? Solo?
>
Don't let this pioot stuff go to your head. The entire purpose of a bombing
mission in WW II was to put a bombardier over a target for 30 seconds. The
pilot was just the driver. And when it came to flying good bomb runs some
pilots weren't worth a ****.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Pete
June 5th 04, 02:44 AM
"ArtKramr" > wrote

> >
> >If time is the criteria (stand by for cheap shot...), how much time to
> >you have as pilot-in-command? As a rated AF pilot? As pilot of a
> >Century Series jet? Solo?
> >
> Don't let this pioot stuff go to your head. The entire purpose of a
bombing
> mission in WW II was to put a bombardier over a target for 30 seconds. The
> pilot was just the driver. And when it came to flying good bomb runs some
> pilots weren't worth a ****.

And today, the pilot, navigator, bombardier and gunner may well be the same
guy.

Pete

ArtKramr
June 5th 04, 03:06 AM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: "Pete"
>Date: 6/4/04 6:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote
>
>> >
>> >If time is the criteria (stand by for cheap shot...), how much time to
>> >you have as pilot-in-command? As a rated AF pilot? As pilot of a
>> >Century Series jet? Solo?
>> >
>> Don't let this pioot stuff go to your head. The entire purpose of a
>bombing
>> mission in WW II was to put a bombardier over a target for 30 seconds. The
>> pilot was just the driver. And when it came to flying good bomb runs some
>> pilots weren't worth a ****.
>
>And today, the pilot, navigator, bombardier and gunner may well be the same
>guy.
>
>Pete


I was born too soon. But I wouldn't have missed it for anything.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Robey Price
June 5th 04, 03:11 AM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ed Rasimus
confessed the following:

>Language is so imprecise.

Yeah, but numbers are NOT.

>Total military service, including almost two full
>years of full-time duty was about 4 and a half years.

Which is different than...

>>>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>>>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>>>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>>>it for four and a half years.

Hmm, "...and fly it for four and a half years," might lead the
unsuspecting reader to believe you meant gwb actually flew F-102 for
four and a half years.

>I don't know any reasonable way for any one, no matter how well
>connected, to do UPT and operational training without showing up.

[quote] I, George Walker Bush, upon successful completion of pilot
training plan to return to my unit and fulfill my obligation to the
utmost of my ability. I have applied for pilot training with the goal
of making flying a lifetime pursuit and I believe I can best
accomplish this to my own satisfaction by service as a member of the
Air National Guard as long as possible.[unquote]

Again...I have problems with a guy that raises his hand and says, "I
wanna be a fighter pilot," but clearly didn't take the time nor make
the effort.

OK he got bored by April 1972 and went to Alabama to work for Ed
Gurney's Senate campaign...sweet. Clearly April 1972 was "as long as
possible."

Ed you're just a kinder, gentler fighter pilot that accepts 22 months
after RTU as a "lifetime pursuit."

Robey

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 04:35 AM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>
> Don't let this pioot stuff go to your head. The entire purpose of a
bombing
> mission in WW II was to put a bombardier over a target for 30 seconds. The
> pilot was just the driver. And when it came to flying good bomb runs some
> pilots weren't worth a ****.
>

No, the purpose of a bombing mission in World War II was to put bombs on a
target. Many successful bombing missions were flown by aircraft without a
bombardier aboard at all. Many were flown by aircraft with only a pilot
aboard.

John Keeney
June 5th 04, 07:19 AM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> You can have whatever political opinions you want, but you have to
> stop ignoring the facts and making these groundless assertions.

Ed, I'ld wager on this point you are wrong: Art doesn't "have to stop
ignoring the facts and making these groundless assertions." He has
a fully demonstrated capability of ignoring anything he wishes.

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:05 AM
>Art, you of all people should respect someone who earned a commission
>in the USAF and completed AF pilot training, then went on to
>operationally qualify in a single-seat/single-engine fighter and fly
>it for four and a half years.

GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer Candidate
School, or whatever the AF has.

And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.

It's sad that such a person could be the CIC.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:06 AM
>President Bush fulfilled his duty.

Bush clearly did not complete his military service. There is no dispute on
that.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:08 AM
>> Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>50
>> missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
>Texas
>> while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>>
>>
>> Arthur Kramer
>> 344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>>
>
>Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
>Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
>

Everyone hasn't done what Art did, but a large number (including Gore) did what
they were required to do. Bush did not.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:13 AM
>> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
>> American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.
>> I thought you got 20 years at hard labor forthat sort of stuff.
>>
>
>If he hadn't shown up for duty you can be sure he'd have paid the penalty.
>

Obviously not, because Bush wsa clearly in an unauthorized status, and he was
not held accountable. It was the '70's, the military was very unpopular, and
Bush's daddy was around to make sure no actions were taken. And Bush was in
the National Guard, which is -not- the same as the Air Force.

>
>>
>> One more point. Kerry went to war.
>>
>
>Any idea why he declined to serve his full tour?
>

That's a false statement. Kerry did serve his full tour. Bush was just
allowed to walk on his obligations.


>
>>
>> Bush hid in Texas.
>>
>
>Bush's location was known. He could have been sent to Vietnam at any time.

Not with his father covering his ass.


>How do you feel about Bill Clinton?

Bill Clinton is not running for office.

This time around a decorated Viet Nam veteran is running against a putz who
didn't even go to OCS.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:15 AM
>It's amazing how so many WWII vets risked life and limb to save the French
>from Totalitarianism, then scurry back to the U.S. and try to ram it down
>our throats . . .

Why don't you elaborate on that statement some. Who is doing that? How many
WWII veterans have done that?

When I vote for Kerry, is that a vote for totalitarianism?

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:17 AM
>> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
>> American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.
>
>Except, of course, he did, by the records, despite the frantic efforts
>of some to pretend otherwise.

Can you show us anywhere to look for confirmation of that?

>Meanwhile, he's been in a job for the last three years which has a
>*very* high mortality rate, after serving in a plane in the National
>Guard which had a mortality rate *in training* about equal to combat
>flying.

He skipped a physical that took him off flying status. He did not
satisfactorily complete his term of service, and I don't think even the RNC is
saying he did. Can you confirm?


Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:19 AM
>>Since you're claiming that this guy isn't brave, and that he didn't do
>>his duty, you're nowhere near as good an American as you thought.
>>
>>Sorry, but you brought it up.
>>
>>--
>
>Yeah. Thats what I said.

These guys know they have no leg to stand on, Art. So they attack you.

Bush did not satisfactorily complete his term of service.

You did, and thanks again.


Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:24 AM
>Please cite a reputable source showing President Bush "hid" in Texas and
>that he did not fulfil his service requirements. I can cite plenty that
>detail his service and convincingly counter the lies of his politically
>motivated oppoents (like yourself).
>
>Jarg
>

Bush "hid" in Texas by seeking a National Guard assignment at all.

That Bush did not satisfactorily complete his required service is not in
dispute. He clearly did not.

"So, while the news networks have sat on this explosive story for months, it's
well documented that George W. Bush never showed up for National Guard duty for
a period of approximately one year, possibly more, in 1972-1973. Despite all
the talk about "honor and dignity," Bush seems to have a problem meeting his
commitments."

http://www.awolbush.com/



>p.s I don't think anyone is questioning your service which makes me wonder
>why you are compelled to repeatedly remind us of it. I hope you don't think
>it will somehow counterbalance your sloppy thinking!

As when Art was a bombardier, he is right on target.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 11:30 AM
>No, Art, you shouldn't be ashamed for your service. You are
>justifiably proud. But, you should be at least a bit sheepish for
>continually repeating an assertion that has no merit.

Bush clearly -did not- complete his service satisfactorily.

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/10/25_Deserter.html

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

Dear Buzz,

Attached is the formal complaint that I made with the Department of
Defense concerning George W. Bush's desertion during the Vietnam war.

Maybe you could post the complaint and encourage others to submit formal
complaints as well. Tell people to call their congresspeople and request as a
constituent service that they write a cover letter and deliver it. It was
amazingly easy for me.

A BuzzFlash Reader

* * *

RE: Desertion

Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1900


To whom it may concern:

Recently, I was made aware of allegations concerning several violations of the
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) by George W. Bush during the Vietnam
War. The alleged acts include being Absent Without Leave (UCMJ Article 86) for
a period of more than a year from his National Guard assignments in Texas and
Alabama. According to the UCMJ, a person who is AWOL for more than 30 days with
evidence of no intent to return to duty is guilty of Desertion. (UCMJ Article
85)

To understand the gravity of this offense, one need only read the section 4.9.5
e. of Article 85, which states that the maximum punishment for desertion in a
time of war (3), is, "Death or such other punishment as a court-martial may
direct". As far as I am aware, George W. Bush has never received any punishment
for these alleged crimes, nor has he ever been charged.

When I read about these allegations in national media outlets including, but
not limited to; The Boston Globe(1), The Washington Post(2), The Birmingham
News(3), and The Dallas Morning News(4), I decided to call the Department of
Defense to find out what the Statute of Limitations was for these crimes. I was
informed that because of the nature of the crimes; deserting one's country
during a time of war, that there is NO statute of limitations, and these
crimes, if proven, can still be prosecuted today.

The purpose of this correspondence is to make a formal written complaint with
circumstantial and documentary evidence of George W. Bush's violations of the
UCMJ. Since he is the Commander in Chief of our armed forces, the details of
his past service or lack thereof, are of particular interest to the American
people.

DETAILS:

From May to November 1972, George W. Bush was living in Alabama working on the
US senate campaign of Winton Blount and was required to attend drills with the
Air National Guard unit in Montgomery, Alabama. There is no record that he
attended any drills whatsoever. Additionally, General William Turnipseed (r)
who was commander of the unit at that time has stated in interviews that he
never saw Bush report for duty.

On September 5, 1972, Bush had requested permission to perform duty for
September, October, and November at the 187th Tactical Recon Group in
Montgomery. Permission was granted, and Bush was ordered to report to General
William Turnipseed. In interviews, Turnipseed, and his administrative officer
at the time, Kenneth K. Lott, have stated that they had no memory of Bush ever
reporting.

Seven months later, at Ellington Air Force Base in Texas, Bush's two superior
officers were unable to complete his annual evaluation covering the year from
May 1, 1972 to April 30, 1973 because, "Lt. Bush has not been observed at this
unit during the period of this report." Both superior officers, who are now
dead, and also Ellington's top personnel officer at the time, mistakenly
concluded that Bush served his final year of service in Alabama. Bush returned
to live in Texas after the senatorial election in November, 1972, so this is
obviously not true.

According to the records available from the National Guard, the period between
May 1972 and May 1973 remains unaccounted for. George W. Bush himself has
refused to answer questions about this period in his life, other than to state
that he fulfilled all of his National Guard commitments. If this were true, why
is there no record of him fulfilling these commitments at either of his posts
in Texas or Alabama? Why is there not one commanding officer that can come
forward and state unequivocally that Bush reported for duty?

If the allegations are true that Bush deserted his country during a time of
war, this is one of the gravest offenses one can commit against their country,
short of treason. This is why there is no Statute of Limitations concerning
these crimes. My father served proudly as a field surgeon in Vietnam, and it
distresses me greatly that a person could use his family's influence and power
to not only avoid the draft for service, but then to not fulfill the duties
that he was assigned in substitute for serving in Vietnam.

These crimes are not to be taken lightly, and I believe that all men and women
who serve America proudly would be shocked that a soldier was allowed to abuse
the system in the way that George W. Bush allegedly has. These charges warrant
investigation, and until a satisfactory record of Bush's service is produced, I
can only assume that Bush did indeed desert his country in a time of war.

I implore you to investigate these charges. In this time of war and talk of
preemptive strikes against other countries, it would serve the American people
greatly to know that our Commander in Chief did not run away from duty during
Vietnam. If this man is to send other's husbands, wives, and children to die in
a foreign land, we must make sure that he fulfilled his obligations and
commitments to America before he demands that others do the same.

Sincerely,

A BuzzFlash Reader

Brett
June 5th 04, 11:45 AM
"WalterM140" > wrote:
> >President Bush fulfilled his duty.
>
> Bush clearly did not complete his military service. There is no dispute
on
> that.

The Department of Defense at the time he left the service disagrees with
your claim.

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 12:03 PM
>And also served less than half of his combat tour.
>

Senator Kerry's narrative portion of his fitness report:

"In a combat environment often requiring independent, decisive action LTJG
Kerry was unsurpassed. He constantly reviewed tactics and lessons learned in
river operations and applied his experience at every opportunity. On one
occasion while in tactical command of a three boat operation his units were
taken under fire from ambush. LTJG Kerry rapidly assessed the situation and
ordered his units to turn directly into the ambush. This decision resulted in
routing the attackers with several enemy KIAs.

LTJG Kerry emerges as the acknowledged leader in his peer group. His bearing
and appearance are above reproach. He has of his own volition learned the
Vietnamese language and is instrumental in the successful Vietnamese training
programs.

During this period of this report LTJG Kerry has been awarded the Silver Star
medal, the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart medal (2nd and 3rd awards).

18 Dec 1969"

http://www.awolbush.com/kerry-vs-bush.asp

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 01:15 PM
>I'm very old. You won't have long to wait. Take joy in that fact.
>
>

Hell, Art.

You're too mean to die. ;-)

Walt

ArtKramr
June 5th 04, 01:22 PM
>ubject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: (WalterM140)
>Date: 6/5/04 5:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>>I'm very old. You won't have long to wait. Take joy in that fact.
>>
>>
>
>Hell, Art.
>
>You're too mean to die. ;-)
>
>Walt
>

Aw shucks Walt, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me. (shy
grin)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

George Z. Bush
June 5th 04, 03:03 PM
WalterM140 wrote:

(Snip)

> GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer
> Candidate School, or whatever the AF has.
>
> And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.

Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment. Unless
the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments apply
to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he didn't
complete it.
>
> It's sad that such a person could be the CIC.





















>
> Walt

Mike Dargan
June 5th 04, 04:10 PM
WalterM140 wrote:
>>>Yeah you are right. I am ashamed of myself with my measly combat record of
>>
>>50
>>
>>>missions over Germany being no match for the no-show Bush who hid in
>>
>>Texas
>>
>>>while the Nam war war raged. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa.
>>>
>>>
>>>Arthur Kramer
>>>344th BG 494th BS
>>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>>>Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>>>http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>>>
>>
>>Is your own record the benchmark? If so the vast majority, including Al
>>Gore, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. would not qualify.
>>
>
>
> Everyone hasn't done what Art did, but a large number (including Gore) did what
> they were required to do. Bush did not.

I've never voted for a Bush, but I can't blame George and Bar for
getting their kid a save haven during Vietnam. Why waste a child in a
foolish and illegal war?

At least they didn't get him a complete exemption, as did the Cheney's.
I am amused, though, by the cynicism of those who brag up Bush for
zooming around in an F102. He wasn't a pilot because of his brains and
physical prowess. Had his daddy been a janitor in Harlem, rather than a
Repulican swell, he'd have been humping the boonies and dodging punji
sticks.

Cheers

--mike
>
> Walt

Paul J. Adam
June 5th 04, 04:12 PM
In message >, Chad Irby
> writes
>In article >,
> "Paul J. Adam" > wrote:
>> How difficult do you believe it is to fill the fusewell of an artillery
>> shell with plastic explosive and insert a detonator linked to (for
>> example) a garage door-opener receiver?
>
>Much more difficult and risky to your own hide than the example I gave:

Much less effective, though.

>> >Making an RPG into an IED is much, much easier (a piece of
>> >string tied to the trigger), and they have a *lot* of those.
>
>...and somewhat more difficult than taking one of a whole lot of
>leftover blocks of plastic explosive and sticking a detonator into it.

No fragmentation, though that's not hard to fix. On the other hand if
you've *got* shells... you have explosive and fragments pre-made and
just need the new fuze.

>> However, an RPG's warhead is measured in ounces and has a relatively
>> poor fragmentation effect: artillery shells have payloads of pounds and
>> are *designed* for area fragmentation.
>
>But are very bad for portability and pretty much useless against
>anything except soft targets

"Soft targets" like trucks, foot patrols, HMMWVs and the like. Most of
the troops, aid workers, local police and contractors in Iraq aren't
mounted in armoured vehicles.

>> So, again, what's your estimate of the number of IEDs found to date?
>
>A couple of thousand, from what I've read.

Thank you (seriously). Are you still saying less than a "few dozen"
involved artillery shells?

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Mike Dargan
June 5th 04, 04:20 PM
George Z. Bush wrote:

> WalterM140 wrote:
>
> (Snip)
>
>
>>GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer
>>Candidate School, or whatever the AF has.
>>
>>And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.
>
>
> Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment. Unless
> the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments apply
> to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he didn't
> complete it.

Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family with
important things to do. Paying Bush to sip around in a Deuce was a waste
of resources. There was no way that the Bush scion would ever find him
self in harm's way. Didn't it make more sense to use that fuel and the
airframe hours to train someone who might one day be willing to serve
his or her country?

Cheers

--mike

>
>>It's sad that such a person could be the CIC.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>Walt
>
>
>

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 04:26 PM
On 05 Jun 2004 11:03:45 GMT, (WalterM140) wrote:
>Senator Kerry's narrative portion of his fitness report:
>
>"In a combat environment often requiring independent, decisive action LTJG
>Kerry was unsurpassed. He constantly reviewed tactics and lessons learned in
>river operations and applied his experience at every opportunity. On one
>occasion while in tactical command of a three boat operation his units were
>taken under fire from ambush. LTJG Kerry rapidly assessed the situation and
>ordered his units to turn directly into the ambush. This decision resulted in
>routing the attackers with several enemy KIAs.
>
>LTJG Kerry emerges as the acknowledged leader in his peer group. His bearing
>and appearance are above reproach. He has of his own volition learned the
>Vietnamese language and is instrumental in the successful Vietnamese training
>programs.
>
>During this period of this report LTJG Kerry has been awarded the Silver Star
>medal, the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart medal (2nd and 3rd awards).
>
>18 Dec 1969"

And, since you so like to quote the sources of your opinions, here's a
collection from Swift Boat commanders that you can draw from in the
future:


"We resent very deeply the false war crimes charges he made coming
back from Vietnam in 1971 and repeated in the book "Tour of Duty." We
think those cast an aspersion on all those living and dead, from our
unit and other units in Vietnam. We think that he knew he was lying
when he made the charges, and we think that they're unsupportable. We
intend to bring the truth about that to the American people.

We believe, based on our experience with him, that he is totally unfit
to be the Commander-in-Chief."

-- John O'Neill, spokesman, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

"I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be Commander-in-Chief of the
armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It
is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty and
trust -- all absolute tenets of command. His biography, 'Tour of
Duty,' by Douglas Brinkley, is replete with gross exaggerations,
distortions of fact, contradictions and slanderous lies. His contempt
for the military and authority is evident by even a most casual review
of this biography. He arrived in-country with a strong anti-Vietnam
War bias and a self-serving determination to build a foundation for
his political future. He was aggressive, but vain and prone to
impulsive judgment, often with disregard for specific tactical
assignments. He was a 'loose cannon.' In an abbreviated tour of four
months and 12 days, and with his specious medals secure, Lt.(jg) Kerry
bugged out and began his infamous betrayal of all United States forces
in the Vietnam War. That included our soldiers, our marines, our
sailors, our coast guardsmen, our airmen, and our POWs. His leadership
within the so-called Vietnam Veterans Against the War and testimony
before Congress in 1971 charging us with unspeakable atrocities remain
an undocumented but nevertheless meticulous stain on the men and women
who honorably stayed the course. Senator Kerry is not fit for
command."

-- Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman, USN (retired), chairman, Swift Boat
Veterans for Truth

"During Lt.(jg) Kerry's tour, he was under my command for two or three
specific operations, before his rapid exit. Trust, loyalty and
judgment are the key, operative words. His turncoat performance in
1971 in his grubby shirt and his medal-tossing escapade, coupled with
his slanderous lines in the recent book portraying us that served,
including all POWs and MIAs, as murderous war criminals, I believe,
will have a lasting effect on all military veterans and their
families.

Kerry would be described as devious, self-absorbing, manipulative,
disdain for authority, disruptive, but the most common phrase that
you'd hear is 'requires constant supervision.'"

-- Captain Charles Plumly, USN (retired)

"Thirty-five years ago, many of us fell silent when we came back to
the stain of sewage that Mr. Kerry had thrown on us, and all of our
colleagues who served over there. I don't intend to be silent today or
ever again. Our young men and women who are serving deserve no less."

-- Andrew Horne

"In my specific, personal experience in both coastal and river patrols
over a 12-month period, I never once saw or heard anything remotely
resembling the atrocities described by Senator Kerry. If I had, it
would have been my obligation to report them in writing to a higher
authority, and I would certainly have done that. If Senator Kerry
actually witnessed or participated in these atrocities or, as he
described them, 'war crimes,' he was obligated to report them. That he
did not until later when it suited his political purposes strikes me
as opportunism of the worst kind. That he would malign my service and
that of his fellow sailors with no regard for the truth makes him
totally unqualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief."

-- Jeffrey Wainscott

"I signed that letter because I, too felt a deep sense of betrayal
that someone who took the same oath of loyalty as I did as an officer
in the United States Navy would abandon his group here (points to
group photo) to join this group here (points to VVAW protest photo),
and come home and attempt to rally the American public against the
effort that this group was so valiantly pursuing.

It is a fact that in the entire Vietnam War we did not lose one major
battle. We lost the war at home... and at home, John Kerry was the
Field General."

-- Robert Elder

"My daughters and my wife have read portions of the book 'Tour of
Duty.' They wanted to know if I took part in the atrocities described.
I do not believe the things that are described happened.

Let me give you an example. In Brinkley's book, on pages 170 to 171,
about something called the 'Bo De massacre' on November 24th of
1968... In Kerry's description of the engagement, first he claimed
there were 17 servicemen that were wounded. Three of us were wounded.
I was the first..."

-- Joseph Ponder

"While in Cam Rahn Bay, he trained on several 24-hour indoctrination
missions, and one special skimmer operation with my most senior and
trusted Lieutenant. The briefing from some members of that crew the
morning after revealed that they had not received any enemy fire, and
yet Lt.(jg) Kerry informed me of a wound -- he showed me a scratch on
his arm and a piece of shrapnel in his hand that appeared to be from
one of our own M-79s. It was later reported to me that Lt.(jg) Kerry
had fired an M-79, and it had exploded off the adjacent shoreline. I
do not recall being advised of any medical treatment, and probably
said something like 'Forget it.' He later received a Purple Heart for
that scratch, and I have no information as to how or whom.

Lt.(jg) Kerry was allowed to return to the good old USA after 4 months
and a few days in-country, and then he proceeded to betray his former
shipmates, calling them criminals who were committing atrocities.
Today we are here to tell you that just the opposite is true. Our
rules of engagement were quite strict, and the officers and men of
Swift often did not even return fire when they were under fire if
there was a possibility that innocent people -- fishermen, in a lot of
cases -- might be hurt or injured. The rules and the good intentions
of the men increased the possibility that we might take friendly
casualties."

-- Commander Grant Hibbard, USN (retired)

"Lt. Kerry returned home from the war to make some outrageous
statements and allegations... of numerous criminal acts in violation
of the law of war were cited by Kerry, disparaging those who had
fought with honor in that conflict. Had war crimes been committed by
US forces in Vietnam? Yes, but such acts were few and far between. Yet
Lt. Kerry have numerous speeches and testimony before Congress
inappropriately leading his audiences to believe that what was only an
anomaly in the conduct of America's fighting men was an epidemic.
Furthermore, he suggested that they were being encouraged to violated
the law of war by those within the chain of command.

Very specific orders, on file at the Vietnam archives at Texas Tech
University, were issued by my father [Admiral Elmo Zumwalt] and others
in his chain of command instructing subordinates to act responsibly in
preserving the life and property of Vietnamese civilians."

-- Lt. Col. James Zumwalt, USMC (retired)

"We look at Vietnam... after all these years it is still languishing
in isolated poverty and helplessness and tyranny. This is John Kerry's
legacy. I deeply resent John Kerry's using his Swift boat experience,
and his betrayal of those who fought there as a stepping-stone to his
political ambitions."

-- Barnard Wolff

"In a whole year that I spent patrolling, I didn't see anything like a
war crime, an atrocity, anything like that. Time and again I saw
American fighting men put themselves in graver danger trying to
avoid... collateral damage.

When John Kerry returned to the country, he was sworn in front of
Congress. And then he told my family -- my parents, my sister, my
brother, my neighbors -- he told everyone I knew and everyone I'd ever
know that I and my comrades had committed unspeakable atrocities."

-- David Wallace

"I served with these guys. I went on missions with them, and these men
served honorably. Up and down the chain of command there was no
acquiescence to atrocities. It was not condoned, it did not happen,
and it was not reported to me verbally or in writing by any of these
men including Lt.(jg) Kerry.

In 1971, '72, for almost 18 months, he stood before the television
audiences and claimed that the 500,000 men and women in Vietnam, and
in combat, were all villains -- there were no heroes. In 2004, one
hero from the Vietnam War has appeared, running for President of the
United States and Commander-in-Chief. It just galls one to think about
it."

-- Captain George Elliott, USN (retired)

"During the Vietnam War I was Task Force Commander at An Thoi, and my
tour of duty was 13 months, from the end of Tet to the beginning of
the Vietnamization of the Navy units.

Now when I went there right after Tet, I was restricted in my
movements. I couldn't go much of anyplace because the Vietcong
controlled most of the area. When I left, I could go anywhere I
wanted, just about. Commerce was booming, the buses were running,
trucks were going, the waterways were filled with sampans with goods
going to market, but yet in Kerry's biography he says that our
operations were a complete failure. He also mentions a formal
conference with me, to try to get more air cover and so on. That
conference never happened..."

-- Captain Adrian Lonsdale, USCG (retired)

"I was in An Thoi from June of '68 to June of '69, covering the whole
period that John Kerry was there. I operated in every river, in every
canal, and every off-shore patrol area in the 4th Corps area, from
Cambodia all the way around to the Bo De River. I never saw, even
heard of all of these so-called atrocities and things that we were
supposed to have done.

This is not true. We're not standing for it. We want to set the record
straight."

-- William Shumadine

"In 1971, when John Kerry spoke out to America, labeling all Vietnam
veterans as thugs and murderers, I was shocked and almost brought to
my knees, because even though I had served at the same time and same
unit, I had never witnessed or participated in any of the events that
the Senator had accused us of. I strongly believe that the statements
made by the Senator were not only false and inaccurate, but extremely
harmful to the United States' efforts in Southeast Asia and the rest
of the world. Tragically, some veterans, scorned by the antiwar
movement and their allies, retreated to a life of despair and suicide.
Two of my crewmates were among them. For that there is no forgiveness.
"
-- Richard O'Meara

"My name is Steve Gardner. I served in 1966 and 1967 on my first tour
of duty in Vietnam on Swift boats, and I did my second tour in '68 and
'69, involved with John Kerry in the last 2 1/2 months of my tour. The
John Kerry that I know is not the John Kerry that everybody else is
portraying. I served alongside him and behind him, five feet away from
him in a gun tub, and watched as he made indecisive moves with our
boat, put our boats in jeopardy, put our crews in jeopardy... if a man
like that can't handle that 6-man crew boat, how can you expect him to
be our Commander-in-Chief?"

-- Steven Gardner

"I served in Vietnam as a boat officer from June of 1968 to July of
1969. My service was three months in Coastal Division 13 out of Cat
Lo, and nine months with Coastal Division 11 based in An Thoi. John
Kerry was in An Thoi the same time I was. I'm here today to express
the anger I have harbored for over 33 years, about being accused with
my fellow shipmates of war atrocities.

All I can say is when I leave here today, I'm going down to the Wall
to tell my two crew members it's not true, and that they and the other
49 Swiftees who are on the Wall were then and are still now the best."

-- Robert Brant

"I never saw, heard of, or participated in any Swift boat crews
killing cattle, poisoning crops, or raping and killing civilians as
charged by John Kerry, both in his book and in public statements.
Since we both operated at the same time, in the same general area, and
on the same missions under the same commanders, it is hard to believe
his claims of atrocities and poor planning of Sea Lord missions.

I signed this letter because I feel that he used Swift boat sailors to
proclaim his antiwar statements after the war, and now he uses the
same Swift boat sailors to support his claims of being a war hero. He
cannot have it both ways, and we are here to ask for full disclosure
of the proof of his claims."

-- James Steffes

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 04:31 PM
On 05 Jun 2004 00:26:48 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>
> Don't let this pioot stuff go to your head. The entire purpose of a bombing
>mission in WW II was to put a bombardier over a target for 30 seconds. The
>pilot was just the driver. And when it came to flying good bomb runs some
>pilots weren't worth a ****.
>

But, then we found out that the good ones could do it themselves---

Ed, the Pilot, Navigator, Systems Operator; EWO, Bombardier, Radio
Operator, Gunner, and other specialties as required by the mission.

Lots of pilots can fly good bomb runs.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

ArtKramr
June 5th 04, 05:18 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/5/04 8:31 AM Pacific

>Ed, the Pilot, Navigator, Systems Operator; EWO, Bombardier, Radio
>Operator, Gunner, and other specialties as required by the mission.

You leave me speechless.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Kevin Brooks
June 5th 04, 05:27 PM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Okay, we found a buried MiG-25, isn't that a "large and capable" air
> >> force?
> >
> >You need to calibrate your "humor" switch.
>
> Why? One aircraft isn't an "air force", especially not one buried in
> sand. Claiming "We said he had a massive air force! Look! See his air
> force!" falls down somewhat.
>
> I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
> shot at because of this.

Oh, spare us the attempt at gravity--you have often used sarcasm and
ridicule when arguing this same subject. Yet now I am supposed to prostrate
myself before you because "you've got family..."? Please...

>
> >> Yet which we knew he was working on.
> >
> >Which he claimed was R&D only, with no weapons listed as produced from
the
> >effort.
>
> Of course, Iraqi accounting was always honest and believable?

That is the point--it was not honest. Hence it was in violation. Case
closed.

>
> Trouble is, R&D produces prototypes, which were "suspected" and not
> accounted for, and one of which *may* have turned up. (But if this was a
> serious WME threat, where's the rest of the stockpile, and the
> production line?)
>
> >This was a weapon. It was not reported.
>
> And the discrepancy was noted years ago.

Really? Can you point to where these unaccounted for binary weapons are
mentioned in the UNSCOM or UNMOVIC reports? How many did they say were
unaccounted for?

>
> >Bad on him; you can defend
> >Saddam all you want in this regard, but it is clear he did not provide a
> >"full, final, and complete" accounting of all WMD's he had built,
>
> Of course he didn't! Trouble is, even *he* didn't know what he had.

Geeze, your attempts to defend him are unbelievable--now you want to claim
it was A-OK 'cause he did not know what he had? After you already
acknowledged he was not being "honest" with his disclosures? Which way is
it--was he dishonest, and therefore in violation, or inept, and therefore in
violation?

>
>
> And it was claimed that he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and
> entire production lines, and that was why we had to invade and secure
> that threat Right Now. Forty-five minutes from order to firing, with
> weapons able to reach as far as Cyprus - the UK Government claimed that
> was its experts' judgement. (Trouble is, when analysts say 'probably
> not' and the political advisors suggest 'can we delete that "not" to
> tighten up the sentence?' then the message changes a little in
> transit...)
>
> As it turns out... "whoops", to date.

Wow. Faulty intel that does not reflect an accurate scope of the violations.
Who'd have thunk it? Of course, to use that hammer you have to ignore the
fact that he was in violation in the first place..."Well, he was only a
LITTLE bit guilty, not a *LOT* guilty! And that hidden equipment, cultures,
documentation, etc....nah, he could *never* have been using that as a way of
trying to preserve his program..." is not a reasonable approach, IMO.

>
> >> Or that predated 687.
> >
> >Big question mark. Saddam did not declare any rounds produced of this
nature
> >at any time--being as his disclosures did include some pretty "low
density"
> >items (numbers in the single and double digits for other systems), then
why
> >was this left out?
>
> You've got him in custody, ask him.

So, you can't come up with an excuse for the fact that he reported other
low-density/R&D products, but not the one that we subsequently had used
against us. Odd, that.

>
> >Neither UNSCOM nor the later UNMOVIC were able to reach
> >any kind of definitive conclusion about exactly *what* the Iraqis had or
had
> >not been able to do, or did, in terms of manufacturing 155mm binary round
s.
>
> Which makes insisting that they must be recent, something of a stretch,
> no? They were strongly suspected of having a R&D effort aimed at such
> rounds, and Iraq denied it, but then if you believe the Hussein regime
> then the US military was exterminated outside Baghdad and are currently
> having their bellies barbecued in Hell.

Nobody has said they "must be recent"; OTOH, it does call into question the
applicability of stating beyond a doubt that they predated ODS.

>
> Perhaps yet again it might be wise to wait for the results of the
> detailed analysis before making too many firm claims.

Which is why I have not, AFAIK, made any "firm claims" that these rounds
*had* to be of recent manufacture--or are you going to resort to your
doctoring-of-statements to put those words in my mouth, as you did a week or
two ago when you falsely claimed that I had said that WMD's were not a
factor in the decision to go to war? See what happens when you start
dissembling like that? Trust is a precious commodity, and you have tarnished
that quality in your own case.

>
> >Interestingly, Saddam did not see fitt to even acknowledge the R&D effort
> >(which he was required to do) until after it was discovered via some
> >documentaion by UNSCOM inspectors. But hey, you still want to defend him
> >here, right?
>
> No, I'm just accustomed to the fact that he was both an accomplished
> liar and that he may not have known as much as he believed about the
> projects he sponsored.
>
> Shades of the Hitler days: you can report "encouraging progress" on the
> 250,000-ton fantasy battleship and get more funding to stay in Kiel, or
> you can admit it's a ludicrous pipedream and you and your entire design
> team can pick up your rifles and go fight on the Eastern Front.
>
> We're stuck with what we can find after a year and a half of searching,
> for the "true picture" of what he had. Is the US so grossly incompetent
> that, having much of the regime's top staff in custody and under
> interrogation, that it can't get *one* of them to admit to one of the
> Vast Concealed Stockpiles or the Hidden Underground Factories?

It has shown that he continued to run at least one bio program up until the
time we attacked. That is another violation. Are you noting that the number
of violations keeps increasing as we go through this discussion? You
apparently don't think that his violating the proscriptions of 687 was basis
for doing what we did, that it had to be a violation on a truly large
scale--on that we will disagree. He had twelve years to get his act straight
in terms of meeting the requirements of 687 (*all* of them), and we now know
that he refused to do so even under threat of attack, yielding a
justification the the area of WMD in my view--add to that the "other"
reasons (missiles that exceeded the allowed range, continual NFZ violations,
one assasination attempt on a former US President, harboring a couple of
known terrorists, supporting suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I
have given you before, but you claimed I never provided to you?

>
> >> Because out of 200,000 rounds produced, one round turning up is
absolute
> >> proof?
> >
> >Back to the old, "How many weapons does a violation make?" argument, eh?
>
> Yep. One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
> on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent.

Is it a violation? And had you been on the ground that day when it went off
(thankfully without acheiving a full yield of sarin), how much of a "threat"
do you suppose it would have been to you? The troops who got hit were not
MOPP'ed up--it is a good thing that the yield was so poor, as otherwise
you'd have likely been in in the unenviable position of telling me that a
single round was no "threat" in spite of a few deaths caused by a nerve
agent.

>
> >> Do I scent desperation here?
> >
> >No, you scent disbelief that folks are still trying to defend Saddam and
> >claim that he was not guilty of continuing proscribed WMD activities, or
of
> >hiding those that he had already conducted and wanted to keep out of
sight.
>
> So, where are the weapons? There was supposed to be a threat. Where is
> it?

You have been told this numerous times, but apparently you keep wanting to
insert "great numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" for the term
"violations of 687". Was he in violation (repeatedly) or not? Do you claim
Kay was lying when he said an ongoing biotoxin program was found or not?

>
> >> From "Hussein may be exporting kilotons of WME to his US-hating
> >> neigbbours" we're down to "we've found one or two decade-old shells".
> >
> >That would be your quote, I presume? I mean, we all now know how willing
you
> >are to doctor/create a quote and assign it to another poster, right?
>
> I don't doctor quotes.

The hell you don't. Hence your past assertion that I was claiming WMD's were
not a factor, when what I actually said was, "It is not *all* about WMD's."
When called on that you continued to try and wriggle into the claim that I
was saying that WMD's were *no* factor. Don't give me this "I have *never*
done such a thing!" crap--you got caught out in it.

If I quote, I make it properly attributable so it
> can be checked. If you don't see a name on it, then it's not a quote.
> (Who would I be quoting? If I write "Kevin Brooks is a big fat poopie
> head" then who, precisely, is supposed to have said this and how could
> you challenge them?)
>
> I told you this already - I'm willing to be charitable and accept you
> ignored it in a fit of pique, but if you prefer I'll find a less amiable
> interpretation.
>
> I find false accusations unpleasant, personally, but again you may just
> have been indulging in histrionics and refused to read it.

This one was a very true accusation. You had my quote, and you chose to
leave out the "all" when you paraphrased it. You screwed up, Paul--admit it.
heck, you could have said, "Oops, I am sorry--I missed the "all" in that
statement, my apologies, you did not claim that WMD were no facor in the
decision." But no, you couldn't bring yourself to do that--you had to start
wriggling, in the best traditions of your hero, Vkince. Prior to that I held
you in some regard--we might disagree, but you were honest and respectable.
Now I place you somewhere just above Vkince on the honor scale--and that
ain't real high, let me tell you.

>
> >> There were supposedly vast factories and stockpiles of chemical and/or
> >> biological weapons. It seems our intelligence was incorrect, since
those
> >> vast stockpiles and the factories that produced them remain elusive.
> >
> >Our intel in those regards may indeed have been incorrect.
>
> You don't think?

So what? Was Saddam in violation or not? Was he still running at least one
biotoxin program or not?

>
> >But that does not
> >change the FACT that Saddam was violating the requirements set forth
before
> >him.
>
> I'm sure he had some unpaid parking tickets too.

"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being shot
at because of this." Got off your high horse in a hurry there, didn't you?

So what? Less than a
> ton is "research quantities" for other nations interested in
> self-defence against chemical weapons, and there's the minor
> _realpolitik_ that Iraq still has a border and a recent bloody war with
> Iran, who is *also* an enthusiastic producer of chemical weapons. Tricky
> to handle that one, unless you want to commit US troops to protecting
> the Shi'a south against an Iranian rescue from Iraq's hateful
> oppression...

Sounds like you are making a case for justifying Saddam continuing WMD
programs there--not going to get too far with that one. Nor is your attempt
to draw Iran into the framework of much use. Again, was he in violation of
687, on numerous accounts, or not?

>
>
> There was meant to be a major threat. There was, allegedly, "solid
> evidence" confirming it. There were significant quantities of weapons
> and we claimed to know where they were.
>
> Whoops.

I see you are still confused by the difference between the questions, "Was
he in violation of 687?", and "Have we found massive stockpiles of chemical
weapons". I'd offer the following answers to those--yes and no. In order, so
you don't have any future problem with twisting them into something else you
might claim I said on the matter.

>
> >Gee, I wonder *why* he was so interested in ricin, which is admittedly
> >not likely to be the best of battlefield agents, but would likely perform
> >nicely if used by terrorist types, or his own intel folks (you remember,
the
> >same guys who were implicated in that kill-the-former-President scheme?).
>
> Because it's cheap and easy. You can cook up ricin in a domestic kitchen
> (we arrested a group doing just that in London). You can talk up how
> hugely lethal it is and how many thousands you could kill with Just This
> Test-Tube! While carefully skipping over the inconvenient problems of
> administration (best-known ricin victim is Georgi Markov - you're going
> to get an agent close enough to a President to jab an umbrella in his
> leg?) Ricin just needs castorbeans and some commercial equipment to
> produce.

So in Paulian World, ricin is A-OK for Saddam to continue working on, and if
he did acheive weaponization--oh, well, too bad, right? And in Paulian World
work on ricin was not a violation of the terms of 687?

>
> Chicken and egg - were they after ricin for its enormous battlefield
> effectiveness, or were they proudly developing a hugely lethal
> biological weapon for the glory of Saddam Hussein (may blessings rain
> from Heaven on His name) with resources they could easily get hold of
> and which they'd get funding and prestige for?

It does not matter--it was a violation.

>
> >> The claim was that there was a clear and obvious threat. Where was it?
> >
> >Saddam continuing to work towards proscribed goals is good enough for me.
I
> >personally don't think he was the kind of guy I'd want to be controlling
> >*any* WMD's, in whatever quantities; you may differ, but I could care
less
> >to be honest.
>
> I'd be worried about the *confirmed* threats, but that's just me.

You might want to look into the definition of "threat". IMO, Saddam with any
amount of proscribed WMD's, or programs in search of same, constituted a
definite "threat". Your mileage may differ.

>
> >Then of course there were the other (non-WMD) related reasons
> >for conducting this operation--the ones that you can't seem to understand
do
> >indeed exist?
>
> The ones you won't state?

No, the ones I have repeatedly stated-- I even gave them to you in that last
missive regarding your twisting of my statenment, and I gave them to you
earlier in this message again...and IIRC, I gave them to you long before
this--you just keep ignoring them and thenm subsequently claiming I never
gave them to you. And you wonder why your integrity is being questioned?!

>
> Or perhaps I'm mistaken and you *did* state them - in which case I
> apologise (again) for missing them. Could you point me to them, please?
> (asked again)

Asked and answered--repeatedly.

>
> >> What made Iraq so special compared to more evident proliferators and
> >> producers of WME?
> >>
> >> I asked eighteen months ago and never got an answer.
> >
> >Because your question remains as stupid now as it was then--and yes, you
got
> >an answer, you just can't seem to (or more accurately don't want to)
grasp
> >it.
>
> No, I didn't. "It's Iraq and it's a special case." was the best summary.
> Which may be true, but the evasiveness is an automatic hackle-raiser.

No evasiveness required--just situational dependent, something you obviously
refuse to grasp.

>
> >No standard playbook for handling threats/potential threats in the
> >geopolitical realm--it is all situationally dependent. I suspect you can
> >understand that, but apparently as usual you just find it easier to
ignore
> >the obvious in your quest to, for some unknown reason, defend Saddam as
the
> >poor whipping boy.
>
> Or perhaps I'm more interested in real issues than demonising Saddam
> Hussein?

Apparently no, since you keep tapdancing around the "was he in violation"
question with your "only massive amounts fit the bill" bit. Then above you
presented a seeming case for why he should have been continuing to developm
WMD's...so yeah, you do seem to be going out of your way to defend him..

>
> >BTW, did you notice that the Saudis have again been in
> >AQ's target ring?
>
> But how can this be? Aren't all the al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq? How can
> there be terrorists in other countries?

Newsflash, but they are in lots of places.

>
> >You remember--the country that IIRC you were claiming was
> >more of a threat to the US and more deserving of US action than Iraq?
>
> That's okay - the hugely efficient Saudi military and security services
> will handle the problem.
>
> If they can't, the large US presence in the country will handle it.
>
>
> (Your last sentence is extremely troubling, though. How much do you
> actually understand about the general situation in Saudi Arabia, and the
> particulars of the House of Saud's relationship with the Wahabbi sect
> and al-Qaeda's reaction to all the above? Or do you really believe that
> "because al-Qaeda attacks in Saudi then the house of Saud must be their
> sworn enemies and our true and trusted allies?")

Apparently my understanding is plenty realistic, unlike your's, which was
IIRC a "why have you not attacked Saudid Arabia if you are attacking Iraq"
gambit. Nice strawman, though.

Brooks

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 05:37 PM
On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 15:10:29 GMT, Mike Dargan >
wrote:

>I've never voted for a Bush, but I can't blame George and Bar for
>getting their kid a save haven during Vietnam. Why waste a child in a
>foolish and illegal war?

Seems to me that our Constitutional process was followed in that war.
Who declared it illegal? And, foolish? Only if you didn't see a
Communist threat of world domination at that time. (That last phrase
is key...we know now much more about the validity of the threat, but
in the late '50s and '60s, it looked pretty real.)
>
>At least they didn't get him a complete exemption, as did the Cheney's.
> I am amused, though, by the cynicism of those who brag up Bush for
>zooming around in an F102. He wasn't a pilot because of his brains and
>physical prowess. Had his daddy been a janitor in Harlem, rather than a
>Repulican swell, he'd have been humping the boonies and dodging punji
>sticks.

Dunno about that last. My daddy was a very low level functionary for a
Chicago newspaper, living in the city, making about $150 a week and I
didn't hump the boonies or dodge punjis. Seems like it's always been
possible with hard work and perseverance for anyone in America to get
to college and even to gain an AF commission and fly jets. Doesn't
take Skull & Bones to make the grade, only commitment.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Chad Irby
June 5th 04, 05:52 PM
In article >,
(WalterM140) wrote:

> >> Once more, mea culpa mea culpa. I guess I am just not as good an
> >> American as a guy who fialed to show up when it was required of him.
> >
> >Except, of course, he did, by the records, despite the frantic efforts
> >of some to pretend otherwise.
>
> Can you show us anywhere to look for confirmation of that?

The lack of criminal prosecution, for one.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Leslie Swartz
June 5th 04, 05:56 PM
A vote for Socialism (in even it's weaker forms) is a vote for
Totalitarianism.

Socialism must be supported by the forced confiscation of the labor of the
citizenry. This is done by the power of the state. The power of the state
is embodied in Totalitarianism.

You can vote for "a little bit of Socialism" and many believe that the
"little bit of Totalitarianism" is acceptable, as long as hte resulting
Socilaism is "for the greater good."

These folks generally believe that there is a "sweet spot" in the tradeoff
between liberty and security.

So go ahead and answer your own question: is a vote for Kerry (or Bush, for
that matter) a vote for Totalitarianism?

Steve Swartz



"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
> >It's amazing how so many WWII vets risked life and limb to save the
French
> >from Totalitarianism, then scurry back to the U.S. and try to ram it down
> >our throats . . .
>
> Why don't you elaborate on that statement some. Who is doing that? How
many
> WWII veterans have done that?
>
> When I vote for Kerry, is that a vote for totalitarianism?
>
> Walt

George Z. Bush
June 5th 04, 06:07 PM
"Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
news:Mwlwc.43930$pt3.19824@attbi_s03...
> George Z. Bush wrote:
>
> > WalterM140 wrote:
> >
> > (Snip)
> >
> >
> >>GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer
> >>Candidate School, or whatever the AF has.
> >>
> >>And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.
> >
> >
> > Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment.
Unless
> > the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments
apply
> > to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he
didn't
> > complete it.
>
> Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family with
> important things to do. Paying Bush to sip around in a Deuce was a waste
> of resources. There was no way that the Bush scion would ever find him
> self in harm's way. Didn't it make more sense to use that fuel and the
> airframe hours to train someone who might one day be willing to serve
> his or her country?

How could I possibly argue with such obvious logic, Mike? (^-^)))

George Z.

Paul J. Adam
June 5th 04, 06:41 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
>> shot at because of this.
>
>Oh, spare us the attempt at gravity--you have often used sarcasm and
>ridicule when arguing this same subject. Yet now I am supposed to prostrate
>myself before you because "you've got family..."? Please...

Fine, let me know so I can laugh when a relative of yours becomes a
casualty. Wouldn't *that* be funny? Or would you need your "humor
switch" recalibrating?

>> Of course, Iraqi accounting was always honest and believable?
>
>That is the point--it was not honest. Hence it was in violation. Case
>closed.

In other words, war with Iraq was inevitable and unstoppable because of
one shell?

Impressive.

>> And the discrepancy was noted years ago.
>
>Really? Can you point to where these unaccounted for binary weapons are
>mentioned in the UNSCOM or UNMOVIC reports? How many did they say were
>unaccounted for?

Read the reports yourself, I've already cited them and given you URLs.

>> Of course he didn't! Trouble is, even *he* didn't know what he had.
>
>Geeze, your attempts to defend him are unbelievable--

Of course they're unbelieveable, because I'm not defending him.

However, you go on building strawmen all you like.

>now you want to claim
>it was A-OK 'cause he did not know what he had?

How does Hussein pose a threat with weapons he does not know about?

>After you already
>acknowledged he was not being "honest" with his disclosures?

Absolutely not. Some were complete fantasy: "production programs" were
cited at places that were just empty desert, because the officer in
charge had grabbed the money and absconded.

>Which way is
>it--was he dishonest, and therefore in violation, or inept, and therefore in
>violation?

Both - he was both dishonest and inept. And yet he didn't pose a WME
threat.

That's the trouble with looking at real life rather than political
slogans.


>> And it was claimed that he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and
>> entire production lines, and that was why we had to invade and secure
>> that threat Right Now. Forty-five minutes from order to firing, with
>> weapons able to reach as far as Cyprus - the UK Government claimed that
>> was its experts' judgement. (Trouble is, when analysts say 'probably
>> not' and the political advisors suggest 'can we delete that "not" to
>> tighten up the sentence?' then the message changes a little in
>> transit...)
>>
>> As it turns out... "whoops", to date.
>
>Wow. Faulty intel that does not reflect an accurate scope of the violations.

That's a very generous understatement.

>Who'd have thunk it? Of course, to use that hammer you have to ignore the
>fact that he was in violation in the first place...

Indeed, he owned at least two chemical munitions.

Of course, we can't go setting firm criteria for action, which may
explain why two Iraqi shells demand immediate invasion while _real_ WME
threats in the hands of proven terrorist supporters and weapons
proliferators are politely ignored.

>"Well, he was only a
>LITTLE bit guilty, not a *LOT* guilty!

There was supposed to be a imminent and serious threat.

Not "cultures hidden in refrigerators", not "centrifuges buried for a
decade", not single decade-old munitions.


Now, you seem to believe that if Saddam Hussein owned a pair of used
nail scissors then those could qualify as a weapon of mass effect (just
imagine what you could catch if someone jabbed you with them! Plus you
could have someone's *eye* out with those!). I'm more minded to stick to
realistic definitions of the threat.

>And that hidden equipment, cultures,
>documentation, etc....nah, he could *never* have been using that as a way of
>trying to preserve his program..." is not a reasonable approach, IMO.

None of that is an immediate or imminent threat.

>> You've got him in custody, ask him.
>
>So, you can't come up with an excuse for the fact that he reported other
>low-density/R&D products, but not the one that we subsequently had used
>against us. Odd, that.

I don't have access to the man to question him. Did he *know* he had
binary sarin research underway? Or, just for giggles, what if it's a
Syrian or Iranian import and not Iraqi at all?

Lots of possibilities: you're drawing extremely firm conclusions from
very limited data.

>> Which makes insisting that they must be recent, something of a stretch,
>> no? They were strongly suspected of having a R&D effort aimed at such
>> rounds, and Iraq denied it, but then if you believe the Hussein regime
>> then the US military was exterminated outside Baghdad and are currently
>> having their bellies barbecued in Hell.
>
>Nobody has said they "must be recent"; OTOH, it does call into question the
>applicability of stating beyond a doubt that they predated ODS.

I'm wary of turning speculation into certainty too quickly. What *is*
certain is that we've still not found anything capable of producing
those rounds in Iraq - and it's harder to hide production lines than
individual munitions.

>> Perhaps yet again it might be wise to wait for the results of the
>> detailed analysis before making too many firm claims.
>
>Which is why I have not, AFAIK, made any "firm claims" that these rounds
>*had* to be of recent manufacture--

Oh, but Saddam was in violation by their mere existence regardless of
their date, remember?

>or are you going to resort to your
>doctoring-of-statements to put those words in my mouth, as you did a week or
>two ago when you falsely claimed that I had said that WMD's were not a
>factor in the decision to go to war?

Stop bull****ting, Kevin. You repeatedly claimed that it wasn't just
about WMEs - but yet you won't say what it *was* about. (When asked, you
go very, very shy)

Inventing false accusations is a poor distraction. This is the third
time I've explained that if there isn't a name and attribution to let it
be traced, it's not a quote: it's the third time I've apologised for the
misunderstanding: and I'm beginning to believe that you're more
interested in histrionics than facts.

>See what happens when you start
>dissembling like that? Trust is a precious commodity, and you have tarnished
>that quality in your own case.

Too bad, how sad, because you're failing to distinguish yourself by the
integrity of your conduct here.

Remember, we've gone from "significant and imminent" Iraqi WMEs, the
evidence of which was reliable and solid (but of course too secret to
share)... to odds and ends buried in gardens, hidden in fridges and used
by insurgents in roadside IEDs. Yet you're insisting that nothing has
changed?


>> No, I'm just accustomed to the fact that he was both an accomplished
>> liar and that he may not have known as much as he believed about the
>> projects he sponsored.
>>
>> Shades of the Hitler days: you can report "encouraging progress" on the
>> 250,000-ton fantasy battleship and get more funding to stay in Kiel, or
>> you can admit it's a ludicrous pipedream and you and your entire design
>> team can pick up your rifles and go fight on the Eastern Front.
>>
>> We're stuck with what we can find after a year and a half of searching,
>> for the "true picture" of what he had. Is the US so grossly incompetent
>> that, having much of the regime's top staff in custody and under
>> interrogation, that it can't get *one* of them to admit to one of the
>> Vast Concealed Stockpiles or the Hidden Underground Factories?
>
>It has shown that he continued to run at least one bio program up until the
>time we attacked. That is another violation. Are you noting that the number
>of violations keeps increasing as we go through this discussion?

Of course - now, where are the threats?

>He had twelve years to get his act straight
>in terms of meeting the requirements of 687 (*all* of them), and we now know
>that he refused to do so even under threat of attack, yielding a
>justification the the area of WMD in my view--add to that the "other"
>reasons (missiles that exceeded the allowed range, continual NFZ violations,
>one assasination attempt on a former US President, harboring a couple of
>known terrorists, supporting suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I
>have given you before, but you claimed I never provided to you?

In other words, pretty much business as ususal for the Middle East.

>> Yep. One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
>> on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent.
>
>Is it a violation?

Sure.

Is "a violation" a good enough reason to tie us down in Iraq for the
next few years?

>And had you been on the ground that day when it went off
>(thankfully without acheiving a full yield of sarin), how much of a "threat"
>do you suppose it would have been to you?

Less than a 155mm HE in that particular case.

>> So, where are the weapons? There was supposed to be a threat. Where is
>> it?
>
>You have been told this numerous times, but apparently you keep wanting to
>insert "great numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" for the term
>"violations of 687".

Read the UK government dossiers. Compare them to the reality on the
ground. Wonder at the discrepancies between the case made for the
operation, and the facts made on the ground.

Uncle Tom Cobbley and all knew that Iraq was in violation of 687, would
continue to try to violate 687, and even if by some miracle they
renounced WME and tried to clean up their act, some stray munitions
would still be adrift - therefore they could *never* fully, completely
satisfy 687.

The question is, were they so thoroughly in violation that they had
produced workable weapons in effective quantities?

>> I don't doctor quotes.
>
>The hell you don't.

No, I don't, and I'm tiring of explaining this to you.

>Hence your past assertion that I was claiming WMD's were
>not a factor, when what I actually said was, "It is not *all* about WMD's."

I'm noting your continued evasion on the "other factors".

>If I quote, I make it properly attributable so it
>> can be checked. If you don't see a name on it, then it's not a quote.
>> (Who would I be quoting? If I write "Kevin Brooks is a big fat poopie
>> head" then who, precisely, is supposed to have said this and how could
>> you challenge them?)
>>
>> I told you this already - I'm willing to be charitable and accept you
>> ignored it in a fit of pique, but if you prefer I'll find a less amiable
>> interpretation.
>>
>> I find false accusations unpleasant, personally, but again you may just
>> have been indulging in histrionics and refused to read it.
>
>This one was a very true accusation. You had my quote, and you chose to
>leave out the "all" when you paraphrased it.

And I didn't attribute it to you, or insist it was your exact wording,
because *even you* immediately recognised it as a paraphrase rather than
a quotation.

Interestingly, you chose then - and continued to choose - to shriek
about your wounded pride, rather than address the issue of "then what
*were* the other factors"?

>You screwed up, Paul--admit it.

I did. I apologised. Several times. Either you didn't read, or didn't
reply.

I'm beginning to consider that you're using this as an invented
diversion.

>heck, you could have said, "Oops, I am sorry--I missed the "all" in that
>statement, my apologies, you did not claim that WMD were no facor in the
>decision." But no, you couldn't bring yourself to do that--you had to start
>wriggling, in the best traditions of your hero, Vkince.

Your internal fantasy life must be very interesting to behold.
Apparently I have a shrine to Saddam Hussein and worship the name of
Brannigan?

>Prior to that I held
>you in some regard--we might disagree, but you were honest and respectable.
>Now I place you somewhere just above Vkince on the honor scale--and that
>ain't real high, let me tell you.

Well, Kevin, let me tell you just how hurt, wounded and mortified I feel
that in between accusing me of being a Hussein appeaser you've decided
you don't like me as much as you once did.

>> I'm sure he had some unpaid parking tickets too.
>
>"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being shot
>at because of this." Got off your high horse in a hurry there, didn't you?

Absolutely. I can decide when to ride it and when not to, not you.

>So what? Less than a
>> ton is "research quantities" for other nations interested in
>> self-defence against chemical weapons, and there's the minor
>> _realpolitik_ that Iraq still has a border and a recent bloody war with
>> Iran, who is *also* an enthusiastic producer of chemical weapons. Tricky
>> to handle that one, unless you want to commit US troops to protecting
>> the Shi'a south against an Iranian rescue from Iraq's hateful
>> oppression...
>
>Sounds like you are making a case for justifying Saddam continuing WMD
>programs there--not going to get too far with that one.

Just interested to know what the US position would be if the Iranians
decide to stage Anschluss with Basra and the southern oilfields, using
chemical weapons generously (claiming, of course, that it's just
retaliation for Iraq's first use).

>Nor is your attempt
>to draw Iran into the framework of much use.

You don't consider Iran to be a factor in the Middle East?

Just what are you smoking and where can it be bought?

>Again, was he in violation of
>687, on numerous accounts, or not?

Of course he was. How could he *not* be in violation, with a
sufficiently detailed and dogmatic accounting?

Out of interest, since you're suddenly so fond of the UN, when was
military action in response to the breach of 687 authorised?

>> Because it's cheap and easy. You can cook up ricin in a domestic kitchen
>> (we arrested a group doing just that in London). You can talk up how
>> hugely lethal it is and how many thousands you could kill with Just This
>> Test-Tube! While carefully skipping over the inconvenient problems of
>> administration (best-known ricin victim is Georgi Markov - you're going
>> to get an agent close enough to a President to jab an umbrella in his
>> leg?) Ricin just needs castorbeans and some commercial equipment to
>> produce.
>
>So in Paulian World, ricin is A-OK for Saddam to continue working on, and if
>he did acheive weaponization--oh, well, too bad, right? And in Paulian World
>work on ricin was not a violation of the terms of 687?

No, and no, as you know well - but then who *has* achieved weaponised
ricin? It's a vicious toxin when correctly administered, but the
administration remains a massive and unsolved problem. (I have this
vision of Iraqi troops with umbrellas trying to close with their enemies
under fire...)

Handy if you need an excuse, but not a serious threat.


>> Chicken and egg - were they after ricin for its enormous battlefield
>> effectiveness, or were they proudly developing a hugely lethal
>> biological weapon for the glory of Saddam Hussein (may blessings rain
>> from Heaven on His name) with resources they could easily get hold of
>> and which they'd get funding and prestige for?
>
>It does not matter--it was a violation.

And because it was "not just about the WMEs" then the least violation of
687 is complete casus belli?

>> I'd be worried about the *confirmed* threats, but that's just me.
>
>You might want to look into the definition of "threat". IMO, Saddam with any
>amount of proscribed WMD's, or programs in search of same, constituted a
>definite "threat". Your mileage may differ.

I'm more worried about the North Koreans, who have the weapons and the
habit of exporting anything to anyone for cash; the Syrians, who also
have the weapons and are enthusiastic terrorist supporters; the
Iranians, who *also* have WMEs in significant quantity and a solid track
record of sponsoring anti-US terrorism... need I go on?

>> The ones you won't state?
>
>No, the ones I have repeatedly stated--

At last and after much prodding.

You mean, Hussein sponsors suicide bombers against Israel - like Syria,
like Iran, and like some of the more enthusiastic Saudi madrassahs?

"Missiles that exceed the allowed range" - yes, that's a real one. They
jerry-rigged some SA-2 engines together and produced a missile that,
without payload, exceeded their maximum allowed range. (Give it a
payload and it met the limit, but that's life)

"continual NFZ violations" - how *dare* they defend their own airspace?
And just how effective were those "violations"? When was the last time
they fired a SAM with guidance, for instance? (The air defence teams had
to put up a fight, so they lofted unguided missiles up and tried not to
be where the retaliation landed)

"one assasination attempt on a former US President" - this one's often
asserted but the proof is lacking. Wasn't this while Bush Sr. was in
Kuwait or Saudi, which are much more al-Qaeda's stamping grounds?


Which of these pose any significant threat to the US and require an
immediate invasion? Which of these isn't topped by other states in the
region? (The US can't fly over Syria, who has many TBMs with chemical
warheads and generously sponsors terrorists operating against Israel...
but, of course, we must judge each case on its merits)

>> Or perhaps I'm mistaken and you *did* state them - in which case I
>> apologise (again) for missing them. Could you point me to them, please?
>> (asked again)
>
>Asked and answered--repeatedly.

Thank you.

>> No, I didn't. "It's Iraq and it's a special case." was the best summary.
>> Which may be true, but the evasiveness is an automatic hackle-raiser.
>
>No evasiveness required--just situational dependent, something you obviously
>refuse to grasp.

So what made Iraq more of a threat than Syria?

>> Or perhaps I'm more interested in real issues than demonising Saddam
>> Hussein?
>
>Apparently no, since you keep tapdancing around the "was he in violation"

Other nations are in violation, except that they weren't defeated and
had 687 enacted upon them,

>question with your "only massive amounts fit the bill" bit.

Militarily significant quanties. Are you claiming I ever said "massive
amounts" or will you retract this heinous and dishonourable misquotation
of my words?

>> But how can this be? Aren't all the al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq? How can
>> there be terrorists in other countries?
>
>Newsflash, but they are in lots of places.

So it seems. Not quite what's been claimed, but then so much has been
claimed it's often hard to keep track.

>> That's okay - the hugely efficient Saudi military and security services
>> will handle the problem.
>>
>> If they can't, the large US presence in the country will handle it.
>>
>>
>> (Your last sentence is extremely troubling, though. How much do you
>> actually understand about the general situation in Saudi Arabia, and the
>> particulars of the House of Saud's relationship with the Wahabbi sect
>> and al-Qaeda's reaction to all the above? Or do you really believe that
>> "because al-Qaeda attacks in Saudi then the house of Saud must be their
>> sworn enemies and our true and trusted allies?")
>
>Apparently my understanding is plenty realistic, unlike your's, which was
>IIRC a "why have you not attacked Saudid Arabia if you are attacking Iraq"
>gambit.

You understand incorrectly, it seems.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 07:51 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer
Candidate
> School, or whatever the AF has.
>
> And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.
>
> It's sad that such a person could be the CIC.
>

Did you find it sad that Clinton was CiC?

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 07:53 PM
"George Z. Bush" > wrote in message
...
>
> Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment.
Unless
> the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments
apply
> to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he
didn't
> complete it.
>

He did complete it.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 07:54 PM
"Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
news:Mwlwc.43930$pt3.19824@attbi_s03...
>
> Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family with
> important things to do. Paying Bush to sip around in a Deuce was a waste
> of resources. There was no way that the Bush scion would ever find him
> self in harm's way. Didn't it make more sense to use that fuel and the
> airframe hours to train someone who might one day be willing to serve
> his or her country?
>

Bush served his country then and is serving his country today.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 07:55 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Bush clearly did not complete his military service.
>

Bush clearly completed his military service.


>
> There is no dispute on that.
>

Actually, many ignorant people dispute it.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 07:56 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Everyone hasn't done what Art did, but a large number (including Gore)
> did what they were required to do. Bush did not.
>

Gore served five months of a one-year tour in Vietnam, Bush completed his
military service.

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 08:00 PM
>> Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment.
>Unless
>> the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments
>apply
>> to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he
>didn't
>> complete it.

>Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family...

Yes. He can easily be blamed. One of FDR's closest advisers -- Harry
Hopkins, I believe -- had a 19 year old son killed on Iwo Jima.

Walt

WalterM140
June 5th 04, 08:01 PM
>Did you find it sad that Clinton was CiC?
>

Yes.

Walt

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:10 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Obviously not, because Bush wsa clearly in an unauthorized status,
> and he was not held accountable.
>

If Bush had not done his duty he'd have paid a price, that much is certain.
Since he paid no penalty it's obvious he did his duty.


>
> It was the '70's, the military was very unpopular, and Bush's daddy
> was around to make sure no actions were taken.
>

Kinda like Gore and his daddy.


>
> And Bush was in the National Guard, which is -not- the same as the
> Air Force.
>

Nope. It's not the same as the Army or Navy either. But they're all
military service.


>
> That's a false statement. Kerry did serve his full tour.
>

Negative. Kerry served a bit more than four months of a one year tour.


>
> Not with his father covering his ass.
>

His father wouldn't even if he could.


>
> Bill Clinton is not running for office.
>

It was the Kerry campaign that chose to make Vietnam an issue. That being
the case, Bill Clinton's behavior during the Vietnam war and Kerry's
statements during the 1992 campaign regarding Clinton's status are fair
game.


>
> This time around a decorated Viet Nam veteran is running against a putz
who
> didn't even go to OCS.
>

A decorated veteran who sought three Purple Hearts under questionable
circumstances and used them to get out of Vietnam well short of a full tour.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:11 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> When I vote for Kerry, is that a vote for totalitarianism?
>

Totalitarianism is a bit extreme, but a vote for Kerry, or any other
liberal, is certainly a vote against freedom.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:16 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Can you show us anywhere to look for confirmation of that?
>

Try Google.


>
> He skipped a physical that took him off flying status.
>

He was then in a unit equipped with an aircraft that he wasn't qualified in.
He wasn't going to fly anyway so there was no need for the physical.


>
> He did not
> satisfactorily complete his term of service, and I don't think even the
RNC is
> saying he did. Can you confirm?
>

Bush presented documentation and a member of that unit issued a statement
confirming Bush's service several months ago.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:16 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Bush did not satisfactorily complete his term of service.
>

Prove it.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:19 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Bush "hid" in Texas by seeking a National Guard assignment at all.
>

Right. Hide in plain sight.


>
> That Bush did not satisfactorily complete his required service is not in
> dispute. He clearly did not.
>

The evidence shows he did.


>
> As when Art was a bombardier, he is right on target.
>

There's no evidence that Art ever hit a target.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:21 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Bush clearly -did not- complete his service satisfactorily.
>

Well, since available documents and at least one witness statement show he
did complete his service, you're clearly a liar or just plain stupid.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:22 PM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Senator Kerry's narrative portion of his fitness report:
>
> "In a combat environment often requiring independent, decisive action LTJG
> Kerry was unsurpassed. He constantly reviewed tactics and lessons learned
in
> river operations and applied his experience at every opportunity. On one
> occasion while in tactical command of a three boat operation his units
were
> taken under fire from ambush. LTJG Kerry rapidly assessed the situation
and
> ordered his units to turn directly into the ambush. This decision
resulted in
> routing the attackers with several enemy KIAs.
>
> LTJG Kerry emerges as the acknowledged leader in his peer group. His
bearing
> and appearance are above reproach. He has of his own volition learned the
> Vietnamese language and is instrumental in the successful Vietnamese
training
> programs.
>
> During this period of this report LTJG Kerry has been awarded the Silver
Star
> medal, the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart medal (2nd and 3rd awards).
>
> 18 Dec 1969"
>

An opinion shared by few of his fellow officers.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 08:31 PM
"Madelin McKinnon" > wrote in message
om...
>
> According to Salon.com, it's one George down and one to go. I guess
> that's reasonable, given the fact that they're in the same boat.
>

The economy is strong and growing, the war is going well, and gas prices are
dropping. Bush will be reelected.

Robey Price
June 5th 04, 08:38 PM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
P. McNicoll" confessed the following:


>Totalitarianism is a bit extreme, but a vote for Kerry, or any other
>liberal, is certainly a vote against freedom.

Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?

I anticipate an illuminating discourse...or not.

Robey

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 08:53 PM
On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 19:38:45 GMT, Robey Price >
wrote:

>After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
>P. McNicoll" confessed the following:
>
>
>>Totalitarianism is a bit extreme, but a vote for Kerry, or any other
>>liberal, is certainly a vote against freedom.
>
>Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
>
>I anticipate an illuminating discourse...or not.
>
>Robey

I've got to find myself on the same side of the fence (for this one
instance) as Juvat. Certainly characterizing a vote for a liberal as a
vote against freedom is ignoring the essentials of the two primary
ideologies in America.

Characteristically the liberal ideology is based on a belief that
government is the best solution to societal problems. Taken further
left we get to welfare statism, socialism and eventually at the
extreme communism. Examples of liberal approaches are things like
Social Security, Medicare, publicly funded education, etc. Often these
solutions are very effective.

Conversely the basic element of traditional convervatism is a
free-market solution, focussed on individual responsibility. Want
health care? Get insured. Want a retirement? Put something away. Don't
expect government to do it for you. These approaches can work as well.

Trends in liberal/conservative ideology is for liberals to support the
workers (unions) and conservatives to support entrepreneurs and
management. Liberals focus government spending on social programs
while conservatives tend toward strong defense ("guns vs butter").

Inevitably government programs cost money, so a liberal administration
will lead toward higher taxes, but this is usually balanced by
including some element of "redistribution of wealth"--the progressive
tax structure of the IRS, for example. This is acceptable to some
point as folks weigh the cost/benefit of dollars paid in tax against
service provided.

The conservative side of American politics, however, is split between
traditional (i.e. fiscal) conservatives and social conservatives.
Quite clearly the social conservative side of the ideology actually
can restrict freedom as much as the liberal in their desire to impose
a standard of morality no society as a whole. Good example is liberals
support gun control (loss of 2nd Amendment freedom) while social
conservatives support censorship, prayer in school, campaign finance
reform, and a high degree of homphobia--arguably losses of 1st
Amendment freedoms.

The reality of the situation is that both sides run to the extremes
for the primary season and then back to the moderate middle for
general elections. Both sides wind up compromising to build policies
that can pass the legislative process. Clinton was arguably a fairly
moderate Democrat and Bush 43 has espoused some clearly liberal
positions such as steel and plywood tariffs or federally funded
prescription drug programs.

Illuminated yet?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

George Z. Bush
June 5th 04, 09:13 PM
WalterM140 wrote:
>>> Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment. Unless
>>> the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments
>>> apply to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it,
>>> he didn't complete it.
>
>> Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family...
>
> Yes. He can easily be blamed. One of FDR's closest advisers -- Harry
> Hopkins, I believe -- had a 19 year old son killed on Iwo Jima.

I believe all of FDR's sons went on active duty, and James was a full colonel of
Marines and fought in Guadalcanal, where he made a Corps-wide name for himself
by being required to wear his helmet at all times he was not under cover because
his bald head would have created a target for the Japanese that would have
endangered all of the Marines in his vicinity.

George Z.
>
> Walt

Mike Dargan
June 5th 04, 09:56 PM
Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
> "WalterM140" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>GWB did not "earn" a commission in the USAF. He didn't go to Officer
>
> Candidate
>
>>School, or whatever the AF has.
>>
>>And his term was -six- years, not 4 1/2.
>>
>>It's sad that such a person could be the CIC.
>>
>
>
> Did you find it sad that Clinton was CiC?
>
I'm sad that he's no longer CiC. Clinton was the best US military
leader since FDR. The Presidents before and after led and are leading
the country from one expensive blunder to another. Were it not for the
two term limitation, he'd still be President--with lots of Republican votes.

Cheers

--mike

Mike Dargan
June 5th 04, 09:59 PM
Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

> "Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
> news:Mwlwc.43930$pt3.19824@attbi_s03...
>
>>Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family with
>>important things to do. Paying Bush to sip around in a Deuce was a waste
>>of resources. There was no way that the Bush scion would ever find him
>>self in harm's way. Didn't it make more sense to use that fuel and the
>>airframe hours to train someone who might one day be willing to serve
>>his or her country?
>>
>
>
> Bush served his country then and is serving his country today.
>
>

What country is that? Saudi Arabia? Or OPEC in general?

Cheers

--mike

Mike Dargan
June 5th 04, 10:02 PM
WalterM140 wrote:

>>>Just for the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a term, it was a commitment.
>>
>>Unless
>>
>>>the definitions have changed, terms apply to enlistments and commitments
>>
>>apply
>>
>>>to lengths of service. In any event, whatever you choose to call it, he
>>
>>didn't
>>
>>>complete it.
>
>
>>Can you really blame him? He was the son of an important family...
>
>
> Yes. He can easily be blamed. One of FDR's closest advisers -- Harry
> Hopkins, I believe -- had a 19 year old son killed on Iwo Jima.

What a sad waste of good genes. Wouldn't it be better to conserve the
best and the brightest for building a better tomorrow, rather than
wasting them as cannon fodder? Are we not fortunate that the shrub
survived to breed?

Cheers

--mike

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 10:04 PM
"Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
news:rsqwc.5822$HG.1359@attbi_s53...
>
> I'm sad that he's no longer CiC. Clinton was the best US military
> leader since FDR.
>

Clinton was not a leader of any kind. He was a follower, couldn't do a
thing without running a poll first.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 5th 04, 10:04 PM
"Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
news:8vqwc.7101$4S5.1351@attbi_s52...
>
> What country is that? Saudi Arabia? Or OPEC in general?
>

The United States of America.

Chad Irby
June 5th 04, 11:34 PM
In article >,
Robey Price > wrote:

> Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?

"Liberals" think we should leave nasty dictators in place forever and
let them kill and abuse millions, while "conservatives" think we should
kick out folks like Hussein and free those folks.

Tell us again about that "freedom" thing.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby
June 5th 04, 11:37 PM
In article <rsqwc.5822$HG.1359@attbi_s53>,
Mike Dargan > wrote:

> I'm sad that he's no longer CiC. Clinton was the best US military
> leader since FDR.

....by doing several, well, *failed* semi-military actions like tossing
cruise missiles at some tents out in the middle of nowhere and doing
pretty much nothing when the US was actually attacked...

So your criteria for "success" seems to be pretty analogous to what most
folks call "failure..."

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Leslie Swartz
June 5th 04, 11:40 PM
Ed:

And how, precisely, do "liberal solutions" get implemented?

At gunpoint.

A vote for "liberalism" (the modern definition; "big government solutions")
is clearly a vote for totalitarianism.

A vote for modern "conservatism" is different only in degree, not principle.
Vote for your economic freedoms to be taken away first, then your freedom of
action . . . or vice versa.

Steve Swartz


"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 19:38:45 GMT, Robey Price >
> wrote:
>
> >After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
> >P. McNicoll" confessed the following:
> >
> >
> >>Totalitarianism is a bit extreme, but a vote for Kerry, or any other
> >>liberal, is certainly a vote against freedom.
> >
> >Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
> >
> >I anticipate an illuminating discourse...or not.
> >
> >Robey
>
> I've got to find myself on the same side of the fence (for this one
> instance) as Juvat. Certainly characterizing a vote for a liberal as a
> vote against freedom is ignoring the essentials of the two primary
> ideologies in America.
>
> Characteristically the liberal ideology is based on a belief that
> government is the best solution to societal problems. Taken further
> left we get to welfare statism, socialism and eventually at the
> extreme communism. Examples of liberal approaches are things like
> Social Security, Medicare, publicly funded education, etc. Often these
> solutions are very effective.
>
> Conversely the basic element of traditional convervatism is a
> free-market solution, focussed on individual responsibility. Want
> health care? Get insured. Want a retirement? Put something away. Don't
> expect government to do it for you. These approaches can work as well.
>
> Trends in liberal/conservative ideology is for liberals to support the
> workers (unions) and conservatives to support entrepreneurs and
> management. Liberals focus government spending on social programs
> while conservatives tend toward strong defense ("guns vs butter").
>
> Inevitably government programs cost money, so a liberal administration
> will lead toward higher taxes, but this is usually balanced by
> including some element of "redistribution of wealth"--the progressive
> tax structure of the IRS, for example. This is acceptable to some
> point as folks weigh the cost/benefit of dollars paid in tax against
> service provided.
>
> The conservative side of American politics, however, is split between
> traditional (i.e. fiscal) conservatives and social conservatives.
> Quite clearly the social conservative side of the ideology actually
> can restrict freedom as much as the liberal in their desire to impose
> a standard of morality no society as a whole. Good example is liberals
> support gun control (loss of 2nd Amendment freedom) while social
> conservatives support censorship, prayer in school, campaign finance
> reform, and a high degree of homphobia--arguably losses of 1st
> Amendment freedoms.
>
> The reality of the situation is that both sides run to the extremes
> for the primary season and then back to the moderate middle for
> general elections. Both sides wind up compromising to build policies
> that can pass the legislative process. Clinton was arguably a fairly
> moderate Democrat and Bush 43 has espoused some clearly liberal
> positions such as steel and plywood tariffs or federally funded
> prescription drug programs.
>
> Illuminated yet?
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 11:50 PM
On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 12:56:18 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>A vote for Socialism (in even it's weaker forms) is a vote for
>Totalitarianism.

The trend world-wide is for what is referred to as "mixed
economies"--some aspects of communism in that there is central
planning and governmental interference with the natural flow of supply
and demand; and some aspects of free market in which trade of goods
and services for profit by individuals is tolerated. Good example
would be the current state of China.

Interesting to note that the most noteworthy examples of
totalitarianism include Stalin, Mao and Hitler--two from the political
left extreme and one from the political right.
>
>Socialism must be supported by the forced confiscation of the labor of the
>citizenry. This is done by the power of the state. The power of the state
>is embodied in Totalitarianism.

Kudos to Ayn Rand.
>
>You can vote for "a little bit of Socialism" and many believe that the
>"little bit of Totalitarianism" is acceptable, as long as hte resulting
>Socilaism is "for the greater good."

Certainly in the USA we love our little bits of socialism. Don't try
to take away our Social Security or Medicare. And be sure that we
include tax cuts for the "working poor" who pay no income tax to begin
with.
>
>These folks generally believe that there is a "sweet spot" in the tradeoff
>between liberty and security.

Actually there is. Rousseau's Social Contract says that if we are to
live with the benefits of society we will have to restrict our freedom
of action. The catch is where upon the spectrum you want to place the
line.
>
>So go ahead and answer your own question: is a vote for Kerry (or Bush, for
>that matter) a vote for Totalitarianism?

So voting is totalitarian? Probably not in the case of the upcoming
election. But, there are some clear choices and the appeal to class
warfare on the one side is distinctly off-putting for me. I'm a firm
believer that I can best choose how to spend my money.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 5th 04, 11:52 PM
On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 18:40:23 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>Ed:
>
>And how, precisely, do "liberal solutions" get implemented?
>
>At gunpoint.

Hardly. We elect representatives who propose alternatives, then amend
and compromise and finally create a marginally effective bureaucracy
that does nothing for most of us, but garners votes from the unwashed
masses for reelection.

Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
people"--even when misguided.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Howard Berkowitz
June 6th 04, 12:03 AM
In article >, Chad Irby
> wrote:

> In article >,
> Robey Price > wrote:
>
> > Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
>
> "Liberals" think we should leave nasty dictators in place forever and
> let them kill and abuse millions, while "conservatives" think we should
> kick out folks like Hussein and free those folks.
>
> Tell us again about that "freedom" thing.

Tell us again about coherent, non-binary, non-demonizing definitions of
"conservative" or of "liberal". Responses of I'm an XXX and everyone who
disagrees with me is a YYY are not responsive.

For extra credit, reconcile your above statement with the ideas of
Jeremy Bentham.

Robey Price
June 6th 04, 12:42 AM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ed Rasimus
confessed the following:

>I've got to find myself on the same side of the fence (for this one
>instance) as Juvat.

Can I get an "amen" brothas and sistas?

>Illuminated yet?

Nice to see my political science degree wasn't a waste. But you gave
away the answer to Steven. I won't be holding my breath for his
"illuminating" epistle...dogma perhaps.

Robey

ArtKramr
June 6th 04, 01:31 AM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/5/04 3:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time

>Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
>were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
>people"--even when misguided.
>
>Ed Rasimus
>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)

Social Security, Medicare and public education misguided? So much for
compassionate conservatism.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Steven P. McNicoll
June 6th 04, 02:38 AM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Yeah, the mainstream media have really kept a lid on this one. We
> wouldn't know anything about Bush going AWOL if it hadn't been for
> that obscure underground newspaper the Boston Globe, which broke
> the story nationally in May 2000. But you're right that coverage has
> been pretty thin. A few months after the 2000 election, former Bill
Clinton
> adviser Paul Begala said he'd done a Nexis search and found 13,641
> stories about Clinton's alleged draft dodging versus 49 about George
> W. Bush's military record.
>

Alleged? Something is alleged when it is represented as existing or as
being as described but not so proved. There's nothing alleged about
Clinton's draft-dodging.


>
> Why the disparity?
>

Probably because there had been eight more years to file stories on Clinton
at that time.


>
> We'll get to that.
>
> First the basics: Yes, it's true, Bush didn't report to his guard unit for
> an extended period--17 months, by one account. It wasn't considered
> that serious an offense at the time, and if circumstances were different
> now I'd be inclined to write it off as youthful irresponsibility. However,
> given the none-too-subtle suggestion by the Bush administration that
> opponents of our Iraqi excursion lack martial valor, I have to say: You
> guys should talk.
>
> Here's the story as generally agreed upon: In January 1968, with the
> Vietnam war in full swing, Bush was due to graduate from Yale.
> Knowing he'd soon be eligible for the draft, he took an air force
officers'
> test hoping to secure a billet with the Texas Air National Guard, which
> would allow him to do his military service at home. Bush didn't do
> particularly well on the test--on the pilot aptitude section, he scored in
> the 25th percentile, the lowest possible passing grade. But Bush's
> father, George H.W., was then a U.S. congressman from Houston, and
> strings were pulled. The younger Bush vaulted to the head of a long
> waiting list--a year and a half long, by some estimates--and in May
> of '68 he was inducted into the guard.
>
> By all accounts Bush was an excellent pilot, but apparently his enthusiasm
> cooled. In 1972, four years into his six-year guard commitment, he was
> asked to work for the campaign of Bush family friend Winton Blount, who
> was running for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. In May Bush requested a
> transfer to an Alabama Air National Guard unit with no planes and
> minimal duties. Bush's immediate superiors approved the transfer, but
> higher-ups said no. The matter was delayed for months. In August
> Bush missed his annual flight physical and was grounded.
> (Some have speculated that he was worried about failing a drug test--the
> Pentagon had instituted random screening in April.) In September he was
> ordered to report to a different unit of the Alabama guard, the 187th
> Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Montgomery. Bush says he did so, but
> his nominal superiors say they never saw the guy, there's no documentation
> he ever showed up, and not one of the six or seven hundred soldiers then
> in the unit has stepped forward to corroborate Bush's story.
>
> After the November election Bush returned to Texas, but apparently
> didn't notify his old Texas guard unit for quite a while, if ever. The
> Boston Globe initially reported that he started putting in some serious
> duty time in May, June, and July of 1973 to make up for what he'd
> missed. But according to a piece in the New Republic, there's no
> evidence Bush did even that. Whatever the case, even though his
> superiors knew he'd blown off his duties, they never disciplined him.
> (No one's ever been shot at dawn for missing a weekend guard
> drill, but policy at the time was to put shirkers on active duty.) Indeed,
> when Bush decided to go to business school at Harvard in the fall of
> 1973, he requested and got an honorable discharge--eight months
> before his service was scheduled to end.
>
> Bush's enemies say all this proves he was a cowardly deserter. Nonsense.
> He was a pampered rich kid who took advantage. Why wasn't he called
> on it in a serious way during the 2000 election? Probably because
> Democrats figured they'd get Clinton's draft-dodging thing thrown back
> at them. Not that it matters. If history judges Bush harshly--and it
probably
> will--it won't be for screwing up as a young smart aleck, but for getting
us
> into this damn fool war.
>
> --CECIL ADAMS
>

So where's the proof?

Gord Beaman
June 6th 04, 03:13 AM
"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote:

>
>"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> Bush clearly did not complete his military service.
>>
>
>Bush clearly completed his military service.
>
>
>>
>> There is no dispute on that.
>>
>
>Actually, many ignorant people dispute it.
>
Bye guys...I'll check back in a month...hopefully this political
stuff will be over by then...I'm outta here...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

Chad Irby
June 6th 04, 03:21 AM
In article >,
Howard Berkowitz > wrote:

> In article >, Chad Irby
> > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Robey Price > wrote:
> >
> > > Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
> >
> > "Liberals" think we should leave nasty dictators in place forever and
> > let them kill and abuse millions, while "conservatives" think we should
> > kick out folks like Hussein and free those folks.
> >
> > Tell us again about that "freedom" thing.
>
> Tell us again about coherent, non-binary, non-demonizing definitions of
> "conservative" or of "liberal".

I'd rather just use the self-applied labels that many politicians and
their supporters use. Most of the folks who call themselves "liberals"
or are called that by their friends are, when you get right down to it,
not very "liberal" at all outside of a few, narrowly-defined opinions.
An old-time "liberal" would have been right in the forefront when
sending troops to fight a fascist dictator like Saddam Hussein, while
the modern breed is quite content to leave them be.

But you're right: when you get right down to it, "liberal" and
"conservative" have become effectively meaningless when referring to the
Democrat/Republican divide. You can get bizarre commonalities between
people like Jeremy Rifkin and Pat Buchanan, for example, who have very
similar opinions on much of the economy and foreign trade, but have some
sharp discontinuities on many other social beliefs.

> Responses of I'm an XXX and everyone who
> disagrees with me is a YYY are not responsive.

Neither is "define something for me and I'll nitpick it for a couple of
days."

> For extra credit, reconcile your above statement with the ideas of
> Jeremy Bentham.

So how many graduate-level credits do I get for it, who's doing the
grading, and what are their credentials?

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby
June 6th 04, 03:24 AM
In article >,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

> Social Security, Medicare and public education misguided?
> So much for compassionate conservatism.

"Public education misguided" is a fairly common observation by people on
both sides of pretty much every political fence you can find.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Mike Dargan
June 6th 04, 04:32 AM
Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
> "WalterM140" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>"Yeah, the mainstream media have really kept a lid on this one. We
>>wouldn't know anything about Bush going AWOL if it hadn't been for
>>that obscure underground newspaper the Boston Globe, which broke
>>the story nationally in May 2000. But you're right that coverage has
>>been pretty thin. A few months after the 2000 election, former Bill
>
> Clinton
>
>>adviser Paul Begala said he'd done a Nexis search and found 13,641
>>stories about Clinton's alleged draft dodging versus 49 about George
>>W. Bush's military record.
>>
>
>
> Alleged? Something is alleged when it is represented as existing or as
> being as described but not so proved. There's nothing alleged about
> Clinton's draft-dodging.

Clinton's real daddy was dead and his step-daddy a dud. Without a
sponsor, what chance did he have of getting a cushy billet in TANG or
any other country club? Clinton used his brains and work ethic to get
ahead. Clinton's grades got him into graduate school and earned a
Rhodes scholarship. The shrub's draft dodging was handled by daddy Bush
as was his entry into an Ivy League MBA program. Clinton earned his way
in life, the shrub had it handed to him on a platter.

Cheers

--mike

>
>
>
>>Why the disparity?
>>
>
>
> Probably because there had been eight more years to file stories on Clinton
> at that time.
>
>
>
>>We'll get to that.
>>
>>First the basics: Yes, it's true, Bush didn't report to his guard unit for
>>an extended period--17 months, by one account. It wasn't considered
>>that serious an offense at the time, and if circumstances were different
>>now I'd be inclined to write it off as youthful irresponsibility. However,
>>given the none-too-subtle suggestion by the Bush administration that
>>opponents of our Iraqi excursion lack martial valor, I have to say: You
>>guys should talk.
>>
>>Here's the story as generally agreed upon: In January 1968, with the
>>Vietnam war in full swing, Bush was due to graduate from Yale.
>>Knowing he'd soon be eligible for the draft, he took an air force
>
> officers'
>
>>test hoping to secure a billet with the Texas Air National Guard, which
>>would allow him to do his military service at home. Bush didn't do
>>particularly well on the test--on the pilot aptitude section, he scored in
>>the 25th percentile, the lowest possible passing grade. But Bush's
>>father, George H.W., was then a U.S. congressman from Houston, and
>>strings were pulled. The younger Bush vaulted to the head of a long
>>waiting list--a year and a half long, by some estimates--and in May
>>of '68 he was inducted into the guard.
>>
>>By all accounts Bush was an excellent pilot, but apparently his enthusiasm
>>cooled. In 1972, four years into his six-year guard commitment, he was
>>asked to work for the campaign of Bush family friend Winton Blount, who
>>was running for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. In May Bush requested a
>>transfer to an Alabama Air National Guard unit with no planes and
>>minimal duties. Bush's immediate superiors approved the transfer, but
>>higher-ups said no. The matter was delayed for months. In August
>>Bush missed his annual flight physical and was grounded.
>>(Some have speculated that he was worried about failing a drug test--the
>>Pentagon had instituted random screening in April.) In September he was
>>ordered to report to a different unit of the Alabama guard, the 187th
>>Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Montgomery. Bush says he did so, but
>>his nominal superiors say they never saw the guy, there's no documentation
>>he ever showed up, and not one of the six or seven hundred soldiers then
>>in the unit has stepped forward to corroborate Bush's story.
>>
>>After the November election Bush returned to Texas, but apparently
>>didn't notify his old Texas guard unit for quite a while, if ever. The
>>Boston Globe initially reported that he started putting in some serious
>>duty time in May, June, and July of 1973 to make up for what he'd
>>missed. But according to a piece in the New Republic, there's no
>>evidence Bush did even that. Whatever the case, even though his
>>superiors knew he'd blown off his duties, they never disciplined him.
>>(No one's ever been shot at dawn for missing a weekend guard
>>drill, but policy at the time was to put shirkers on active duty.) Indeed,
>>when Bush decided to go to business school at Harvard in the fall of
>>1973, he requested and got an honorable discharge--eight months
>>before his service was scheduled to end.
>>
>>Bush's enemies say all this proves he was a cowardly deserter. Nonsense.
>>He was a pampered rich kid who took advantage. Why wasn't he called
>>on it in a serious way during the 2000 election? Probably because
>>Democrats figured they'd get Clinton's draft-dodging thing thrown back
>>at them. Not that it matters. If history judges Bush harshly--and it
>
> probably
>
>>will--it won't be for screwing up as a young smart aleck, but for getting
>
> us
>
>>into this damn fool war.
>>
>>--CECIL ADAMS
>>
>
>
> So where's the proof?
>
>

Pete
June 6th 04, 04:36 AM
"Chad Irby" > wrote
>
> I'd rather just use the self-applied labels that many politicians and
> their supporters use. Most of the folks who call themselves "liberals"
> or are called that by their friends are, when you get right down to it,
> not very "liberal" at all outside of a few, narrowly-defined opinions.
> An old-time "liberal" would have been right in the forefront when
> sending troops to fight a fascist dictator like Saddam Hussein, while
> the modern breed is quite content to leave them be.
>

I think the modern breed, on both sides, is:
"Whatever the other guy does is wrong. (even if it *is* the right thing to
do)"
"Whatever we do is right (even if it turns out to be badly wrong)"

Pete

Kevin Brooks
June 6th 04, 07:13 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
> >> shot at because of this.
> >
> >Oh, spare us the attempt at gravity--you have often used sarcasm and
> >ridicule when arguing this same subject. Yet now I am supposed to
prostrate
> >myself before you because "you've got family..."? Please...
>
> Fine, let me know so I can laugh when a relative of yours becomes a
> casualty. Wouldn't *that* be funny? Or would you need your "humor
> switch" recalibrating?

Odd how you turned your humor switch back on when it came to postulating
about "parking tickets" below--I guess you and only you set the rules for
when it is appropriate? Or is it OK for you to make light of the situation,
but noone else can? Heck of an opinion of yourself you have there...

>
> >> Of course, Iraqi accounting was always honest and believable?
> >
> >That is the point--it was not honest. Hence it was in violation. Case
> >closed.
>
> In other words, war with Iraq was inevitable and unstoppable because of
> one shell?
>
> Impressive.

He was in violation. On more than one count. Deal with it.

>
> >> And the discrepancy was noted years ago.
> >
> >Really? Can you point to where these unaccounted for binary weapons are
> >mentioned in the UNSCOM or UNMOVIC reports? How many did they say were
> >unaccounted for?
>
> Read the reports yourself, I've already cited them and given you URLs.

I did read the reports--and oddly, I don't recall any discussion of true
binary rounds being fabricated or unaccounted for. Can you point to the
*specific* paragraph(s)? No?

>
> >> Of course he didn't! Trouble is, even *he* didn't know what he had.
> >
> >Geeze, your attempts to defend him are unbelievable--
>
> Of course they're unbelieveable, because I'm not defending him.
>
> However, you go on building strawmen all you like.
>
> >now you want to claim
> >it was A-OK 'cause he did not know what he had?
>
> How does Hussein pose a threat with weapons he does not know about?

That would actually be your strawman--you have a totalitarian leader who
played games with the inspection process through the years, and now that
things like a sarin round, a ricin development program, hidden
equipment/cultures/documents, and maybe a mustard round to boot turn up, you
postulate that, "Well, Saddam may not have known about them..." Weak--very
weak.

>
> >After you already
> >acknowledged he was not being "honest" with his disclosures?
>
> Absolutely not. Some were complete fantasy: "production programs" were
> cited at places that were just empty desert, because the officer in
> charge had grabbed the money and absconded.

I guess you missed the examples of his having overlooked weapons and
programs thet *were* in place and not disclosed, eh?

>
> >Which way is
> >it--was he dishonest, and therefore in violation, or inept, and therefore
in
> >violation?
>
> Both - he was both dishonest and inept. And yet he didn't pose a WME
> threat.

Was he in violation--yes or no? Simple question--even you should be able to
answer it without too much quibbling.

>
> That's the trouble with looking at real life rather than political
> slogans.

LOL! The guy who has advocated that we HAVE to handle ALL international
problems in the EXACT same manner, regardless of individual circumstances,
now wants to lecture about "real life"?! Now that's a good one!

>
>
> >> And it was claimed that he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and
> >> entire production lines, and that was why we had to invade and secure
> >> that threat Right Now. Forty-five minutes from order to firing, with
> >> weapons able to reach as far as Cyprus - the UK Government claimed that
> >> was its experts' judgement. (Trouble is, when analysts say 'probably
> >> not' and the political advisors suggest 'can we delete that "not" to
> >> tighten up the sentence?' then the message changes a little in
> >> transit...)
> >>
> >> As it turns out... "whoops", to date.
> >
> >Wow. Faulty intel that does not reflect an accurate scope of the
violations.
>
> That's a very generous understatement.

Was he in violation? You really don't want to answer that question, do you?

>
> >Who'd have thunk it? Of course, to use that hammer you have to ignore the
> >fact that he was in violation in the first place...
>
> Indeed, he owned at least two chemical munitions.
>
> Of course, we can't go setting firm criteria for action, which may
> explain why two Iraqi shells demand immediate invasion while _real_ WME
> threats in the hands of proven terrorist supporters and weapons
> proliferators are politely ignored.

Oh, joy! In the above you have not only managed to ignore his other numerous
violations of 687, but have also managed to bring your "standard playbook
for international crisis" back into play...and you want to talk about "real
life"? Newsflash--"real life" does not equal Paulian World. Real life is
twelve years of violations, some of which continued right up until he was
attacked last spring, real life is understanding that different situations
require different courses of action, real life is where all final courses of
action do not have to occur simultaneously, and yes, real life is where
"intelligence" and "intel analysis" are often faulty, though in this case
that does not change the fact that yes, he was in violation on a number of
issues.

>
> >"Well, he was only a
> >LITTLE bit guilty, not a *LOT* guilty!
>
> There was supposed to be a imminent and serious threat.

Those seem to be your words. I just read a 2002 CNN report that outlines the
then-just-released report from the White House which outlined the "case
against Iraq". It does not claim that Saddam definitely had major stockpiles
of chemical weapons, nor did it credit them with having any major delivery
systems capable of handling such weapons. It *did* accuse Saddam of hiding
biological warfare programs (that ricin development effort fits the bill
there), notes his numerous violations of UN resolutions over the years,
discrepancies in the accounting of chemical munitions as reported
UNSCOM/UNMOVIC, human rights violations on a large scale, support for two
terrorist groups (and no, AQ was not named as one of them), his support for
suicide bombers, etc. You can peruse the report yourself at:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/12/iraq.report/

>
> Not "cultures hidden in refrigerators", not "centrifuges buried for a
> decade", not single decade-old munitions.

Actually, we said hidden biological warfare programs. That has proved to be
true in the case of the ricin, not to mention those hidden cultures. But
hey, don't let facts get in the way of a good rant...

>
>
> Now, you seem to believe that if Saddam Hussein owned a pair of used
> nail scissors then those could qualify as a weapon of mass effect (just
> imagine what you could catch if someone jabbed you with them! Plus you
> could have someone's *eye* out with those!). I'm more minded to stick to
> realistic definitions of the threat.

OH, GOD! You are using HUMOR! How DARE you--don't you know some of your
family members could be dying over there right NOW? Again, I sarcastically
note your use of humor is A-OK...but the rest of us can't use that approach,
eh?

>
> >And that hidden equipment, cultures,
> >documentation, etc....nah, he could *never* have been using that as a way
of
> >trying to preserve his program..." is not a reasonable approach, IMO.
>
> None of that is an immediate or imminent threat.

Was he in violation in these regards? Yes.

>
> >> You've got him in custody, ask him.
> >
> >So, you can't come up with an excuse for the fact that he reported other
> >low-density/R&D products, but not the one that we subsequently had used
> >against us. Odd, that.
>
> I don't have access to the man to question him. Did he *know* he had
> binary sarin research underway? Or, just for giggles, what if it's a
> Syrian or Iranian import and not Iraqi at all?

Yeah, he is obviously innocent of all charges because he had NO IDEA that
his nation had been working on WMD efforts over the years, was completely
unaware of Res 687, and just for good measure, he probably was completely
unaware of those mass graves (and the poor souls who went into them). Why,
he should be nominated for sainthood...nah, on second thought, all of that
sounds pretty darned hokey.

>
> Lots of possibilities: you're drawing extremely firm conclusions from
> very limited data.

He had a ricin program--firm data (unless you want to call Kay and his
inspectors liars). That is a violation. He had a sarin round of a type that
was never acknowledged as having been fabricated--another violation. he had
cultures and equipment hidden away--another violation. Conclusion: He was in
violation. You claim he did/may not know about any of this--too bad, they
are still violations. End of story.

>
> >> Which makes insisting that they must be recent, something of a stretch,
> >> no? They were strongly suspected of having a R&D effort aimed at such
> >> rounds, and Iraq denied it, but then if you believe the Hussein regime
> >> then the US military was exterminated outside Baghdad and are currently
> >> having their bellies barbecued in Hell.
> >
> >Nobody has said they "must be recent"; OTOH, it does call into question
the
> >applicability of stating beyond a doubt that they predated ODS.
>
> I'm wary of turning speculation into certainty too quickly. What *is*
> certain is that we've still not found anything capable of producing
> those rounds in Iraq - and it's harder to hide production lines than
> individual munitions.
>
> >> Perhaps yet again it might be wise to wait for the results of the
> >> detailed analysis before making too many firm claims.
> >
> >Which is why I have not, AFAIK, made any "firm claims" that these rounds
> >*had* to be of recent manufacture--
>
> Oh, but Saddam was in violation by their mere existence regardless of
> their date, remember?

That is true. Sorry, but that is the case.

>
> >or are you going to resort to your
> >doctoring-of-statements to put those words in my mouth, as you did a week
or
> >two ago when you falsely claimed that I had said that WMD's were not a
> >factor in the decision to go to war?
>
> Stop bull****ting, Kevin. You repeatedly claimed that it wasn't just
> about WMEs - but yet you won't say what it *was* about. (When asked, you
> go very, very shy)

Bull****. You have REPEATEDLY been given the other reasons--I gave them to
you again and again. At least THIS time you got my statement regarding "it
wasn't just about the WME's" correct--nice of you to include the freakin'
*just* in the sentence THIS time.

>
> Inventing false accusations is a poor distraction. This is the third
> time I've explained that if there isn't a name and attribution to let it
> be traced, it's not a quote: it's the third time I've apologised for the
> misunderstanding: and I'm beginning to believe that you're more
> interested in histrionics than facts.

You have yet to acknowledge that you got it wrong when you claimed I have
been saying that WMD's were not a factor.

>
> >See what happens when you start
> >dissembling like that? Trust is a precious commodity, and you have
tarnished
> >that quality in your own case.
>
> Too bad, how sad, because you're failing to distinguish yourself by the
> integrity of your conduct here.

Unlike you, I have not played footloose and fancy free with your statements
and twisted them to say something completely different from what you
actually said--you did. Unlike you, I have not completely ignored your
answer to a question and then repeatedly claimed you never answered it in
the first place. Those would be YOUR faults in this argument, not mine.

>
> Remember, we've gone from "significant and imminent" Iraqi WMEs, the
> evidence of which was reliable and solid (but of course too secret to
> share)... to odds and ends buried in gardens, hidden in fridges and used
> by insurgents in roadside IEDs. Yet you're insisting that nothing has
> changed?

That "significant and immenent" would apparently be your words? I did not
see either of them in that report about our case for Iraq?

>
>
> >> No, I'm just accustomed to the fact that he was both an accomplished
> >> liar and that he may not have known as much as he believed about the
> >> projects he sponsored.
> >>
> >> Shades of the Hitler days: you can report "encouraging progress" on the
> >> 250,000-ton fantasy battleship and get more funding to stay in Kiel, or
> >> you can admit it's a ludicrous pipedream and you and your entire design
> >> team can pick up your rifles and go fight on the Eastern Front.
> >>
> >> We're stuck with what we can find after a year and a half of searching,
> >> for the "true picture" of what he had. Is the US so grossly incompetent
> >> that, having much of the regime's top staff in custody and under
> >> interrogation, that it can't get *one* of them to admit to one of the
> >> Vast Concealed Stockpiles or the Hidden Underground Factories?
> >
> >It has shown that he continued to run at least one bio program up until
the
> >time we attacked. That is another violation. Are you noting that the
number
> >of violations keeps increasing as we go through this discussion?
>
> Of course - now, where are the threats?

You are really going to avoid admitting he was in violation on numerous
counts, aren't you? And as i said elsewhere, I see Saddam with any form of
WMD program, or products thereof, as a serious threat. You don't. Luckily,
you'll now never have to go through the agony of being proved wrong on that
since Saddam has been removed from the equation.

>
> >He had twelve years to get his act straight
> >in terms of meeting the requirements of 687 (*all* of them), and we now
know
> >that he refused to do so even under threat of attack, yielding a
> >justification the the area of WMD in my view--add to that the "other"
> >reasons (missiles that exceeded the allowed range, continual NFZ
violations,
> >one assasination attempt on a former US President, harboring a couple of
> >known terrorists, supporting suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I
> >have given you before, but you claimed I never provided to you?
>
> In other words, pretty much business as ususal for the Middle East.

Those are many of the reasons given in that White House report--you have
repeatedly been given them , and you repeatedly claim I have not given any
of them to you.

>
> >> Yep. One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
> >> on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent.
> >
> >Is it a violation?
>
> Sure.
>
> Is "a violation" a good enough reason to tie us down in Iraq for the
> next few years?

See my comment above regarding Saddam and threat.

>
> >And had you been on the ground that day when it went off
> >(thankfully without acheiving a full yield of sarin), how much of a
"threat"
> >do you suppose it would have been to you?
>
> Less than a 155mm HE in that particular case.

Not sure about that. 155 HE round goes off and, if they were following a
normal convoy interval, based upon lethal burst radius of a 155mm HE, one
vehicle with occupants gets whacked. A 155mm sarin round with a few liters
of fully-cooked sarin goes off, and you have to consider downwind effects
and you also have those folks who subsequently drove into the immediate
area. These troops were not MOPPED up, and seeing what would appear
(compared to the usual IED) to be a misfired IED going off (that burster
charge is not that big) on the roadside would likely lead to them either
immediately herringboning and dismounting, or even worse driving through the
ambush point (which was our first choice when I was a CO--avoid stopping in
the KZ at all costs). Which would have meant a fair number of exposed troops
likely getting exposed to the agent. I think your analysis of how bad this
could have been is about as accurate as the rest of your analysis in this
discussion--not very.

>
> >> So, where are the weapons? There was supposed to be a threat. Where is
> >> it?
> >
> >You have been told this numerous times, but apparently you keep wanting
to
> >insert "great numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" for the term
> >"violations of 687".
>
> Read the UK government dossiers. Compare them to the reality on the
> ground. Wonder at the discrepancies between the case made for the
> operation, and the facts made on the ground.

Maybe your government based its whole claim solely on "massive
stockpiles"--our's did not, as that report I cited to you indicates.

>
> Uncle Tom Cobbley and all knew that Iraq was in violation of 687, would
> continue to try to violate 687, and even if by some miracle they
> renounced WME and tried to clean up their act, some stray munitions
> would still be adrift - therefore they could *never* fully, completely
> satisfy 687.
>
> The question is, were they so thoroughly in violation that they had
> produced workable weapons in effective quantities?

No, that is YOUR question. Our contention is that they were in violation of
numerous requirements, to include hiding bio warfare programs that were
still ongoing, which proved to be true.

>
> >> I don't doctor quotes.
> >
> >The hell you don't.
>
> No, I don't, and I'm tiring of explaining this to you.

You paraphrased me inaccurately, and when called upon it you trotted out my
correct quote and then argued that the inclusion of *all* in it really did
not change what you had claimed I had been saying. I'd call that
doctoring--it sure as hell was not honest.

>
> >Hence your past assertion that I was claiming WMD's were
> >not a factor, when what I actually said was, "It is not *all* about
WMD's."
>
> I'm noting your continued evasion on the "other factors".

You are blind then. They have been given to you again..and again..and again.
See the above: "...add to that the "other" reasons (missiles that exceeded
the allowed range, continual NFZ violations, one assasination attempt on a
former US President, harboring a couple of known terrorists, supporting
suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I have given you before, but you
claimed I never provided to you?" The fact that you claim they have still
not been given to you at this point is just an example now of you now lying,
'cause sure as God made little green apples they have been given to you
again, and again, and again...

>
> >If I quote, I make it properly attributable so it
> >> can be checked. If you don't see a name on it, then it's not a quote.
> >> (Who would I be quoting? If I write "Kevin Brooks is a big fat poopie
> >> head" then who, precisely, is supposed to have said this and how could
> >> you challenge them?)
> >>
> >> I told you this already - I'm willing to be charitable and accept you
> >> ignored it in a fit of pique, but if you prefer I'll find a less
amiable
> >> interpretation.
> >>
> >> I find false accusations unpleasant, personally, but again you may just
> >> have been indulging in histrionics and refused to read it.
> >
> >This one was a very true accusation. You had my quote, and you chose to
> >leave out the "all" when you paraphrased it.
>
> And I didn't attribute it to you, or insist it was your exact wording,
> because *even you* immediately recognised it as a paraphrase rather than
> a quotation.

Bull****. You sure as heel did attribute that to me. Do I have to go Google
and restate your exact words to you?You claimed I said that WMD's were not a
factor--that was wrong.

>
> Interestingly, you chose then - and continued to choose - to shriek
> about your wounded pride, rather than address the issue of "then what
> *were* the other factors"?

You are lying again, I see--some of those other factors have repeatedly been
given to you (see above).

>
> >You screwed up, Paul--admit it.
>
> I did. I apologised. Several times. Either you didn't read, or didn't
> reply.

Bull****--you are still denying in this very message that you ever even
attributed the incorrect statement to me! You then compound that by lying
again and again that I have never provided you any of the "other reasons"
for going to war--when lists of those reasons have been provided to you
repeatedly! In this very same thread, no less!

>
> I'm beginning to consider that you're using this as an invented
> diversion.

Why is that not surprising, given that you are repeatedly lying?

>
> >heck, you could have said, "Oops, I am sorry--I missed the "all" in that
> >statement, my apologies, you did not claim that WMD were no facor in the
> >decision." But no, you couldn't bring yourself to do that--you had to
start
> >wriggling, in the best traditions of your hero, Vkince.
>
> Your internal fantasy life must be very interesting to behold.
> Apparently I have a shrine to Saddam Hussein and worship the name of
> Brannigan?

You have been acting a lot like him over this issue--if the shoe fits, wear
it.

>
> >Prior to that I held
> >you in some regard--we might disagree, but you were honest and
respectable.
> >Now I place you somewhere just above Vkince on the honor scale--and that
> >ain't real high, let me tell you.
>
> Well, Kevin, let me tell you just how hurt, wounded and mortified I feel
> that in between accusing me of being a Hussein appeaser you've decided
> you don't like me as much as you once did.

You just don't get it, do you? It is your lying that I find offensive--the
fact that you can't seem to get beyond defending Saddam is trivial in
comparison.

>
> >> I'm sure he had some unpaid parking tickets too.
> >
> >"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
shot
> >at because of this." Got off your high horse in a hurry there, didn't
you?
>
> Absolutely. I can decide when to ride it and when not to, not you.

So you really DO think you have the right decide when humor is allowed and
when it is not? Could you maybe post the rules the rest of us have to
follow, since they don't apply to you?

And on that note I'll close this out; I can take only so much of your
repetitive lies, your belief that it is OK for you to use tongue-in-cheek
humor "but by-golly if the other guy does I'll set him straight!" bull****,
your inane "I apoligized...but in actuality, I never said that, so no
apology is due!" rants, etc. I could easily deal with you disagreeing with
me as to the justifications for military action in this case--but I just
can't stomach your lack of integrity, and I am really sorry I had misjudged
you in that regard prior to the last couple of discussions revealing what
you are truly like. You say that does not bother you-- to have such a
"disposable" view in regards to one's reputation with others is kind of a
sad situation.

Brooks

>
> >So what? Less than a
> >> ton is "research quantities" for other nations interested in
> >> self-defence against chemical weapons, and there's the minor
> >> _realpolitik_ that Iraq still has a border and a recent bloody war with
> >> Iran, who is *also* an enthusiastic producer of chemical weapons.
Tricky
> >> to handle that one, unless you want to commit US troops to protecting
> >> the Shi'a south against an Iranian rescue from Iraq's hateful
> >> oppression...
> >
> >Sounds like you are making a case for justifying Saddam continuing WMD
> >programs there--not going to get too far with that one.
>
> Just interested to know what the US position would be if the Iranians
> decide to stage Anschluss with Basra and the southern oilfields, using
> chemical weapons generously (claiming, of course, that it's just
> retaliation for Iraq's first use).
>
> >Nor is your attempt
> >to draw Iran into the framework of much use.
>
> You don't consider Iran to be a factor in the Middle East?
>
> Just what are you smoking and where can it be bought?
>
> >Again, was he in violation of
> >687, on numerous accounts, or not?
>
> Of course he was. How could he *not* be in violation, with a
> sufficiently detailed and dogmatic accounting?
>
> Out of interest, since you're suddenly so fond of the UN, when was
> military action in response to the breach of 687 authorised?
>
> >> Because it's cheap and easy. You can cook up ricin in a domestic
kitchen
> >> (we arrested a group doing just that in London). You can talk up how
> >> hugely lethal it is and how many thousands you could kill with Just
This
> >> Test-Tube! While carefully skipping over the inconvenient problems of
> >> administration (best-known ricin victim is Georgi Markov - you're going
> >> to get an agent close enough to a President to jab an umbrella in his
> >> leg?) Ricin just needs castorbeans and some commercial equipment to
> >> produce.
> >
> >So in Paulian World, ricin is A-OK for Saddam to continue working on, and
if
> >he did acheive weaponization--oh, well, too bad, right? And in Paulian
World
> >work on ricin was not a violation of the terms of 687?
>
> No, and no, as you know well - but then who *has* achieved weaponised
> ricin? It's a vicious toxin when correctly administered, but the
> administration remains a massive and unsolved problem. (I have this
> vision of Iraqi troops with umbrellas trying to close with their enemies
> under fire...)
>
> Handy if you need an excuse, but not a serious threat.
>
>
> >> Chicken and egg - were they after ricin for its enormous battlefield
> >> effectiveness, or were they proudly developing a hugely lethal
> >> biological weapon for the glory of Saddam Hussein (may blessings rain
> >> from Heaven on His name) with resources they could easily get hold of
> >> and which they'd get funding and prestige for?
> >
> >It does not matter--it was a violation.
>
> And because it was "not just about the WMEs" then the least violation of
> 687 is complete casus belli?
>
> >> I'd be worried about the *confirmed* threats, but that's just me.
> >
> >You might want to look into the definition of "threat". IMO, Saddam with
any
> >amount of proscribed WMD's, or programs in search of same, constituted a
> >definite "threat". Your mileage may differ.
>
> I'm more worried about the North Koreans, who have the weapons and the
> habit of exporting anything to anyone for cash; the Syrians, who also
> have the weapons and are enthusiastic terrorist supporters; the
> Iranians, who *also* have WMEs in significant quantity and a solid track
> record of sponsoring anti-US terrorism... need I go on?
>
> >> The ones you won't state?
> >
> >No, the ones I have repeatedly stated--
>
> At last and after much prodding.
>
> You mean, Hussein sponsors suicide bombers against Israel - like Syria,
> like Iran, and like some of the more enthusiastic Saudi madrassahs?
>
> "Missiles that exceed the allowed range" - yes, that's a real one. They
> jerry-rigged some SA-2 engines together and produced a missile that,
> without payload, exceeded their maximum allowed range. (Give it a
> payload and it met the limit, but that's life)
>
> "continual NFZ violations" - how *dare* they defend their own airspace?
> And just how effective were those "violations"? When was the last time
> they fired a SAM with guidance, for instance? (The air defence teams had
> to put up a fight, so they lofted unguided missiles up and tried not to
> be where the retaliation landed)
>
> "one assasination attempt on a former US President" - this one's often
> asserted but the proof is lacking. Wasn't this while Bush Sr. was in
> Kuwait or Saudi, which are much more al-Qaeda's stamping grounds?
>
>
> Which of these pose any significant threat to the US and require an
> immediate invasion? Which of these isn't topped by other states in the
> region? (The US can't fly over Syria, who has many TBMs with chemical
> warheads and generously sponsors terrorists operating against Israel...
> but, of course, we must judge each case on its merits)
>
> >> Or perhaps I'm mistaken and you *did* state them - in which case I
> >> apologise (again) for missing them. Could you point me to them, please?
> >> (asked again)
> >
> >Asked and answered--repeatedly.
>
> Thank you.
>
> >> No, I didn't. "It's Iraq and it's a special case." was the best
summary.
> >> Which may be true, but the evasiveness is an automatic hackle-raiser.
> >
> >No evasiveness required--just situational dependent, something you
obviously
> >refuse to grasp.
>
> So what made Iraq more of a threat than Syria?
>
> >> Or perhaps I'm more interested in real issues than demonising Saddam
> >> Hussein?
> >
> >Apparently no, since you keep tapdancing around the "was he in violation"
>
> Other nations are in violation, except that they weren't defeated and
> had 687 enacted upon them,
>
> >question with your "only massive amounts fit the bill" bit.
>
> Militarily significant quanties. Are you claiming I ever said "massive
> amounts" or will you retract this heinous and dishonourable misquotation
> of my words?
>
> >> But how can this be? Aren't all the al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq? How
can
> >> there be terrorists in other countries?
> >
> >Newsflash, but they are in lots of places.
>
> So it seems. Not quite what's been claimed, but then so much has been
> claimed it's often hard to keep track.
>
> >> That's okay - the hugely efficient Saudi military and security services
> >> will handle the problem.
> >>
> >> If they can't, the large US presence in the country will handle it.
> >>
> >>
> >> (Your last sentence is extremely troubling, though. How much do you
> >> actually understand about the general situation in Saudi Arabia, and
the
> >> particulars of the House of Saud's relationship with the Wahabbi sect
> >> and al-Qaeda's reaction to all the above? Or do you really believe that
> >> "because al-Qaeda attacks in Saudi then the house of Saud must be their
> >> sworn enemies and our true and trusted allies?")
> >
> >Apparently my understanding is plenty realistic, unlike your's, which was
> >IIRC a "why have you not attacked Saudid Arabia if you are attacking
Iraq"
> >gambit.
>
> You understand incorrectly, it seems.
>
> --
> He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
> Julius Caesar I:2
>
> Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Paul J. Adam
June 6th 04, 10:25 AM
In message >, Chad Irby
> writes
>"Liberals" think we should leave nasty dictators in place forever and
>let them kill and abuse millions, while "conservatives" think we should
>kick out folks like Hussein and free those folks.

I got a degree from University College London, and have seen Jeremy
Bentham's preserved body (he sits in one of the hallways, and is a
required presence at meetings of the governing body).

I'm not sure that you mean by "liberal" what many other people
understand by "liberal".

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

WalterM140
June 6th 04, 01:44 PM
>Clinton
>> adviser Paul Begala said he'd done a Nexis search and found 13,641
>> stories about Clinton's alleged draft dodging versus 49 about George
>> W. Bush's military record.
>>

>Alleged? Something is alleged when it is represented as existing or as
>being as described but not so proved. There's nothing alleged about
>Clinton's draft-dodging.

Clinton's not running.

Follow this link to see a document that shows conclusively that Bush did not
get the requisite 50 points for a satisfctory year of service:

http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/gwbush/gwb72-73arfspe1.pdf

So the record shows that Bush was dodging his commitment in Texas, Kerry was
in contact with the NVA in the Mekong Delta.

Walt

George Z. Bush
June 6th 04, 02:49 PM
> Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
>> "WalterM140" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> "Yeah, the mainstream media have really kept a lid on this one. We
>>> wouldn't know anything about Bush going AWOL if it hadn't been for
>>> that obscure underground newspaper the Boston Globe, which broke
>>> the story nationally in May 2000. But you're right that coverage has
>>> been pretty thin. A few months after the 2000 election, former Bill
>>
>> Clinton
>>
>>> adviser Paul Begala said he'd done a Nexis search and found 13,641
>>> stories about Clinton's alleged draft dodging versus 49 about George
>>> W. Bush's military record.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Alleged? Something is alleged when it is represented as existing or as
>> being as described but not so proved. There's nothing alleged about
>> Clinton's draft-dodging.

Really? In that case, would you mind producing some proof that there was a
court proceeding that found Clinton guilty of violating some portion of the
Selective Service Act?

You know, my dictionary defines "allege" as "to declare or assert without
proof". If you have no proof, there's no other word you could use about the
object of your affections than allege. You can't turn him into a criminal just
because you don't like his politics or sex life.

By way of example, many of Bush's critics think he was an unprosecuted AWOL or
maybe even a deserter but, lacking proof and/or evidence of a successful
prosecution, many amongst them refrain from making unsubstantiated charges like
that. Don't you think it's time both Bush and Clinton got a vacation from
having mud thrown at them for stuff nobody has yet proved that they did? It's
unseemly to treat our presidents that way, even the ones we don't like.

George Z.

Ed Rasimus
June 6th 04, 03:41 PM
On 06 Jun 2004 00:31:53 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>>From: Ed Rasimus
>>Date: 6/5/04 3:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>
>>Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
>>were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
>>people"--even when misguided.
>>
>>Ed Rasimus
>>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>
>Social Security, Medicare and public education misguided? So much for
>compassionate conservatism.
>
>
>Arthur Kramer

Art, stop being so eager to find fault.

Social Security, Medicare and public education are fine. My point was
that in our political system we get what we want by electing
representation that responds to our demands. If they don't they get
un-elected.

Sometimes the things we demand are poor choices. Consider a lot of the
pork that comes out of every annual omnibus appropriations bill. It
gets votes for the individual congress-critter, but isn't necessarily
good policy for the nation.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Chad Irby
June 6th 04, 05:16 PM
In article >,
"Kevin Brooks" > wrote:

> "Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Fine, let me know so I can laugh when a relative of yours becomes a
> > casualty. Wouldn't *that* be funny? Or would you need your "humor
> > switch" recalibrating?
>
> Odd how you turned your humor switch back on when it came to
> postulating about "parking tickets" below--I guess you and only you
> set the rules for when it is appropriate? Or is it OK for you to make
> light of the situation, but noone else can? Heck of an opinion of
> yourself you have there...

That's a standard tactic with some folks. Say something obnoxious or
dumb, and when someone calls them on it, accuse them of "not having a
sense of humor" or something similar.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby
June 6th 04, 05:32 PM
In article >,
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote:

> I got a degree from University College London, and have seen Jeremy
> Bentham's preserved body (he sits in one of the hallways, and is a
> required presence at meetings of the governing body).
>
> I'm not sure that you mean by "liberal" what many other people
> understand by "liberal".

And I'm quite certain of the same for you.

As far as that goes, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone in the modern
political scene who would even accept Bentham's utilitarianism as
"liberal" in the modern sense. Look at the current "liberal" view that
the community has rights over the individual, for example...

Of course, the sort of people who would keep a 150 year old preserved
skeleton around would be considered something like "traditionalists" or
"reactionaries" nowadays, since many of Bentham's ideas have been
accepted in some form or another.

Political terms tend to shift over time. Look at what happened to the
names of political parties in the US, for example.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

KeithK
June 6th 04, 05:40 PM
In article >,
(WalterM140) wrote:

> >Clinton
> >> adviser Paul Begala said he'd done a Nexis search and found 13,641
> >> stories about Clinton's alleged draft dodging versus 49 about George
> >> W. Bush's military record.
> >>
>
> >Alleged? Something is alleged when it is represented as existing or as
> >being as described but not so proved. There's nothing alleged about
> >Clinton's draft-dodging.
>
> Clinton's not running.
>
> Follow this link to see a document that shows conclusively that Bush did not
> get the requisite 50 points for a satisfctory year of service:
>
> http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/gwbush/gwb72-73arfspe1.pdf
>
> So the record shows that Bush was dodging his commitment in Texas, Kerry was
> in contact with the NVA in the Mekong Delta.
>
> Walt

Walt, that total does not include the 12 gratuity points that a
Reservist receives automatically every year. With the gratuity points,
Bush is easily over the 50 points you state he needs for a satisfactory
year.

Jarg
June 6th 04, 05:57 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: Ed Rasimus
> >Date: 6/5/04 3:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>
> >Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
> >were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
> >people"--even when misguided.
> >
> >Ed Rasimus
> >Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>
> Social Security, Medicare and public education misguided? So much for
> compassionate conservatism.
>
>

Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you are
receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
Welfare is wonderful!

Jarg

Leslie Swartz
June 6th 04, 10:32 PM
Ed:

I know you know better. Try "opting out" of the various social safety net
programs in order to live by the Constitution. See how long it takes for
the men with the guns to show up. You could probably stay out of prison for
a year; maybe 18 months tops.

Like I said- I *know* you know better; you have posted your bona fides
here several times.

Steve Swartz




"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 18:40:23 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> > wrote:
>
> >Ed:
> >
> >And how, precisely, do "liberal solutions" get implemented?
> >
> >At gunpoint.
>
> Hardly. We elect representatives who propose alternatives, then amend
> and compromise and finally create a marginally effective bureaucracy
> that does nothing for most of us, but garners votes from the unwashed
> masses for reelection.
>
> Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
> were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
> people"--even when misguided.
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Leslie Swartz
June 6th 04, 10:35 PM
Ed:

There are plenty of non-totalitarian options.

Libertarianism, for example.

Or Constitutionalism.

You do have an MS (or is it an MA?) in Political Science, right?

The choices are NOT just between "Welfare State" or "Police State."

Steve Swartz


"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 12:56:18 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> > wrote:
>
> >A vote for Socialism (in even it's weaker forms) is a vote for
> >Totalitarianism.
>
> The trend world-wide is for what is referred to as "mixed
> economies"--some aspects of communism in that there is central
> planning and governmental interference with the natural flow of supply
> and demand; and some aspects of free market in which trade of goods
> and services for profit by individuals is tolerated. Good example
> would be the current state of China.
>
> Interesting to note that the most noteworthy examples of
> totalitarianism include Stalin, Mao and Hitler--two from the political
> left extreme and one from the political right.
> >
> >Socialism must be supported by the forced confiscation of the labor of
the
> >citizenry. This is done by the power of the state. The power of the
state
> >is embodied in Totalitarianism.
>
> Kudos to Ayn Rand.
> >
> >You can vote for "a little bit of Socialism" and many believe that the
> >"little bit of Totalitarianism" is acceptable, as long as hte resulting
> >Socilaism is "for the greater good."
>
> Certainly in the USA we love our little bits of socialism. Don't try
> to take away our Social Security or Medicare. And be sure that we
> include tax cuts for the "working poor" who pay no income tax to begin
> with.
> >
> >These folks generally believe that there is a "sweet spot" in the
tradeoff
> >between liberty and security.
>
> Actually there is. Rousseau's Social Contract says that if we are to
> live with the benefits of society we will have to restrict our freedom
> of action. The catch is where upon the spectrum you want to place the
> line.
> >
> >So go ahead and answer your own question: is a vote for Kerry (or Bush,
for
> >that matter) a vote for Totalitarianism?
>
> So voting is totalitarian? Probably not in the case of the upcoming
> election. But, there are some clear choices and the appeal to class
> warfare on the one side is distinctly off-putting for me. I'm a firm
> believer that I can best choose how to spend my money.
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Billy Beck
June 7th 04, 02:12 AM
Ed Rasimus > wrote:

>Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
>were implemented at gunpoint.

Ed? None of that is a value to me. *None* of it.

And when I don't pay for it, what do you think the state's next
move is?


Billy

http://www.two--four.net/weblog.php

Dave Holford
June 7th 04, 02:15 PM
ArtKramr wrote:
>
>
> >Ed, the Pilot, Navigator, Systems Operator; EWO, Bombardier, Radio
> >Operator, Gunner, and other specialties as required by the mission.
>
> You leave me speechless.
>
> Arthur Kramer

I know there are lots of Pilots, Navigators, Systems Operators and EWOs
still in service. Gunners and Radio Operators I believe are still flying
on specialized aircraft - What happened to the Bombardiers?

Dave

Ed Rasimus
June 7th 04, 05:21 PM
On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 17:35:48 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>Ed:
>
>There are plenty of non-totalitarian options.

Most assuredly. While many dictatorships exist, most are authoritarian
rather than totalitarian. They simply don't have the resources to get
to the level of control required by totalitarianism.
>
>Libertarianism, for example.

Many classifications list libertarianism as an "anti-government"
ideology. While less government is almost everyone's goal, few can
support the basic assumptions of libertarianism--that man is
inherently good and doesn't need government. Certainly privatization
is gaining favor and individual responsibility remains a touchstone of
one branch of American politcs, that is a long war from
libertarianism.
>
>Or Constitutionalism.

And, which constitution would that be? Most who pattern themselves as
"American Constitutionalists" seem to ignore the 216 years of
Constitutional case-law that has adjusted the document to the current
world. I'm not inherently a judicial activist, but most who call
themselves "strict constructionist" or "original intent" choose to
apply their own interpretation to the document.
>
>You do have an MS (or is it an MA?) in Political Science, right?

MPS, Auburn Univ (at Montgomery) 1978
MSIR, Troy State Univ (European Exension) 1981
>
>The choices are NOT just between "Welfare State" or "Police State."

No one has said they were.
>
>Steve Swartz
>

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 7th 04, 05:23 PM
On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 16:57:05 GMT, "Jarg"
> wrote:

>
>Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you are
>receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
>Welfare is wonderful!
>
>Jarg
>
Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Jarg
June 7th 04, 06:29 PM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 16:57:05 GMT, "Jarg"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you
are
> >receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
> >Welfare is wonderful!
> >
> >Jarg
> >
> Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
> Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
> retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

I image Art also paid something into the system. I'm referring to the fact
that the typical recipient will receive benefits far above what they put in.
The difference is welfare.

Jarg

ArtKramr
June 7th 04, 06:47 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/7/04 9:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time

>I'm not inherently a judicial activist, but most who call
>themselves "strict constructionist" or "original intent" choose to
>apply their own interpretation to the document.

As is made painfully clear in Amar's brilliant tour de force on constitutional
interpretation in his "THE BILL OF RIGHTS" Yale University press or Rakov's
superb Pulitzer Prize winning " ORIGINAL MEANINGS" published by Random House.
The discussioins and arguments of what the founders had in mind on any given
issue is never ending.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

ArtKramr
June 7th 04, 06:49 PM
>Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 6/7/04 9:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 16:57:05 GMT, "Jarg"
> wrote:
>
>>
>>Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you are
>>receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
>>Welfare is wonderful!
>>
>>Jarg
>>
>Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
>Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
>retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.
>
>
>Ed Rasimus
>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>"When Thunder Rolled"
>Smithsonian Institution Press
>ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>

We all paid and paid and paid ad infinitum

..
Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Leslie Swartz
June 7th 04, 07:01 PM
Jeeze Ed, none of the libertarian platforms I have ever seen- nor have any
of the various tomes written BY libertarians ABOUT libertarianism- have
*ever* classified libertarianism as being "against government" NOR have they
ever claimed any kind of faith at all in anything remotely resembling "the
inherent goodness of man."

Indeed, one of the (admittedly few) *legitimate* roles of government under
libertarianism is a STRONG legal system, with courts and police to enforce
court rulings. This is precisely because libertarians recognize that people
are evil and stupid- but libertarians do NOT choose "Prior Restraint" as a
premise of civil society. You *do* need a strong, enforceable court system
to redress wrongs, however.

One of the major differences between libertariansim and current "Social
Democracies" is that libertarians believe in citizens being made whole only
*after* they are wronged- libertarians do not believe in any kind of
"playing field leveling" so popular under current practicces of prior
restraints.

Sorry about hte diatribe, but you presented a gaping misunderstanding of
libertarianism right off the bat. Couldn't let it go unchallenged. I
suggest (particularly if yoiu are going to be teaching Political Science)
that you read up a,ittle bit more on the alternative political theories,
including libertariansim (which is, after all, the guiding principles upon
which our nation was founded).

My apologies for taking you to task here, especially on your "home turf,"
but your misrepresentation of libertarian philosophy was somewhat notable.



"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 17:35:48 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> > wrote:
>
> >Ed:
> >
> >There are plenty of non-totalitarian options.
>
> Most assuredly. While many dictatorships exist, most are authoritarian
> rather than totalitarian. They simply don't have the resources to get
> to the level of control required by totalitarianism.
> >
> >Libertarianism, for example.
>
> Many classifications list libertarianism as an "anti-government"
> ideology. While less government is almost everyone's goal, few can
> support the basic assumptions of libertarianism--that man is
> inherently good and doesn't need government. Certainly privatization
> is gaining favor and individual responsibility remains a touchstone of
> one branch of American politcs, that is a long war from
> libertarianism.
> >
> >Or Constitutionalism.
>
> And, which constitution would that be? Most who pattern themselves as
> "American Constitutionalists" seem to ignore the 216 years of
> Constitutional case-law that has adjusted the document to the current
> world. I'm not inherently a judicial activist, but most who call
> themselves "strict constructionist" or "original intent" choose to
> apply their own interpretation to the document.
> >
> >You do have an MS (or is it an MA?) in Political Science, right?
>
> MPS, Auburn Univ (at Montgomery) 1978
> MSIR, Troy State Univ (European Exension) 1981
> >
> >The choices are NOT just between "Welfare State" or "Police State."
>
> No one has said they were.
> >
> >Steve Swartz
> >
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Leslie Swartz
June 7th 04, 07:03 PM
No, Ed, you paid for somebody else's Social Security/Medicare etc.

C'mon, you're pulling our legs now, right?

You do understand how the "Social Safety Net" [sic] is funded, right?

Steve Swartz

(This whole "I paid for my social security" thing is a real Gore-ism . . . )


"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 16:57:05 GMT, "Jarg"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you
are
> >receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
> >Welfare is wonderful!
> >
> >Jarg
> >
> Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
> Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
> retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 7th 04, 07:31 PM
On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:01:38 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>Jeeze Ed, none of the libertarian platforms I have ever seen- nor have any
>of the various tomes written BY libertarians ABOUT libertarianism- have
>*ever* classified libertarianism as being "against government" NOR have they
>ever claimed any kind of faith at all in anything remotely resembling "the
>inherent goodness of man."
>
>Indeed, one of the (admittedly few) *legitimate* roles of government under
>libertarianism is a STRONG legal system, with courts and police to enforce
>court rulings. This is precisely because libertarians recognize that people
>are evil and stupid- but libertarians do NOT choose "Prior Restraint" as a
>premise of civil society. You *do* need a strong, enforceable court system
>to redress wrongs, however.
>
>One of the major differences between libertariansim and current "Social
>Democracies" is that libertarians believe in citizens being made whole only
>*after* they are wronged- libertarians do not believe in any kind of
>"playing field leveling" so popular under current practicces of prior
>restraints.
>
>Sorry about hte diatribe, but you presented a gaping misunderstanding of
>libertarianism right off the bat. Couldn't let it go unchallenged. I
>suggest (particularly if yoiu are going to be teaching Political Science)
>that you read up a,ittle bit more on the alternative political theories,
>including libertariansim (which is, after all, the guiding principles upon
>which our nation was founded).
>
>My apologies for taking you to task here, especially on your "home turf,"
>but your misrepresentation of libertarian philosophy was somewhat notable.
>
I don't mind being taken to task on any turf. But, the categorization
of libertarianism on the spectrum of political ideologies as
"anti-government" (along with anarchists, nihilists, etc.) is from the
text we use in our Intro to Political Science course, "Understanding
Politics" by Thomas M. Magstadt.

Your characterization of libertarianism is partially correct, but
overlooks some of the basic positions of the Libertarian Party.
Certainly the aspects about reducing taxes, eliminating government
programs that could be done by the private sector and individual
responsibility are reasonable.

But look further into their stance on drug abuse, for example. (Don't
want to get into a drug war discussion here.) They assert that
removing all laws against "victimless crimes" will be effect because
people are inherently wise enough to not do the wrong thing. Certainly
that fits the mold of less laws, but I doubt that it is a prescription
for a better society.

Libertarians defend the right of citizen's to print and distribute
pornographic materials, no matter the level of obscenity or repugnance
to society at large--even beyond the minor restrictions that have been
placed on our First Amendment of things like child porn. The oppose a
draft, assuming in time of national crisis, the good in society would
recognize the need for sacrifice--somehow I doubt that. They oppose
legislation for public safety or aid/security for the elderly.

Clearly, they take free market economics and self-reliance to the next
level. No "compassionate conservatism" for them.

As for libertarianism being a "guiding principles upon which our
nation was founded," I think that Madison, Montesquieu, Locke,
Hamilton, Jay and even the anti-Federalist Jefferson would have
difficulty with that. Even Hobbes "Leviathan" was certainly not
libertarian.
Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 7th 04, 07:35 PM
On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:03:42 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>No, Ed, you paid for somebody else's Social Security/Medicare etc.
>
>C'mon, you're pulling our legs now, right?
>
>You do understand how the "Social Safety Net" [sic] is funded, right?
>
>Steve Swartz
>
>(This whole "I paid for my social security" thing is a real Gore-ism . . . )

No, Steve, the "I paid for my Social Security" is merely a correction
to the often held erroneous belief that the military doesn't pay
income tax or FICA or Medicare. We do. We pay the same as every other
working person. And, we have the same entitlement as any other
qualified person--no more, no less.

Yes, I know the way Social Security is funded. And, no it isn' a
"Gore-ism". The concept of an "account" was foisted upon the people by
Roosevelt, when the program was established. It wasn't true then and
it isn't true today. Gore is more responsible for the ephemeral
"lock-box."

And, I don't back up to the pay window. I want exactly what I've
earned, just like everyone else.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Chad Irby
June 7th 04, 07:40 PM
In article >,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

> >From: Ed Rasimus
> >>
> >Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
> >Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
> >retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.
>
> We all paid and paid and paid ad infinitum

Well, *some* of your generation paid the highest price, but the vast
majority of folks born before about 1950 are going to get a *lot* more
than they paid in to Social Security. Lower SS paid in at the time,
higher money paid out, even considering compound interest.

SS was originally supposed to be a safety net for the small handful of
folks who hit 65 and didn't have any money, not the default retirement
fund for the *majority* who now manage that age.

Hell, most folks my age and below are either relying on personal savings
or planning on working until the day they die, because the math on SS is
pretty damning. Look at what's happening to Europe due to similar but
more encompassing programs...

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Paul J. Adam
June 8th 04, 02:27 AM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> Fine, let me know so I can laugh when a relative of yours becomes a
>> casualty. Wouldn't *that* be funny? Or would you need your "humor
>> switch" recalibrating?
>
>Odd how you turned your humor switch back on when it came to postulating
>about "parking tickets" below--I guess you and only you set the rules for
>when it is appropriate?

Hey, you turn rules on and off as you see fit, why can't I?

>Or is it OK for you to make light of the situation,
>but noone else can?

You need to recalibrare your humour switch.

(Now, where did I recently hear something on those lines? )

>> In other words, war with Iraq was inevitable and unstoppable because of
>> one shell?
>>
>> Impressive.
>
>He was in violation. On more than one count. Deal with it.

And the resolution authorised immediate invasion in the event of alleged
violation?

Trouble with resolutions is looking at what they actually say.

>> Read the reports yourself, I've already cited them and given you URLs.
>
>I did read the reports--and oddly, I don't recall any discussion of true
>binary rounds being fabricated or unaccounted for. Can you point to the
>*specific* paragraph(s)? No?

Yes (Again). Did you not read the last two times I showed you this, or
did you just not bother to reply?


First source found at
http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/ucreport/dis_chem.htm

+++++
36. However, it was not possible to verify the full extent of several R&
D projects carried out by Iraq from 1989 to 1990, due to the absence of
sufficient data from documents and other verifiable evidence. Those
include the research on new chemical warfare agents, BZ and Soman. These
also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for CW-agents,
such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles, i.e. FROG
missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs. Evidence
of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider farm. On the
other hand, the Commission did not find evidence that Iraq had reached
the stage of industrial production of these materials and items.
+++++

No production, that's agreed by the UN inspectors. (Mind you, apparently
they're all useless incompetents, so who knows what pre-1991 projects
they overlooked). Development alleged but not found, though pointers
were certainly seen. Not proven, but strongly alleged, that research was
underway: just stated confidence that "industrial production was not
found".

Of course, US search teams - much more honest and reliable than the UN,
and free to move as they willed led by their excellent intelligence -
would *surely* not miss such a significant project?

>> How does Hussein pose a threat with weapons he does not know about?
>
>That would actually be your strawman--you have a totalitarian leader who
>played games with the inspection process through the years, and now that
>things like a sarin round, a ricin development program, hidden
>equipment/cultures/documents, and maybe a mustard round to boot turn up, you
>postulate that, "Well, Saddam may not have known about them..." Weak--very
>weak.

No, simple fact. The ricin program? Let's assume it basked in the
Glorious Leader's favour. So what is it going to _do_? If you can get an
enemy soldier or civilian subdued enough to inject them with ricin, you
could just have cut their throat much more cheaply and effectively. (And
unless you're building James Bond-style autoloading umbrellas or Van
Helsing-style dartguns, an AK-47 is just as effective for spray-and-pray
on a crowd and suicide bombers' vests even more so). But it's a "deadly
toxin" and you can boast - with complete truth - that you hold "the
deaths of ten thousand Americans" in one test-tube and have succeeded
where so many others have failed. (Administering it is the problem, but
that's the difference between salesmanship and engineering)

A violation, it is. A threat, it isn't.



*One* round each of mustard and sarin shell? Yes, I can really see the
US and UK and allies abandoning the entire operation to invade Iraq, and
even fleeing the entire Middle East in terror, because Saddam promised
to fire "his shell" at them.

To be a significant program, you need not one shell but hundreds, which
means production, storage and distribution (which in turn mean *people*)

These two rounds have turned up over a year after we arrived, kicked
seven shades of ****e out of any Iraqi who opposed our coming, and said
that we now run the country. You honestly think that Saddam Hussein
formulated a cunning master plan that said "If we're invaded, let me
hide in a miserable hole in the ground for months and eventually be
captured by the Americans before you ever reveal a single round of our
Miracle Weapons?"

>> Absolutely not. Some were complete fantasy: "production programs" were
>> cited at places that were just empty desert, because the officer in
>> charge had grabbed the money and absconded.
>
>I guess you missed the examples of his having overlooked weapons and
>programs thet *were* in place and not disclosed, eh?

Go and find a dictionary. Look up the definitions of "some" and "all".
Notice that they are not identical.

Then carry out a careful count of the WME production programs found to
date in Iraq since the occupation. Having found that it tends towards a
round number, count again to confirm.

>> Both - he was both dishonest and inept. And yet he didn't pose a WME
>> threat.
>
>Was he in violation--yes or no? Simple question--even you should be able to
>answer it without too much quibbling.

Of course he was in violation. Even if he'd turned every factory over
and surrendered every WME he could lay hands on, a week or two along the
Iranian border with a metal detector, a JCB and some NBC kit (just in
case) would have produced a violation.

Trouble is, "a violation" is not "a threat", nor even "an imminent
threat".

Now, where was the actual WME threat from Iraq? Even you should be able
to answer that without too much quibbling.

>> That's the trouble with looking at real life rather than political
>> slogans.
>
>LOL! The guy who has advocated that we HAVE to handle ALL international
>problems in the EXACT same manner, regardless of individual circumstances,
>now wants to lecture about "real life"?! Now that's a good one!

No, just the guy who wonders why "if violations of A, B, C and D are all
'urgent grounds for action' in Iraq, then why are more serious
violations of all four not important elsewhere?"

Don't worry about it, Kevin. Just call me "a liberal" and forget about
it.

>> That's a very generous understatement.
>
>Was he in violation? You really don't want to answer that question, do you?

Answered, repeatedly.

Out of interest, where did UN687 require or authorise immediate military
action in response to an alleged violation (after all, these violations
have taken some time to produce proof...) Or did violation point to UN
deliberations about "further action"?

I'm less a fan of the UN than some knee-jerkers might expect, but I do
find it amusing that an organisation derided as incompetent, corrupt and
useless in one breath is claimed as justification for action in the
next...

http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/596/23/IMG/NR059623.pdf?O
penElement refers.

Where in there is there anything saying "and if the Iraqis don't behave,
then anyone who feels like it can just storm right in"?

There were reasons to go in, but you're not making them and neither is
Resolution 687.

>> Indeed, he owned at least two chemical munitions.
>>
>> Of course, we can't go setting firm criteria for action, which may
>> explain why two Iraqi shells demand immediate invasion while _real_ WME
>> threats in the hands of proven terrorist supporters and weapons
>> proliferators are politely ignored.
>
>Oh, joy! In the above you have not only managed to ignore his other numerous
>violations of 687,

See above.

> but have also managed to bring your "standard playbook
>for international crisis" back into play...and you want to talk about "real
>life"? Newsflash--"real life" does not equal Paulian World. Real life is
>twelve years of violations, some of which continued right up until he was
>attacked last spring, real life is understanding that different situations
>require different courses of action, real life is where all final courses of
>action do not have to occur simultaneously, and yes, real life is where
>"intelligence" and "intel analysis" are often faulty, though in this case
>that does not change the fact that yes, he was in violation on a number of
>issues.

Now, is that "twelve years of violations" making him the most
threatening country in the world?

Or just "twelve years of violations" because he was careless enough in
1990 to get the entire world willing to see him smacked hard, lose much
of his military, and get subjected to UNSC687?

If you've avoided being subject to a UNSCR, are you blameless and
innocent? Or have you just avoided that particular form of scrutiny?


"Paulian World" doesn't rely on UN resolutions or US domestic opinion as
its yardsticks. My world looks at real threats and real dangers. I'm
sorry you find it so inconvenient and uncongenial.

>> There was supposed to be a imminent and serious threat.
>
>Those seem to be your words.

Actually, our Prime Minister signed off on them, which may prove to have
been unwise.

>> Not "cultures hidden in refrigerators", not "centrifuges buried for a
>> decade", not single decade-old munitions.
>
>Actually, we said hidden biological warfare programs. That has proved to be
>true in the case of the ricin, not to mention those hidden cultures. But
>hey, don't let facts get in the way of a good rant...

Indeed. Why, the US Army is regularly called upon to fend off hordes of
umbrella-wielding assailants, is it not?

>> Now, you seem to believe that if Saddam Hussein owned a pair of used
>> nail scissors then those could qualify as a weapon of mass effect (just
>> imagine what you could catch if someone jabbed you with them! Plus you
>> could have someone's *eye* out with those!). I'm more minded to stick to
>> realistic definitions of the threat.
>
>OH, GOD! You are using HUMOR! How DARE you--don't you know some of your
>family members could be dying over there right NOW? Again, I sarcastically
>note your use of humor is A-OK...but the rest of us can't use that approach,
>eh?

Chose to mount *your* high horse? After you called me a cynical liar for
such a thing?

(I believe the phrase is 'Ker-CHING!')

>> None of that is an immediate or imminent threat.
>
>Was he in violation in these regards? Yes.

Did 687 say "and violation means anyone who feels inclined should just
roll in there?" No.

>> I don't have access to the man to question him. Did he *know* he had
>> binary sarin research underway? Or, just for giggles, what if it's a
>> Syrian or Iranian import and not Iraqi at all?
>
>Yeah, he is obviously innocent of all charges because he had NO IDEA that
>his nation had been working on WMD efforts over the years,

I'm impressed that you can say this with such certainty.

I'd be more impressed if you could show me how what he *believed* he
owned or might soon own, related to what he actually *did* possess.

>was completely
>unaware of Res 687, and just for good measure, he probably was completely
>unaware of those mass graves (and the poor souls who went into them).

FROM: Paul J. Adam
TO: Nebraska Agricultural Supply Inc.

Dear Sirs,

I beg you, as a charity case, to provide a generous consignment of clean
fresh straw to one Kevin Brooks, a countryman of yours. He delights in
constructing 'straw men', and does so with an almost frightening zeal: I
am concerned that he may soon exhaust his supplies of straw, and what
might happen then?

>Why,
>he should be nominated for sainthood...nah, on second thought, all of that
>sounds pretty darned hokey.

Are you sure your humour switch isn't just sticking a little?

>> Lots of possibilities: you're drawing extremely firm conclusions from
>> very limited data.
>
>He had a ricin program--firm data (unless you want to call Kay and his
>inspectors liars).

Your countrymen have called them much worse than liars - should I
disbelieve them?

Or should I just look at what ricin can actually do, and how "a ricin
program' can be not that much more than a bag of castorbeans, a saucepan
and a stove?

>That is a violation. He had a sarin round of a type that
>was never acknowledged as having been fabricated-

Not in production quantities, on that we agree, but then we've only
found one.

>he had
>cultures and equipment hidden away--another violation.

This all hangs on "violation on UNSC687" being a tripwire for "execute
unrestricted land, sea and air warfare against Iraq", doesn't it?

So where can I find that or anything like it in the resolution?

Or did the US short-circuit the "report the alleged breach, have it
assessed, move a resolution for action, get it approved, then act"?

(Worked okay in 1990/1, but then the world was simpler then)

>Conclusion: He was in
>violation. You claim he did/may not know about any of this--too bad, they
>are still violations. End of story.

So where in UNSC687 is invasion of Iraq authorisied on violation of the
resolution?

You're claiming it makes your point, I read it and it doesn't.

>> Oh, but Saddam was in violation by their mere existence regardless of
>> their date, remember?
>
>That is true. Sorry, but that is the case.

And where did it say "IF 687 = VIOLATION THEN GOSUB INVASION"?

>> Stop bull****ting, Kevin. You repeatedly claimed that it wasn't just
>> about WMEs - but yet you won't say what it *was* about. (When asked, you
>> go very, very shy)
>
>Bull****. You have REPEATEDLY been given the other reasons--I gave them to
>you again and again.

Well, twice and eventually. (Overlapping requests, but mea culpa)

I never did get the prioritisation or the sort of detail that turned
them from "political manifesto" to "actually useful", but then I didn't
expect to.

>> Inventing false accusations is a poor distraction. This is the third
>> time I've explained that if there isn't a name and attribution to let it
>> be traced, it's not a quote: it's the third time I've apologised for the
>> misunderstanding: and I'm beginning to believe that you're more
>> interested in histrionics than facts.
>
>You have yet to acknowledge that you got it wrong when you claimed I have
>been saying that WMD's were not a factor.

No, Kevin, I've said so three times at least. That you choose not to
read, does not mean words are not posted.

Now, the first time you called me a liar, I replied to you
paragraph-by-paragraph, explained and apologised for the
misunderstanding... only to find that at the end of the article, you
claimed you would read no more on the matter. (In which case why bother
making a significant accusation of untruth?)

I've repeated the explanation and the apology twice already, and still
you claim to have missed it.

For a fourth time, I was about to repeat... but on a hunch, I checked
the end of your message and realised you had fled the field *yet again*.

I'd ask "Why are you so willing to fling accusations, yet so reluctant
to even discuss apologies?" but apparently you won't read this either.


Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?

>> Too bad, how sad, because you're failing to distinguish yourself by the
>> integrity of your conduct here.
>
>Unlike you, I have not played footloose and fancy free with your statements
>and twisted them to say something completely different from what you
>actually said--you did.

Actually, you have, but I've accepted it as the rough-and-tumble of
debate rather than using them as an excuse to avoid awkward issues.

>Unlike you, I have not completely ignored your
>answer to a question and then repeatedly claimed you never answered it in
>the first place.

Kevin, you're the one who has FOUR times made an accusation and then
refused to respond to the reply.

>Those would be YOUR faults in this argument, not mine.

The religious among us would say there's a higher power who will judge.

>> Remember, we've gone from "significant and imminent" Iraqi WMEs, the
>> evidence of which was reliable and solid (but of course too secret to
>> share)... to odds and ends buried in gardens, hidden in fridges and used
>> by insurgents in roadside IEDs. Yet you're insisting that nothing has
>> changed?
>
>That "significant and immenent" would apparently be your words? I did not
>see either of them in that report about our case for Iraq?

If you were still reading this, I'd give you the URLs.

Since you're apparently not, why bother?

>> Of course - now, where are the threats?
>
>You are really going to avoid admitting he was in violation on numerous
>counts, aren't you?

Yes. When "one shell" is a violation, then "violation" becomes
meaningless. By that argument, most of Europe plus the USA would be "in
violation" if you dug long enough in the right places.
..
>And as i said elsewhere, I see Saddam with any form of
>WMD program, or products thereof, as a serious threat. You don't. Luckily,
>you'll now never have to go through the agony of being proved wrong on that
>since Saddam has been removed from the equation.

You complain about "high horses" and write this rubbish? Hypocrisy,
'Kevin Brooks' is thy name.

The only WME attack on the US to date has been home-grown: I earnestly
hope there are no more (disbelieve that as much as it pleases you to do
so) but I have neither belief nor evidence to show that the occupation
of Iraq has reduced the risk in any detectable fashion.

>> In other words, pretty much business as ususal for the Middle East.
>
>Those are many of the reasons given in that White House report--you have
>repeatedly been given them , and you repeatedly claim I have not given any
>of them to you.

And when you provided them, I explained how all were business as usual
throughout the Middle East. Refute my points, or run away.

Oh, I forgot - I read ahead and you ran away.

Perhaps I should draw a conclusion from that?

>> Sure.
>>
>> Is "a violation" a good enough reason to tie us down in Iraq for the
>> next few years?
>
>See my comment above regarding Saddam and threat.

What "threat"? He's going to get 155mm howitzers into range of major US
targets undetected and then fire decades-old shells at them? This was
entertaining but stretching credibility when Clive Cussler wrote it as a
novel. ('Vixen 03' - a fun read, IMO)

He's going to send out armies of umbrella-wielding Fedayeen to jab
millions of Americans in the leg?

Where *is* the threat?

>> Less than a 155mm HE in that particular case.
>
>Not sure about that.

You're standing by it when it goes off? That seems to be the most usual
description to date. It didn't detonate on command, it was found and
defused or - this is my guess and only that - disabled by controlled
detonation.

>155 HE round goes off and, if they were following a
>normal convoy interval, based upon lethal burst radius of a 155mm HE, one
>vehicle with occupants gets whacked. A 155mm sarin round with a few liters
>of fully-cooked sarin goes off, and you have to consider downwind effects

Not from a proper binary round with no setback and centrifugal effects,
actuated on the ground by a fuzewell full of plastic explosive. Poor
mixing, poor performance.

Plus, how many US troops are in the "downwind effects" of a roadside IED
whose owners didn't know what they had?

>and you also have those folks who subsequently drove into the immediate
>area. These troops were not MOPPED up, and seeing what would appear
>(compared to the usual IED) to be a misfired IED going off (that burster
>charge is not that big) on the roadside would likely lead to them either
>immediately herringboning and dismounting, or even worse driving through the
>ambush point (which was our first choice when I was a CO--avoid stopping in
>the KZ at all costs). Which would have meant a fair number of exposed troops
>likely getting exposed to the agent.

Now consider quantity of agent - produced by the munition, and exposure
for the troops.

>I think your analysis of how bad this
>could have been is about as accurate as the rest of your analysis in this
>discussion--not very.

I'm lowering my opinion of your competence, sadly, if this is *really*
your opinion and not just bad temper.

This shell didn't even kill the EOD team (not in NBC as far as I can
tell) and yet it's meant to massacre a convoy? How much gas from a
roadside source do you think passengers actually in moving vehicles
absorb? You're absolutely right that the best protection for the
intended victims would be to drive through at best speed, but the notion
that this shell posed a serious threat to troops in fast-moving motor
vehicles is just *ludicrous*.

If nothing else, there's a 50-50 chance that the shell (rigged as a HE
IED, remember?) was planted *downwind* of the road. And then there's the
problem that you may drive past someone's roadside rose... but how often
do you smell them?

>> Read the UK government dossiers. Compare them to the reality on the
>> ground. Wonder at the discrepancies between the case made for the
>> operation, and the facts made on the ground.
>
>Maybe your government based its whole claim solely on "massive
>stockpiles"--our's did not, as that report I cited to you indicates.

Well, gee golly whillikers, Kevin, it might amaze you that we're run by
the UK government not the US.

Seems just a little inattentive of you to overlook that detail, but
never mind - you've gone off in a huff anyway.

>> Uncle Tom Cobbley and all knew that Iraq was in violation of 687, would
>> continue to try to violate 687, and even if by some miracle they
>> renounced WME and tried to clean up their act, some stray munitions
>> would still be adrift - therefore they could *never* fully, completely
>> satisfy 687.
>>
>> The question is, were they so thoroughly in violation that they had
>> produced workable weapons in effective quantities?
>
>No, that is YOUR question.

So answer it.

I answer yours, however insultingly put.

Oh, I forgot - if I hadn't read ahead I would still think this was a
debate.

>> No, I don't, and I'm tiring of explaining this to you.
>
>You paraphrased me inaccurately, and when called upon it you trotted out my
>correct quote and then argued that the inclusion of *all* in it really did
>not change what you had claimed I had been saying.

No. I quoted you precisely complete with cite. I paraphrased you and
when challenged that the paraphrase was distorting your actual position,
I publicly withdrew the paraphrase and apologised for the error.

>I'd call that
>doctoring--it sure as hell was not honest.

I'd call it considerably more honest than your tactics here, Mr Brooks.
Be very wary of claiming "you never did X" when in fact you just chose
to never find out.

>> I'm noting your continued evasion on the "other factors".
>
>You are blind then. They have been given to you again..and again..and again.
>See the above: "...add to that the "other" reasons (missiles that exceeded
>the allowed range,

With or without payload? That technicality aside, plot the 'allowed
range' on a map and see where it gets Iraq.

>continual NFZ violations,

Yep, that's a clear reason to invade. I mean, *look* how many aircraft
and aircrew we've lost policing those No Fly Zones!

>one assasination attempt on a
>former US President,

Alleged or proven? Who was convicted for it, out of interest?

(These issues are very mutable: the fact of the attempt is indisputable,
the reality of the who and why much more difficult)

>harboring a couple of known terrorists,

I offer you Brennan, Artt and Kirby.

>supporting
>suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I have given you before, but you
>claimed I never provided to you?"

And have since accepted - in the very post to which you reply, if memory
serves - that you have finally provided. (Since you've claimed you won't
read this, it might be churlish to add 'after much prodding' and for a
debator still on the floor, it would be downright rude to comment how
you flung them behind you as you fled)

>The fact that you claim they have still
>not been given to you at this point is just an example now of you now lying,

No, you have finally given them. I accepted them and thanked you for
them, at least.

>'cause sure as God made little green apples they have been given to you
>again, and again, and again...

No, they have not: but they have at least been given.

Oddly, now I have your reasons, it seems I no longer have you :)

>> And I didn't attribute it to you, or insist it was your exact wording,
>> because *even you* immediately recognised it as a paraphrase rather than
>> a quotation.
>
>Bull****. You sure as heel did attribute that to me. Do I have to go Google
>and restate your exact words to you?

Yes, you do. Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did I say
that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?

Please show any evidence at all that would suggest that those words were
yours. When I quoted you, I left an audit trail: when I paraphrased the
'there wuz WMD!' crowd, I did not.

Oh, I forgot - your case is so strong and your confidence so high, you
already ran away. (See end of post)

>You claimed I said that WMD's were not a
>factor--that was wrong.

You claimed they were not a major factor. I asked you to name and rank
the major factors and got a laundry list, which I imagine will have to
do. "I don't know" would, by the way, have been an honourable and
acceptable response.

>> Interestingly, you chose then - and continued to choose - to shriek
>> about your wounded pride, rather than address the issue of "then what
>> *were* the other factors"?
>
>You are lying again, I see--some of those other factors have repeatedly been
>given to you (see above).

No, they have been finally extracted after much pressure and still in an
unranked straggle. However, even that seems to be too much pressure for
you to bear.

>> I did. I apologised. Several times. Either you didn't read, or didn't
>> reply.
>
>Bull****--you are still denying in this very message that you ever even
>attributed the incorrect statement to me!

Indeed, because at no point did I claim to anyone that Kevin Brooks said
at >>TIME<< on >>DATE<< that "QUOTE".

>You then compound that by lying
>again and again that I have never provided you any of the "other reasons"
>for going to war--when lists of those reasons have been provided to you
>repeatedly! In this very same thread, no less!

Well, eventually, though twice (overlapping) and without the
prioritisation asked for.

But we must be grateful for what we get, and be grateful when we finally
get it.

>> I'm beginning to consider that you're using this as an invented
>> diversion.
>
>Why is that not surprising, given that you are repeatedly lying?

There was an age when that allegation would have required you to bring a
friend (if you could rent one - from your conduct here it seems you must
have few) and a pair of good swords (assuming you owned them) to a
discreet dawn rendezvous where the matter could be settled in a
traditional style.

Usenet would perhaps be a better place if it were less easy to fling
accusations and run away.

>> Your internal fantasy life must be very interesting to behold.
>> Apparently I have a shrine to Saddam Hussein and worship the name of
>> Brannigan?
>
>You have been acting a lot like him over this issue--if the shoe fits, wear
>it.

I'm not even offering you a foot, Kevin.


>> Well, Kevin, let me tell you just how hurt, wounded and mortified I feel
>> that in between accusing me of being a Hussein appeaser you've decided
>> you don't like me as much as you once did.
>
>You just don't get it, do you? It is your lying that I find offensive--the
>fact that you can't seem to get beyond defending Saddam is trivial in
>comparison.

Whereas I find your cowardice disappointing. Go cosy up to Fred McCall,
he's more your type.

>> Absolutely. I can decide when to ride it and when not to, not you.
>
>So you really DO think you have the right decide when humor is allowed and
>when it is not?

Don't we all?

>Could you maybe post the rules the rest of us have to
>follow, since they don't apply to you?

Sure. "Use humour when you want to. If people don't get it, be ready to
explain."

Simple easy rule.

>And on that note I'll close this out; I can take only so much of your
>repetitive lies, your belief that it is OK for you to use tongue-in-cheek
>humor "but by-golly if the other guy does I'll set him straight!" bull****,

You mean, "I can paraphrase but you are a liar"?

You mean "I can use humour for fun but you are evading"?

>your inane "I apoligized...but in actuality, I never said that, so no
>apology is due!" rants,

You mean you *did* see the apologies? I thought you claimed I never
mentioned it!

>etc. I could easily deal with you disagreeing with
>me as to the justifications for military action in this case--but I just
>can't stomach your lack of integrity,

Brave words from someone who proclaims he's not even reading the reply.
(And who trumpeted that he wouldn't read the replies to his previous
allegations)

"Integrity" my arse. Any cowardly chicken**** can fling false
accusations and run for cover. I'm here to talk about it and defend
myself, I'm replying to your claims, you're running away as fast as you
can. Shall we ask the audience to decide?

>and I am really sorry I had misjudged
>you in that regard prior to the last couple of discussions revealing what
>you are truly like.

Well, Kevin, I'm *really* worried about your bad opinion of me, because
you've clearly shown how open to debate you are and how carefully you
consider your positions, and your hostility could do *terrible* things
to my career prospects - because you're *so* right on all these issues.

I get *paid* to do this ****, and Usenet is light relief from it. I'm
actually genuinely sorry that someone I thought was an irascible but
intelligent poster turned out to be a mindless political knee-jerker,
but that's life.


>You say that does not bother you-- to have such a
>"disposable" view in regards to one's reputation with others is kind of a
>sad situation.

Oh, **** off and die, Kevin. I can take a lot but this sort of
sanctimonious rant should be posted at the top, not the bottom.

Besides, isn't your entire paragraph redundant if you're just going to
run away?

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Paul J. Adam
June 8th 04, 02:54 AM
In message >, Chad Irby
> writes
>In article >,
> "Kevin Brooks" > wrote:
>> Odd how you turned your humor switch back on when it came to
>> postulating about "parking tickets" below--I guess you and only you
>> set the rules for when it is appropriate? Or is it OK for you to make
>> light of the situation, but noone else can? Heck of an opinion of
>> yourself you have there...
>
>That's a standard tactic with some folks. Say something obnoxious or
>dumb, and when someone calls them on it, accuse them of "not having a
>sense of humor" or something similar.

You mean, like "you need to recalibrate your humor switch"? :)

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 03:59 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>
> It's a place, not a person - and if the name means nothing to you, then
> you're too ignorant to talk to. Which would be a shame.
>

Let's see, I state; "Prior to the invasion of Iraq the one point on which
there was near universal agreement was that Iraq had significant WMD."

You respond; "I guess 'near universal' can exclude a lot of people, then."

I ask; "Such as?"

And you answer; "Porton Down."

I had been thinking; "Gee, you'd think a guy that claims a lot of people
said Iraq had no WMD before the invasion could come up with more than just
one example." But it turns out you couldn't provide a single example!

By the way, if you don't know the difference between a place and a person,
then it's you that's too ignorant to talk to.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:03 AM
"Chad Irby" > wrote in message
...
>
> In other words, what you did.
>
> And then denied you did.
>
> That's three.
>

lie1 Pronunciation Key (l)
intr.v. lay, (l) lain, (ln) lying, (lng) lies
1.. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent
position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep.
2.. To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal:
Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.
3.. To be or remain in a specified condition: The dust has lain
undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.
4..
1.. To exist; reside: Our sympathies lie with the plaintiff.
2.. To consist or have as a basis. Often used with in: The strength of
his performance lies in his training.
5.. To occupy a position or place: The lake lies beyond this hill.
6.. To extend: Our land lies between these trees and the river.
7.. To be buried in a specified place.
8.. Law. To be admissible or maintainable.
9.. Archaic. To stay for a night or short while.

n.
1.. The manner or position in which something is situated.
2.. A haunt or hiding place of an animal.
3.. Sports. The position of a golf ball that has come to a stop.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:05 AM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> We are -less- safe now, because of Bush.
>

This issue is beyond your ability to understand.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:09 AM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> It definitely is and the Dems need to pound on the fact that Junior
> did not complete his military service honorably.
>

It has been demonstrated that Bush completed his military service honorably.
The Democrats are just using an old strategy; repeat a big lie often enough
and eventually some people will believe it. One can hardly blame them, they
can't gain power by telling the truth and they're desperate for power.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:30 AM
"Robey Price" > wrote in message
...
>
> Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
>

Simple. Liberalism is about controlling people and people that are
controlled by others are not free.


>
> I anticipate an illuminating discourse...or not.
>

Oh, somehow I doubt you're open to illumination.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:32 AM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> I've got to find myself on the same side of the fence (for this one
> instance) as Juvat. Certainly characterizing a vote for a liberal as a
> vote against freedom is ignoring the essentials of the two primary
> ideologies in America.
>
> Characteristically the liberal ideology is based on a belief that
> government is the best solution to societal problems. Taken further
> left we get to welfare statism, socialism and eventually at the
> extreme communism. Examples of liberal approaches are things like
> Social Security, Medicare, publicly funded education, etc. Often these
> solutions are very effective.
>

Odd, then, that you chose those three examples.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:37 AM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> Hardly. We elect representatives who propose alternatives, then amend
> and compromise and finally create a marginally effective bureaucracy
> that does nothing for most of us, but garners votes from the unwashed
> masses for reelection.
>
> Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
> were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
> people"--even when misguided.
>

Decline to participate in those programs and eventually someone from your
government will be pointing a gun at you.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:44 AM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> Certainly in the USA we love our little bits of socialism.
>

Many of us in the USA don't care at all for these not so little bits of
socialism.


>
> Don't try to take away our Social Security or Medicare.
>

No! Do take them away! Please!

I have to chuckle when defenders of these programs claim they are popular
with Americans. If they're so damn popular why are we forced to
participate?


>
> Actually there is. Rousseau's Social Contract says that if we are to
> live with the benefits of society we will have to restrict our freedom
> of action. The catch is where upon the spectrum you want to place the
> line.
>

The only limit on any individual's freedom should be another individual's
freedom.

Robey Price
June 8th 04, 04:50 AM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Paul J.
Adam" confessed the following:

>Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?

[tweeeet.....] Right! That'll do...yellow card for you my good man
insulting Fred McCall!
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aviation/m091.htm

By the by...if you have not heard of, or read Devon Largio's thesis on
the 27 rationales for the invasion of Iraq give this a look.

http://www.pol.uiuc.edu/news/largio_abstract.pdf

For the whole thesis

http://www.pol.uiuc.edu/news/largio_thesis.pdf

Oh...that first bit was humour. And as always enjoy your posts (just
like Keith Willsaw even if he and I don't see eye to eye on this Iraq
thing).

Robey

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:56 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>
> I'm not sure that you mean by "liberal" what many other people
> understand by "liberal".
>

When people in the US use the term "liberal" today they're referring to
modern liberalism. Essentially, a large central government that controls
every aspect of life in America.

Ron
June 8th 04, 05:07 AM
>"Robey Price" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> Exactly how is voting for ANY liberal a vote against freedom?
>>
>
>Simple. Liberalism is about controlling people and people that are
>controlled by others are not free.
>

I think I will have to chime in on Stevens side here.

Sure liberals like freedom at home, but to some of us, freedom is not just
something for domestic consumption, but something that everyone deserves, no
matter what their country. Its not just something you are glad you have, but
lament the fact that others in the world do not have it, while having your wine
and cheese.

The American and Euro leftists were content, even at times even happy with
conditions in countries such as the USSR and its enslaved Baltic and Eastern
European countries, Cuba, Nicaragua. People like Marx, Lenin, Ortega and Castro
were and have been darlings of the USA leftists for that matter. Look at the
ongoing love affair between Hollywood leftists (redunant) and Castro.

The left and liberals were thought it was foolish to confront the USSR, and
just plain stupid to have such folly ideas as rolling back Communist/Marxist
totalitarian states in the world. Sen Kerry opposed every, or nearly every
Reagan initative that helped roll defeat the USSR. He certainly ran quickly to
make friends with Ortega in the mid 80s. The American and Euro leftists even
ridiculed Reagan for daring Gorby to tear down the wall, and thought it just
was indicative of their pointy headed intellectual views of him being a
simpleton. The left has not just opposed efforts give other states freedom,
but often actively tried to support those states.

No political party or person has a perfect record in these matters. But when
it comes to trying to help countries that were under totalitarian or marxist
rule, the American and Euro left has a pretty abyssmal record.






Ron
Tanker 65, C-54E (DC-4)
Silver City Tanker Base

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 05:12 AM
"WalterM140" > wrote in message
...
>
> Clinton's not running.
>

No, but Clinton's record with regard to military service does illustrate how
the Democrats can be, shall we say "creative, with an issue. No doubt the
Kerry campaign now regrets raising it.


>
> Follow this link to see a document that shows conclusively that Bush
> did not get the requisite 50 points for a satisfctory year of service:
>
> http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/gwbush/gwb72-73arfspe1.pdf
>

That link does not lead to anything conclusive.


>
> So the record shows that Bush was dodging his commitment in Texas,
> Kerry was in contact with the NVA in the Mekong Delta.
>

Actually, the record shows that Bush fulfilled his commitment and Kerry
served part of his Vietnam tour.

So, Walter, are you attempting to spread the "big lie" or have you fallen
for it?

Robey Price
June 8th 04, 05:24 AM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
P. McNicoll" confessed the following:

>Simple. Liberalism is about controlling people and people that are
>controlled by others are not free.

Examples of liberalism...(historical) giving women the right to vote,
Lincoln's emancipation of slaves, desegregation of schools, the end of
"separate but equal", (current) pro-choice (versus pro-life), gay
rights, greater environmental protection (against industrial
polluters), maintaining a separation of church and state (see
Alabama's judge Moore)...and not believing everything the government
says is true simply because gwb or Rumsfeld says it's so.

These are all good things in my book.

Feel free to give me as many examples (as you can) think of that
demonstrate liberalism "is about controlling people." This should be
fun.

>> I anticipate an illuminating discourse...or not.
>>
>
>Oh, somehow I doubt you're open to illumination.

sincerely...give it your best shot...feel free to use multi-syllabic
words and compound complex sentences.

Let the games begin!

Robey

Kevin Brooks
June 8th 04, 05:36 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Fine, let me know so I can laugh when a relative of yours becomes a
> >> casualty. Wouldn't *that* be funny? Or would you need your "humor
> >> switch" recalibrating?
> >
> >Odd how you turned your humor switch back on when it came to postulating
> >about "parking tickets" below--I guess you and only you set the rules for
> >when it is appropriate?
>
> Hey, you turn rules on and off as you see fit, why can't I?
>
> >Or is it OK for you to make light of the situation,
> >but noone else can?
>
> You need to recalibrare your humour switch.
>
> (Now, where did I recently hear something on those lines? )

Your dishonesty is growing-- you are the fellow who has taken the "this is
no laughing matter" approach, yet when *you* see fit, you toss in the witty
remarks. Double standard much?

>
> >> In other words, war with Iraq was inevitable and unstoppable because of
> >> one shell?
> >>
> >> Impressive.
> >
> >He was in violation. On more than one count. Deal with it.
>
> And the resolution authorised immediate invasion in the event of alleged
> violation?
>
> Trouble with resolutions is looking at what they actually say.

The resolution passed by our congress did.

>
> >> Read the reports yourself, I've already cited them and given you URLs.
> >
> >I did read the reports--and oddly, I don't recall any discussion of true
> >binary rounds being fabricated or unaccounted for. Can you point to the
> >*specific* paragraph(s)? No?
>
> Yes (Again). Did you not read the last two times I showed you this, or
> did you just not bother to reply?
>
>
> First source found at
> http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/ucreport/dis_chem.htm
>
> +++++
> 36. However, it was not possible to verify the full extent of several R&
> D projects carried out by Iraq from 1989 to 1990, due to the absence of
> sufficient data from documents and other verifiable evidence. Those
> include the research on new chemical warfare agents, BZ and Soman. These
> also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for CW-agents,
> such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles, i.e. FROG
> missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs. Evidence
> of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider farm. On the
> other hand, the Commission did not find evidence that Iraq had reached
> the stage of industrial production of these materials and items.
> +++++
>
> No production, that's agreed by the UN inspectors. (Mind you, apparently
> they're all useless incompetents, so who knows what pre-1991 projects
> they overlooked). Development alleged but not found, though pointers
> were certainly seen. Not proven, but strongly alleged, that research was
> underway: just stated confidence that "industrial production was not
> found".

So what you are saying is that there is no mention of any
production/fabrication--as I said. So your, "And the discrepancy was noted
years ago" is a bit off, as the UN never noted any evidence of binary rounds
*existing*, and the Iraqis never acknowledged their existance--again, as I
have been saying.

>
> Of course, US search teams - much more honest and reliable than the UN,
> and free to move as they willed led by their excellent intelligence -
> would *surely* not miss such a significant project?

I guess the shell found just materialized from thin air, then?

>
> >> How does Hussein pose a threat with weapons he does not know about?
> >
> >That would actually be your strawman--you have a totalitarian leader who
> >played games with the inspection process through the years, and now that
> >things like a sarin round, a ricin development program, hidden
> >equipment/cultures/documents, and maybe a mustard round to boot turn up,
you
> >postulate that, "Well, Saddam may not have known about them..."
Weak--very
> >weak.
>
> No, simple fact. The ricin program? Let's assume it basked in the
> Glorious Leader's favour. So what is it going to _do_? If you can get an
> enemy soldier or civilian subdued enough to inject them with ricin, you
> could just have cut their throat much more cheaply and effectively. (And
> unless you're building James Bond-style autoloading umbrellas or Van
> Helsing-style dartguns, an AK-47 is just as effective for spray-and-pray
> on a crowd and suicide bombers' vests even more so). But it's a "deadly
> toxin" and you can boast - with complete truth - that you hold "the
> deaths of ten thousand Americans" in one test-tube and have succeeded
> where so many others have failed. (Administering it is the problem, but
> that's the difference between salesmanship and engineering)
>
> A violation, it is. A threat, it isn't.

Finally, you admit it is a violation. Case closed.

<snip meaningless material, since you now admit he was in violation>

> >> Absolutely not. Some were complete fantasy: "production programs" were
> >> cited at places that were just empty desert, because the officer in
> >> charge had grabbed the money and absconded.
> >
> >I guess you missed the examples of his having overlooked weapons and
> >programs thet *were* in place and not disclosed, eh?
>
> Go and find a dictionary. Look up the definitions of "some" and "all".
> Notice that they are not identical.
>
> Then carry out a careful count of the WME production programs found to
> date in Iraq since the occupation. Having found that it tends towards a
> round number, count again to confirm.

He was in violation, you mean. Glad you now understand that.

>
> >> Both - he was both dishonest and inept. And yet he didn't pose a WME
> >> threat.
> >
> >Was he in violation--yes or no? Simple question--even you should be able
to
> >answer it without too much quibbling.
>
> Of course he was in violation.

Good.

<snip more materiel made meaningless by admission he was in violation>

>
> >> That's the trouble with looking at real life rather than political
> >> slogans.
> >
> >LOL! The guy who has advocated that we HAVE to handle ALL international
> >problems in the EXACT same manner, regardless of individual
circumstances,
> >now wants to lecture about "real life"?! Now that's a good one!
>
> No, just the guy who wonders why "if violations of A, B, C and D are all
> 'urgent grounds for action' in Iraq, then why are more serious
> violations of all four not important elsewhere?"

Obviously you are completely hung up on this "Standard Playbook for
International Affairs", so pointing out to you that such an approach is
completely and utterly unrealistic is a wasted effort.

>
> Don't worry about it, Kevin. Just call me "a liberal" and forget about
> it.

I don't believe I have thus labled you (at least not in recent memory)--but
don't let that stop you from claiming I have, or would, given your
demonstrated ability to make false attributions.

>
> >> That's a very generous understatement.
> >
> >Was he in violation? You really don't want to answer that question, do
you?
>
> Answered, repeatedly.

Finally, you mean.

<snip more materiel made meaningless by belated admission that Saddam was
indeed in violation>

>
> >> There was supposed to be a imminent and serious threat.
> >
> >Those seem to be your words.
>
> Actually, our Prime Minister signed off on them, which may prove to have
> been unwise.

I have not seen them attibuted to our own leader. So what you are saying is
that your guy was wrong, and outrs was right?

>
> >> Not "cultures hidden in refrigerators", not "centrifuges buried for a
> >> decade", not single decade-old munitions.
> >
> >Actually, we said hidden biological warfare programs. That has proved to
be
> >true in the case of the ricin, not to mention those hidden cultures. But
> >hey, don't let facts get in the way of a good rant...
>
> Indeed. Why, the US Army is regularly called upon to fend off hordes of
> umbrella-wielding assailants, is it not?

You have already admitted he was in violation in this regard, as we claimed.
Don't try backtracking now.

>
> >> Now, you seem to believe that if Saddam Hussein owned a pair of used
> >> nail scissors then those could qualify as a weapon of mass effect (just
> >> imagine what you could catch if someone jabbed you with them! Plus you
> >> could have someone's *eye* out with those!). I'm more minded to stick
to
> >> realistic definitions of the threat.
> >
> >OH, GOD! You are using HUMOR! How DARE you--don't you know some of your
> >family members could be dying over there right NOW? Again, I
sarcastically
> >note your use of humor is A-OK...but the rest of us can't use that
approach,
> >eh?
>
> Chose to mount *your* high horse? After you called me a cynical liar for
> such a thing?
>
> (I believe the phrase is 'Ker-CHING!')

I can see that sarcasm is beyond your comprehension; you seem to keep
forgetting it was you who lambasted me for bringing humor into the equation,
but then you repeatedly do so yourself. Again, double standard much?

<snip a sidestep of the fact that he was in violation, which you have
already admitted to>

>
> >> I don't have access to the man to question him. Did he *know* he had
> >> binary sarin research underway? Or, just for giggles, what if it's a
> >> Syrian or Iranian import and not Iraqi at all?
> >
> >Yeah, he is obviously innocent of all charges because he had NO IDEA that
> >his nation had been working on WMD efforts over the years,
>
> I'm impressed that you can say this with such certainty.

I don't.

>
> I'd be more impressed if you could show me how what he *believed* he
> owned or might soon own, related to what he actually *did* possess.

Meaningless--you have already admitted he was indeed in violation.

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that he was in violation>

> >> Lots of possibilities: you're drawing extremely firm conclusions from
> >> very limited data.
> >
> >He had a ricin program--firm data (unless you want to call Kay and his
> >inspectors liars).
>
> Your countrymen have called them much worse than liars - should I
> disbelieve them?

Are you saying they are liars, or not? Given your own record of recent
dishonesty, I'd say you might want to be a bit careful throwing stones from
your glass house...

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

>
> >That is a violation. He had a sarin round of a type that
> >was never acknowledged as having been fabricated-
>
> Not in production quantities, on that we agree, but then we've only
> found one.
>
> >he had
> >cultures and equipment hidden away--another violation.
>

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

> >Conclusion: He was in
> >violation. You claim he did/may not know about any of this--too bad, they
> >are still violations. End of story.
>

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

>
> >> Oh, but Saddam was in violation by their mere existence regardless of
> >> their date, remember?
> >
> >That is true. Sorry, but that is the case.
>

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

>
> >> Stop bull****ting, Kevin. You repeatedly claimed that it wasn't just
> >> about WMEs - but yet you won't say what it *was* about. (When asked,
you
> >> go very, very shy)
> >
> >Bull****. You have REPEATEDLY been given the other reasons--I gave them
to
> >you again and again.
>
> Well, twice and eventually. (Overlapping requests, but mea culpa)
>
> I never did get the prioritisation or the sort of detail that turned
> them from "political manifesto" to "actually useful", but then I didn't
> expect to.

You got them, repeatedly. ISTR giving them to you a few weeks ago after you
pulled your "you said it had nothing to do with WMD's" bull****? Try my 18
May post in reponse to you--the subject was "Sarin in a 155mm Artillery
Round". Now you claim I just gave them to you in "overlapping requests"?
Nope. The wording I used then was: "Here are a few, though--desire to bring
the whole Iraqi situation to a finite end, as opposed to continuing with the
interminable
inspection/NFZ/reinforce-Kuwait-every-time-Saddam-sends-IRGC-troops-in-stren
gth-southwards, etc.; the terrorist connections (Abu Nidal, Abu Abbas, Al
Zarqawi, etc.); oil supplies and removing a regional threat to same; other
(non"WMD" proscribed weapons violations (i.e., that AS II missile), etc. And
yes, WMD violations, both perceived (at the time) and actual (like that
illegal ricin weaponization program). Etc." I gave you some more in this
thread. But you *kept* claiming I never answered your
question...tsk-tsk-tsk, that would be another false accusation on your part
(unfortunately, that is getting to be about par for the course with you).


>
> >> Inventing false accusations is a poor distraction. This is the third
> >> time I've explained that if there isn't a name and attribution to let
it
> >> be traced, it's not a quote: it's the third time I've apologised for
the
> >> misunderstanding: and I'm beginning to believe that you're more
> >> interested in histrionics than facts.
> >
> >You have yet to acknowledge that you got it wrong when you claimed I have
> >been saying that WMD's were not a factor.
>
> No, Kevin, I've said so three times at least. That you choose not to
> read, does not mean words are not posted.
>
> Now, the first time you called me a liar, I replied to you
> paragraph-by-paragraph, explained and apologised for the
> misunderstanding... only to find that at the end of the article, you
> claimed you would read no more on the matter. (In which case why bother
> making a significant accusation of untruth?)
>
> I've repeated the explanation and the apology twice already, and still
> you claim to have missed it.
>
> For a fourth time, I was about to repeat... but on a hunch, I checked
> the end of your message and realised you had fled the field *yet again*.
>
> I'd ask "Why are you so willing to fling accusations, yet so reluctant
> to even discuss apologies?" but apparently you won't read this either.

Bull****. Is this your idea of an "apology"? ""It's not about the WMD". I
can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was
something of a hint." (Both are direct quotes from your comments last month)
Gee, that does not sound like much of an apology to me--more like a
continued effort to falsely claim that I had made that very statement.

>
>
> Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?

Why, does Fred have you properly pegged as well? You are making me suspect
Fred has more going for him than I gave him credit for...

>
> >> Too bad, how sad, because you're failing to distinguish yourself by the
> >> integrity of your conduct here.
> >
> >Unlike you, I have not played footloose and fancy free with your
statements
> >and twisted them to say something completely different from what you
> >actually said--you did.
>
> Actually, you have, but I've accepted it as the rough-and-tumble of
> debate rather than using them as an excuse to avoid awkward issues.

Please show me where I have done so in this (or last month's) debate. Show
me where I have claimed, "You said..." something that you have not.

>
> >Unlike you, I have not completely ignored your
> >answer to a question and then repeatedly claimed you never answered it in
> >the first place.
>
> Kevin, you're the one who has FOUR times made an accusation and then
> refused to respond to the reply.

Which accusation? The one about you lying about what I actually said, or the
one about my actually repeatedly answering what you claimed I had never
answered?

>
> >Those would be YOUR faults in this argument, not mine.
>
> The religious among us would say there's a higher power who will judge.

In the here and now I have to go off of the record--and the record does not
look very good for you right now.

>
> >> Remember, we've gone from "significant and imminent" Iraqi WMEs, the
> >> evidence of which was reliable and solid (but of course too secret to
> >> share)... to odds and ends buried in gardens, hidden in fridges and
used
> >> by insurgents in roadside IEDs. Yet you're insisting that nothing has
> >> changed?
> >
> >That "significant and immenent" would apparently be your words? I did not
> >see either of them in that report about our case for Iraq?
>
> If you were still reading this, I'd give you the URLs.

Did you see those words in the White House's case for Iraq put out in late
2002? No? Then obviously you are not talking about attibuting those words to
us in this case?

>
> Since you're apparently not, why bother?
>
> >> Of course - now, where are the threats?
> >
> >You are really going to avoid admitting he was in violation on numerous
> >counts, aren't you?
>
> Yes. When "one shell" is a violation, then "violation" becomes
> meaningless. By that argument, most of Europe plus the USA would be "in
> violation" if you dug long enough in the right places.

Nope. Only Iraq was subject to the proscriptions of 687. Nice try, though.

> .
> >And as i said elsewhere, I see Saddam with any form of
> >WMD program, or products thereof, as a serious threat. You don't.
Luckily,
> >you'll now never have to go through the agony of being proved wrong on
that
> >since Saddam has been removed from the equation.
>
> You complain about "high horses" and write this rubbish? Hypocrisy,
> 'Kevin Brooks' is thy name.

What hypocrisy? Saddam has been removed, so he no longer poses any threat,
present or future. A lot of folks think that is a "good thing".

>
> The only WME attack on the US to date has been home-grown: I earnestly
> hope there are no more (disbelieve that as much as it pleases you to do
> so) but I have neither belief nor evidence to show that the occupation
> of Iraq has reduced the risk in any detectable fashion.

It has removed the possibility of Saddam supporting one. Case closed.

>
> >> In other words, pretty much business as ususal for the Middle East.
> >
> >Those are many of the reasons given in that White House report--you have
> >repeatedly been given them , and you repeatedly claim I have not given
any
> >of them to you.
>
> And when you provided them, I explained how all were business as usual
> throughout the Middle East. Refute my points, or run away.

Your points are meaningless; NFZ violations are not "business as usual in
the Middle East"--they applied only to Iraq, as did the limitation on
missile range. And as much as I dislike and distrust the Iranians and
Syrians, I have yet to read any realistic accounts of mass graves attributed
to their current leaders, nor to the leaders of any other nations in the
Middle East. Neither have any of those governement's leaders been tied to an
attempted assasination of a former US President. Again, your sophomoric
observation about "business as usual" was therefore meaningless--it did not
accurately address the points made by the White House in its case, or the
ones I mentioned earlier to you.

>
> Oh, I forgot - I read ahead and you ran away.

There is nothing to run away *from*. You are blowing hot air--as usual.

>
> Perhaps I should draw a conclusion from that?
>
> >> Sure.
> >>
> >> Is "a violation" a good enough reason to tie us down in Iraq for the
> >> next few years?
> >
> >See my comment above regarding Saddam and threat.
>
<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

> >> Less than a 155mm HE in that particular case.
> >
> >Not sure about that.
>
> You're standing by it when it goes off? That seems to be the most usual
> description to date. It didn't detonate on command, it was found and
> defused or - this is my guess and only that - disabled by controlled
> detonation.

I am assuming the IED was detonated as a convoy went by, as is the usual
case.

>
> >155 HE round goes off and, if they were following a
> >normal convoy interval, based upon lethal burst radius of a 155mm HE, one
> >vehicle with occupants gets whacked. A 155mm sarin round with a few
liters
> >of fully-cooked sarin goes off, and you have to consider downwind effects
>
> Not from a proper binary round with no setback and centrifugal effects,
> actuated on the ground by a fuzewell full of plastic explosive. Poor
> mixing, poor performance.

I said, "with fully cooked sarin"; i.e., the guys who did the deed would
have been smart enough to remove the burster, remove the two chemical
components and mix them seperately, and then reassemble the round with
properly mixed sarin. The outcome could have been MUCH worse.

>
> Plus, how many US troops are in the "downwind effects" of a roadside IED
> whose owners didn't know what they had?

The typical IED is targeted against a moving convoy. With no previous
indication that chemical rounds might be used, it is easy to assume that the
remaining vehicles would either herrringbone and dismount, or drive through
the KZ.

>
> >and you also have those folks who subsequently drove into the immediate
> >area. These troops were not MOPPED up, and seeing what would appear
> >(compared to the usual IED) to be a misfired IED going off (that burster
> >charge is not that big) on the roadside would likely lead to them either
> >immediately herringboning and dismounting, or even worse driving through
the
> >ambush point (which was our first choice when I was a CO--avoid stopping
in
> >the KZ at all costs). Which would have meant a fair number of exposed
troops
> >likely getting exposed to the agent.
>
> Now consider quantity of agent - produced by the munition, and exposure
> for the troops.

You are basing this on what actually happened vis a vis the failure of the
bad guys to account for this being a true binary weapon; I am looking at it
in a worst case, but still realistic, scenario.

>
> >I think your analysis of how bad this
> >could have been is about as accurate as the rest of your analysis in this
> >discussion--not very.
>
> I'm lowering my opinion of your competence, sadly, if this is *really*
> your opinion and not just bad temper.
>
> This shell didn't even kill the EOD team (not in NBC as far as I can
> tell) and yet it's meant to massacre a convoy? How much gas from a
> roadside source do you think passengers actually in moving vehicles
> absorb? You're absolutely right that the best protection for the
> intended victims would be to drive through at best speed, but the notion
> that this shell posed a serious threat to troops in fast-moving motor
> vehicles is just *ludicrous*.

Again, we are looking at this from two different viewpoints. If you would
care to go back and review my posts in the other threads on this subject,
you will n ote that I said early on that the way this one was set off,
versus the normal cannon launch, was to be thanked for the relatively low
yield.

>
> If nothing else, there's a 50-50 chance that the shell (rigged as a HE
> IED, remember?) was planted *downwind* of the road. And then there's the
> problem that you may drive past someone's roadside rose... but how often
> do you smell them?
>
> >> Read the UK government dossiers. Compare them to the reality on the
> >> ground. Wonder at the discrepancies between the case made for the
> >> operation, and the facts made on the ground.
> >
> >Maybe your government based its whole claim solely on "massive
> >stockpiles"--our's did not, as that report I cited to you indicates.
>
> Well, gee golly whillikers, Kevin, it might amaze you that we're run by
> the UK government not the US.

Well, in that case stop acting as if we over here had to be claiming massive
stockpiles of the stuff were required in order to justify our action--that
is not what we claimed, as that White House report made clear.

>
> Seems just a little inattentive of you to overlook that detail, but
> never mind - you've gone off in a huff anyway.
>
> >> Uncle Tom Cobbley and all knew that Iraq was in violation of 687, would
> >> continue to try to violate 687, and even if by some miracle they
> >> renounced WME and tried to clean up their act, some stray munitions
> >> would still be adrift - therefore they could *never* fully, completely
> >> satisfy 687.
> >>
> >> The question is, were they so thoroughly in violation that they had
> >> produced workable weapons in effective quantities?
> >
> >No, that is YOUR question.
>

<snip more tapdancing around the fact that you have admitted he was indeed
in violation>

>
> I answer yours, however insultingly put.
>
> Oh, I forgot - if I hadn't read ahead I would still think this was a
> debate.
>
> >> No, I don't, and I'm tiring of explaining this to you.
> >
> >You paraphrased me inaccurately, and when called upon it you trotted out
my
> >correct quote and then argued that the inclusion of *all* in it really
did
> >not change what you had claimed I had been saying.
>
> No. I quoted you precisely complete with cite. I paraphrased you and
> when challenged that the paraphrase was distorting your actual position,
> I publicly withdrew the paraphrase and apologised for the error.

To repeat what I wrote above: Bull****. Is this your idea of an "apology"?
""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." (Both are direct
quotes from your comments last month) Both came after I told you that was
not an accurate statement.

>
> >I'd call that
> >doctoring--it sure as hell was not honest.
>
> I'd call it considerably more honest than your tactics here, Mr Brooks.
> Be very wary of claiming "you never did X" when in fact you just chose
> to never find out.

Odd way you have of "apologizing" after an inaccuracy is pointed out (see
above quote of your response to my telling you that was an incorrect
paraphrase).

>
> >> I'm noting your continued evasion on the "other factors".
> >
> >You are blind then. They have been given to you again..and again..and
again.
> >See the above: "...add to that the "other" reasons (missiles that
exceeded
> >the allowed range,

Hey, you have been claiming I never gave any of these to you...but as we
have seen, I did last month, and again in this thread... Where is your big
"apology"? Oh, yeah--you offered a half-assed mea-culpa that neglected the
fact that I gave you most of these a few weeks ago...

>
> With or without payload? That technicality aside, plot the 'allowed
> range' on a map and see where it gets Iraq.

It is a violation. Even UNMOVIC reluctantly admitted as much.

>
> >continual NFZ violations,
>
> Yep, that's a clear reason to invade. I mean, *look* how many aircraft
> and aircrew we've lost policing those No Fly Zones!

They were violations.

>
> >one assasination attempt on a
> >former US President,
>
> Alleged or proven? Who was convicted for it, out of interest?

Proven to the satisfaction of most, except for diehard Saddam apologists.

>
> (These issues are very mutable: the fact of the attempt is indisputable,
> the reality of the who and why much more difficult)
>
> >harboring a couple of known terrorists,
>
> I offer you Brennan, Artt and Kirby.

Then declare war on us.

>
> >supporting
> >suicide bombers, etc.)--you know, the ones I have given you before, but
you
> >claimed I never provided to you?"
>
> And have since accepted - in the very post to which you reply, if memory
> serves - that you have finally provided. (Since you've claimed you won't
> read this, it might be churlish to add 'after much prodding' and for a
> debator still on the floor, it would be downright rude to comment how
> you flung them behind you as you fled)

They were "flung" last month, to you. Short memory, eh?

>
> >The fact that you claim they have still
> >not been given to you at this point is just an example now of you now
lying,
>
> No, you have finally given them. I accepted them and thanked you for
> them, at least.

Another lie. Not "finally"--they were given to you last month. You just
conveniently forgot about that, huh? Odd, after you making such a big-to-do
about supposedly asking the question *eighteen months* ago and (supposedly)
"never getting an answer".

>
> >'cause sure as God made little green apples they have been given to you
> >again, and again, and again...
>
> No, they have not: but they have at least been given.

Ys, they have. Do a Google on the date and subject I gave to you earlier and
you will find them just as I quoted. Shucks, I guess that makes you a
liar--again?

you, or insist it was your exact wording,
> >> because *even you* immediately recognised it as a paraphrase rather
than
> >> a quotation.
> >
> >Bull****. You sure as heel did attribute that to me. Do I have to go
Google
> >and restate your exact words to you?
>
> Yes, you do. Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did I say
> that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?

"It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." Your words. That
seems like a pretty direct attribution to me. Which would make you a
liar...again. The date was 18 May, the subject: "Sarin in a 155mm round".
same thread that I *also* provided you some of those "other reasons" that
you have coninued to claim up unitl today I never gave you.

>
> Please show any evidence at all that would suggest that those words were
> yours. When I quoted you, I left an audit trail: when I paraphrased the
> 'there wuz WMD!' crowd, I did not.
>
> Oh, I forgot - your case is so strong and your confidence so high, you
> already ran away. (See end of post)
>
> >You claimed I said that WMD's were not a
> >factor--that was wrong.
>
> You claimed they were not a major factor. I asked you to name and rank
> the major factors and got a laundry list, which I imagine will have to
> do. "I don't know" would, by the way, have been an honourable and
> acceptable response.
>
> >> Interestingly, you chose then - and continued to choose - to shriek
> >> about your wounded pride, rather than address the issue of "then what
> >> *were* the other factors"?
> >
> >You are lying again, I see--some of those other factors have repeatedly
been
> >given to you (see above).
>
> No, they have been finally extracted after much pressure and still in an
> unranked straggle. However, even that seems to be too much pressure for
> you to bear.

See above. They were given to you on 18 May. Which puts you in the position
of lying...again.

>
> >> I did. I apologised. Several times. Either you didn't read, or didn't
> >> reply.
> >
> >Bull****--you are still denying in this very message that you ever even
> >attributed the incorrect statement to me!
>
> Indeed, because at no point did I claim to anyone that Kevin Brooks said
> at >>TIME<< on >>DATE<< that "QUOTE".

See above. ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." Liar.

>
> >You then compound that by lying
> >again and again that I have never provided you any of the "other reasons"
> >for going to war--when lists of those reasons have been provided to you
> >repeatedly! In this very same thread, no less!
>
> Well, eventually, though twice (overlapping) and without the
> prioritisation asked for.

Again ignoring their provision last month...liar.

>
> But we must be grateful for what we get, and be grateful when we finally
> get it.

Again ignoring their provision last month...liar.

>
> >> I'm beginning to consider that you're using this as an invented
> >> diversion.
> >
> >Why is that not surprising, given that you are repeatedly lying?
>
> There was an age when that allegation would have required you to bring a
> friend (if you could rent one - from your conduct here it seems you must
> have few) and a pair of good swords (assuming you owned them) to a
> discreet dawn rendezvous where the matter could be settled in a
> traditional style.

You have by this point been proven to be a liar, to wit: in claiming that
you never attributed those statements to me, which you did, by your own
words, and in claiming that I have not given you those examples of "other
reasons", which I did last month. Both have been presented to you. It is a
bit late to close the barn door--the cows are out.

>
> Usenet would perhaps be a better place if it were less easy to fling
> accusations and run away.

I am not running. I have given you your own words proving you are a liar
regarding your inaccurate paraphrase attributed to me, along with my own
words proving you also lied about supposedly not having given you those
"other reasons".

>
> >> Your internal fantasy life must be very interesting to behold.
> >> Apparently I have a shrine to Saddam Hussein and worship the name of
> >> Brannigan?
> >
> >You have been acting a lot like him over this issue--if the shoe fits,
wear
> >it.
>
> I'm not even offering you a foot, Kevin.

It is acvtually harder to catch Brannigan in a lie--he does a better job of
obfuscating than you do, as we have seen above.

>
>
> >> Well, Kevin, let me tell you just how hurt, wounded and mortified I
feel
> >> that in between accusing me of being a Hussein appeaser you've decided
> >> you don't like me as much as you once did.
> >
> >You just don't get it, do you? It is your lying that I find
offensive--the
> >fact that you can't seem to get beyond defending Saddam is trivial in
> >comparison.
>
> Whereas I find your cowardice disappointing. Go cosy up to Fred McCall,
> he's more your type.

What cowardice? Not that such an accusation from a proven liar is much to
really worry about--your integrity is shot, Paul, and getting it back is
going to be hard enough without your resorting to baseless accusations.

>
> >> Absolutely. I can decide when to ride it and when not to, not you.
> >
> >So you really DO think you have the right decide when humor is allowed
and
> >when it is not?
>
> Don't we all?
>
> >Could you maybe post the rules the rest of us have to
> >follow, since they don't apply to you?
>
> Sure. "Use humour when you want to. If people don't get it, be ready to
> explain."

You did not ask for an explanation--you just declared it unacceptable in
this thread...that is, until it suited you to try and use it.

>
> Simple easy rule.

Which you apparently don't follow.

>
> >And on that note I'll close this out; I can take only so much of your
> >repetitive lies, your belief that it is OK for you to use tongue-in-cheek
> >humor "but by-golly if the other guy does I'll set him straight!"
bull****,
>
> You mean, "I can paraphrase but you are a liar"?

That paraphrase is accurate; you yourself said, "I can decide when to ride
it and when not to, not you." Which is a bit different from your paraphrase
that has been in question, and was proven to be most inaccurate (not to
mention that you did quite clearly attribute it directly to me, something
you now deny, but which the record shows you did do).

>
> You mean "I can use humour for fun but you are evading"?
>
> >your inane "I apoligized...but in actuality, I never said that, so no
> >apology is due!" rants,
>
> You mean you *did* see the apologies? I thought you claimed I never
> mentioned it!

I was referring to your inane claim that you apologized, while at the same
time, as we can clearly see in this post, you continue to lie about ever
attributing the paraphrase to me. Apparently, you can't hardly say much of
anything lately without lying.

>
> >etc. I could easily deal with you disagreeing with
> >me as to the justifications for military action in this case--but I just
> >can't stomach your lack of integrity,
>
> Brave words from someone who proclaims he's not even reading the reply.
> (And who trumpeted that he wouldn't read the replies to his previous
> allegations)

Uhmmm... I did not say that. I was indeed fed up with you by that point when
I posted my last response, but I did not say that I was not going to read
your response or post in reply; I have slept and gotten my "second wind"
now, though. Your claiming otherwise is apparently another lie on your
part--you do have a proven track record of falsely, or at least
incompletely, paraphrasing what others have said.

>
> "Integrity" my arse. Any cowardly chicken**** can fling false
> accusations and run for cover.

Every accusation I have made has been covered with direct quotes of your own
words, cited by day and subject, or by my offering proof that I did indeed
give you an answer that you claimed I had not given you, again by day and
subject. That means they are TRUE...but you would probably have a bit of a
problem understanding that, given your now proven propensity to resort to
lying. As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person, in
any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want. In my
experience, a fellow like you who has to resort to repeatedly lying in order
to try and cover his own missteps, usually is the sort who lacks the courage
for such encounters--but you are welcome to prove otherwise.

I'm here to talk about it and defend
> myself, I'm replying to your claims, you're running away as fast as you
> can. Shall we ask the audience to decide?

If the audience has read your claims in this posts, and then compared them
to the quotes I took from those 18 May exchanges, then I am pretty sure they
can reach the same conclusion I have reached--you were lying on both counts.

>
> >and I am really sorry I had misjudged
> >you in that regard prior to the last couple of discussions revealing what
> >you are truly like.
>
> Well, Kevin, I'm *really* worried about your bad opinion of me, because
> you've clearly shown how open to debate you are and how carefully you
> consider your positions, and your hostility could do *terrible* things
> to my career prospects - because you're *so* right on all these issues.

Hey, it has thus been proven that you are a liar. First, you claimed I said
something that I did not say. That was the first lie, which you say was just
a misunderstanding and that you apologized about. Then you now claim that
you never made such an attibution directly to me in the first place--but
your quoted words show otherwise. Finally, you repeatedly claimed that I
never gave you those "other reasons"; but the record shows you were given a
list of them last month, and again during this exchange. Three lies right
there.

>
> I get *paid* to do this ****, and Usenet is light relief from it. I'm
> actually genuinely sorry that someone I thought was an irascible but
> intelligent poster turned out to be a mindless political knee-jerker,
> but that's life.

Does any of that change the fact that you are a proven liar?

>
>
> >You say that does not bother you-- to have such a
> >"disposable" view in regards to one's reputation with others is kind of a
> >sad situation.
>
> Oh, **** off and die, Kevin. I can take a lot but this sort of
> sanctimonious rant should be posted at the top, not the bottom.

Ah. So proving you are a liar is "sanctimonious"? Shouldn't be surprised, I
guess--anyone who can claim they do indeed have the right to declare when
humor is allowed in a thread and when it is not, and their opponent does not
have the same right, would indeed likely be apt to be of that belief as
well...especially if he was a proven liar, as you have been shown to be.

>
> Besides, isn't your entire paragraph redundant if you're just going to
> run away?

Uhmmm...who's running?

Brooks

Robey Price
June 8th 04, 06:44 AM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ron
confessed the following:

>I think I will have to chime in on Stevens side here.

Okey dokey...

>Sure liberals like freedom at home, but to some of us, freedom is not just
>something for domestic consumption, but something that everyone deserves, no
>matter what their country. Its not just something you are glad you have, but
>lament the fact that others in the world do not have it, while having your wine
>and cheese.

Ture...in the ideal world every citizen is free. The problem is the
world is not simply black & white, yes or no. Today we're tied down in
Iraq trying provide those blessings of freedom. And hopefully in the
long run things will work out for those folks.

Sincerely how do you reconcile your desire for freedom for Iraqi
citizens now and 20 years ago when Rumsfeld went to Iraq and met with
Saddam Hussein and gave him the blessing and backing of the US gov't
(but not getting too pushy about chem warfare vs the Kurds or
Iranians)? http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/special/iraq/index.htm
The Iranians had released the American hostages when Reagan took
office...why not be consistant? My answer? **** happens.

And where do you draw the line at which countries will benefit from
our liberating their people? Do we go into Iran next? Syria? Saudi
Arabia (and kill all those wahabi islamist ****s)?

Then on to North Korea...and the PRC. Do you think Vietnam needs to be
liberated now? We spent a whole lot of money and got a whole lot of
guys killed, and by all appearances Vietnam is a pretty peaceful place
these days (and the citizens are happy and like Americans).

>The American and Euro leftists were content, even at times even happy with
>conditions in countries such as the USSR and its enslaved Baltic and Eastern
>European countries, Cuba, Nicaragua. People like Marx, Lenin, Ortega and Castro
>were and have been darlings of the USA leftists for that matter. Look at the
>ongoing love affair between Hollywood leftists (redunant) and Castro.

I have no answer for that...I can't think of any US liberal leaders
(politicians) that were ever happy about the conditions on the
otherside of the Iron Curtain. Try to use Tom Hayden

>The left and liberals were thought it was foolish to confront the USSR, and
>just plain stupid to have such folly ideas as rolling back Communist/Marxist
>totalitarian states in the world.

As a blanket statement that is incorrect. I strapped my ass to a jet
ready to "kill a commie for christ" (so to speak) and never once
thought it was foolish to defend western europe against the WP, or
defend the RoK against Kim Il-Sung (that ****).

Sincerely, without meaning to sound insulting...looking at the war in
SEA with all the secrecy (the war in Laos, the bombing of Cambodia)
and tell me what it accomplished in terms of spreading freedom?
Personally I think liberals object to the secrecy aspect..and de facto
lying about motives...and many are simply morally opposed to war.

> Sen Kerry opposed every, or nearly every
>Reagan initative that helped roll defeat the USSR.

Not a Kerry scholar...help me out here. How many, or simply what were
the specifics. Surely you recognize that blanket statements don't make
it so.

>No political party or person has a perfect record in these matters.

No argument from me. I don't think Iran-Contra was Reagan's finest
moment in office, but he was successful (unless you think more in
terms of the huge federal deficit at the end of his 2d term). And
before anybody howls in protest...Reagan was the MAN, he was at the
helm when the wall came down. May he rest in peace.

>But when
>it comes to trying to help countries that were under totalitarian or marxist
>rule, the American and Euro left has a pretty abyssmal record.

Hmmm, Truman defending the RoK (along with our UN friends) against
those godless ****s north of the 38th parallel, JFK facing down the
soviets over Berlin, JFK facing down the soviets over IRBMs in Cuba,
LBJ sending more troops to SEA because of the (bogus 2d attack) Gulf
of Tonkin...OK you got me there.

I notice you write "totalitarian or marxist rule," are other form of
non-democratic government acceptable? King Hussein of Jordan, the
House of Saud? Where do you personally draw the line? Over the years
the US has supported folks with names like Batista, Boun Oum, Chiang
Kai Shek, Franco, Salazar, Ngo Diem, Trujillo, the Somozas,
Verwoerd, Ydigoras. Paticipatory democracy (which I think you're
addressing) was not a hallmark of these clients.

I appreciate the debate.

Robey

Ron
June 8th 04, 08:42 AM
>From: Robey Price

>Today we're tied down in
>Iraq trying provide those blessings of freedom. And hopefully in the
>long run things will work out for those folks.

Same here...

>Sincerely how do you reconcile your desire for freedom for Iraqi
>citizens now and 20 years ago when Rumsfeld went to Iraq and met with
>Saddam Hussein and gave him the blessing and backing of the US gov't
>(but not getting too pushy about chem warfare vs the Kurds or
>Iranians)? http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/special/iraq/index.htm
>The Iranians had released the American hostages when Reagan took
>office...why not be consistant? My answer? **** happens.

Well Iran was still on our **** list, and they were the biggest threat at that
time in the Middle East. Iraq had not taken out hostages, and was not trying
to spread Islamic Revolution around, and in fact they were opposed to it also.

If they had been anywhere else in the world besides next to Iran, circumstances
would have been different. Hussien has had collossially bad strategic
judgement, and if he had not gassed the Kurds, or invaded Iraq, or pursued
nuclear programs, he would still be in power, and Iraq would not have been the
pariah it was most likely.

But I think everyone realizes we and the rest of the west should have taken a
harder line that we did against him and his chemical weapons actions. And I do
think around early 1990, DIA predicted that Iraq had the biggest probability of
being our next military opponent if there was military conflict.

>And where do you draw the line at which countries will benefit from
>our liberating their people? Do we go into Iran next? Syria? Saudi
>Arabia (and kill all those wahabi islamist ****s)?

Yes I think we can all agree those countries should be free. Iraq is enough of
a problem right now without having to worry about others. Going into others
too would guarantree failure for all of them. We can still promote freedom in
those countries however without military action. As for Saudi, unfortunately
as long as we use this much oil and gas, rather hard to do much there, and god
help us if radicals take power there.

>Then on to North Korea...and the PRC. Do you think Vietnam needs to be
>liberated now? We spent a whole lot of money and got a whole lot of
>guys killed, and by all appearances Vietnam is a pretty peaceful place
>these days (and the citizens are happy and like Americans).

Yes we should promote efforts to change, and I think Vietnam is probably along
that path as it is, although has a ways to go. DPRK, well that is another
darling of the really far left groups. Another sticky situation, but yes,
should do what we can to bring them down with destab efforts. They should
implode at some point, and if we can help it along, we should.

>>The American and Euro leftists were content, even at times even happy with
>>conditions in countries such as the USSR and its enslaved Baltic and Eastern
>>European countries, Cuba, Nicaragua. People like Marx, Lenin, Ortega and
>Castro
>>were and have been darlings of the USA leftists for that matter. Look at
>the
>>ongoing love affair between Hollywood leftists (redunant) and Castro.
>
>I have no answer for that...I can't think of any US liberal leaders
>(politicians) that were ever happy about the conditions on the
>otherside of the Iron Curtain. Try to use Tom Hayden

Well the ones who may have not been happy, sure were content, based on their
displeasure for anyone who actually dared to want to roll back the Iron
Curtain. Look at how much leftists despised Reagan and the free markets
economists for daring to think the USSR could be defeated economically. They
all just wanted the USSR tolerated, and maybe contained.

>
>As a blanket statement that is incorrect. I strapped my ass to a jet
>ready to "kill a commie for christ" (so to speak) and never once
>thought it was foolish to defend western europe against the WP, or
>defend the RoK against Kim Il-Sung (that ****).

And I am glad you did strap yourself into a jet, I am jealous, and glad for
your service. But that does not change the fact that the leftist movements
still thought it stupid and foolish to want to oppose the USSR, and if we only
just talk to them...
>Sincerely, without meaning to sound insulting...looking at the war in
>SEA with all the secrecy (the war in Laos, the bombing of Cambodia)
>and tell me what it accomplished in terms of spreading freedom?
>Personally I think liberals object to the secrecy aspect..and de facto
>lying about motives...and many are simply morally opposed to war.

Well it sure wasnt a real effort unfortunately, and some here know all too
well. While I would not call Johnson a leftist, Vietnam certainly was not an
effort to win.
>
>> Sen Kerry opposed every, or nearly every
>>Reagan initative that helped roll defeat the USSR.
>
>Not a Kerry scholar...help me out here. How many, or simply what were
>the specifics. Surely you recognize that blanket statements don't make
>it so.

Yes he wanted to cancel the Peacekeeper ICBM, SDI (which many Soviets think was
the last straw in their economic defeat), B-1B, AH-64, Aegis cruisers, Patriot
SAM, AV-8B, F-14, AIM-54 and AIM-7...

All of those were vital in winning the cold war, in negotiation of weapons
treaties or being used in later conflicts.

“I see an enormous haughtiness in the United States trying to tell them what
to do,”

Kerry, in regards to the Sandinista Government.

>>No political party or person has a perfect record in these matters.
>
>No argument from me. I don't think Iran-Contra was Reagan's finest
>moment in office, but he was successful (unless you think more in
>terms of the huge federal deficit at the end of his 2d term). And
>before anybody howls in protest...Reagan was the MAN, he was at the
>helm when the wall came down. May he rest in peace.

Complete agreement.

>>But when
>>it comes to trying to help countries that were under totalitarian or marxist
>>rule, the American and Euro left has a pretty abyssmal record.
>
>Hmmm, Truman defending the RoK (along with our UN friends) against
>those godless ****s north of the 38th parallel, JFK facing down the
>soviets over Berlin, JFK facing down the soviets over IRBMs in Cuba,
>LBJ sending more troops to SEA because of the (bogus 2d attack) Gulf
>of Tonkin...OK you got me there.
>

I dont think the US really had a real leftist movement equivalent to modern
liberals, outside of Hollywood and Academia, until the mid-late 60s.

You cant call Truman, JFK, LBJ lefties or even liberal. They would have
nothing in common with the left wing of today.
They certainly did not believe in collectivist economics, and were very much
believed in, promoted freedom, both of personal liberties and economic freedom.
JFK was very much even a free market tax cutter.All three of those would
probably be anathmas in the current democratic party, based on their positions
then.


>
>I notice you write "totalitarian or marxist rule," are other form of
>non-democratic government acceptable? King Hussein of Jordan, the
>House of Saud? Where do you personally draw the line? Over the years
>the US has supported folks with names like Batista, Boun Oum, Chiang
>Kai Shek, Franco, Salazar, Ngo Diem, Trujillo, the Somozas,
>Verwoerd, Ydigoras. Paticipatory democracy (which I think you're
>addressing) was not a hallmark of these clients.

Yes, and in hindsight we can see more now, and sometimes in our zeal to face
down communism, we allied ourselves with someone who wasnt really any better.

But I still believe that leftist movements were against promoting freedom in
the communist countries during the 80, based on their word of ridicule, their
actions to promote some of those same countries, and their demonstrations that
only served to help the USSR, Cuba, Nicaragua, etc.

Ron
Tanker 65, C-54E (DC-4)
Silver City Tanker Base

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 12:54 PM
"Mike Dargan" > wrote in message
news:6fwwc.8380$HG.475@attbi_s53...
>
> Clinton's real daddy was dead and his step-daddy a dud. Without a
> sponsor, what chance did he have of getting a cushy billet in TANG or
> any other country club?
>

Clinton's sponsor was Senator J. William Fulbright.


>
> Clinton used his brains and work ethic to get
> ahead. Clinton's grades got him into graduate school and earned a
> Rhodes scholarship.
>

No doubt young Clinton was counting on a graduate school deferment to keep
him out of the draft. Unfortunately, the Johnson administration
unexpectedly abolished graduate on February 16, 1968. Clinton became
eligible for the draft when he graduated from Georgetown the following June.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 01:05 PM
"George Z. Bush" > wrote in message
...
>
> Really?
>

Really.


>
> In that case, would you mind producing some proof that there was
> a court proceeding that found Clinton guilty of violating some portion
> of the Selective Service Act?
>
> You know, my dictionary defines "allege" as "to declare or assert without
> proof". If you have no proof, there's no other word you could use about
> the object of your affections than allege. You can't turn him into a
criminal
> just because you don't like his politics or sex life.
>

My dictionary defines "draft dodger" as " someone who is drafted and
illegally refuses to serve". Doesn't say anything about court proceedings
or convictions.


>
> By way of example, many of Bush's critics think he was an unprosecuted
> AWOL or maybe even a deserter but, lacking proof and/or evidence of
> a successful prosecution, many amongst them refrain from making
> unsubstantiated charges like that. Don't you think it's time both Bush
> and Clinton got a vacation from having mud thrown at them for stuff
> nobody has yet proved that they did?
>

Well, I'm certainly not one who makes unsubstantiated charges.


Bill Clinton's Draft Record: A Chronology

Aug 19 1964: Clinton registers for the draft
[Washington _Post_ Sep 13 92]

Sep 1964: Clinton, age 18, enters Georgetown University
[The Comeback Kid, CF Allen and J Portis, p. 20]

Nov 17 64: Clinton is classified 2-S (student deferment) "which would shield
him from the draft throughout his undergraduate years."
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]

Feb 16 68: "The Johnson administration unexpectedly abolished graduate
deferments."
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]

Mar 20 68: Clinton, age 21, is classified 1-A, eligible for induction, as he
nears graduation from Georgetown.
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
Comment: "The [Los Angeles] _Times_ found that the future Arkansas governor
was the only man of his prime draft age classified 1-A by that board in 1968
whose pre-induction physical examination was put off for 10.5 months -- more
than twice as long as anyone else and more than five times longer than most
area men of comparable eligibility."
[Los Angeles _Times_ Sep 02 92]

Summer 68: Political and family influence keeps Clinton out of the draft.
"Robert Corrado -- the only surviving Hot Springs draft board member from
that period -- concluded that Clinton's [draft] statement" (the long delays)
was the result of "some form of preferential treatment." According to the
_Times_, "Corrado recalled that the chairman of the three-man draft panel
.... once held back Clinton's file with the explanation that 'we've got to
give him time to [go] to Oxford,' where the term began in the fall of 1968.

"Corrado also complained that he was called by an aide to then-Sen. J.
William Fulbright urging him and his fellow board members to 'give every
consideration' to keep Clinton out of the draft so he could attend Oxford.

"Throughout the remainder of 1968, Corrado said, Clinton's draft file was
routinely held back from consideration by the full board.
Consequently, although he was classified 1-A on Mar 20 68, he was not called

for his physical exam until Feb 3, 1969, when he was at Oxford."

Clinton's Uncle Raymond Clinton personally lobbied Sen Fulbright, William S.
Armstrong, the chairman of the three-man Hot Springs draft board, and Lt.
Cmdr. Trice Ellis, Jr., commanding officer of the local Navy reserve unit,
to obtain a slot for Clinton in the Naval Reserve.
Clinton secured a "standard enlisted man's billet, not an officer's slot
[which] would have required Clinton to serve two years on active duty
beginning within 12 months of his acceptance." This Navy Reserve assignment
was "created especially for the young Clinton at a time in 1968 when no
existing reserve slots were open in his hometown unit."

According to the LA Times, "after about two weeks waiting for Bill Clinton
to arrive for his preliminary interview and physical exam, Ellis said he
called [Clinton's uncle] Raymond to inquire: 'What happened to that boy?'
According to Ellis, Clinton's uncle replied: 'Don't worry about it. He won't
be coming down. It's all been taken care of.' "
[LA Times Sep 02 92]

Fall 68: Because of the local draft board's continuing postponement of his
pre-induction physical, Clinton is able to enroll at Oxford Univ.
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]

Feb 02 69: While at Oxford, Clinton finally takes and passes a military
physical examination.
[Washington _Times_ Sep 18 92]
Comment: Clinton avoided being called for his pre-induction physical for
more than 10 months after becoming eligible for the draft. According to some
accounts, the delay was "five times longer than most area men of comparable
eligibility."
[LA Times Sep 02 92]

Apr 1969: Clinton receives induction notice from the Hot Springs AR draft
board. Clinton, however claims that the draft board told him to ignore the
notice because it arrived after the deadline for induction.
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
Comment: This notice set off the chain of events which led to Clinton's
efforts to avoid the draft.

Jun-Jul 69: Clinton receives a second induction notice with a Jul 28
induction date and returns home.
[Wash Times Sep 18 92]

Jul 11 69: Clinton's friend at Oxford, Cliff Jackson, writes that "[Clinton]
is feverishly trying to find a way to avoid entering the Army as a drafted
private. I have had several of my friends in influential positions trying to
pull strings on Bill's behalf."
[LA Times Sep 26 92]

Clinton benefited from yet another lobbying campaign in order to evade this
induction notice. "Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, who has
said he did not pull strings to avoid the Vietnam-era draft, was able to get
his Army induction notice canceled in the summer of 1969 after a lobbying
effort directed at the Republican head of the state draft agency."
Arrangements were made for Clinton to meet with Col.
Willard A. Hawkins who "was the only person in Arkansas with authority to
rescind a draft notice. ... The apparently successful appeal to Hawkins was
planned while Clinton was finishing his first year as a Rhodes scholar in
England. Clinton's former friend and Oxford classmate, Cliff Jackson -- now
an avowed political critic of the candidate -- said it was pursued
immediately upon Clinton's return to AR in early July [1969] to beat a Jul
28 deadline for induction."
[LA Times Sep 26 92]
Comment: Jackson's statement is contrary to Clinton's repeated assertions
that he received no special treatment in avoiding military service. "(I)
never received any unusual or favorable treatment."
[LA Times Sep 02 92]

Aug 07 69: Clinton is reclassified 1-D after he arranges to enter the ROTC
program at the University of Arkansas.
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
According to Cliff Jackson, Clinton's Oxford classmate, Clinton used the
ROTC program to "kill the draft notice, to avoid reporting on the Jul 28
induction date, which had already been postponed. And he did that by
promising to serve his country in the ROTC, number one, to enroll in the law
school that fall ... and he never enrolled."
[Wash Times Sep 17 92]
Comment: Clinton's admission into the ROTC program again runs contrary to
his repeated statements that he received no special treatment in order to
evade military service. Col Eugene Holmes, commander of the UArk ROTC
program, said Clinton was admitted after pressure from the Hot Springs draft
board and the office of Sen J. William Fulbright (D-AR).
Again, Clinton was receiving preferential treatment. In addition, records
from the Army reveal that Clinton was not legally eligible for the ROTC
program at that time. Army regulations required recruits to be enrolled at
the university and attending classes full-time before being admitted to an
ROTC program.
[Wash Times Sep 17 92]

Fall 1969: Clinton returns to Oxford for a second year.
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
Clinton was supposed to be at the Arkansas Law School. However, according to
Cliff Jackson, "Sen. Fulbright's office and Bill himself continued to exert
tremendous pressure on poor Col. Holmes to get him [Clinton] to go back to
Oxford."
[Wash Times Sep 17 92]

Sep 14 69: The _Arkansas Gazette_, published in Little Rock, headlined a
draft suspension was reportedly planned by the President.

Comment: The article, citing a source, said Selective Service reforms when
implemented, would only permit the conscription of 19-year-old men.
In addition, the source said "the Army would send to Vietnam only enlistees,
professional soldiers, and those draftees who volunteered to go." The source
contended that these reforms, combined with troop withdrawals, "would put
pressure on the Congress to enact draft legislation already proposed by the
President ... and set up a lottery to conscript only 19-year-old men," the
_Gazette_ reported.

>From his letter to Col. Holmes, it is very likely that Clinton was in the
US on Sep 14 69. He was 23 years old.

Sep 19 69: "President Nixon, facing turmoil on college campuses, suspended
draft calls for November and December of [1969] and said the October call
would be spread out over three months."
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
The President also indicated that if the Congress did not act to establish a
lottery system, he would remove by executive order the vulnerability to the
draft of all men age 20 to 26.
[Ark Gaz Sep 19 69]
Comment: Again, Clinton was 23 years old.

Sep-Oct 69: "At some point, Clinton decided to make himself eligible for the
draft and said in February [1992] his stepfather had acted in his behalf to
accomplish this. _Newsweek_, attributing the information to campaign
officials, said this all happened in Oct 1969. [Clinton spokesperson Betsey]
Wright ... said she believed it took place in September. The difference is
potentially significant. ... If Clinton did not act to give up his deferment
until October, he could have known he faced no liability from the draft
until the following summer, that he could take his chances with the lottery
and find alternative service if he got a low number."
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]

Oct 01 69: "[Nixon] announced that anyone in graduate school could complete
the full year."
[Wash Post Sep 13 92]
Comment: Clinton is now safe from the draft through June 1970.

Oct 1969: President Nixon suspends call-up of additional draftees until a
draft lottery is held in December.
[Wash Times Sep 18 92]

Oct 15 69: Clinton organized and let anti-war demonstrations in London.
[Clinton's letter to Col. Holmes, and _Peace Eyes_ by Father Richard
McSorley]
Comment: According to McSorley, Clinton's demonstrations "had the support of
British peace organizations" such as the British Peace Council, an arm of
the KGB-backed World Peace Council.
[_The Revolution Lobby_ by JM Waller and AC Brownfield, for more
information on the World Peace Council, p.28]

Oct 30 69: Clinton is reclassified 1-A, eligible for induction.
[Wash Times Sep 28 92]
Comment: "Clinton said he put himself into the draft by contacting his draft
board in September or October and asking to be reclassified 1-A.
.... It is not clear, however, whether that occurred at Clinton's urging or
whether his failure to enroll at UArk automatically cancelled his 1-D
deferment."
[LA Times Sep 02 92]
Clinton has never produced any evidence to substantiate his claim that he
initiated his reclassification.

Nov 16 69: Clinton organized and led anti-war demonstrations in London.
[Clinton's letter to Col. Holmes] "I was glad to see a Georgetown
student [Clinton] leading in the religious service for peace. After the
service, Bill introduced me to some of his friends. With them, we paraded
over to the American Embassy carrying white crosses made of wood about one
foot high. There we left the crosses as an indication of our desire to end
the agony of Vietnam."
[Peace Eyes by Fath. Richard McSorley] Comment: Again, Clinton acted
with the support of the British Peace Council.

Dec 01 69: Clinton draws #311 in the first draft lottery.
[Wash Times Sep 18 92]
Comment: Clinton was virtually assured that he would not be drafted because
of the high lottery number.

Dec 02 69: Clinton writes to Col. Eugene Holmes, commander of the UArk ROTC
program and states, "From my work I came to believe that the draft system is
illegitimate ... I decided to accept the draft in spite of my beliefs for
one reason: to maintain my political viability."
[Clinton letter to Col. Holmes]

Dec 12 69 (approximately): Clinton visits Norway where he meets with various
"peace" organizations.
[Peace Eyes]

Dec 12 69 (approx.) - Dec 31 69: ???
Comment: After visiting Norway with Father McSorley, Clinton's movements and
activities are unknown until he arrives in Moscow on Dec 31 69.
Where did he go, what did he do, and who did he meet with?

Dec 31 69 - Jan 06 70: Clinton travels to Moscow. He later said "relations
between our two countries were pretty good then." He then described his
visit as "a very friendly time, a good atmosphere."
[Ark Gaz Jun 12 89, Knight-Ridder Newspapers Sep 25 92] Comment:
Despite Clinton's claim that Jan 1970 was "a time of dtente," relations
between the United States and the Soviet Union were anything but warm. The
Soviets were supplying the North Vietnamese with advisors and anti-aircraft
weapons, and the KGB was secretly running the war from Moscow.

Sep 07 92: Col. Eugene Holmes, USA Ret., signs a notarized statement in
which he asserts that "there is the imminent danger to our country of a
draft dodger becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United
States." He later writes that "I believe that he (Clinton) purposefully
deceived me, using the possibility of joining the ROTC as a ploy to work
with the draft board to delay his induction and get a new draft
reclassification."
[Letter reprinted in Wash Times Sep 17 92]

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 01:11 PM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> Many classifications list libertarianism as an "anti-government"
> ideology. While less government is almost everyone's goal, few can
> support the basic assumptions of libertarianism--that man is
> inherently good and doesn't need government.
>

You don't find many on the left who's goal is less government.


>
> Certainly privatization is gaining favor...
>

Is it? Not so long ago private sector airline passenger and baggage
screeners were federalized.


>
> And, which constitution would that be? Most who pattern themselves as
> "American Constitutionalists" seem to ignore the 216 years of
> Constitutional case-law that has adjusted the document to the current
> world.
>

The Constitution can be adjusted only by the amendment process provided for.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 01:14 PM
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>
> As is made painfully clear in Amar's brilliant tour de force on
> constitutional interpretation in his "THE BILL OF RIGHTS" Yale
> University press or Rakov's superb Pulitzer Prize winning " ORIGINAL
> MEANINGS" published by Random House. The discussioins and
> arguments of what the founders had in mind on any given
> issue is never ending.
>

They're never-ending only because there are those that insist the founders
meant something other than what they wrote.

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 01:28 PM
"Robey Price" > wrote in message
...
>
> Examples of liberalism...(historical) giving women the right to vote,
> Lincoln's emancipation of slaves, desegregation of schools, the end of
> "separate but equal", (current) pro-choice (versus pro-life), gay
> rights, greater environmental protection (against industrial
> polluters), maintaining a separation of church and state (see
> Alabama's judge Moore)...and not believing everything the government
> says is true simply because gwb or Rumsfeld says it's so.
>
> These are all good things in my book.
>

You're confusing classic liberalism with modern liberalism. When people
speak of liberals or liberalism today they're referring to modern
liberalism.


>
> Feel free to give me as many examples (as you can) think of that
> demonstrate liberalism "is about controlling people." This should be
> fun.
>

Medicare, Social Security, minimum wage laws, national health care, welfare,
race-based quotas, income redistribution, etc., etc., etc.

Robey Price
June 8th 04, 01:38 PM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Ron
confessed the following:

>Well Iran was still on our **** list, and they were the biggest threat at that
>time in the Middle East. Iraq had not taken out hostages, and was not trying
>to spread Islamic Revolution around, and in fact they were opposed to it also.

Iraq's was a secular regime to be sure.

>If they had been anywhere else in the world besides next to Iran, circumstances
>would have been different. Hussien has had collossially bad strategic
>judgement, and if he had not gassed the Kurds, or invaded Iraq, or pursued
>nuclear programs, he would still be in power, and Iraq would not have been the
>pariah it was most likely.

This probably doesn't seem like much to you, but do you realize that
you did NOT mention anything about Iraq's ties to supporting al-Qaeda?
Unless of course you are like most liberals that don't see one, never
saw one...and certainly don't deny they're now in Iraq killing our
kids (thanks to porous borders and ethnic camoflage).

Ponder for a moment that if we invaded Iraq to keep WMD away from
terrorist (and recalling how terrorists have flooded into Iraq in the
last year) where are the WMD? If we have not found the stockpiles
after searching over a year, does this mean the islamist ****s have
them now? And if they do...then a major reason for invading Iraq was
for **** (since the islamist ****s might have the WMD anyway at this
point). But I digress.

>Yes I think we can all agree those countries should be free. Iraq is enough of
>a problem right now without having to worry about others. Going into others
>too would guarantree failure for all of them. We can still promote freedom in
>those countries however without military action.

That last sentence is exactly what I would say...and me the liberal.

>Yes we should promote efforts to change, and I think Vietnam is probably along
>that path as it is, although has a ways to go.

Cool, so we can agree that there is no need for military force, yes?

> DPRK, well that is another darling of the really far left groups.

Ron that simply is not true. I think you keep using a sliding scale
(so to speak) of the political spectrum. Leftists...liberals...really
far left. Name one American politician that thinks the DPRK is a good
thing?

>Well the ones who may have not been happy, sure were content, based on their
>displeasure for anyone who actually dared to want to roll back the Iron
>Curtain. Look at how much leftists despised Reagan and the free markets
>economists for daring to think the USSR could be defeated economically. They
>all just wanted the USSR tolerated, and maybe contained.

To be fair, I would characterize our economic defeat of the USSR as a
great example of containment. The opposite of containment is military
warfare. Containment worked, we were not out "nation building," we
were protecting our european allies.

>Well it sure wasnt a real effort unfortunately, and some here know all too
>well. While I would not call Johnson a leftist, Vietnam certainly was not an
>effort to win.

OK, I'd say that if the effort had gotten any more "real" the nice
folks in the PRC may have decided to roll south like they did in
Korea. Would it surprise you that Ho Chi Minh and his band of
nationalist communists attempted to get Truman to persuade the French
not to come back to reclaim their colony after WWII? Perhaps...perhaps
we might have spared a great deal of blood and treasure if Truman had
put the strong arm on De Gualle.

>Yes he wanted to cancel the Peacekeeper ICBM, SDI (which many Soviets think was
>the last straw in their economic defeat), B-1B, AH-64, Aegis cruisers, Patriot
>SAM, AV-8B, F-14, AIM-54 and AIM-7...

Assuming this is all true...and looked at another way...1980's Kerry
could simply be opposed to increased military spending at the expense
of domestic/social programs. Reagan made great tax cuts (that
everybody remembers) but they all seem to forget that taxes were
raised by the second term and the federal deficit was absolutely huge
when he left office. My first mortgage in 1984 had a 13% interest
rate.

>I see an enormous haughtiness in the United States trying to tell them what
>to do,
>
>Kerry, in regards to the Sandinista Government.

OK...in the long run things have worked out (Contra victory) without
an invasion by the US. Perhaps the haughtiness was the end-run around
congress, and what was the reason for dealing with the islamist ****s
in Iran (the same SOBs that had taken our fellow americans hostages to
begin with)?

Don't you think it's kinda ****ed up to be in a secret deal with
assholes that held our embassy folks hostage...think back to how you
felt about Iran in 1979, not at this moment reflecting on Reagan's
legacy.

>I dont think the US really had a real leftist movement equivalent to modern
>liberals, outside of Hollywood and Academia, until the mid-late 60s.

If you're interested...give this a shot, Tom Hayden and the Port Huron
Statement from 1962.
http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/huron.html

>You cant call Truman, JFK, LBJ lefties or even liberal. They would have
>nothing in common with the left wing of today.

Again you're using a slippery scale. LBJ and his "Great Society" was
mo' debly liberal. I think all of those guys would embrace the
Democratic party of today.

>Yes, and in hindsight we can see more now, and sometimes in our zeal to face
>down communism, we allied ourselves with someone who wasnt really any better.

And this is exactly the moral dilemma...and it is a moral dilemma that
many liberal friends argue. We propped up dictatorships during the
fight against communism, why is it now a requirement to go pro-active
now? Answer? Because we're the 800 pound gorilla. I would argue that
it was not necessary to invade Iraq; I would argue for containment
(not appeasement).

Our govenment has gone over the cliff claiming we're promoting
democracy and the rule of law...but there is now evidence of this
according to the WSJ. To me this indicates the Abu Ghraib prisoner
stink goes much higher than the Brigade level (as Ed might think).

[quote]
Pentagon Report Set Framework For Use of Torture
Security or Legal Factors Could Trump Restrictions, Memo to Rumsfeld
Argued

by Jess Bravin
Monday, June 7, 2004
Wall Street Journal

Bush administration lawyers contended last year that the president
wasn't bound by laws prohibiting torture and that government agents
who might torture prisoners at his direction couldn't be prosecuted by
the Justice Department.

The advice was part of a classified report on interrogation methods
prepared for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after commanders at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, complained in late 2002 that with conventional
methods they weren't getting enough information from prisoners.

The report outlined U.S. laws and international treaties forbidding
torture, and why those restrictions might be overcome by
national-security considerations or legal technicalities. In a March
6, 2003, draft of the report reviewed by The Wall Street Journal,
passages were deleted as was an attachment listing specific
interrogation techniques and whether Mr. Rumsfeld himself or other
officials must grant permission before they could be used. The
complete draft document was classified "secret" by Mr. Rumsfeld and
scheduled for declassification in 2013.

The draft report, which exceeds 100 pages, deals with a range of legal
issues related to interrogations, offering definitions of the degree
of pain or psychological manipulation that could be considered lawful.
But at its core is an exceptional argument that because nothing is
more important than "obtaining intelligence vital to the protection of
untold thousands of American citizens," normal strictures on torture
might not apply. ...[unquote]

Go here for a link to the whole article http://www.intel-dump.com/
see the Monday 7 June entry.

If this is true...I find it scary and against everything I think
democracy is about.

>But I still believe that leftist movements were against promoting freedom in
>the communist countries during the 80, based on their word of ridicule, their
>actions to promote some of those same countries, and their demonstrations that
>only served to help the USSR, Cuba, Nicaragua, etc.

Fair enough...we'll agree to disagree. I don't think anti-nuclear war
demonstrations were de facto anti-democracy rallies. That is too
simplistic. Demonstrating against Reagan's Iran-Contra affair (secret
deals with a terrorist enemy via an end-run around our participatory
democracy) is not exactly what democracy is about.

As a liberal, I will say that the ends don't always justify the
means. Setting a good example is just as important. If you're for
democracy then support the mechanisms of our democracy...namely public
scrutiny...and not torturing prisoners.

Again thanks for the excellent discussion...Honest!

Robey

Robey Price
June 8th 04, 02:04 PM
After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
P. McNicoll" confessed the following:

>You're confusing classic liberalism with modern liberalism. When people
>speak of liberals or liberalism today they're referring to modern
>liberalism.

Simply trying to pin you down on your definition.

>> Feel free to give me as many examples (as you can) think of that
>> demonstrate liberalism "is about controlling people." This should be
>> fun.
>>
>
>Medicare, Social Security, minimum wage laws, national health care, welfare,
>race-based quotas, income redistribution, etc., etc., etc.

Hmmm, Social Security is about controlling people? Minimum wages are
about controlling people? Universal health care is about controlling
people? Affirmative action...raced based quotas...got it. The only bit
of information that would complete my picture of you would be for you
to tell us, "I'm a god fearing christian...a compassionate
conservative."

I can't think of a single person that is getting rich off social
security. Folks living on the minimum wage are working multiple ****ty
paying jobs. Yeah those minimum wage workers love how they control
your life.

Health care...sister in law now in her 5th (and final more than
likely) year of fighting cancer, her teenage son with Down syndrome,
her husband with life threatening neurological disorder (his dad is
dying from it right now)...anyway, her meds cost $500+ and health
insurance premiums cost $700 per month. This ain't just some faceless
statistic to me...it's family.

Yeah she's controlling your life...

Income redistribution? Progressive income tax anybody? Got *any* idea
about the size of the tax burden on your grand children ( going
forward) to pay for the invasion and subsequent "nation building"
exercise? Don't blame liberals for this expense...suck it up and boast
about it.

YMMV

Ed Rasimus
June 8th 04, 03:51 PM
On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 03:37:41 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> wrote:

>
>"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> Hardly. We elect representatives who propose alternatives, then amend
>> and compromise and finally create a marginally effective bureaucracy
>> that does nothing for most of us, but garners votes from the unwashed
>> masses for reelection.
>>
>> Seriously, I don't think Social Security, Medicare or public education
>> were implemented at gunpoint. They met the demands of "we the
>> people"--even when misguided.
>>
>
>Decline to participate in those programs and eventually someone from your
>government will be pointing a gun at you.
>

That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 04:21 PM
"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>
> That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
> decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
> that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
> process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
> with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.
>

But we didn't agree to these programs beforehand! There is no
Constitutional basis for them. The proper legislative process was not
followed. If the government can pick and choose which Constitutional
provisions it will adhere to and which it will ignore why can't the
citizenry pick and choose which laws it will follow?

Leslie Swartz
June 8th 04, 04:57 PM
Art:

Once again, you unbosom another absolutely ridiculous statement.

Steve Swartz



"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: General Zinni on Sixty Minutes
> >From: Ed Rasimus
> >Date: 6/7/04 9:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 16:57:05 GMT, "Jarg"
> > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>Social Security and Medicare are great, particularly if, like Art, you
are
> >>receiving the benefits of the money and services you never paid for!
> >>Welfare is wonderful!
> >>
> >>Jarg
> >>
> >Dunno about Art, but I know I definitely paid for Social Security and
> >Medicare, both when I was on active duty and in the 17 years since
> >retirement. I paid income tax on active duty as well.
> >
> >
> >Ed Rasimus
> >Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> >"When Thunder Rolled"
> >Smithsonian Institution Press
> >ISBN #1-58834-103-8
> >
>
> We all paid and paid and paid ad infinitum
>
> .
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

Leslie Swartz
June 8th 04, 05:01 PM
But you never "earned" a nickle of Social Security.

You were robbed at gunpoint to buy Art Kramer's vote.

And that doesn't give you the right to rob my children.

It isn't much more complicated than that. Theft is theft. Just because you
were robbed doesn't give you the right to rob someone else. If you want
"your" social security, take it up with Art Kramer.

Steve Swartz



"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:03:42 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> > wrote:
>
> >No, Ed, you paid for somebody else's Social Security/Medicare etc.
> >
> >C'mon, you're pulling our legs now, right?
> >
> >You do understand how the "Social Safety Net" [sic] is funded, right?
> >
> >Steve Swartz
> >
> >(This whole "I paid for my social security" thing is a real Gore-ism . .
.. )
>
> No, Steve, the "I paid for my Social Security" is merely a correction
> to the often held erroneous belief that the military doesn't pay
> income tax or FICA or Medicare. We do. We pay the same as every other
> working person. And, we have the same entitlement as any other
> qualified person--no more, no less.
>
> Yes, I know the way Social Security is funded. And, no it isn' a
> "Gore-ism". The concept of an "account" was foisted upon the people by
> Roosevelt, when the program was established. It wasn't true then and
> it isn't true today. Gore is more responsible for the ephemeral
> "lock-box."
>
> And, I don't back up to the pay window. I want exactly what I've
> earned, just like everyone else.
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 8th 04, 07:26 PM
On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 12:01:41 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
> wrote:

>But you never "earned" a nickle of Social Security.

Ah, and now you've descended from a polite political discussion to the
level of trollery. SS was established before I was borne. It was a
program established by law through our governmental process. It
promises that if I contribute as required, I'll receive a certain
amount if I meet certain conditions. I didn't earn anything, I bought
the equivalent of an annuity.
>
>You were robbed at gunpoint to buy Art Kramer's vote.

Hyperbole. I've never been robbed at gunpoint or any other way for
that matter. Generally, I go forth much better equipped than an robber
I'm likely to meet.
>
>And that doesn't give you the right to rob my children.

I seek nothing from your children. If they participate in the
political process and repeal Social Security, I'll live with that
decision. Just as I live with the political decision to make me now
pay for the medical care I was promised would be free for life.
>
>It isn't much more complicated than that. Theft is theft. Just because you
>were robbed doesn't give you the right to rob someone else. If you want
>"your" social security, take it up with Art Kramer.
>
>Steve Swartz

If you live in society, you must abide by the rules that society
chooses to impose. It isn't theft. It's democracy. Not everyone gets
what they want in a democratic process---or any other kind of
governmental process for that matter.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Ed Rasimus
June 8th 04, 07:30 PM
On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 15:21:58 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> wrote:

>
>"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
>> decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
>> that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
>> process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
>> with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.
>>
>
>But we didn't agree to these programs beforehand! There is no
>Constitutional basis for them. The proper legislative process was not
>followed. If the government can pick and choose which Constitutional
>provisions it will adhere to and which it will ignore why can't the
>citizenry pick and choose which laws it will follow?
>
Excuse me? Social Security and Medicare are not the result of an act
of Congress? There were no elections for those representatives? There
was no public debate? There have been no subsequent modifications to
the program at the behest of interest groups, concerned citizens, etc?
Where then did these programs come from? How were they authorized? Who
runs them?

Government chooses policies after debate and public input to solve the
needs of the nation. The Constitutionality is determined by
established rules but only after the fact of legislative or executive
action. Seems as though Medicare and SS have not been found
unconstitutional.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Jarg
June 8th 04, 09:00 PM
"Robey Price" > wrote in message
...
> After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Steven
> P. McNicoll" confessed the following:
Got *any* idea
> about the size of the tax burden on your grand children ( going
> forward) to pay for the invasion and subsequent "nation building"
> exercise? Don't blame liberals for this expense...suck it up and boast
> about it.
>
> YMMV

I'm not sure why you think the tax burden from the most recent war is so
bad. Debt as a percentage of GNP has be higher in the past yet the US
managed pretty well.

Jarg

Paul J. Adam
June 8th 04, 09:45 PM
In message et>,
Steven P. McNicoll > writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> It's a place, not a person - and if the name means nothing to you, then
>> you're too ignorant to talk to. Which would be a shame.
>>
>
>Let's see, I state; "Prior to the invasion of Iraq the one point on which
>there was near universal agreement was that Iraq had significant WMD."
>
>You respond; "I guess 'near universal' can exclude a lot of people, then."
>
>I ask; "Such as?"
>
>And you answer; "Porton Down."
>
>I had been thinking; "Gee, you'd think a guy that claims a lot of people
>said Iraq had no WMD before the invasion could come up with more than just
>one example." But it turns out you couldn't provide a single example!

There is a difference between "knowing the names of the relevant
colleages" and "being at liberty to post them".

I went through RTMC Chilwell with a number of fellow analysts from
Porton who were immediately (mid-course!) deployed to Iraq to look for
the WME that were supposedly sure to be found. They expected to find
very little, but were willing to be surprised. And that's as much detail
as I'm happy to give.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Steven P. McNicoll
June 8th 04, 10:04 PM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>
> There is a difference between "knowing the names of the relevant
> colleages" and "being at liberty to post them".
>

Well, if they were publicly stating that Iraq had no WMD prior to the
invasion, why wouldn't you be at liberty to post their names now?


>
> I went through RTMC Chilwell with a number of fellow analysts from
> Porton who were immediately (mid-course!) deployed to Iraq to look for
> the WME that were supposedly sure to be found. They expected to find
> very little, but were willing to be surprised. And that's as much detail
> as I'm happy to give.
>

Who do you think you're fooling?

George Z. Bush
June 8th 04, 10:13 PM
Ed Rasimus wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 15:21:58 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>> "Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
>>> decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
>>> that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
>>> process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
>>> with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.
>>>
>>
>> But we didn't agree to these programs beforehand! There is no
>> Constitutional basis for them. The proper legislative process was not
>> followed. If the government can pick and choose which Constitutional
>> provisions it will adhere to and which it will ignore why can't the
>> citizenry pick and choose which laws it will follow?
>>
> Excuse me? Social Security and Medicare are not the result of an act
> of Congress? There were no elections for those representatives? There
> was no public debate? There have been no subsequent modifications to
> the program at the behest of interest groups, concerned citizens, etc?
> Where then did these programs come from? How were they authorized? Who
> runs them?
>
> Government chooses policies after debate and public input to solve the
> needs of the nation. The Constitutionality is determined by
> established rules but only after the fact of legislative or executive
> action. Seems as though Medicare and SS have not been found
> unconstitutional.

For the benefit of those too young to remember the way things were when Social
Security was enacted, we were a society who largely took care of our elderly
through the efforts of families, churches, and small, tight-knit communities.
The economic disaster created by the depression in the early 30s proved that
those sources were inadequate to care for the declining years of older citizens
no longer able to pay their own way. In addition, society was in a process of
flux, as a result of which families often broke apart and landed in different
parts of the country, and church and community ties were severed by older people
moving about the country seeking ways to make a living. If I remember it right,
that was the rationale that brought on the Social Security program, in which
people would be expected to contribute to their own declining years wherever
they lived and regardless of support available to them from other than
themselves.

I was just a young teenager in those years (early to mid 30s), but that's the
way I remember it. Have I got it right?

George Z.

Paul J. Adam
June 8th 04, 10:20 PM
In message .net>,
Steven P. McNicoll > writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> There is a difference between "knowing the names of the relevant
>> colleages" and "being at liberty to post them".
>
>Well, if they were publicly stating that Iraq had no WMD prior to the
>invasion, why wouldn't you be at liberty to post their names now?

Who said "publicly stating"? That's your invention, not mine. We were
talking shop during a predeployment training exercise, not hosting a
press conference.

>> I went through RTMC Chilwell with a number of fellow analysts from
>> Porton who were immediately (mid-course!) deployed to Iraq to look for
>> the WME that were supposedly sure to be found. They expected to find
>> very little, but were willing to be surprised. And that's as much detail
>> as I'm happy to give.
>
>Who do you think you're fooling?

Why should I care? You'll either listen, or ignore what I say because
it's inconvenient. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, drink coffee
from the commemorative mug.

(Out of interest, how many fielded analysts do *you* know and how
enthusiastically did they believe the claims that Iraq was awash in
WMEs?)

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Paul J. Adam
June 8th 04, 10:22 PM
In message >, Robey Price
> writes
>After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, "Paul J.
>Adam" confessed the following:
>
>>Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?
>
>[tweeeet.....] Right! That'll do...yellow card for you my good man
>insulting Fred McCall!
>http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/avia
>tion/m091.htm

I apologise for any dismay caused to that fine Mr McCall :)

>By the by...if you have not heard of, or read Devon Largio's thesis on
>the 27 rationales for the invasion of Iraq give this a look.

Hadn't seen it, but it confirms some suspicions. Thanks.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Buzzer
June 8th 04, 10:34 PM
On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 12:26:24 -0600, Ed Rasimus
> wrote:

>Ah, and now you've descended from a polite political discussion to the
>level of trollery. SS was established before I was borne. It was a
>program established by law through our governmental process. It
>promises that if I contribute as required, I'll receive a certain
>amount if I meet certain conditions. I didn't earn anything, I bought
>the equivalent of an annuity.

It promises?

Paul J. Adam
June 9th 04, 12:34 AM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> You need to recalibrare your humour switch.
>>
>> (Now, where did I recently hear something on those lines? )
>
>Your dishonesty is growing--

Why? You're the one who responded to argument with a version of "it was
a joke, son, a joke" a few posts back.

>you are the fellow who has taken the "this is
>no laughing matter" approach, yet when *you* see fit, you toss in the witty
>remarks. Double standard much?

Not particularly. You suggested a properly calibrated humour switch was
a necessary tool, now you're flying off the handle because it seems your
calibration is badly off.

>> And the resolution authorised immediate invasion in the event of alleged
>> violation?
>>
>> Trouble with resolutions is looking at what they actually say.
>
>The resolution passed by our congress did.

Sorry, we were talking about UNSCR687, not Congressional resolutions.
Unless you accept that Iraqi government resolutions that Kuwait was
actually the 19th Province and should be reunified immediately were also
binding?

Remind me again where the US congress has jurisdiction over Iraq?

>> Yes (Again). Did you not read the last two times I showed you this, or
>> did you just not bother to reply?
>>
>>
>> First source found at
>> http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/ucreport/dis_chem.htm
>>
>> +++++
>> 36. However, it was not possible to verify the full extent of several R&
>> D projects carried out by Iraq from 1989 to 1990, due to the absence of
>> sufficient data from documents and other verifiable evidence. Those
>> include the research on new chemical warfare agents, BZ and Soman. These
>> also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for CW-agents,
>> such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles, i.e. FROG
>> missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs. Evidence
>> of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider farm. On the
>> other hand, the Commission did not find evidence that Iraq had reached
>> the stage of industrial production of these materials and items.
>> +++++
>>
>> No production, that's agreed by the UN inspectors. (Mind you, apparently
>> they're all useless incompetents, so who knows what pre-1991 projects
>> they overlooked). Development alleged but not found, though pointers
>> were certainly seen. Not proven, but strongly alleged, that research was
>> underway: just stated confidence that "industrial production was not
>> found".
>
>So what you are saying is that there is no mention of any
>production/fabrication--as I said.

No mention of *industrial* production, meaning they had at best reached
prototype testing - and certainly not excluding prototype testing.

After all, we found evidence of the program: not the program itself.
(Which, despite apparently superb intelligence, remains elusive)

>So your, "And the discrepancy was noted
>years ago" is a bit off, as the UN never noted any evidence of binary rounds
>*existing*,

No - just no evidence of a production line for the results of the
suspected research.

The first Archerfish prototype was built in a garage in personal time.
Now it's part of the US AMNS program. Doesn't mean the first few
hand-built prototypes never existed, or that Redfish didn't get lost
while surveying Brent Spar.

>> Of course, US search teams - much more honest and reliable than the UN,
>> and free to move as they willed led by their excellent intelligence -
>> would *surely* not miss such a significant project?
>
>I guess the shell found just materialized from thin air, then?

To repeat,
"These also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for
CW-agents, such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles,
i.e. FROG missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs.
Evidence of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider
farm."

So, evidence of studies but not of production lines. And in over a year
of searching based first on intelligence, then on prisoner
interrogation, there's no sign of any production line that could have
produced such a shell.

One option is that this was a pre-91 prototype round. Another is that it
was imported, from Syria or Iran as examples. Evidence that it's part of
a domestic production program is the thinnest of all - yet that's the
mast you've chosen to nail your colours to.

>> No, simple fact. The ricin program? Let's assume it basked in the
>> Glorious Leader's favour. So what is it going to _do_? If you can get an
>> enemy soldier or civilian subdued enough to inject them with ricin, you
>> could just have cut their throat much more cheaply and effectively. (And
>> unless you're building James Bond-style autoloading umbrellas or Van
>> Helsing-style dartguns, an AK-47 is just as effective for spray-and-pray
>> on a crowd and suicide bombers' vests even more so). But it's a "deadly
>> toxin" and you can boast - with complete truth - that you hold "the
>> deaths of ten thousand Americans" in one test-tube and have succeeded
>> where so many others have failed. (Administering it is the problem, but
>> that's the difference between salesmanship and engineering)
>>
>> A violation, it is. A threat, it isn't.
>
>Finally, you admit it is a violation. Case closed.

Nice evasion. So why not invade Iraq properly in autumn 1991, when
they're thoroughly in violation?

UNSCR687 did *not* provide for immediate invasion, by whoever felt like
it, on the allegation of violation. It's taken well over a year for even
this slight proof of a technical violation to emerge: and from hundreds
of tons of missing weapons with vast factories producing more, we're
down to one

No wonder you're so terrified of discussing it and try to hide behind a
bland "case closed".

There was supposed to be a major, imminent threat. There wasn't,

><snip meaningless material, since you now admit he was in violation>

You mean, "avoid all the issues you find too hard to deal with?"

>> Go and find a dictionary. Look up the definitions of "some" and "all".
>> Notice that they are not identical.
>>
>> Then carry out a careful count of the WME production programs found to
>> date in Iraq since the occupation. Having found that it tends towards a
>> round number, count again to confirm.
>
>He was in violation, you mean. Glad you now understand that.

You mean, "avoid all the issues you find too hard to deal with?"

>> Of course he was in violation.
>
>Good.
>
><snip more materiel made meaningless by admission he was in violation>

Let's remember that we British apparently used chemical weapons on the
Iraqis during the 1920s. Out of interest, would digging up a
1920s-vintage shell filled with mustard gas count as "a violation" and
be the complete, absolute justification you seem to consider it?

>> No, just the guy who wonders why "if violations of A, B, C and D are all
>> 'urgent grounds for action' in Iraq, then why are more serious
>> violations of all four not important elsewhere?"
>
>Obviously you are completely hung up on this "Standard Playbook for
>International Affairs",

I am not, and have said so to you repeatedly. Since you're fond of
invective, let me now call *you* a liar for repeatedly making false
claims despite contradiction.

>> Don't worry about it, Kevin. Just call me "a liberal" and forget about
>> it.
>
>I don't believe I have thus labled you (at least not in recent memory)--but
>don't let that stop you from claiming I have, or would, given your
>demonstrated ability to make false attributions.

Pot, meet kettle.

Where have *I* ever mentioned a "standard playbook for international
affairs"? (Your words, this post) That is your own invention which you
have falsely, repeatedly, attributed to me. You are a liar.

Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely quoted as being my
words. You are a liar.

Shall I continue? I find your protestations of wounded honour extremely
amusing, since you so freely indulge in the conduct you claim to
deprecate.

>> Actually, our Prime Minister signed off on them, which may prove to have
>> been unwise.
>
>I have not seen them attibuted to our own leader. So what you are saying is
>that your guy was wrong, and outrs was right?

Well, it seems the director of your Central Intelligence Agency at least
felt he was wrong.

>> Indeed. Why, the US Army is regularly called upon to fend off hordes of
>> umbrella-wielding assailants, is it not?
>
>You have already admitted he was in violation in this regard, as we claimed.
>Don't try backtracking now.

Who's backtracking? Where's the danger posed by a horde of
umbrella-wielding Iraqis trying to get close enough to jab the legs of
their enemies? Dave Barry's expression "field mice under a rotary mower"
springs to mind against even the least competent opposition: I'll take a
DShK in a sangar or even an AK against a ricin-loaded umbrella any day.

>> Chose to mount *your* high horse? After you called me a cynical liar for
>> such a thing?
>>
>> (I believe the phrase is 'Ker-CHING!')
>
>I can see that sarcasm is beyond your comprehension; you seem to keep
>forgetting it was you who lambasted me

"Lambasted"? When?

My, you're thin-skinned and touchy. Is that a side effect of habitial
lying?

>for bringing humor into the equation,
>but then you repeatedly do so yourself. Again, double standard much?

No, just amused.

>> >Yeah, he is obviously innocent of all charges because he had NO IDEA that
>> >his nation had been working on WMD efforts over the years,
>>
>> I'm impressed that you can say this with such certainty.
>
>I don't.

Then why did you say it if you're not certain?

Oh, I forgot - humour and sarcasm. Which are admirable rhetorical tools
in your hands, but deceitful lies when used against you. Just as
paraphrasing your debator's words is a perfectly acceptable tactic for
you, but a filthy deception when practiced against you.

Having fun yet?

>> I'd be more impressed if you could show me how what he *believed* he
>> owned or might soon own, related to what he actually *did* possess.
>
>Meaningless--you have already admitted he was indeed in violation.

As I said, dig long and hard enough and you might find a 1920s chemical
munition. There you go - he's in violation.

See how meaningless this absolutism of yours is?

><snip more tapdancing around the fact that he was in violation>

Amused at the frantic evasion - "evasion of UNSCR687" now apparently
being the Holy Writ that required immediate invasion.

Of course, there's no playbook, which is why two Iraqi shells require
invasion and a prolonged occupation while hundreds of chemical-tipped
Syrian SCUDs are politely ignored. Makes perfect sense: two artillery
shells are obviously *much* more of a threat. Oh, yeah, and it "wasn't
all about the WMD", which makes the whole "violation of 687" rather
moot...?

Confusing, isn't it, once you stop thinking about what you're doing and
just decide to blindly follow?

>> Your countrymen have called them much worse than liars - should I
>> disbelieve them?
>
>Are you saying they are liars, or not?

No. Why do you suddenly find them credible, and why have you so
conspicuously failed to defend them?

>Given your own record of recent
>dishonesty,

You mean, like "massive quantities"? Go on, find me a post where I said
that - yet you attributed it to me. Or is it not lying when *you* do it?

It's curious that those who are most generous in flinging the charge of
"liar" are those who themselves are quite reckless with the truth.


>> Well, twice and eventually. (Overlapping requests, but mea culpa)
>>
>> I never did get the prioritisation or the sort of detail that turned
>> them from "political manifesto" to "actually useful", but then I didn't
>> expect to.
>
>You got them, repeatedly.

No, you rattled off a laundry-list of reasons. Were they in order? What
was the relative importance? *That* was what you were asked for and you
have *still* failed to provide.

That was why I asked for them in order and with an indication of their
relative importance, and I was unsurprised when you were unable to do
so.

Of course, you at least provided "the reasons", but you made sure you
had ample wriggle room. Out of your list, what at least were the top
three reasons? You weren't even able (or were too wary) to state that.
Doesn't indicate much trust in your judgement.

>Try my 18
>May post in reponse to you--the subject was "Sarin in a 155mm Artillery
>Round". Now you claim I just gave them to you in "overlapping requests"?

I'm being generous because you repeated the laundry list and still left
out the order and prioritisation I asked for.

>Nope. The wording I used then was: "Here are a few, though--

Now, remember you've left out any priority and importance. Are these the
top slice of the list? The least important reasons that are safe for
public discussion? A random selection?

>I gave you some more in this
>thread. But you *kept* claiming I never answered your
>question...

You didn't, because from the first the question was not just "list every
possible reason for war with Iraq" but "what was the order of
importance?"

>tsk-tsk-tsk, that would be another false accusation on your part
>(unfortunately, that is getting to be about par for the course with you).

No, that would be another casual lie from you.

People *notice* dishonesty, Kevin.

>> No, Kevin, I've said so three times at least. That you choose not to
>> read, does not mean words are not posted.
>>
>> Now, the first time you called me a liar, I replied to you
>> paragraph-by-paragraph, explained and apologised for the
>> misunderstanding... only to find that at the end of the article, you
>> claimed you would read no more on the matter. (In which case why bother
>> making a significant accusation of untruth?)
>>
>> I've repeated the explanation and the apology twice already, and still
>> you claim to have missed it.
>>
>> For a fourth time, I was about to repeat... but on a hunch, I checked
>> the end of your message and realised you had fled the field *yet again*.
>>
>> I'd ask "Why are you so willing to fling accusations, yet so reluctant
>> to even discuss apologies?" but apparently you won't read this either.
>
>Bull****. Is this your idea of an "apology"?

Right - so we've gone from "I'm a liar because I misquoted you and
insisted I was right" to "I paraphrased you and immediately made it
clear this was so, and apologised for the misunderstanding" to "I'm a
liar because you don't like the tone of my apology"?

How bizarre. What, exactly, is the "lie" here?


Meanwhile, you repeatedly and blatantly conduct exactly the same false
attribution, invent bizarre positions such as "defending Hussein" and
claim they're mine. But this, presumably, is not lying? I've given you a
couple of examples, I'm curious to hear your explanation of how they are
an honest and accurate quotation of my words and where the originals can
be found for reference.

>> Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?
>
>Why, does Fred have you properly pegged as well?

Depends what you mean - he disappeared in clouds of bluster and
killfiled me every time I proved he was talking out of his arse.

*He* started calling me a liar when I pointed out you could use
precision-guided weapons for close air support and he insisted that had
never happened, didn't happen now and could never be considered.
Apparently all those LGBs, JDAMs and Mavericks reported expended in CAS
missions were just fictions of the pilots' overheated imaginations.

>> Actually, you have, but I've accepted it as the rough-and-tumble of
>> debate rather than using them as an excuse to avoid awkward issues.
>
>Please show me where I have done so in this (or last month's) debate. Show
>me where I have claimed, "You said..." something that you have not.

Where did I ever claim there was a "standard playbook for international
affairs"? You repeatedly use that phrase, in quotation marks, as if it
was my own words. Where did I mention the existence of such? Or did you
invent it and then falsely attribute it to me?

Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely placed in quotation
marks as though they were my own words. Where did I make those
statements? Citations, please.

>> Kevin, you're the one who has FOUR times made an accusation and then
>> refused to respond to the reply.
>
>Which accusation? The one about you lying about what I actually said,

Which I immediately made clear was a paraphrase and apologised for - a
point you ignored, while indulging in the exact same conduct yourself.

>or the
>one about my actually repeatedly answering what you claimed I had never
>answered?

You were asked for a *prioritised list*, not "some of the reasons" in no
particular order. You've still failed to provide it, though you've
rattled off some of the usual mantras.

>> Yes. When "one shell" is a violation, then "violation" becomes
>> meaningless. By that argument, most of Europe plus the USA would be "in
>> violation" if you dug long enough in the right places.
>
>Nope. Only Iraq was subject to the proscriptions of 687. Nice try, though.

And where did UNSCR687 say "the suspicion (not proof) of a breach shall
justify immediate invasion"? Again, you need to actually *read* what you
cite.

One of the reason the UN wasn't hugely popular is precisely because a
breach of UNSCR687 isn't an instant casus belli, but grounds for a
follow-up motion to cover action under UN auspices (such as, 660 - "Iraq
is very naughty to invade Kuwait and should leave immediately" was
eventually followed by 678, which authorised member states to enforce
660 and implored all states to support the action.)

The US and UK decided to short-circuit the UN and go for a national
solution. Time will tell whether that was the correct option: and unless
the current operation ends in disaster then partisans on both sides will
insist that their way would have been *much* better.

>> You complain about "high horses" and write this rubbish? Hypocrisy,
>> 'Kevin Brooks' is thy name.
>
>What hypocrisy? Saddam has been removed, so he no longer poses any threat,
>present or future. A lot of folks think that is a "good thing".

Don Quixote was sure he was riding at giants with flailing arms, too.

Saddam Hussein posed "a threat" because, after over a year of searching,
we've turned up two - count'em, TWO! - chemical shells of uncertain
vintage. You don't think that if WMEs were a factor, there were better
places to look?

Of course, "it's not all about WMDs", it's a completely flexible list -
so much so that you proudly boast of being unable to work out what order
the reasons might fall in. But then, Hussein wasn't the top threat on
any permutation of your list.

Still, the idea that you should deal with the most dangerous threats is
obviously foreign foolishness rooted in the notion that there's a
"handbook" containing basic wisdom like "biggest risk, biggest
response".

>> The only WME attack on the US to date has been home-grown: I earnestly
>> hope there are no more (disbelieve that as much as it pleases you to do
>> so) but I have neither belief nor evidence to show that the occupation
>> of Iraq has reduced the risk in any detectable fashion.
>
>It has removed the possibility of Saddam supporting one. Case closed.

Did he ever have the means to support one?

Tell you what - I'll guarantee to prevent your house being ruined by
rampaging bull elephants. Now it's only my kindness and generosity that
stands between you, and domestic ruin under a herd of crazed pachyderms.

Credible? Or silly? I'd say "silly" - similarly, if Iraq has no means to
produce a threat, then attacking them eliminates _nothing_ while leaving
*real* threats much more free to act. (You don't need elephant
insurance. Burglary, fire, et cetera are more credible risks... how much
would you take from those policies to build an elephant-proof fence
around your house?)


If Iraq *did* have the means to produce a significant WME threat, where
is it?

(To forestall the inevitable "ricin! ricin! scary!" it's something an
A-level chemist should be able to do with commercial glassware in a
domestic kitchen)

>> And when you provided them, I explained how all were business as usual
>> throughout the Middle East. Refute my points, or run away.
>
>Your points are meaningless; NFZ violations are not "business as usual in
>the Middle East"

Send a recce aircraft to photograph Syria's WMD factories and missile
bases and see what happens.

You can't fly there and will get a more effective response than Iraq
managed.

>And as much as I dislike and distrust the Iranians and
>Syrians, I have yet to read any realistic accounts of mass graves attributed
>to their current leaders,

Then you've failed to read. (Syria is Ba'athist just like Iraq was and
has similar policies about internal dissent)

>> Oh, I forgot - I read ahead and you ran away.
>
>There is nothing to run away *from*. You are blowing hot air--as usual.

Another lie, Kevin? They slip so easily from your lips.

>> You're standing by it when it goes off? That seems to be the most usual
>> description to date. It didn't detonate on command, it was found and
>> defused or - this is my guess and only that - disabled by controlled
>> detonation.
>
>I am assuming the IED was detonated as a convoy went by, as is the usual
>case.

The public information to date suggests but is not firm that it was
spotted in time, and disabled: the process of disabling the rounds
caused the shell to break and the contents to mix.

Very vague and not much more has been coming. (Which is not hugely
suspicious - these things take time to analyse. I'm a little surprised
that more information about the details of the find haven't noticeably
emerged, but give them time)

>> Not from a proper binary round with no setback and centrifugal effects,
>> actuated on the ground by a fuzewell full of plastic explosive. Poor
>> mixing, poor performance.
>
>I said, "with fully cooked sarin";

In other words, "not a binary round used as a IED", meaning "not what
was found".

>i.e., the guys who did the deed would
>have been smart enough to remove the burster, remove the two chemical
>components and mix them seperately, and then reassemble the round with
>properly mixed sarin. The outcome could have been MUCH worse.

Or they could have killed themselves in the attempt, or just ruined the
shell. (Just because the ingredients of binary sarin aren't nerve
toxins, doesn't make them innocuous or easy to handle)

>> Plus, how many US troops are in the "downwind effects" of a roadside IED
>> whose owners didn't know what they had?
>
>The typical IED is targeted against a moving convoy. With no previous
>indication that chemical rounds might be used, it is easy to assume that the
>remaining vehicles would either herrringbone and dismount, or drive through
>the KZ.

Both putting most men outside the effective area. One shell doesn't do
that much - they're fired in barrages for a reason.

>> Now consider quantity of agent - produced by the munition, and exposure
>> for the troops.
>
>You are basing this on what actually happened vis a vis the failure of the
>bad guys to account for this being a true binary weapon; I am looking at it
>in a worst case, but still realistic, scenario.

Still gets you less casualties than using HE, as far as I can tell -
unless your guys really bunch up around the explosion point that
initiates an ambush.

>> I'm lowering my opinion of your competence, sadly, if this is *really*
>> your opinion and not just bad temper.
>>
>> This shell didn't even kill the EOD team (not in NBC as far as I can
>> tell) and yet it's meant to massacre a convoy? How much gas from a
>> roadside source do you think passengers actually in moving vehicles
>> absorb? You're absolutely right that the best protection for the
>> intended victims would be to drive through at best speed, but the notion
>> that this shell posed a serious threat to troops in fast-moving motor
>> vehicles is just *ludicrous*.
>
>Again, we are looking at this from two different viewpoints. If you would
>care to go back and review my posts in the other threads on this subject,
>you will n ote that I said early on that the way this one was set off,
>versus the normal cannon launch, was to be thanked for the relatively low
>yield.

Plus, it appears from US reports to date, over a decade of deterioration
of the shell and its contents.

>> Well, gee golly whillikers, Kevin, it might amaze you that we're run by
>> the UK government not the US.
>
>Well, in that case stop acting as if we over here had to be claiming massive
>stockpiles

Your invention, not mine. Lying again? Please stick to my own words of
"militarily significant" when you wish to attribute a description of
required quantity to me.

>> No. I quoted you precisely complete with cite. I paraphrased you and
>> when challenged that the paraphrase was distorting your actual position,
>> I publicly withdrew the paraphrase and apologised for the error.
>
>To repeat what I wrote above: Bull****. Is this your idea of an "apology"?

So, you're now calling me a liar only because you didn't like the tone
of my apology? While multiply doing the exact same paraphrase on my
words?

Not good.

>> I'd call it considerably more honest than your tactics here, Mr Brooks.
>> Be very wary of claiming "you never did X" when in fact you just chose
>> to never find out.
>
>Odd way you have of "apologizing" after an inaccuracy is pointed out

What else are you meant to do? I used a tactic you're fond of, you took
umbrage, I apologised and made it clear that I had paraphrased rather
than precisely quoted your words.

For this I'm called a liar while you repeatedly attribute false
statements to me.

Yes, I'm enormously impressed with your honour and integrity.

>Hey, you have been claiming I never gave any of these to you...but as we
>have seen, I did last month, and again in this thread... Where is your big
>"apology"?

I asked you for a prioritised list. I got "some reasons" in no
particular order. Still haven't had any indication even of which is the
most and which the least important reason.

>> With or without payload? That technicality aside, plot the 'allowed
>> range' on a map and see where it gets Iraq.
>
>It is a violation. Even UNMOVIC reluctantly admitted as much.

So take it to the Security Council.

Oh, yes, they're irrelevant and incompetent? Then who cares about their
resolutions?

One needs to take one side, or the other, if one wishes to present as
having any integrity. Is the UNSC a significant body, or not? If it is,
why was it bypassed? If it is not, who *cares* what twaddle it passes?

>> Yep, that's a clear reason to invade. I mean, *look* how many aircraft
>> and aircrew we've lost policing those No Fly Zones!
>
>They were violations.

Take it to the Security Council.

>> Alleged or proven? Who was convicted for it, out of interest?
>
>Proven to the satisfaction of most, except for diehard Saddam apologists.

So who was convicted, since the evidence was so solid?

Or is "diehard Saddam apologist" another one of those lies you're so
free with?

>> >harboring a couple of known terrorists,
>>
>> I offer you Brennan, Artt and Kirby.
>
>Then declare war on us.

Why? Three fugitive murderers are proof of hypocrisy regarding "giving
sanctuary to terrorists", but hardly casus belli unless you're really
desperate.

>> And have since accepted - in the very post to which you reply, if memory
>> serves - that you have finally provided. (Since you've claimed you won't
>> read this, it might be churlish to add 'after much prodding' and for a
>> debator still on the floor, it would be downright rude to comment how
>> you flung them behind you as you fled)
>
>They were "flung" last month, to you. Short memory, eh?

Well, after I gave up on you ever managing the "prioritised" part...

Still, half an answer's better than none and it's clear *you* have no
idea either what the relative importance might have been.

>> Yes, you do. Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did I say
>> that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?
>
>"It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
>claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." Your words. That
>seems like a pretty direct attribution to me. Which would make you a
>liar...again.

As would your "standard playbook for international affairs" and "great
numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" so falsely attributed to me.

Seems you're even more of an egregious liar than me, Kevin, and you've
never made clear that you were paraphrasing rather than quoting nor
apologised for the misattribution.

What's your excuse?

>> You claimed they were not a major factor. I asked you to name and rank
>> the major factors and got a laundry list, which I imagine will have to
>> do. "I don't know" would, by the way, have been an honourable and
>> acceptable response.

>> No, they have been finally extracted after much pressure and still in an
>> unranked straggle. However, even that seems to be too much pressure for
>> you to bear.
>
>See above. They were given to you on 18 May. Which puts you in the position
>of lying...again.

I asked for a list in order of priority, I got "some of the reasons" in
no order.

"I don't know the order." would, again, have been quite acceptable.
Instead, you've chosen to bluster rather than admit ignorance. (I'll be
much more charitable than you and refrain from claiming that you're
deliberately being dishonest in an attempt to conceal your ignorance)

>> Indeed, because at no point did I claim to anyone that Kevin Brooks said
>> at >>TIME<< on >>DATE<< that "QUOTE".
>
>See above. ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
>Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." Liar.

"standard playbook for international affairs"?

"great numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles"

Liar yourself, Mr Brooks.

>> There was an age when that allegation would have required you to bring a
>> friend (if you could rent one - from your conduct here it seems you must
>> have few) and a pair of good swords (assuming you owned them) to a
>> discreet dawn rendezvous where the matter could be settled in a
>> traditional style.
>
>You have by this point been proven to be a liar,

Well, to employ the same tactics as you.

Either we are both liars, or we are not.

>to wit: in claiming that
>you never attributed those statements to me, which you did, by your own
>words,

Just as you have repeatedly done to me.

>and in claiming that I have not given you those examples of "other
>reasons", which I did last month.

As a partial and unprioritised assortment, when you were specifically
asked for relative importance.

>Both have been presented to you. It is a
>bit late to close the barn door--the cows are out.

Kevin, I keep horses in my stable, it's no surprise you won't find any
cows in there.


>> Usenet would perhaps be a better place if it were less easy to fling
>> accusations and run away.
>
>I am not running.

No, I will give you that credit.

>I have given you your own words proving you are a liar
>regarding your inaccurate paraphrase attributed to me,

And I have shown that you have lied even more generously about me -
except that I have publicly and repeatedly made clear that I was
paraphrasing your words, whereas you continue to blatantly and openly
peddle false quotations as if they were my own words.

>along with my own
>words proving you also lied about supposedly not having given you those
>"other reasons".

You were asked for a prioritised list. You still have failed to provide
it, though you hide behind having mumbled some of the reasons in no
apparent order and then insist that it was a full and complete answer.

>> Whereas I find your cowardice disappointing. Go cosy up to Fred McCall,
>> he's more your type.
>
>What cowardice? Not that such an accusation from a proven liar is much to
>really worry about--your integrity is shot, Paul, and getting it back is
>going to be hard enough without your resorting to baseless accusations.

Kevin, you have no standing from which to judge.

As I said, there was a time when such accusations you fling so cheaply
and casually were considered serious. Some of us still consider them so.
You, obviously, think them nothing more than petty tools to evade
difficult questions.

>> Sure. "Use humour when you want to. If people don't get it, be ready to
>> explain."
>
>You did not ask for an explanation--you just declared it unacceptable in
>this thread...

Cite please, where I stated that humour was unacceptable in this thread.

Are you falsely attributing words to me *again*?

>> You mean, "I can paraphrase but you are a liar"?
>
>That paraphrase is accurate; you yourself said, "I can decide when to ride
>it and when not to, not you." Which is a bit different from your paraphrase
>that has been in question, and was proven to be most inaccurate (not to
>mention that you did quite clearly attribute it directly to me, something
>you now deny, but which the record shows you did do).

So, where precisely did I state where it could be found?


>> You mean you *did* see the apologies? I thought you claimed I never
>> mentioned it!
>
>I was referring to your inane claim that you apologized,

So, the issue is now merely whether you find the tone of my apology
acceptable?

This is some distance from the ferocious and determined dishonesty you
seem insistent on attributing to me, along with multiple other
inventions of yours.

Of course, none of that makes *you* a liar...


>while at the same
>time, as we can clearly see in this post, you continue to lie about ever
>attributing the paraphrase to me.

Kevin, you're getting desperate.

>Apparently, you can't hardly say much of
>anything lately without lying.

Yes, quite. Go on, then, give me some examples.

>> Brave words from someone who proclaims he's not even reading the reply.
>> (And who trumpeted that he wouldn't read the replies to his previous
>> allegations)
>
>Uhmmm... I did not say that.

Then what you wrote is not what you meant.

>> "Integrity" my arse. Any cowardly chicken**** can fling false
>> accusations and run for cover.
>
>Every accusation I have made has been covered with direct quotes of your own
>words, cited by day and subject, or by my offering proof that I did indeed
>give you an answer that you claimed

Just as you've falsely attributed words to me that I never said, and
evaded questions I repeatedly asked - and exploited my tolerance on your
evasions to pretend a wounded innocence when in fact you are still
fleeing the question.

Yes, you're a paragon of virtue and integrity, Mr Brooks.

>I had not given you, again by day and
>subject. That means they are TRUE...but you would probably have a bit of a
>problem understanding that, given your now proven propensity to resort to
>lying.

An apparently random selection of "some of the reasons" is not a
"prioritised list". You were asked one question, you answered another,
and you are now broadcasting that evasion as if it were a fine and noble
thing.

>As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
>line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person, in
>any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want.

Certainly. As I said, some of us don't treat these matters with the
casual disregard that you do.

>In my
>experience, a fellow like you who has to resort to repeatedly lying in order
>to try and cover his own missteps, usually is the sort who lacks the courage
>for such encounters--but you are welcome to prove otherwise.

If you want to put it like that?

Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.

Gauntlet's down.

> I'm here to talk about it and defend
>> myself, I'm replying to your claims, you're running away as fast as you
>> can. Shall we ask the audience to decide?
>
>If the audience has read your claims in this posts, and then compared them
>to the quotes I took from those 18 May exchanges, then I am pretty sure they
>can reach the same conclusion I have reached--you were lying on both counts.

What order were those reasons in? How important was each? Given that
these were only "some" of the reasons, were there others more important?

No, sorry, you evaded and you kept evading.

>> Well, Kevin, I'm *really* worried about your bad opinion of me, because
>> you've clearly shown how open to debate you are and how carefully you
>> consider your positions, and your hostility could do *terrible* things
>> to my career prospects - because you're *so* right on all these issues.
>
>Hey, it has thus been proven that you are a liar. First, you claimed I said
>something that I did not say. That was the first lie, which you say was just
>a misunderstanding and that you apologized about.

I thought I didn't apologise? When did your story change?

>Then you now claim that
>you never made such an attibution directly to me in the first place--but
>your quoted words show otherwise.

Actually, they don't. Meanwhile you continue to freely and falsely
attribute claims and statements to me - presumably this is the least
important of your claims? Or else you have no regard for truth?

I had the integrity to immediately clarify that the words were a
paraphrase rather than a quotation, and apologise for any
misrepresentation: you've extended me no such courtesy in your multiple
false attributions to me.

>Finally, you repeatedly claimed that I
>never gave you those "other reasons"; but the record shows you were given a
>list of them last month, and again during this exchange.

I asked for a list with an indication of order and relative importance.
I got a random selection of reasons.

>> I get *paid* to do this ****, and Usenet is light relief from it. I'm
>> actually genuinely sorry that someone I thought was an irascible but
>> intelligent poster turned out to be a mindless political knee-jerker,
>> but that's life.
>
>Does any of that change the fact that you are a proven liar?

"Proven" in your febrile imagination, perhaps.

Meanwhile, the challenge is open if you choose to meet it. Will you back
your claims, or withdraw them? (Or will you make a weak excuse?)

>> Oh, **** off and die, Kevin. I can take a lot but this sort of
>> sanctimonious rant should be posted at the top, not the bottom.
>
>Ah. So proving you are a liar is "sanctimonious"?

When you ever find proof, let me know.

Meanwhile,

>Shouldn't be surprised, I
>guess--anyone who can claim they do indeed have the right to declare when
>humor is allowed in a thread and when it is not,

Remind me, again, when I told you humour was not permitted?

I *did* tell you that I personally did not find one of your attempts at
a joke funny. Now, show me precisely where I told you that I had "the
right to declare when humor is allowed in a thread and when it is not".

Or are *you* lying, Kevin? Are *you* still inventing claims and then
falsely attributing them to me?

>> Besides, isn't your entire paragraph redundant if you're just going to
>> run away?
>
>Uhmmm...who's running?

You are, on Saturday 19th.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Leslie Swartz
June 9th 04, 01:13 AM
Medicare and SS have not been "found" to be anything, Ed.

Or do you have cite for a ruling we are unaware of?

Also- don't put up strawmen.

There is a difference between "un" constitutional and "extra" consitutional.

I for one am not claiming that the current social safety net is
unconstituional. Only the supremes can make that call. [Note: it could be
argued- and it is a reasonable argument at that- that the SCOTUS do not have
the power to declare anything "Constitutional;" only "Unconstitutional."]

I am claiming that the vast majority of the social safety net is
extraconstitutional, however.

And as to the claims (repeated by you) about "the consent of the governed"
and all of that- there are plenty of rational, well-educated and reasonable
people in this country who are keeping their powder dry.

Literally.

Steve Swartz


"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 15:21:58 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >"Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
> ...
> >>
> >> That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
> >> decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
> >> that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
> >> process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
> >> with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.
> >>
> >
> >But we didn't agree to these programs beforehand! There is no
> >Constitutional basis for them. The proper legislative process was not
> >followed. If the government can pick and choose which Constitutional
> >provisions it will adhere to and which it will ignore why can't the
> >citizenry pick and choose which laws it will follow?
> >
> Excuse me? Social Security and Medicare are not the result of an act
> of Congress? There were no elections for those representatives? There
> was no public debate? There have been no subsequent modifications to
> the program at the behest of interest groups, concerned citizens, etc?
> Where then did these programs come from? How were they authorized? Who
> runs them?
>
> Government chooses policies after debate and public input to solve the
> needs of the nation. The Constitutionality is determined by
> established rules but only after the fact of legislative or executive
> action. Seems as though Medicare and SS have not been found
> unconstitutional.
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> Smithsonian Institution Press
> ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Leslie Swartz
June 9th 04, 01:17 AM
No.

Want details?

Read some contrarian history. Check the facts. Then make up your mind.
Don't just blindly trust what you have been told; or what the "popular
sentiment" was of the time. The great depression (created not by a failure
of the markets, by the way, but by a failure in overweening regulation. The
depression was caused by government- government didn't rescue anyone.).

Are you sure that the existing safety net would have"failed" in lieu of the
government's intervention?

Steve Swartz

"George Z. Bush" > wrote in message
...
> Ed Rasimus wrote:
> > On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 15:21:58 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> "Ed Rasimus" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>>
> >>> That's absurd. We agree beforehand in our republic that once a
> >>> decision is made through the legislative process, we will abide by
> >>> that decision or seek to change it through the established judicial
> >>> process. We don't get to pick and choose which laws we will comply
> >>> with or which government programs we will allow our taxes to support.
> >>>
> >>
> >> But we didn't agree to these programs beforehand! There is no
> >> Constitutional basis for them. The proper legislative process was not
> >> followed. If the government can pick and choose which Constitutional
> >> provisions it will adhere to and which it will ignore why can't the
> >> citizenry pick and choose which laws it will follow?
> >>
> > Excuse me? Social Security and Medicare are not the result of an act
> > of Congress? There were no elections for those representatives? There
> > was no public debate? There have been no subsequent modifications to
> > the program at the behest of interest groups, concerned citizens, etc?
> > Where then did these programs come from? How were they authorized? Who
> > runs them?
> >
> > Government chooses policies after debate and public input to solve the
> > needs of the nation. The Constitutionality is determined by
> > established rules but only after the fact of legislative or executive
> > action. Seems as though Medicare and SS have not been found
> > unconstitutional.
>
> For the benefit of those too young to remember the way things were when
Social
> Security was enacted, we were a society who largely took care of our
elderly
> through the efforts of families, churches, and small, tight-knit
communities.
> The economic disaster created by the depression in the early 30s proved
that
> those sources were inadequate to care for the declining years of older
citizens
> no longer able to pay their own way. In addition, society was in a
process of
> flux, as a result of which families often broke apart and landed in
different
> parts of the country, and church and community ties were severed by older
people
> moving about the country seeking ways to make a living. If I remember it
right,
> that was the rationale that brought on the Social Security program, in
which
> people would be expected to contribute to their own declining years
wherever
> they lived and regardless of support available to them from other than
> themselves.
>
> I was just a young teenager in those years (early to mid 30s), but that's
the
> way I remember it. Have I got it right?
>
> George Z.
>
>

Kevin Brooks
June 9th 04, 07:08 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> You need to recalibrare your humour switch.
> >>
> >> (Now, where did I recently hear something on those lines? )
> >
> >Your dishonesty is growing--
>
> Why? You're the one who responded to argument with a version of "it was
> a joke, son, a joke" a few posts back.

And you were the one who said that humor was inappropriate in this
thread--right up until you wanted to use it yourself. Typical.

>
> >you are the fellow who has taken the "this is
> >no laughing matter" approach, yet when *you* see fit, you toss in the
witty
> >remarks. Double standard much?
>
> Not particularly. You suggested a properly calibrated humour switch was
> a necessary tool, now you're flying off the handle because it seems your
> calibration is badly off.

Only because you told us it was not allowed in this thread.

>
> >> And the resolution authorised immediate invasion in the event of
alleged
> >> violation?
> >>
> >> Trouble with resolutions is looking at what they actually say.
> >
> >The resolution passed by our congress did.
>
> Sorry, we were talking about UNSCR687, not Congressional resolutions.
> Unless you accept that Iraqi government resolutions that Kuwait was
> actually the 19th Province and should be reunified immediately were also
> binding?

Sorry that you can't grasp that our congress decided to actually act in this
case, or you don't approve of that action. I am sure that I will lose much
sleep tonight over your displeasure.

>
> Remind me again where the US congress has jurisdiction over Iraq?
>
> >> Yes (Again). Did you not read the last two times I showed you this, or
> >> did you just not bother to reply?
> >>
> >>
> >> First source found at
> >> http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/ucreport/dis_chem.htm
> >>
> >> +++++
> >> 36. However, it was not possible to verify the full extent of several
R&
> >> D projects carried out by Iraq from 1989 to 1990, due to the absence of
> >> sufficient data from documents and other verifiable evidence. Those
> >> include the research on new chemical warfare agents, BZ and Soman.
These
> >> also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for
CW-agents,
> >> such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles, i.e. FROG
> >> missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs. Evidence
> >> of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider farm. On the
> >> other hand, the Commission did not find evidence that Iraq had reached
> >> the stage of industrial production of these materials and items.
> >> +++++
> >>
> >> No production, that's agreed by the UN inspectors. (Mind you,
apparently
> >> they're all useless incompetents, so who knows what pre-1991 projects
> >> they overlooked). Development alleged but not found, though pointers
> >> were certainly seen. Not proven, but strongly alleged, that research
was
> >> underway: just stated confidence that "industrial production was not
> >> found".
> >
> >So what you are saying is that there is no mention of any
> >production/fabrication--as I said.
>
> No mention of *industrial* production, meaning they had at best reached
> prototype testing - and certainly not excluding prototype testing.

Actually, no mention of *any* production. Please point to where any
"non-industrial" production was mentioned in regards to these kind of
weapons?

>
> After all, we found evidence of the program: not the program itself.
> (Which, despite apparently superb intelligence, remains elusive)
>
> >So your, "And the discrepancy was noted
> >years ago" is a bit off, as the UN never noted any evidence of binary
rounds
> >*existing*,
>
> No - just no evidence of a production line for the results of the
> suspected research.

Again, please point to where the UN inspectors point to *any* binary rounds
being produced as part of this program. No? As I said--the UN never mentions
any evidence of *any* rounds being fabricated, nor did the Iraqis
acknowledge producing any such rounds, be they R&D products or not. Which is
what I have been saying all along--so your point would be...?

>
> The first Archerfish prototype was built in a garage in personal time.
> Now it's part of the US AMNS program. Doesn't mean the first few
> hand-built prototypes never existed, or that Redfish didn't get lost
> while surveying Brent Spar.

We are not talking about Archerfish--we are talking about Iraqi binary
rounds which you indicated the UN report addressed--but in fact the UN
reports did not ever mention any such rounds being in existance, and was
only aware that some form of R&D had occured.

>
> >> Of course, US search teams - much more honest and reliable than the UN,
> >> and free to move as they willed led by their excellent intelligence -
> >> would *surely* not miss such a significant project?
> >
> >I guess the shell found just materialized from thin air, then?
>
> To repeat,
> "These also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for
> CW-agents, such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles,
> i.e. FROG missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs.
> Evidence of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider
> farm."

Wow. How many rounds are produced by the usual "study"? Why bother with
"industrial production" when you can apparently convene a few folks around a
table, produce a report or two regarding design requirments and feasibility,
and ...presto, rounds magically appear? The fact is that the UN never
mentioned the physical existance, or suspected existance, of *any* binary
rounds--as I told you before.

>
> So, evidence of studies but not of production lines. And in over a year
> of searching based first on intelligence, then on prisoner
> interrogation, there's no sign of any production line that could have
> produced such a shell.


> One option is that this was a pre-91 prototype round. Another is that it
> was imported, from Syria or Iran as examples. Evidence that it's part of
> a domestic production program is the thinnest of all - yet that's the
> mast you've chosen to nail your colours to.

You see Iran as a potential supplier of chemical munitions to Saddam?! Now
really, how realistic do you think that is? And where is your evidence that
Syria was a possible source? Paulian conjecture? OTOH, we do have the UN
acknowledging that the Iraqis were working on binary development, and geee,
what do you kniow, a binary round turns up in Iraq. Occam's razor says it
was probably of Iraqi manufacture.

>
> >> No, simple fact. The ricin program? Let's assume it basked in the
> >> Glorious Leader's favour. So what is it going to _do_? If you can get
an
> >> enemy soldier or civilian subdued enough to inject them with ricin, you
> >> could just have cut their throat much more cheaply and effectively.
(And
> >> unless you're building James Bond-style autoloading umbrellas or Van
> >> Helsing-style dartguns, an AK-47 is just as effective for
spray-and-pray
> >> on a crowd and suicide bombers' vests even more so). But it's a "deadly
> >> toxin" and you can boast - with complete truth - that you hold "the
> >> deaths of ten thousand Americans" in one test-tube and have succeeded
> >> where so many others have failed. (Administering it is the problem, but
> >> that's the difference between salesmanship and engineering)
> >>
> >> A violation, it is. A threat, it isn't.
> >
> >Finally, you admit it is a violation. Case closed.
>
> Nice evasion. So why not invade Iraq properly in autumn 1991, when
> they're thoroughly in violation?

Because we were willing to give them a chance to meet the terms of the
ceasefire from our then-recent little dance in the desert. And we continued
to give them opportunities to meet those requirements for the next twelve
years. Many of us find that a more than reasonable time period during which
Saddam could have chosen to fully comply with the requirements. But he did
not do so, and was as you acknowledge in violation on some number of
issues--too bad for him.

>
> UNSCR687 did *not* provide for immediate invasion, by whoever felt like
> it, on the allegation of violation. It's taken well over a year for even
> this slight proof of a technical violation to emerge: and from hundreds
> of tons of missing weapons with vast factories producing more, we're
> down to one
>
> No wonder you're so terrified of discussing it and try to hide behind a
> bland "case closed".

There is nothing more to discuss in this vein--you have acknowledged that
they were in violation. They were given ample opportunity to meet the
requirements, and they chose not to. I find that to be plenty of
justification for finally acting to remedy the situation--you don't. Too
bad.

>
> There was supposed to be a major, imminent threat. There wasn't,

Not according to our case.

>
> ><snip meaningless material, since you now admit he was in violation>
>
> You mean, "avoid all the issues you find too hard to deal with?"

No, they have been dealt with--you just typically try to continually
reorient to this "immediate or imminent threat" from WMD that was, in fact,
not a requirement for our action per the case set forth by our leaders on
this side of the pond. Sorry, but that is just not an accurate portrayal of
what was required to justify action, as the White House report I pointed you
at made clear.

<snip more materiel made meaningless by admission he was in violation>

>
> Let's remember that we British apparently used chemical weapons on the
> Iraqis during the 1920s. Out of interest, would digging up a
> 1920s-vintage shell filled with mustard gas count as "a violation" and
> be the complete, absolute justification you seem to consider it?

No. Now that you have that strawman off your chest, maybe you'd like to get
back to the subject at hand?

>
> >> No, just the guy who wonders why "if violations of A, B, C and D are
all
> >> 'urgent grounds for action' in Iraq, then why are more serious
> >> violations of all four not important elsewhere?"
> >
> >Obviously you are completely hung up on this "Standard Playbook for
> >International Affairs",
>
> I am not, and have said so to you repeatedly. Since you're fond of
> invective, let me now call *you* a liar for repeatedly making false
> claims despite contradiction.

Have you not continually stated that if we went into Iraq under the
justifications we have set forth, that we also should *have* to similarly
and simultaneously address every other WMD-holding state with similar,
either overt/government approved or covert/non-government sanctioned ties to
terrorism, etc., in the same manner as we have Iraq? If not, then just what
kind of point *have* you been trying to make with your repeated squeals
about why we have not acted similarly in regards to the DPRK, Iran,
Pakistan, Syria, etc.? I believe a relook at your past statements in this
regard will prove that you have indeed been saying repeatedly that we should
have to follow the same course we have set for ourself in regards to Iraq
with these other nations--

"Yeah, but so what? Syria has WMEs and the missiles to launch them. So?
Ditto North Korea and Iran. Why was Iraq such a massive and immediate
danger, and why ignore more
real and capable threats?" 18 Feb 04

"North Korea is mostly just a menace to North Koreans. They
seem to have more proven WME capability than Iraq, but they still can't
hit CONUS. If replacing North Korea's undoubtedly nasty leadership was
vital, why has it been left in the "too difficult" pile for fifty years?
Conversely, what did Iraq have that North Korea doesn't?" 11 Feb 04

"*Are* you after WMD? Iran has them, Syria has them, Israel has them.
North Korea has them, India has them, Pakistan has them, how long does
the list have to be? (North Korea in particular has WMD, a missile
production line, and a very flexible export policy provided the customer
has hard currency)" 17 Jan 03

"...while Iraq is being asked to roll over and play dead, North Korea is
indulged." 6 Jan 03

"Bush Jr. has nailed his colours to the mast that he'll go to war to
prevent WMD proliferation, as far as Iraq is concerned. It would at
least be consistent and understandable if he hit North Korea's nuclear
program, which is blatantly in violation of a long series of agreements
that NK voluntarily entered into and has been used to threaten the US....
What makes the US look inconsistent to me, is an apparent obsession with
Iraq - especially while North Korea is happily building bombs, Iran has
a weapons programme, and India and Pakistan are happily proliferating at
each other. (And what *is* the status of Israel's WMD programme these
days?)" (29 Dec 02)

And finally, and most damning in this case..."NK and Iran are much nearer
WME than Iraq, and Syria is widely alleged to have chemical warheads on over
a hundred Scud copies. Sounds like a threat to me - when do we go in? If it
was good enough for Iraq, it's good enough for them."

Yep, it does indeed appaear that you have a long and lusterous history
(there are oodles more examples in Google of your making very similar
statements over the past year or two, but I think the above is quite
sifficient to prove the accuracy of my characterization of your comments in
this regard) of advocating that we should have to be "consistent" (i.e.,
that euphamestic "standard playbook") in how we deal with all nations who
happen to have WMD, etc. So in this case, again, the paraphrase is pretty
danged accurate--your words again have left you hanging, this time with an
unsubstantiated claim that I have misrepresented what you have long been
crying.

>
> >> Don't worry about it, Kevin. Just call me "a liberal" and forget about
> >> it.
> >
> >I don't believe I have thus labled you (at least not in recent
memory)--but
> >don't let that stop you from claiming I have, or would, given your
> >demonstrated ability to make false attributions.
>
> Pot, meet kettle.

Please show proof, as I did regarding your lies below (and now above, as
well).

>
> Where have *I* ever mentioned a "standard playbook for international
> affairs"? (Your words, this post) That is your own invention which you
> have falsely, repeatedly, attributed to me. You are a liar.

The "standard playbook" is my accurate paraphrase of what you have long been
arguing--see that bit about being "consistent" andd the bit about "When do
we go in?" to those other nations that you wrote and I quoted above.

No, in your case you have repeatedly argued that we should have to follow
the same course with other nations that we have followed with Iraq, so that
paraphrase is accurate. Apparently, you have become so accustomed to lying
that you no longer have the capacity of recognizing the truth when you see
it. Again, quite sad.

>
> Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
> stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
> would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely quoted as being my
> words. You are a liar.

"A huge lethal pile of WME may still emerge, but the odds continue to
worsen." 12 Sep 03

"One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent." (In this very
thread)

So, it appears that you do indeed require "massive amounts" if you are only
willing to consider "tons of agent". Of course, you have also said recently,
"1998 and earlier, I'm willing to accept a few (call it three, offhand)
"WME stockpiles" that are - for a rule of thumb - a pallet or less of
shells, 122mm rockets, or precursors each. 1991 or earlier, I'd raise
the bar quite a lot higher, because they prepared to fight a defensive
war and then lost it massively and that's where large amounts of kit go
missing. (We're still occasionally digging up buried caches of 1940s No.
76 grenades here in the UK, which is a problem because they're beer
bottles filled with a benzene, rubber and white phosphorous mixture -
not nice to accidentally put a spade through one) Post-1998, "a pallet"
of filled basic munitions or of filler for them,
or a single weapon that was a significant advance on their previous
capability, would be conclusive proof. Less than that would be a very
unwelcome surprise, though not decisive (we know they *wanted* to keep
their programs going, but the claim was that the programs existed and
were an immediate threat)" 18 May 04

Which leaves one a bit perplexed as to what exactly you do require--it
ranges from the acceptance of one round of a type they were not known to
have (which you apparently no longer accept, being as this binary round no
longer makes your cut-off score), to multiple pallets of rounds, to the
claim that you have to have "tons of agent" in order to be measurable.

>
> Shall I continue? I find your protestations of wounded honour extremely
> amusing, since you so freely indulge in the conduct you claim to
> deprecate.

Mine are pretty accurate--your's have been deplorably inaccurate, and proven
as such.

>
> >> Actually, our Prime Minister signed off on them, which may prove to
have
> >> been unwise.
> >
> >I have not seen them attibuted to our own leader. So what you are saying
is
> >that your guy was wrong, and outrs was right?
>
> Well, it seems the director of your Central Intelligence Agency at least
> felt he was wrong.

Uhmmm...again, where in the White House's case against Iraq did you find
thaose descriptive terms? Eh?

>
> >> Indeed. Why, the US Army is regularly called upon to fend off hordes of
> >> umbrella-wielding assailants, is it not?
> >
> >You have already admitted he was in violation in this regard, as we
claimed.
> >Don't try backtracking now.
>
> Who's backtracking? Where's the danger posed by a horde of
> umbrella-wielding Iraqis trying to get close enough to jab the legs of
> their enemies? Dave Barry's expression "field mice under a rotary mower"
> springs to mind against even the least competent opposition: I'll take a
> DShK in a sangar or even an AK against a ricin-loaded umbrella any day.

It's a violation.

>
> >> Chose to mount *your* high horse? After you called me a cynical liar
for
> >> such a thing?
> >>
> >> (I believe the phrase is 'Ker-CHING!')
> >
> >I can see that sarcasm is beyond your comprehension; you seem to keep
> >forgetting it was you who lambasted me
>
> "Lambasted"? When?

"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being shot
at because of this."

>
> My, you're thin-skinned and touchy. Is that a side effect of habitial
> lying?

I would not know--a question better addressed to yourself, as you have been
shown to be a proven liar.

>
> >for bringing humor into the equation,
> >but then you repeatedly do so yourself. Again, double standard much?
>
> No, just amused.

Double standard.

>
> >> >Yeah, he is obviously innocent of all charges because he had NO IDEA
that
> >> >his nation had been working on WMD efforts over the years,
> >>
> >> I'm impressed that you can say this with such certainty.
> >
> >I don't.
>
> Then why did you say it if you're not certain?
>
> Oh, I forgot - humour and sarcasm. Which are admirable rhetorical tools
> in your hands, but deceitful lies when used against you. Just as
> paraphrasing your debator's words is a perfectly acceptable tactic for
> you, but a filthy deception when practiced against you.

No, you keep forgetting that it was you who took the "nothing humorous about
this subject" bent. Or do you factually remmeber that was the case, and just
choose to lie about it instead? Once you are proven to be a liar, none of
your words have much weight--sorry, but you just can't be trusted, can you?

>
> Having fun yet?
>
> >> I'd be more impressed if you could show me how what he *believed* he
> >> owned or might soon own, related to what he actually *did* possess.
> >
> >Meaningless--you have already admitted he was indeed in violation.
>
> As I said, dig long and hard enough and you might find a 1920s chemical
> munition. There you go - he's in violation.

You might try being a bit more realistic with your strawman erection.

>
> See how meaningless this absolutism of yours is?
>
> ><snip more tapdancing around the fact that he was in violation>
>
> Amused at the frantic evasion - "evasion of UNSCR687" now apparently
> being the Holy Writ that required immediate invasion.
>
> Of course, there's no playbook, which is why two Iraqi shells require
> invasion and a prolonged occupation while hundreds of chemical-tipped
> Syrian SCUDs are politely ignored. Makes perfect sense: two artillery
> shells are obviously *much* more of a threat. Oh, yeah, and it "wasn't
> all about the WMD", which makes the whole "violation of 687" rather
> moot...?

Oooh, there you go again--not happy that we have dared to treat Iraq
differently from other nations (ones that are not subject to UN sanction
regarding WMD's, at that). Too bad.

>
> Confusing, isn't it, once you stop thinking about what you're doing and
> just decide to blindly follow?
>
> >> Your countrymen have called them much worse than liars - should I
> >> disbelieve them?
> >
> >Are you saying they are liars, or not?
>
> No. Why do you suddenly find them credible, and why have you so
> conspicuously failed to defend them?

What? I find Kay to be quite credible. So if you are not calling him a liar,
then you must accept his testimony that violations, to include that ricin
program, were indeed found.

>
> >Given your own record of recent
> >dishonesty,
>
> You mean, like "massive quantities"? Go on, find me a post where I said
> that - yet you attributed it to me. Or is it not lying when *you* do it?

See above--your own words always tend to let you down, don't they Paul?

>
> It's curious that those who are most generous in flinging the charge of
> "liar" are those who themselves are quite reckless with the truth.

Prove it, as I have in your case.

>
>
> >> Well, twice and eventually. (Overlapping requests, but mea culpa)
> >>
> >> I never did get the prioritisation or the sort of detail that turned
> >> them from "political manifesto" to "actually useful", but then I didn't
> >> expect to.
> >
> >You got them, repeatedly.
>
> No, you rattled off a laundry-list of reasons. Were they in order? What
> was the relative importance? *That* was what you were asked for and you
> have *still* failed to provide.

You asked for the reasons--you got them...again, and again.

>
> That was why I asked for them in order and with an indication of their
> relative importance, and I was unsurprised when you were unable to do
> so.
>
> Of course, you at least provided "the reasons", but you made sure you
> had ample wriggle room. Out of your list, what at least were the top
> three reasons? You weren't even able (or were too wary) to state that.
> Doesn't indicate much trust in your judgement.
>
> >Try my 18
> >May post in reponse to you--the subject was "Sarin in a 155mm Artillery
> >Round". Now you claim I just gave them to you in "overlapping requests"?
>
> I'm being generous because you repeated the laundry list and still left
> out the order and prioritisation I asked for.

Oh, so sorry! Why should I have bothered to prioritize them, when you
refused to even acknowledge they were given to you? Is there is
prioritization system required? No, not that I am aware of. And now you
wiggle and squirm, and try to claim that I never gave them to you in the
precise format that you (only later, after they were originally given to
you) requested.

>
> >Nope. The wording I used then was: "Here are a few, though--
>
> Now, remember you've left out any priority and importance. Are these the
> top slice of the list? The least important reasons that are safe for
> public discussion? A random selection?

You asked "Out of interest, what *were* the reasons? Let us avoid future
misunderstandings." To which I gave you an answer. You then went on to ask
for them in a "rough order of importance", which I did not do, seeing as
there is no standard or approved "order of importance" for such things. You
got your list--you got it again when I gave you the bit about the White
House case (which, goshdang it, did not set forth an "order of importance",
either--how dare they not meet Paulian requirements, eh?!). And you
continued to claim you were never given these items. Hence in this case, you
are either stupid, or a liar--which is it?


>
> >I gave you some more in this
> >thread. But you *kept* claiming I never answered your
> >question...
>
> You didn't, because from the first the question was not just "list every
> possible reason for war with Iraq" but "what was the order of
> importance?"

No, you asked two different versions of the same question--I gave you an
answer to the first and ignored the latter as being reptitiious and
meaningless (as there is no "order of importance", as even the White House
report indicated).

>
> >tsk-tsk-tsk, that would be another false accusation on your part
> >(unfortunately, that is getting to be about par for the course with you).
>
> No, that would be another casual lie from you.
>
> People *notice* dishonesty, Kevin.

Then I'd say your reputation is in tatters.

>
> >> No, Kevin, I've said so three times at least. That you choose not to
> >> read, does not mean words are not posted.
> >>
> >> Now, the first time you called me a liar, I replied to you
> >> paragraph-by-paragraph, explained and apologised for the
> >> misunderstanding... only to find that at the end of the article, you
> >> claimed you would read no more on the matter. (In which case why bother
> >> making a significant accusation of untruth?)
> >>
> >> I've repeated the explanation and the apology twice already, and still
> >> you claim to have missed it.
> >>
> >> For a fourth time, I was about to repeat... but on a hunch, I checked
> >> the end of your message and realised you had fled the field *yet
again*.
> >>
> >> I'd ask "Why are you so willing to fling accusations, yet so reluctant
> >> to even discuss apologies?" but apparently you won't read this either.
> >
> >Bull****. Is this your idea of an "apology"?
>
> Right - so we've gone from "I'm a liar because I misquoted you and
> insisted I was right" to "I paraphrased you and immediately made it
> clear this was so, and apologised for the misunderstanding" to "I'm a
> liar because you don't like the tone of my apology"?
>
> How bizarre. What, exactly, is the "lie" here?

You should be able to find your's quite easily, as they are getting to be so
darned common. And you left out the quote of your own words: ""It's not
about the WMD". I
can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was
something of a hint." (Both are direct quotes from your comments last month)
Gee, that does not sound like much of an apology to me--more like a
continued effort to falsely claim that I had made that very statement.

>
>
> Meanwhile, you repeatedly and blatantly conduct exactly the same false
> attribution, invent bizarre positions such as "defending Hussein" and
> claim they're mine.

You have defended Hussein--not all of the time, but enough. That whole bit
about Saddam not knowing about his WMD programs, and presumably him being
therefore innocent of these violations, is a defense of Saddam. Come on, you
have wasted enough electrons in that sort of tapdance--you should at least
be able to admit that is a defense of Saddam.

But this, presumably, is not lying? I've given you a
> couple of examples, I'm curious to hear your explanation of how they are
> an honest and accurate quotation of my words and where the originals can
> be found for reference.
>
> >> Kevin, you're not a sockpuppet for Fred McCall, are you?
> >
> >Why, does Fred have you properly pegged as well?
>
> Depends what you mean - he disappeared in clouds of bluster and
> killfiled me every time I proved he was talking out of his arse.
>
> *He* started calling me a liar when I pointed out you could use
> precision-guided weapons for close air support and he insisted that had
> never happened, didn't happen now and could never be considered.
> Apparently all those LGBs, JDAMs and Mavericks reported expended in CAS
> missions were just fictions of the pilots' overheated imaginations.

Well, in my case your own words have repeatedly shown you to be a liar.
Sounds like a bit of a different situation to me.

>
> >> Actually, you have, but I've accepted it as the rough-and-tumble of
> >> debate rather than using them as an excuse to avoid awkward issues.
> >
> >Please show me where I have done so in this (or last month's) debate.
Show
> >me where I have claimed, "You said..." something that you have not.
>
> Where did I ever claim there was a "standard playbook for international
> affairs"? You repeatedly use that phrase, in quotation marks, as if it
> was my own words. Where did I mention the existence of such? Or did you
> invent it and then falsely attribute it to me?

As I said above, and backed up with repeated direct quotes from your
numerous posts on the subject, that is an accurate paraphrase--"NK and Iran
are much nearer WME than Iraq, and Syria is widely alleged to have chemical
warheads on over a hundred Scud copies. Sounds like a threat to me - when do
we go in? If it was good enough for Iraq, it's good enough for them." Your
words. I am guessing you are beginning to hate the long-term emeory quality
of Google about now; it must truly suck having to face your own words that
bear out the accuracy of how I characterized your argument in this regard,
huh?

>
> Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
> stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
> would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely placed in quotation
> marks as though they were my own words. Where did I make those
> statements? Citations, please.

Already provided above.

>
> >> Kevin, you're the one who has FOUR times made an accusation and then
> >> refused to respond to the reply.
> >
> >Which accusation? The one about you lying about what I actually said,
>
> Which I immediately made clear was a paraphrase and apologised for - a
> point you ignored, while indulging in the exact same conduct yourself.

No, go back and read the record--you did not immediately apologize. I
corrected you, rather politely, and you persisted in inaccurately portraying
my argument, going as far as presenting my actual quote that you claimed
proved your point. I *then* labled you a liar, and I pointed out that you
had ignored the "all" and its import to the meaning; only then did you
weakly apologize, but even that apology was less than full ("That was a
paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the quote so it could be
traced. My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough."). As if your
paraphrase was still accurate (and you know it was not--you do know that a
paraphrase can be either accurate or inaccurate, don't you?). Then you had
the unmitigated gall to come back in this thread and claim you *never*
attributed that paraphrase directly to me--which I proved was not the case
by again quoting your own words that proved you did indeed do that. Cripes,
at this point you have lied so much, and so repetitively, that they are now
piling up on each other.

>
> >or the
> >one about my actually repeatedly answering what you claimed I had never
> >answered?
>
> You were asked for a *prioritised list*, not "some of the reasons" in no
> particular order. You've still failed to provide it, though you've
> rattled off some of the usual mantras.

You asked for twice for the same items, the latter being in a specific
format. One was realistic--the other was not.You got the answer to your
first query, and you won't get one to the unrealistic one.

>
> >> Yes. When "one shell" is a violation, then "violation" becomes
> >> meaningless. By that argument, most of Europe plus the USA would be "in
> >> violation" if you dug long enough in the right places.
> >
> >Nope. Only Iraq was subject to the proscriptions of 687. Nice try,
though.
>
> And where did UNSCR687 say "the suspicion (not proof) of a breach shall
> justify immediate invasion"? Again, you need to actually *read* what you
> cite.

Meaningless. The US chose to enforce 687, which was also, if you have
forgotten, the codification of the ceasefire terms for ODS.

>
> One of the reason the UN wasn't hugely popular is precisely because a
> breach of UNSCR687 isn't an instant casus belli, but grounds for a
> follow-up motion to cover action under UN auspices (such as, 660 - "Iraq
> is very naughty to invade Kuwait and should leave immediately" was
> eventually followed by 678, which authorised member states to enforce
> 660 and implored all states to support the action.)
>
> The US and UK decided to short-circuit the UN and go for a national
> solution. Time will tell whether that was the correct option: and unless
> the current operation ends in disaster then partisans on both sides will
> insist that their way would have been *much* better.
>
> >> You complain about "high horses" and write this rubbish? Hypocrisy,
> >> 'Kevin Brooks' is thy name.
> >
> >What hypocrisy? Saddam has been removed, so he no longer poses any
threat,
> >present or future. A lot of folks think that is a "good thing".
>
> Don Quixote was sure he was riding at giants with flailing arms, too.
>
> Saddam Hussein posed "a threat" because, after over a year of searching,
> we've turned up two - count'em, TWO! - chemical shells of uncertain
> vintage. You don't think that if WMEs were a factor, there were better
> places to look?

No, Saddam posed a threat for a number of reasons (and no, I will not
"prioritize" them), among them his continued desire to pursue WMD programs
in spite of the terms imposed upon him to end the last combat operation we
launched against him.

>
> Of course, "it's not all about WMDs", it's a completely flexible list -
> so much so that you proudly boast of being unable to work out what order
> the reasons might fall in. But then, Hussein wasn't the top threat on
> any permutation of your list.

The White House did not prioritize them, either. I have yet to see any
prioritized declaration of war in any other historical conflict; is this
something new you are proposing for Paulian World? 'Cause it sure does not
seem to apply here on earth, nor has it ever applied.

>
> Still, the idea that you should deal with the most dangerous threats is
> obviously foreign foolishness rooted in the notion that there's a
> "handbook" containing basic wisdom like "biggest risk, biggest
> response".

I believe your words were: "NK and Iran are much nearer WME than Iraq, and
Syria is widely alleged to have chemical warheads on over a hundred Scud
copies. Sounds like a threat to me - when do we go in? If it was good enough
for Iraq, it's good enough for them." Looks like you are grouping all
threats into one big pile and advocating equal treatment for all. Or were
you lying when you made that statement?

>
> >> The only WME attack on the US to date has been home-grown: I earnestly
> >> hope there are no more (disbelieve that as much as it pleases you to do
> >> so) but I have neither belief nor evidence to show that the occupation
> >> of Iraq has reduced the risk in any detectable fashion.
> >
> >It has removed the possibility of Saddam supporting one. Case closed.
>
> Did he ever have the means to support one?

Yeah--those binary components of sarin included in that one round, a ricin
program, and worse, a demonstrated willingness to both use WMD's (setting
him apart from all other current national leaders) and to directly attack US
citizens (of which group that former US President and his entourage are
members).

>
> Tell you what - I'll guarantee to prevent your house being ruined by
> rampaging bull elephants. Now it's only my kindness and generosity that
> stands between you, and domestic ruin under a herd of crazed pachyderms.
>
> Credible? Or silly? I'd say "silly" - similarly, if Iraq has no means to
> produce a threat, then attacking them eliminates _nothing_ while leaving
> *real* threats much more free to act. (You don't need elephant
> insurance. Burglary, fire, et cetera are more credible risks... how much
> would you take from those policies to build an elephant-proof fence
> around your house?)
>
>
> If Iraq *did* have the means to produce a significant WME threat, where
> is it?
>
> (To forestall the inevitable "ricin! ricin! scary!" it's something an
> A-level chemist should be able to do with commercial glassware in a
> domestic kitchen)
>
> >> And when you provided them, I explained how all were business as usual
> >> throughout the Middle East. Refute my points, or run away.
> >
> >Your points are meaningless; NFZ violations are not "business as usual in
> >the Middle East"
>
> Send a recce aircraft to photograph Syria's WMD factories and missile
> bases and see what happens.

If you have not noticed, Syria is not subject to NFZ restrictions. Again,
your argument is meaningless.

>
> You can't fly there and will get a more effective response than Iraq
> managed.
>
> >And as much as I dislike and distrust the Iranians and
> >Syrians, I have yet to read any realistic accounts of mass graves
attributed
> >to their current leaders,
>
> Then you've failed to read. (Syria is Ba'athist just like Iraq was and
> has similar policies about internal dissent)

Please point to the evidence that the current governments of either nation
are responsible for mass executions.

>
> >> Oh, I forgot - I read ahead and you ran away.
> >
> >There is nothing to run away *from*. You are blowing hot air--as usual.
>
> Another lie, Kevin? They slip so easily from your lips.

Provide proof.

>
> >> You're standing by it when it goes off? That seems to be the most usual
> >> description to date. It didn't detonate on command, it was found and
> >> defused or - this is my guess and only that - disabled by controlled
> >> detonation.
> >
> >I am assuming the IED was detonated as a convoy went by, as is the usual
> >case.
>
> The public information to date suggests but is not firm that it was
> spotted in time, and disabled: the process of disabling the rounds
> caused the shell to break and the contents to mix.
>
> Very vague and not much more has been coming. (Which is not hugely
> suspicious - these things take time to analyse. I'm a little surprised
> that more information about the details of the find haven't noticeably
> emerged, but give them time)
>
> >> Not from a proper binary round with no setback and centrifugal effects,
> >> actuated on the ground by a fuzewell full of plastic explosive. Poor
> >> mixing, poor performance.
> >
> >I said, "with fully cooked sarin";
>
> In other words, "not a binary round used as a IED", meaning "not what
> was found".
>
> >i.e., the guys who did the deed would
> >have been smart enough to remove the burster, remove the two chemical
> >components and mix them seperately, and then reassemble the round with
> >properly mixed sarin. The outcome could have been MUCH worse.
>
> Or they could have killed themselves in the attempt, or just ruined the
> shell. (Just because the ingredients of binary sarin aren't nerve
> toxins, doesn't make them innocuous or easy to handle)

I am not aware that either isoproponol or DF are extraordinarily hazardous
by themselves.

>
> >> Plus, how many US troops are in the "downwind effects" of a roadside
IED
> >> whose owners didn't know what they had?
> >
> >The typical IED is targeted against a moving convoy. With no previous
> >indication that chemical rounds might be used, it is easy to assume that
the
> >remaining vehicles would either herrringbone and dismount, or drive
through
> >the KZ.
>
> Both putting most men outside the effective area. One shell doesn't do
> that much - they're fired in barrages for a reason.
>
> >> Now consider quantity of agent - produced by the munition, and exposure
> >> for the troops.
> >
> >You are basing this on what actually happened vis a vis the failure of
the
> >bad guys to account for this being a true binary weapon; I am looking at
it
> >in a worst case, but still realistic, scenario.
>
> Still gets you less casualties than using HE, as far as I can tell -
> unless your guys really bunch up around the explosion point that
> initiates an ambush.
>
> >> I'm lowering my opinion of your competence, sadly, if this is *really*
> >> your opinion and not just bad temper.
> >>
> >> This shell didn't even kill the EOD team (not in NBC as far as I can
> >> tell) and yet it's meant to massacre a convoy? How much gas from a
> >> roadside source do you think passengers actually in moving vehicles
> >> absorb? You're absolutely right that the best protection for the
> >> intended victims would be to drive through at best speed, but the
notion
> >> that this shell posed a serious threat to troops in fast-moving motor
> >> vehicles is just *ludicrous*.
> >
> >Again, we are looking at this from two different viewpoints. If you would
> >care to go back and review my posts in the other threads on this subject,
> >you will n ote that I said early on that the way this one was set off,
> >versus the normal cannon launch, was to be thanked for the relatively low
> >yield.
>
> Plus, it appears from US reports to date, over a decade of deterioration
> of the shell and its contents.
>
> >> Well, gee golly whillikers, Kevin, it might amaze you that we're run by
> >> the UK government not the US.
> >
> >Well, in that case stop acting as if we over here had to be claiming
massive
> >stockpiles
>
> Your invention, not mine. Lying again? Please stick to my own words of
> "militarily significant" when you wish to attribute a description of
> required quantity to me.

No. You are the one who has repeatedly claimed that "And it was claimed that
he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and entire production lines, and
that was why we had to invade and secure that threat Right Now." The US did
not claim that those were necessary conditions. You also have repeatedly
claimed that a "immediate or imminent threat" is required; again, the US
case did not use that verbage. Now either you will admit that these were not
lynchpins of the US's case, or you won't--at this point I could care less,
since I can't trust what you'll say anyway.

>
> >> No. I quoted you precisely complete with cite. I paraphrased you and
> >> when challenged that the paraphrase was distorting your actual
position,
> >> I publicly withdrew the paraphrase and apologised for the error.
> >
> >To repeat what I wrote above: Bull****. Is this your idea of an
"apology"?
>
> So, you're now calling me a liar only because you didn't like the tone
> of my apology? While multiply doing the exact same paraphrase on my
> words?

See the earlier details of this "aplogy " of your's (the one where you said,
"That was a paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the quote so
it could be traced. My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough." ).
Odd, nowhere in that statement do you agree the paraphrase was inaccurate.
In fact, it is hard to figure out just what if anything you *did* apologize
for in that case.

>
> Not good.
>
> >> I'd call it considerably more honest than your tactics here, Mr Brooks.
> >> Be very wary of claiming "you never did X" when in fact you just chose
> >> to never find out.
> >
> >Odd way you have of "apologizing" after an inaccuracy is pointed out
>
> What else are you meant to do? I used a tactic you're fond of, you took
> umbrage, I apologised and made it clear that I had paraphrased rather
> than precisely quoted your words.

See above.

>
> For this I'm called a liar while you repeatedly attribute false
> statements to me.

Prove it.

>
> Yes, I'm enormously impressed with your honour and integrity.

I can see why, when compared to your own levels of both.

>
> >Hey, you have been claiming I never gave any of these to you...but as we
> >have seen, I did last month, and again in this thread... Where is your
big
> >"apology"?
>
> I asked you for a prioritised list. I got "some reasons" in no
> particular order. Still haven't had any indication even of which is the
> most and which the least important reason.

How many times are you going to trot this one out? You first asked for a
list, period. You got it. Stop quibbling--you are already enough of a liar
as is.

>
> >> With or without payload? That technicality aside, plot the 'allowed
> >> range' on a map and see where it gets Iraq.
> >
> >It is a violation. Even UNMOVIC reluctantly admitted as much.
>
> So take it to the Security Council.

Nah, we took care of it ourselves.

>
> Oh, yes, they're irrelevant and incompetent? Then who cares about their
> resolutions?
>
> One needs to take one side, or the other, if one wishes to present as
> having any integrity. Is the UNSC a significant body, or not? If it is,
> why was it bypassed? If it is not, who *cares* what twaddle it passes?
>
> >> Yep, that's a clear reason to invade. I mean, *look* how many aircraft
> >> and aircrew we've lost policing those No Fly Zones!
> >
> >They were violations.
>
> Take it to the Security Council.

Ditto.

>
> >> Alleged or proven? Who was convicted for it, out of interest?
> >
> >Proven to the satisfaction of most, except for diehard Saddam apologists.
>
> So who was convicted, since the evidence was so solid?

Can't recall, though I do believe the Kuwaitis had a couple of people in
jail over that one.

>
> Or is "diehard Saddam apologist" another one of those lies you're so
> free with?

Did I thus label you? No. I said, "Proven to the satisfaction of most,
except for diehard Saddam apologists." If you consider yourself a diehard
Saddam apologist, so be it. I would note that you have demonstrated a
tendency to project the image of someone who thinks the US did Saddam wrong,
based upon your defense of him in regards to his WMD violations.

>
> >> >harboring a couple of known terrorists,
> >>
> >> I offer you Brennan, Artt and Kirby.
> >
> >Then declare war on us.
>
> Why? Three fugitive murderers are proof of hypocrisy regarding "giving
> sanctuary to terrorists", but hardly casus belli unless you're really
> desperate.

Two or three known terrorists receiving sanctuary from Iraq, along with one
reported terrorist training facility, and behavior such as supporting
suicide bombers does indeed constitute part of the casus belli.

>
> >> And have since accepted - in the very post to which you reply, if
memory
> >> serves - that you have finally provided. (Since you've claimed you
won't
> >> read this, it might be churlish to add 'after much prodding' and for a
> >> debator still on the floor, it would be downright rude to comment how
> >> you flung them behind you as you fled)
> >
> >They were "flung" last month, to you. Short memory, eh?
>
> Well, after I gave up on you ever managing the "prioritised" part...

You got a list in reponse to your first query--be happy, and stop quibbling.

>
> Still, half an answer's better than none and it's clear *you* have no
> idea either what the relative importance might have been.
>
> >> Yes, you do. Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did I say
> >> that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?
> >
> >"It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
> >claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint." Your words. That
> >seems like a pretty direct attribution to me. Which would make you a
> >liar...again.
>
> As would your "standard playbook for international affairs" and "great
> numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" so falsely attributed to me.

No, those have been accurate, based upon your own words, as provided above.
You asked where you attributed it--the answer is right there. But you won't
admit it, ebven when faced with your own words? Figures. You are a lying
sack of ****.

>
> Seems you're even more of an egregious liar than me, Kevin, and you've
> never made clear that you were paraphrasing rather than quoting nor
> apologised for the misattribution.

See where these baseless claims have been addressed earlier in this missive.
Now, again--you asked, "Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did
I say that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?" I
gave you your answer, also in your own words. Again, you are proven to be a
liar.


>
> What's your excuse?
>
> >> You claimed they were not a major factor. I asked you to name and rank
> >> the major factors and got a laundry list, which I imagine will have to
> >> do. "I don't know" would, by the way, have been an honourable and
> >> acceptable response.
>
> >> No, they have been finally extracted after much pressure and still in
an
> >> unranked straggle. However, even that seems to be too much pressure for
> >> you to bear.
> >
> >See above. They were given to you on 18 May. Which puts you in the
position
> >of lying...again.
>
> I asked for a list in order of priority, I got "some of the reasons" in
> no order.

No, you asked for a list, which you got. *Then* you asked for the ridiculous
order of priority--and I am still waiting for you to show me any casus belli
for any war where a "prioritized list" was published. I gave you a report on
our casus belli, as given by the White House (not prioritized). Go
ahead--knock yourself out and give me those historical examples.

>
> "I don't know the order." would, again, have been quite acceptable.
> Instead, you've chosen to bluster rather than admit ignorance. (I'll be
> much more charitable than you and refrain from claiming that you're
> deliberately being dishonest in an attempt to conceal your ignorance)

There is no order. Never has been. And not only in the case of this
conflict. Go ahead, I am waiting for you to provide those examples of other
conflicts where a nation has provided a prioritized list of causes.

>
> >> Indeed, because at no point did I claim to anyone that Kevin Brooks
said
> >> at >>TIME<< on >>DATE<< that "QUOTE".
> >
> >See above. ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
> >Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint."
Liar.
>
> "standard playbook for international affairs"?

Asked and answered, repeatedly, with your own words proving you again to be
a liar. Now, you said, "at no point did I claim to anyone that Kevin Brooks
said> >> at >>TIME<< on >>DATE<< that "QUOTE". But as we can see from your
own words, to wit, ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
> >Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint", you
are lying again. Proven rather conclusively, too.

>
> "great numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles"

See your own words that I quoted earlier (above).

>
> Liar yourself, Mr Brooks.

Prove it.

>
> >> There was an age when that allegation would have required you to bring
a
> >> friend (if you could rent one - from your conduct here it seems you
must
> >> have few) and a pair of good swords (assuming you owned them) to a
> >> discreet dawn rendezvous where the matter could be settled in a
> >> traditional style.
> >
> >You have by this point been proven to be a liar,
>
> Well, to employ the same tactics as you.
>
> Either we are both liars, or we are not.

No, "we" are not--you are. And proven conclusively, as you can see again
from that claim of your's that you *never* directly attributed such a
statement to me--when in fact you have been shown to have done exactly that.
That is called *proof*. Now, go back and prove your allegations about me.

>
> >to wit: in claiming that
> >you never attributed those statements to me, which you did, by your own
> >words,
>
> Just as you have repeatedly done to me.

Mine have been accurate, as your own quotes demonstrate. Google sucks, huh?

>
> >and in claiming that I have not given you those examples of "other
> >reasons", which I did last month.
>
> As a partial and unprioritised assortment, when you were specifically
> asked for relative importance.
>
> >Both have been presented to you. It is a
> >bit late to close the barn door--the cows are out.
>
> Kevin, I keep horses in my stable, it's no surprise you won't find any
> cows in there.
>
>
> >> Usenet would perhaps be a better place if it were less easy to fling
> >> accusations and run away.
> >
> >I am not running.
>
> No, I will give you that credit.
>
> >I have given you your own words proving you are a liar
> >regarding your inaccurate paraphrase attributed to me,
>
> And I have shown that you have lied even more generously about me -
> except that I have publicly and repeatedly made clear that I was
> paraphrasing your words, whereas you continue to blatantly and openly
> peddle false quotations as if they were my own words.

No, you have not, as your own words show, again, and again, and again...
read those quotes of your own words I have provided to you.

>
> >along with my own
> >words proving you also lied about supposedly not having given you those
> >"other reasons".
>
> You were asked for a prioritised list. You still have failed to provide
> it, though you hide behind having mumbled some of the reasons in no
> apparent order and then insist that it was a full and complete answer.
>
> >> Whereas I find your cowardice disappointing. Go cosy up to Fred McCall,
> >> he's more your type.
> >
> >What cowardice? Not that such an accusation from a proven liar is much to
> >really worry about--your integrity is shot, Paul, and getting it back is
> >going to be hard enough without your resorting to baseless accusations.
>
> Kevin, you have no standing from which to judge.
>
> As I said, there was a time when such accusations you fling so cheaply
> and casually were considered serious. Some of us still consider them so.
> You, obviously, think them nothing more than petty tools to evade
> difficult questions.

No, I find them quite serious, which is why I did not lable you a liar until
after I had pointed out the inaccuracy of your statement attributed directly
to me, and then watched you try to continue to argue that claim. And the
repeated proofs of your lying in this thread are piling up, higher and
higher, while you sink lower and lower.

>
> >> Sure. "Use humour when you want to. If people don't get it, be ready to
> >> explain."
> >
> >You did not ask for an explanation--you just declared it unacceptable in
> >this thread...
>
> Cite please, where I stated that humour was unacceptable in this thread.

See earlier quote of your response to my initial humorous remark.

>
> Are you falsely attributing words to me *again*?
>
> >> You mean, "I can paraphrase but you are a liar"?
> >
> >That paraphrase is accurate; you yourself said, "I can decide when to
ride
> >it and when not to, not you." Which is a bit different from your
paraphrase
> >that has been in question, and was proven to be most inaccurate (not to
> >mention that you did quite clearly attribute it directly to me, something
> >you now deny, but which the record shows you did do).
>
> So, where precisely did I state where it could be found?

Paul, 18 May 04: ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint" Note the
original quotation marks around the initial statement--they were your's.
Keep on piling up that evidence of your lying, Paul.

>
>
> >> You mean you *did* see the apologies? I thought you claimed I never
> >> mentioned it!
> >
> >I was referring to your inane claim that you apologized,
>
> So, the issue is now merely whether you find the tone of my apology
> acceptable?

Asked and answered earlier.

>
> This is some distance from the ferocious and determined dishonesty you
> seem insistent on attributing to me, along with multiple other
> inventions of yours.
>
> Of course, none of that makes *you* a liar...
>
>
> >while at the same
> >time, as we can clearly see in this post, you continue to lie about ever
> >attributing the paraphrase to me.
>
> Kevin, you're getting desperate.
>
> >Apparently, you can't hardly say much of
> >anything lately without lying.
>
> Yes, quite. Go on, then, give me some examples.

They are quite evident in this thread--see above (starting waaaay above).

>
> >> Brave words from someone who proclaims he's not even reading the reply.
> >> (And who trumpeted that he wouldn't read the replies to his previous
> >> allegations)
> >
> >Uhmmm... I did not say that.
>
> Then what you wrote is not what you meant.

Please prove that. Go back and read what I wrote, and demonstrate that I
said I was not going to read your reply. What I said was I was closing this
out--i.e., I was finishing my response at that point because I was about
full of your lies for one day. Go ahead--show where I said otherwise.

>
> >> "Integrity" my arse. Any cowardly chicken**** can fling false
> >> accusations and run for cover.
> >
> >Every accusation I have made has been covered with direct quotes of your
own
> >words, cited by day and subject, or by my offering proof that I did
indeed
> >give you an answer that you claimed
>
> Just as you've falsely attributed words to me that I never said, and
> evaded questions I repeatedly asked - and exploited my tolerance on your
> evasions to pretend a wounded innocence when in fact you are still
> fleeing the question.

You have offered no proof; you have not challenged the evidence offered that
demonstrates again and again your own lies.

>
> Yes, you're a paragon of virtue and integrity, Mr Brooks.

Compared to you, I doubtless am. heck, at this point, Peter Skelton is a
paragon of virtue compared to you--and that is saying a lot.

>
> >I had not given you, again by day and
> >subject. That means they are TRUE...but you would probably have a bit of
a
> >problem understanding that, given your now proven propensity to resort to
> >lying.
>
> An apparently random selection of "some of the reasons" is not a
> "prioritised list". You were asked one question, you answered another,
> and you are now broadcasting that evasion as if it were a fine and noble
> thing.
>
> >As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
> >line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person, in
> >any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want.
>
> Certainly. As I said, some of us don't treat these matters with the
> casual disregard that you do.

Anytime.

>
> >In my
> >experience, a fellow like you who has to resort to repeatedly lying in
order
> >to try and cover his own missteps, usually is the sort who lacks the
courage
> >for such encounters--but you are welcome to prove otherwise.
>
> If you want to put it like that?
>
> Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.
>
> Gauntlet's down.

I said when you are in the area; I have never been to the UK, and don't see
any chance of going. You, OTOH have indicated that you make periodic visits
to the DC area, right? That is close enough for me--I am more than willing
to do a little drivetime if it makes you happy. Seriously. I believe that
makes it "put up or shut up" time to you, does it not?

>
> > I'm here to talk about it and defend
> >> myself, I'm replying to your claims, you're running away as fast as you
> >> can. Shall we ask the audience to decide?
> >
> >If the audience has read your claims in this posts, and then compared
them
> >to the quotes I took from those 18 May exchanges, then I am pretty sure
they
> >can reach the same conclusion I have reached--you were lying on both
counts.
>
> What order were those reasons in? How important was each? Given that
> these were only "some" of the reasons, were there others more important?
>
> No, sorry, you evaded and you kept evading.
>
> >> Well, Kevin, I'm *really* worried about your bad opinion of me, because
> >> you've clearly shown how open to debate you are and how carefully you
> >> consider your positions, and your hostility could do *terrible* things
> >> to my career prospects - because you're *so* right on all these issues.
> >
> >Hey, it has thus been proven that you are a liar. First, you claimed I
said
> >something that I did not say. That was the first lie, which you say was
just
> >a misunderstanding and that you apologized about.
>
> I thought I didn't apologise? When did your story change?

I said, "..which you say..." No, you really did not apologize for it, as we
can see from reading the excerpts I included earlier in that regard.

>
> >Then you now claim that
> >you never made such an attibution directly to me in the first place--but
> >your quoted words show otherwise.
>
> Actually, they don't.

Yes, they do. ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint". Or are
you now going to say that Google mysteriously created those words in your
name?

Meanwhile you continue to freely and falsely
> attribute claims and statements to me - presumably this is the least
> important of your claims? Or else you have no regard for truth?

Those paraphrased attributions have proven to be true, based upon your own
voluminous past rumminations on those subjects.

>
> I had the integrity to immediately clarify that the words were a
> paraphrase rather than a quotation, and apologise for any
> misrepresentation: you've extended me no such courtesy in your multiple
> false attributions to me.

No, you did not, and by this point I have repeatedly shown you did not.

>
> >Finally, you repeatedly claimed that I
> >never gave you those "other reasons"; but the record shows you were given
a
> >list of them last month, and again during this exchange.
>
> I asked for a list with an indication of order and relative importance.
> I got a random selection of reasons.
>
> >> I get *paid* to do this ****, and Usenet is light relief from it. I'm
> >> actually genuinely sorry that someone I thought was an irascible but
> >> intelligent poster turned out to be a mindless political knee-jerker,
> >> but that's life.
> >
> >Does any of that change the fact that you are a proven liar?
>
> "Proven" in your febrile imagination, perhaps.

No, proven by your own conflicting claims, quoted in this post.

>
> Meanwhile, the challenge is open if you choose to meet it. Will you back
> your claims, or withdraw them? (Or will you make a weak excuse?)

Already have backed them; you are the only one who has provided zero
evidence.

>
> >> Oh, **** off and die, Kevin. I can take a lot but this sort of
> >> sanctimonious rant should be posted at the top, not the bottom.
> >
> >Ah. So proving you are a liar is "sanctimonious"?
>
> When you ever find proof, let me know.
>
> Meanwhile,
>
> >Shouldn't be surprised, I
> >guess--anyone who can claim they do indeed have the right to declare when
> >humor is allowed in a thread and when it is not,
>
> Remind me, again, when I told you humour was not permitted?
>
> I *did* tell you that I personally did not find one of your attempts at
> a joke funny. Now, show me precisely where I told you that I had "the
> right to declare when humor is allowed in a thread and when it is not".
>
> Or are *you* lying, Kevin? Are *you* still inventing claims and then
> falsely attributing them to me?
>
> >> Besides, isn't your entire paragraph redundant if you're just going to
> >> run away?
> >
> >Uhmmm...who's running?
>
> You are, on Saturday 19th.

Come on, run to me baby. Anytime, just let me know when. You sad sack of
excrement.

Brooks

Ed Rasimus
June 9th 04, 04:22 PM
On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 17:13:18 -0400, "George Z. Bush"
> wrote:

>For the benefit of those too young to remember the way things were when Social
>Security was enacted, we were a society who largely took care of our elderly
>through the efforts of families, churches, and small, tight-knit communities.
>The economic disaster created by the depression in the early 30s proved that
>those sources were inadequate to care for the declining years of older citizens
>no longer able to pay their own way. In addition, society was in a process of
>flux, as a result of which families often broke apart and landed in different
>parts of the country, and church and community ties were severed by older people
>moving about the country seeking ways to make a living. If I remember it right,
>that was the rationale that brought on the Social Security program, in which
>people would be expected to contribute to their own declining years wherever
>they lived and regardless of support available to them from other than
>themselves.
>
>I was just a young teenager in those years (early to mid 30s), but that's the
>way I remember it. Have I got it right?
>
>George Z.
>

Sounds pretty close to me. Nice historic perspective.
Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Paul J. Adam
June 9th 04, 07:46 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> Why? You're the one who responded to argument with a version of "it was
>> a joke, son, a joke" a few posts back.
>
>And you were the one who said that humor was inappropriate in this
>thread--right up until you wanted to use it yourself. Typical.

No, I didn't - I thought misquotation was a Bad Thing?

I *did* say I didn't find it amusing, but show me where I tried to deny
you permission.

>> Not particularly. You suggested a properly calibrated humour switch was
>> a necessary tool, now you're flying off the handle because it seems your
>> calibration is badly off.
>
>Only because you told us it was not allowed in this thread.

Where? Are you merely confused, or just mendacious?

>> Sorry, we were talking about UNSCR687, not Congressional resolutions.
>> Unless you accept that Iraqi government resolutions that Kuwait was
>> actually the 19th Province and should be reunified immediately were also
>> binding?
>
>Sorry that you can't grasp that our congress decided to actually act in this
>case,

So, UN resolutions are irrelevant? Why are you discussing them, in that
case?

>> No mention of *industrial* production, meaning they had at best reached
>> prototype testing - and certainly not excluding prototype testing.
>
>Actually, no mention of *any* production. Please point to where any
>"non-industrial" production was mentioned in regards to these kind of
>weapons?

So these shells were never produced?

>> No - just no evidence of a production line for the results of the
>> suspected research.
>
>Again, please point to where the UN inspectors point to *any* binary rounds
>being produced as part of this program. No?

Find evidence of *any* binary rounds being produced in Iraq.

>As I said--the UN never mentions
>any evidence of *any* rounds being fabricated,

Despite an apparent research program.

>nor did the Iraqis
>acknowledge producing any such rounds, be they R&D products or not. Which is
>what I have been saying all along--so your point would be...?

That this was a prototype (not production), or even an import. Certainly
no evidence that Iraq produced it, according to you.

>> The first Archerfish prototype was built in a garage in personal time.
>> Now it's part of the US AMNS program. Doesn't mean the first few
>> hand-built prototypes never existed, or that Redfish didn't get lost
>> while surveying Brent Spar.
>
>We are not talking about Archerfish--we are talking about Iraqi binary
>rounds which you indicated the UN report addressed--but in fact the UN
>reports did not ever mention any such rounds being in existance, and was
>only aware that some form of R&D had occured.

How much R&D? Enough for a few prototypes, for example? (Pretty basic
R&D if they didn't even get to basic prototype testing...)

>> To repeat,
>> "These also include Iraq's efforts to develop new delivery means for
>> CW-agents, such as special warheads other than for Al-Hussein missiles,
>> i.e. FROG missile, and real binary artillery munitions and aerial bombs.
>> Evidence of such studies was found in the documents from the Haider
>> farm."
>
>Wow. How many rounds are produced by the usual "study"?

Between five and fifty, in my direct experience - those were guided
weapons, though, so artillery shells would likely be rather higher. Can
be a hundred or more for an experimental round (thinking of the L15
shell as the one I heard about, and that was just an improved HE round)

>Why bother with
>"industrial production" when you can apparently convene a few folks around a
>table, produce a report or two regarding design requirments and feasibility,
>and ...presto, rounds magically appear?

How many rounds, taking how long? (Remember you fire these by the pallet
load in action - prototypes are fine for development but you then freeze
the design and set up a line for mass production)

> The fact is that the UN never
>mentioned the physical existance, or suspected existance, of *any* binary
>rounds--as I told you before.

And they also were explicit that there was no Iraqi production facility
for binary sarin shells found (confirmed by subsequent events).

So I guess that proves the shell can't be Iraqi, if your logic is
correct.

>> So, evidence of studies but not of production lines. And in over a year
>> of searching based first on intelligence, then on prisoner
>> interrogation, there's no sign of any production line that could have
>> produced such a shell.
>
>
>> One option is that this was a pre-91 prototype round. Another is that it
>> was imported, from Syria or Iran as examples. Evidence that it's part of
>> a domestic production program is the thinnest of all - yet that's the
>> mast you've chosen to nail your colours to.
>
>You see Iran as a potential supplier of chemical munitions to Saddam?!

Absolutely not - the concept's ludicrous.

But he's been gone over a year, and I can see Iran (or factions within
Iran) supplying Shi'a resistance with weapons.

>And where is your evidence that
>Syria was a possible source?

Same place as your evidence that the round came from an Iraqi mass
production line

>Paulian conjecture? OTOH, we do have the UN
>acknowledging that the Iraqis were working on binary development, and geee,
>what do you kniow, a binary round turns up in Iraq. Occam's razor says it
>was probably of Iraqi manufacture.

Isn't that what I keep saying? If they had a development program, they'd
have had a few hand-built rounds to test the concept... except,
according to you, they must have managed to go directly from paper
concept to frozen design without a single prototype, and then made the
production line and everyone who knew about it disappear into thin air
before the US arrived.

The UN found hard evidence of neither R&D rounds nor mass production,
but you cannot get to mass production without the development & proving
trials, for which you need R&D rounds. I think you need to look again at
Occam's razor and try wielding it properly.

>> Nice evasion. So why not invade Iraq properly in autumn 1991, when
>> they're thoroughly in violation?
>
>Because we were willing to give them a chance to meet the terms of the
>ceasefire from our then-recent little dance in the desert. And we continued
>to give them opportunities to meet those requirements for the next twelve
>years. Many of us find that a more than reasonable time period during which
>Saddam could have chosen to fully comply with the requirements. But he did
>not do so, and was as you acknowledge in violation on some number of
>issues--too bad for him.

So, go to the UN and get a resolution authorising action and imploring
all member nations to lend assistance.

Or is the UN only relevant when it suits you? If it's not relevant, then
neither is 687. If it *is* relevant, then you need authorisation or
self-defence to invade another member country.

>> There was supposed to be a major, imminent threat. There wasn't,
>
>Not according to our case.

Your case turned out to be badly in error.

>> You mean, "avoid all the issues you find too hard to deal with?"
>
>No, they have been dealt with--you just typically try to continually
>reorient to this "immediate or imminent threat" from WMD that was, in fact,
>not a requirement for our action per the case set forth by our leaders on
>this side of the pond. Sorry, but that is just not an accurate portrayal of
>what was required to justify action, as the White House report I pointed you
>at made clear.

"Baghdad has begun renewed production of chemical warfare agents,
probably including mustard, sarin, cyclosarin, and VX. Its capability
was reduced during the UNSCOM inspections and is probably more limited
now than it was at the time of the Gulf war, although VX production and
agent storage life probably have been improved.


Saddam probably has stocked a few hundred metric tons of CW agents."
http://www.odci.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm

>> Let's remember that we British apparently used chemical weapons on the
>> Iraqis during the 1920s. Out of interest, would digging up a
>> 1920s-vintage shell filled with mustard gas count as "a violation" and
>> be the complete, absolute justification you seem to consider it?
>
>No.

So is it one shell, two shells or three shells that become the
violation?

>> I am not, and have said so to you repeatedly. Since you're fond of
>> invective, let me now call *you* a liar for repeatedly making false
>> claims despite contradiction.
>
>Have you not continually stated that if we went into Iraq under the
>justifications we have set forth, that we also should *have* to similarly
>and simultaneously address every other WMD-holding state with similar,
>either overt/government approved or covert/non-government sanctioned ties to
>terrorism, etc., in the same manner as we have Iraq?

No. Your fantasy, not mine, falsely attributed to me.

I expressed concern that Iraq presented a much lower threat than several
other nations, and represented a significant diversion of resources
since even the US can only undertake one such operation at a time.

That bears no resemblance to the nonsense you claim I espouse. In
particular, point to when I demanded *simultaneous* action - that
addition is your invention, not mine. (The US doesn't have the available
resources to deal with Sudan at the moment, let alone Iran or Syria...)


>> Where have *I* ever mentioned a "standard playbook for international
>> affairs"? (Your words, this post) That is your own invention which you
>> have falsely, repeatedly, attributed to me. You are a liar.
>
>The "standard playbook" is my accurate paraphrase

"I accurately paraphrase, you're a filthy liar". Yes, extremely
consistent.

I ask why greater apparent threats are considered less urgent (and why
the US is so extending itself with Iraq as to preclude any significant
action against those threats), and you claim I espouse a rigidly
standardised approach that must be undertaken in parallel?

Hardly an "accurate paraphrase", in fact I'd call it a deliberate
distortion.

Go through your list of quotes. When do I say that the US *must* invade
anyone else? I ask when other threats will get the same treatment: I do
not demand parallel operations.


But I suppose only you get to define what "accurate paraphrase" is.

>> Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
>> stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
>> would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely quoted as being my
>> words. You are a liar.
>
>"A huge lethal pile of WME may still emerge, but the odds continue to
>worsen." 12 Sep 03

Nothing about how much would be *necessary*.

>"One elderly shell isn't a threat. That's a fact we can both agree
>on. You measure chemical weapons in terms of tons of agent." (In this very
>thread)

And completely true - read your Joint Warfare Publications, or whatever
the US equivalent is.

>So, it appears that you do indeed require "massive amounts" if you are only
>willing to consider "tons of agent".

I'd accept "Militarily significant". "Massive amounts" is simply
dishonest: you're presenting it as a direct quotation of my words, when
in fact it's your distortion.

But again, when you do this it's just "accurate paraphrasing".

>Of course, you have also said recently,
>"1998 and earlier, I'm willing to accept a few (call it three, offhand)
>"WME stockpiles" that are - for a rule of thumb - a pallet or less of
>shells, 122mm rockets, or precursors each. 1991 or earlier, I'd raise
>the bar quite a lot higher, because they prepared to fight a defensive
>war and then lost it massively and that's where large amounts of kit go
>missing. (We're still occasionally digging up buried caches of 1940s No.
>76 grenades here in the UK, which is a problem because they're beer
>bottles filled with a benzene, rubber and white phosphorous mixture -
>not nice to accidentally put a spade through one) Post-1998, "a pallet"
>of filled basic munitions or of filler for them,
>or a single weapon that was a significant advance on their previous
>capability, would be conclusive proof. Less than that would be a very
>unwelcome surprise, though not decisive (we know they *wanted* to keep
>their programs going, but the claim was that the programs existed and
>were an immediate threat)" 18 May 04
>
>Which leaves one a bit perplexed as to what exactly you do require-

I thought the above was perfectly clear.

>-it
>ranges from the acceptance of one round of a type they were not known to
>have (which you apparently no longer accept, being as this binary round no
>longer makes your cut-off score),

They were known to be working on it, remember? Weaponised VX, or an
effective BW agent with workable dispersal means, would be appropriate.
Going from "binary lite" to "true binary" with sarin would not.

> to multiple pallets of rounds, to the
>claim that you have to have "tons of agent" in order to be measurable.

Basically, we're looking for evidence that there was an Iraqi threat.
The older the munitions are, the more production they had back then. One
estimate is that Iraq produced something over 200,000 chemical
munitions, of which maybe half were expended during the war with Iraq
(try proving *that* claim solidly).

From 1991 onwards his NBCR facilities were under inspection and
occasional attack, and "it was lost in 1987" or "it was overrun in 1991"
becomes infeasable.

>> Shall I continue? I find your protestations of wounded honour extremely
>> amusing, since you so freely indulge in the conduct you claim to
>> deprecate.
>
>Mine are pretty accurate--your's have been deplorably inaccurate, and proven
>as such.

Your definition of "accurate" here is as incorrect as when you use it to
describe your paraphrasing.

>> Well, it seems the director of your Central Intelligence Agency at least
>> felt he was wrong.
>
>Uhmmm...again, where in the White House's case against Iraq did you find
>thaose descriptive terms? Eh?

Quoted the CIA's white paper at you.

"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt
that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most
lethal weapons ever devised." President G W Bush, March 17 2003

"The Iraqi regime has violated all of those obligations. It possesses
and produces chemical and biological weapons...

Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger
is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know
Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today -- and we do...

Iraq could decide on any given day to provide a biological or chemical
weapon to a terrorist group or individual terrorists...

Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is
increasing his capabilities to make more. And he is moving ever closer
to developing a nuclear weapon...." President G W Bush, October 17, 2002

Shame about the lack of production lines, isn't it?

>> "Lambasted"? When?
>
>"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being shot
>at because of this."

Lambast, verb. Beat with a cane [syn: cane, flog, lambaste] 2: censure
severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering the
stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer
dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup";

I told you your joke wasn't funny to me, and you call it "severe or
angry censure"? Either you're ignorant, lying or mentally unstable.

>> Then why did you say it if you're not certain?
>>
>> Oh, I forgot - humour and sarcasm. Which are admirable rhetorical tools
>> in your hands, but deceitful lies when used against you. Just as
>> paraphrasing your debator's words is a perfectly acceptable tactic for
>> you, but a filthy deception when practiced against you.
>
>No, you keep forgetting that it was you who took the "nothing humorous about
>this subject" bent.

I thought you claimed I forbade you from using humour?

(Or are you finally withdrawing that false claim?)

>Once you are proven to be a liar, none of
>your words have much weight

Let me know if you ever find any proof, then.

>> No. Why do you suddenly find them credible, and why have you so
>> conspicuously failed to defend them?
>
>What? I find Kay to be quite credible. So if you are not calling him a liar,
>then you must accept his testimony that violations, to include that ricin
>program, were indeed found.

+++++
Weapons of mass destruction do not exist in Iraq and it is "delusional"
to think they will be found, says former chief US weapons inspector
David Kay.

Mr Kay told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that British and American
leaders should simply apologise and admit that they were wrong....

"There were clearly illegal activities, clear violations of UN Security
Council resolutions. We have accumulated that evidence and really have
accumulated that evidence to a considerable degree four months ago.

"There are not actual stockpiles of newly produced weapons of mass
destruction."
+++++
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3778987.stm

Still find him credible?

>> You mean, like "massive quantities"? Go on, find me a post where I said
>> that - yet you attributed it to me. Or is it not lying when *you* do it?
>
>See above--your own words always tend to let you down, don't they Paul?

So, you've proved I *never* said "massive quantities" and your claiming
I did, is a lie. (You paraphrased it and passed it off as a direct
quotation, while claiming that doing so is a lie)

>> It's curious that those who are most generous in flinging the charge of
>> "liar" are those who themselves are quite reckless with the truth.
>
>Prove it, as I have in your case.

Done, repeatedly.

>> No, you rattled off a laundry-list of reasons. Were they in order? What
>> was the relative importance? *That* was what you were asked for and you
>> have *still* failed to provide.
>
>You asked for the reasons--you got them...again, and again.

I asked for the reasons and their relative importance. You provided
"some" of the reasons and refused to prioritise them. Again, and again,
and again.

>> I'm being generous because you repeated the laundry list and still left
>> out the order and prioritisation I asked for.
>
>Oh, so sorry!

Thank you.

>Why should I have bothered to prioritize them, when you
>refused to even acknowledge they were given to you?

Because a partial list without the prioritisation is meaningless.

>Is there is
>prioritization system required? No, not that I am aware of.

It was asked for, you repeatedly refuse to provide it, and now you claim
you fully and completely answered the question.

Curious definition of honesty you use over there, Kevin.

>And now you
>wiggle and squirm, and try to claim that I never gave them to you in the
>precise format that you (only later, after they were originally given to
>you) requested.

I don't need to *claim* you refused, you proudly boast of doing so.

>> Now, remember you've left out any priority and importance. Are these the
>> top slice of the list? The least important reasons that are safe for
>> public discussion? A random selection?
>
>You asked "Out of interest, what *were* the reasons? Let us avoid future
>misunderstandings." To which I gave you an answer. You then went on to ask
>for them in a "rough order of importance", which I did not do, seeing as
>there is no standard or approved "order of importance" for such things.

I see - so, in other words even you admit you never answered the
question, providing a partial evasion which you then hid behind
repeatedly.


>> How bizarre. What, exactly, is the "lie" here?
>
>You should be able to find your's quite easily, as they are getting to be so
>darned common. And you left out the quote of your own words: ""It's not
>about the WMD". I
>can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was
>something of a hint." (Both are direct quotes from your comments last month)
>Gee, that does not sound like much of an apology to me--more like a
>continued effort to falsely claim that I had made that very statement.

From: Paul J. Adam )
Subject: Re: Sarin in a 155 artillery round
Newsgroups: sci.military.naval
Date: 2004-05-19 13:51:14 PST

"That was a paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the
quote so it could be traced.

My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough."

Now, is that not an apology?

>> Meanwhile, you repeatedly and blatantly conduct exactly the same false
>> attribution, invent bizarre positions such as "defending Hussein" and
>> claim they're mine.
>
>You have defended Hussein--not all of the time, but enough.

When, precisely?

>That whole bit
>about Saddam not knowing about his WMD programs,

Actually, having a grossly exaggerated idea of them.


+++++
From: Paul J. Adam )
Subject: Re: Truman: the buck stops here
Newsgroups: sci.military.naval
Date: 2003-07-15 14:46:54 PST

"I'm personally inclined to believe that Saddam's stated chemical and
biological weapon production was close kin to Soviet-era food harvests:
every Five-Year Plan reports record yields of grain, milk and meat,
while mysteriously food rations are cut (again) - only because
Western-inspired 'revisionists', 'capitalists' and 'hooligans' are
sabotaging the distribution of these bumper crops."
+++++

>and presumably him being
>therefore innocent of these violations,

I don't follow you here. Saddam wrongly believed he had potent
stockpiles of WME and this renders him *innocent*?

How does this constitute "defending him"?

>is a defense of Saddam. Come on, you
>have wasted enough electrons in that sort of tapdance--you should at least
>be able to admit that is a defense of Saddam.

No, I'm afraid you're either mendacious or confused again.
>

>> Depends what you mean - he disappeared in clouds of bluster and
>> killfiled me every time I proved he was talking out of his arse.
>>
>> *He* started calling me a liar when I pointed out you could use
>> precision-guided weapons for close air support and he insisted that had
>> never happened, didn't happen now and could never be considered.
>> Apparently all those LGBs, JDAMs and Mavericks reported expended in CAS
>> missions were just fictions of the pilots' overheated imaginations.
>
>Well, in my case your own words have repeatedly shown you to be a liar.

That's what he said as well. Oh, and he's fond of the tactical
paraphrase too.

>Sounds like a bit of a different situation to me.

No, I think it's remarkably similar. Can't argue the issues? Call your
opponent a liar. Don't get anywhere with that? Resort to invective.

>> Where did I ever claim there was a "standard playbook for international
>> affairs"? You repeatedly use that phrase, in quotation marks, as if it
>> was my own words. Where did I mention the existence of such? Or did you
>> invent it and then falsely attribute it to me?
>
>As I said above, and backed up with repeated direct quotes from your
>numerous posts on the subject, that is an accurate paraphrase--

You presented it in a manner which you claimed made it a quotation. It
is not a quotation, it's a paraphrase, and not even an accurate one.

So, you're passing off your words as mine with intent to deceive? Your
rules, not mine - but they make you a liar.

And a much more determined one, since I *immediately* made clear that
the disputed words were not a direct quotation and apologised for the
error: while you continue to insist that peddling a distortion of my
words as if they were my own, is a fair and decent thing to do.



>"NK and Iran
>are much nearer WME than Iraq, and Syria is widely alleged to have chemical
>warheads on over a hundred Scud copies. Sounds like a threat to me - when do
>we go in? If it was good enough for Iraq, it's good enough for them."

If Iraq is such a threat, why is

>Your
>words. I am guessing you are beginning to hate the long-term emeory quality
>of Google about now; it must truly suck having to face your own words that
>bear out the accuracy of how I characterized your argument in this regard,
>huh?

Indeed: it's very useful to compare your quotes - sorry, when *you* do
it they're just paraphrases - with what I actually wrote and to see how
vague your definition of "accurate paraphrase" is.

Now, if you weren't so in arms about this being a gross and malicious
falsehood when done to *you*, this wouldn't be an issue: your enthusiasm
for distorting positions is obvious and hardly new. It's your
self-righteous hypocrisy that it's perfectly acceptable for *you*, but
malicious falsehood from anyone else, that's so curious.

>> Where have I ever stated that only "great numbers of rounds in massive
>> stockpiles" or "only massive amounts", (both you, this thread, June 05)
>> would be convincing? Again, your invention, falsely placed in quotation
>> marks as though they were my own words. Where did I make those
>> statements? Citations, please.
>
>Already provided above.

No, you posted how I described quantities. You then falsely quoted me as
requiring "great numbers of rounds in massive quantities", words you
yourself have proved I never used.

Oh, I forgot - when *you* change people's words it's just an "accurate
paraphrase".

>> Which I immediately made clear was a paraphrase and apologised for - a
>> point you ignored, while indulging in the exact same conduct yourself.
>
>No, go back and read the record--you did not immediately apologize.


Google shows you raised your protest at 18:38:40 PST on May 18, and I
apologised at 13:51:14 PST on May 19.

How much more "immediately" do you want on Usenet?

>I
>corrected you, rather politely, and you persisted in inaccurately portraying
>my argument,

I'm sorry, it's now that I "inaccurately portrayed your argument"? This
from the person who claims that Hussein's ignorance of his WME programs
is "protecting him"? Who routinely and regularly distorts - sorry,
"accurately paraphrases" - positions he disagrees with and then presents
them as if they were his opponent's own words?


I accept that I paraphrased your words, and that I made it
insufficiently clear that it was a paraphrase rather than a quotation.

>going as far as presenting my actual quote that you claimed
>proved your point. I *then* labled you a liar, and I pointed out that you
>had ignored the "all" and its import to the meaning; only then did you
>weakly apologize, but even that apology was less than full

S it's now not that I'm a liar, but that you didn't like the apology?

>("That was a
>paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the quote so it could be
>traced. My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough.").

>As if your
>paraphrase was still accurate (and you know it was not--you do know that a
>paraphrase can be either accurate or inaccurate, don't you?).

I'm using your standards of accuracy - are they incorrect?

>Then you had
>the unmitigated gall to come back in this thread and claim you *never*
>attributed that paraphrase directly to me--

No, I didn't. Where did I claim you said it? Remember, if it's a quote
then it's traceable.

>Cripes,
>at this point you have lied so much, and so repetitively, that they are now
>piling up on each other.

Or maybe you're just flailing.

>> And where did UNSCR687 say "the suspicion (not proof) of a breach shall
>> justify immediate invasion"? Again, you need to actually *read* what you
>> cite.
>
>Meaningless. The US chose to enforce 687, which was also, if you have
>forgotten, the codification of the ceasefire terms for ODS.

To do so required a further resolution authorising armed force, in the
same way that 660 was followed by 687 as the enabling action for
military force.

That's UN rules, anyway: either go with the UN or not, but don't pick
and mix.

>> Of course, "it's not all about WMDs", it's a completely flexible list -
>> so much so that you proudly boast of being unable to work out what order
>> the reasons might fall in. But then, Hussein wasn't the top threat on
>> any permutation of your list.
>
>The White House did not prioritize them, either. I have yet to see any
>prioritized declaration of war in any other historical conflict; is this
>something new you are proposing for Paulian World? 'Cause it sure does not
>seem to apply here on earth, nor has it ever applied.

Generally there's no need, because there's a simple clear reason. "Get
Germany out of Poland", "Get North Korea out of South Korea", "push the
Germans back out of France and liberate Belgium".

>> Still, the idea that you should deal with the most dangerous threats is
>> obviously foreign foolishness rooted in the notion that there's a
>> "handbook" containing basic wisdom like "biggest risk, biggest
>> response".
>
>I believe your words were: "NK and Iran are much nearer WME than Iraq, and
>Syria is widely alleged to have chemical warheads on over a hundred Scud
>copies. Sounds like a threat to me - when do we go in? If it was good enough
>for Iraq, it's good enough for them." Looks like you are grouping all
>threats into one big pile and advocating equal treatment for all.

No, just comparing threats and wondering why Iraq seemed so urgent when
greater dangers lay elsewhere.

The idea of "one big pile" and "equal treatment for all" is your own
fantasy, nothing I've ever advocated or stated: you continue to falsely
attribute it to me, conduct you clearly state is an unacceptable
falsehood.

>Or were
>you lying when you made that statement?

No, I was asking a question (The question marks indicate that it's a
"question" not a "statement".) The 'Good enough' followup is rhetorical
rather than analytical.

>> Did he ever have the means to support one?
>
>Yeah--those binary components of sarin included in that one round,

Well, that's going to really slaughter thousands.

>a ricin
>program,

Which a competent student could replicate in a domestic kitchen.

>and worse, a demonstrated willingness to both use WMD's (setting
>him apart from all other current national leaders)

Sure, but only because it was the President of Syria's father who used
HCN at Hama in 1982. I'm sure the son is a much nicer man.

>and to directly attack US
>citizens (of which group that former US President and his entourage are
>members).

Oh, tragic. So you've captured his stockpile of WMEs and attacks on US
citizens have stopped?

If those really were reasons, they've both failed to succeed...

>> Send a recce aircraft to photograph Syria's WMD factories and missile
>> bases and see what happens.
>
>If you have not noticed, Syria is not subject to NFZ restrictions.

Can the US fly aircraft freely through Syrian airspace without being at
least intercepted, and if they don't co-operate being engaged?

>> Then you've failed to read. (Syria is Ba'athist just like Iraq was and
>> has similar policies about internal dissent)
>
>Please point to the evidence that the current governments of either nation
>are responsible for mass executions.

Quote of a quote, since Amnesty's web site is down.

+++++
“Some monitors stated: old streets of the city were bombed from the
air to facilitate the introduction of military forces and tanks through
the narrow streets, like the al-Hader street, where homes were crushed
by tanks during the first four days of fighting. On February 15th,
after days of intense bombardment, Defence Minister General Mustafa
Tlass announced that the rebellion was put out, but the city remained
under siege and surrounded. Door-to-door searches along with extensive
arrests continued during the next two following weeks, while various
news leaks talked about atrocities committed by the security forces and
mass killings of innocent city residents. It is not easy to know what
did exactly occur, but Amnesty International mentioned news of a mass
execution of some 70 people outside the city hospital on February 19th
and the annihilation of all residents of the al-Hader area on the hands
of the Defense Brigades (Saraya el-Defaa) on the same day. Other reports
talk of using containers of cyanide gas to kill all inhabitants of
buildings, where rebels were suspected of residing. Also, people were
grouped in the military airport, city stadium, and military camps and
were left there without shelter or food for days.”

The mass murders and mass executions over-step the laws and constitute a
grave violation of the right to live, which is the same sacred right
mentioned in the universal declaration of human rights and the
International treaty regarding human and civil rights (Article 16):
every human has the natural right to live, which is protected by this
law and it is not allowed to take this right from any individual
oppressively. This was an excerpt of a report sent by Amnesty
International addressing Syrian President Hafiz Assad in 1983.
+++++
http://www.shrc.org.uk/data/aspx/d0/1260.aspx

"Other things to see in Hama include the Grand Mosque, which was
destroyed during a 1982 uprising. The uprising was started by the Muslim
Brotherhood and quashed by 8000 troops, supported by air force and tank
assaults. Up to 25,000 people died in the fighting and in following
executions and atrocities. Evidence of the uprising has been hidden by
widespread restoration - the mosque is among the buildings that have had
a facelift."
http://www.lloydstsb.lonelyplanet.com/middle_east/syria/obt.html



For Iran,

+++++
In July 1981, members of the Union of Communists tried to seize control
of the Caspian town of Amol. At least seventy guerrillas and Pasdaran
members were killed before the uprising was put down. The government
responded to the armed challenge of the guerrilla groups by expanded use
of the Pasdaran in counterintelligence activities and by widespread
arrests, jailings, and executions. The executions were facilitated by a
September 1981, Supreme Judicial Council circular to the revolutionary
courts permitting death sentences for "active members" of guerrilla
groups. Fifty executions a day became routine; there were days when more
than 100 persons were executed. Amnesty International documented 2,946
executions in the 12 months following Bani Sadr's impeachment, a
conservative figure because the authorities did not report all
executions.
+++++
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ir0034)

Presumably, 3,000 Iranians and 30,000 Syrians will now not count as
sufficiently "mass" for you.

>> Or they could have killed themselves in the attempt, or just ruined the
>> shell. (Just because the ingredients of binary sarin aren't nerve
>> toxins, doesn't make them innocuous or easy to handle)
>
>I am not aware that either isoproponol or DF are extraordinarily hazardous
>by themselves.

Wouldn't like to be holding the burster charge if it went off
unexpectedly.

Probably wouldn't be fun if I was taking it apart and ruptured the
containers (bet they don't come out easily...) You'd *probably* only
start a leak in one...

>> Your invention, not mine. Lying again? Please stick to my own words of
>> "militarily significant" when you wish to attribute a description of
>> required quantity to me.
>
>No. You are the one who has repeatedly claimed that "And it was claimed that
>he was hiding hundreds of tons of chemicals and entire production lines, and
>that was why we had to invade and secure that threat Right Now." The US did
>not claim that those were necessary conditions.

They did, however, claim that this was the case. Even your own President
said so.

"It possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons."
President G W Bush, October 7 2002

>You also have repeatedly
>claimed that a "immediate or imminent threat" is required; again, the US
>case did not use that verbage.

"Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger
is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know
Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today -- and we do -- does it make
any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even
stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?...

....regime change in Iraq is the only certain means of removing a great
danger to our nation."
President G W Bush, October 7 2002.

>> So, you're now calling me a liar only because you didn't like the tone
>> of my apology? While multiply doing the exact same paraphrase on my
>> words?
>
>See the earlier details of this "aplogy " of your's (the one where you said,
>"That was a paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the quote so
>it could be traced. My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough." ).
>Odd, nowhere in that statement do you agree the paraphrase was inaccurate.

I'm sorry, I was judging by the standards of accuracy you use when you
"paraphrase" other people's positions.


However, if *that* is what has you so wound up, then I immediately
apologise for the way my paraphrase changed the meaning of your original
quote, as well as for the possibility that it might have been taken as a
direct quotation of your words.

>> For this I'm called a liar while you repeatedly attribute false
>> statements to me.
>
>Prove it.

Have done.

>> So take it to the Security Council.
>
>Nah, we took care of it ourselves.

So the UNSC and its resolutions are irrelevant - so stop mumbling about
them.

>> So who was convicted, since the evidence was so solid?
>
>Can't recall, though I do believe the Kuwaitis had a couple of people in
>jail over that one.

Well, that's thorough, complete and conclusive.

>> Or is "diehard Saddam apologist" another one of those lies you're so
>> free with?
>
>Did I thus label you? No. I said, "Proven to the satisfaction of most,
>except for diehard Saddam apologists."

It was not proven to my satisfaction, therefore you call me a diehard
Saddam apologist.

However, there's a grey area between "Probably him, but not actually
proven" and "Proven" which you are either ignorant of, or choose to
ignore: and whose occupants you describe as "diehard Saddam apologists".

>If you consider yourself a diehard
>Saddam apologist, so be it. I would note that you have demonstrated a
>tendency to project the image of someone who thinks the US did Saddam wrong,
>based upon your defense of him in regards to his WMD violations.

Your fantasy - shame it doesn't connect to reality.

>> Why? Three fugitive murderers are proof of hypocrisy regarding "giving
>> sanctuary to terrorists", but hardly casus belli unless you're really
>> desperate.
>
>Two or three known terrorists receiving sanctuary from Iraq, along with one
>reported terrorist training facility, and behavior such as supporting
>suicide bombers does indeed constitute part of the casus belli.

Funny, that... "supporting terrorism" really is a flexible term when you
use it, isn't it?

>> As would your "standard playbook for international affairs" and "great
>> numbers of rounds in massive stockpiles" so falsely attributed to me.
>
>No, those have been accurate, based upon your own words, as provided above.

No, they are distortions falsely attributed to me.

>You asked where you attributed it--the answer is right there.

You showed how you took my words, twisted them to suit yourself, and
falsely attributed them.

>But you won't
>admit it, ebven when faced with your own words? Figures. You are a lying
>sack of ****.

Is that a reflective screen, Kevin? Looking at yourself, perchance?


>> Seems you're even more of an egregious liar than me, Kevin, and you've
>> never made clear that you were paraphrasing rather than quoting nor
>> apologised for the misattribution.
>
>See where these baseless claims have been addressed earlier in this missive.
>Now, again--you asked, "Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where did
>I say that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours alone?" I
>gave you your answer, also in your own words.

And proved conclusively that you're attributing statements to me that I
never made.

>Again, you are proven to be a
>liar.

Only in your imagination.

>> Cite please, where I stated that humour was unacceptable in this thread.
>
>See earlier quote of your response to my initial humorous remark.

"I'm not really seeing anything funny - I've got family currently being
shot at because of this."

What part of that can be read as "Humour is unacceptable"? I just
pointed out that it's not a funny joke. (My cousin turned out to be OK,
in case you wondered)

>> So, where precisely did I state where it could be found?
>
>Paul, 18 May 04: ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
>Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint" Note the
>original quotation marks around the initial statement--they were your's.

Just as you routinely put quotation marks around your own words and
peddle them as mine.

>Keep on piling up that evidence of your lying, Paul.

Don't need to, Kevin: you're digging yourself deeper with every post.

>> Just as you've falsely attributed words to me that I never said, and
>> evaded questions I repeatedly asked - and exploited my tolerance on your
>> evasions to pretend a wounded innocence when in fact you are still
>> fleeing the question.
>
>You have offered no proof; you have not challenged the evidence offered that
>demonstrates again and again your own lies.

Offered and demonstrated.
[i]
>> >In my
>> >experience, a fellow like you who has to resort to repeatedly lying in
>order
>> >to try and cover his own missteps, usually is the sort who lacks the
>courage
>> >for such encounters--but you are welcome to prove otherwise.
>>
>> If you want to put it like that?
>>
>> Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.
>>
>> Gauntlet's down.
>
>I said when you are in the area; I have never been to the UK, and don't see
>any chance of going.

Oh, how *marvellously* convenient for you.

>You, OTOH have indicated that you make periodic visits
>to the DC area, right?

No, but I was on holiday there in 2000.

I'll be in New York on the 5th of July, though.

>That is close enough for me--I am more than willing
>to do a little drivetime if it makes you happy. Seriously. I believe that
>makes it "put up or shut up" time to you, does it not?

Certainly does. Shall I see you on the 5th? And will it be swords or
pistols?

>> I thought I didn't apologise? When did your story change?
>
>I said, "..which you say..." No, you really did not apologize for it, as we
>can see from reading the excerpts I included earlier in that regard.

In other words, you missed it and are now scrambling?

>> Actually, they don't.
>
>Yes, they do. ""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say,
>Kevin...Your claiming they were irrelevant was something of a hint". Or are
>you now going to say that Google mysteriously created those words in your
>name?

That's a paraphrase of your position, no less inaccurate than your
"accurate paraphrases" of my words.

>> I had the integrity to immediately clarify that the words were a
>> paraphrase rather than a quotation, and apologise for any
>> misrepresentation: you've extended me no such courtesy in your multiple
>> false attributions to me.
>
>No, you did not,

From: Paul J. Adam )
Subject: Re: Sarin in a 155 artillery round
Newsgroups: sci.military.naval
Date: 2004-05-19 13:51:14 PST
+++++
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>BZZZ! Now you are lying. You already provided the quote in
> question,

That was a paraphrase, not a quote: I put the name and date on the quote
so it could be traced.

My apologies if the distinction wasn't clear enough.
+++++

>and by this point I have repeatedly shown you did not.

Google sucks, doesn't it, when you lie and get found out?


>> Meanwhile, the challenge is open if you choose to meet it. Will you back
>> your claims, or withdraw them? (Or will you make a weak excuse?)
>
>Already have backed them; you are the only one who has provided zero
>evidence.

No, Kevin. I offered you a challenge and you immediately claimed that
you couldn't meet it but had terrible travel constraints.

Still, I'll meet you in New York on the 5th if you prefer.

>> You are, on Saturday 19th.
>
>Come on, run to me baby. Anytime, just let me know when.

July 5th. I'll pass more details as I have them.

>You sad sack of
>excrement.

Yes, that *really* sums up your intellectual calibre, doesn't it?


--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Kevin Brooks
June 9th 04, 08:45 PM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...

<snip>

Since you saw fit to snip most of the quotes of your own words I presented
to you to support the accuracy of the "standard playbook" characterization
of your argument, it is obvious there is little reason to continue showing
you where your own words do indeed repeatedly convey that thought; it also
points to the fact that continuing this discussion any further is a waste of
effort, since you will just snip those items that prove your basic
dishonesty. But...

> >Then you had
> >the unmitigated gall to come back in this thread and claim you *never*
> >attributed that paraphrase directly to me--
>
> No, I didn't. Where did I claim you said it? Remember, if it's a quote
> then it's traceable.

""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
claiming they were irrelevant was
something of a hint." Your meaning was quite clear, and your subsequent
"apology" did not really address your misstep. The fact that you *continue*
to claim yopu never did this is just topping on top of the cake.

<snip>

> >
> >See where these baseless claims have been addressed earlier in this
missive.
> >Now, again--you asked, "Which post of yours did I attribute it to? Where
did
> >I say that the words in those inverted commas were yours and yours
alone?" I
> >gave you your answer, also in your own words.
>
> And proved conclusively that you're attributing statements to me that I
> never made.

So you are now saying that the Google record of your 18 May statement,
""It's not
about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they
were irrelevant was
something of a hint" was not your words. Fine. Some nefarious fellow intent
upon defaming your name must have jumped in and made that statement.

<snip>

And, getting to the root of the matter, and about the only thing left to be
determined, as it is apparent that continual verbal discourse is a wasted
effort...

>
> >> >In my
> >> >experience, a fellow like you who has to resort to repeatedly lying in
> >order
> >> >to try and cover his own missteps, usually is the sort who lacks the
> >courage
> >> >for such encounters--but you are welcome to prove otherwise.
> >>
> >> If you want to put it like that?
> >>
> >> Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.
> >>
> >> Gauntlet's down.
> >
> >I said when you are in the area; I have never been to the UK, and don't
see
> >any chance of going.
>
> Oh, how *marvellously* convenient for you.

I told you where this would have to occur up front--odd how you then
lieterally *jumped* at the opportunity of making your invitation one that
you already knew was beyond my reach. Gosh, how gutsy you are!

>
> >You, OTOH have indicated that you make periodic visits
> >to the DC area, right?
>
> No, but I was on holiday there in 2000.
>
> I'll be in New York on the 5th of July, though.
>
> >That is close enough for me--I am more than willing
> >to do a little drivetime if it makes you happy. Seriously. I believe that
> >makes it "put up or shut up" time to you, does it not?
>
> Certainly does. Shall I see you on the 5th? And will it be swords or
> pistols?

As I said before, anytime--and I mean *anytime*, you screw up the courage
and can get to the DC environs, let me know. You are the fellow who
introduced this invitation--so I am assuming you will be quite happy to
drive down for the show...unless you maybe lack the moral fibre to actually
follow through?

<snip>

>
> >> Meanwhile, the challenge is open if you choose to meet it. Will you
back
> >> your claims, or withdraw them? (Or will you make a weak excuse?)
> >
> >Already have backed them; you are the only one who has provided zero
> >evidence.
>
> No, Kevin. I offered you a challenge and you immediately claimed that
> you couldn't meet it but had terrible travel constraints.

LOL! Yeah, right... sure. The response to your initial invite stands.

>
> Still, I'll meet you in New York on the 5th if you prefer.
>
> >> You are, on Saturday 19th.
> >
> >Come on, run to me baby. Anytime, just let me know when.
>
> July 5th. I'll pass more details as I have them.

So you are not willing to follow through on your initial invite. Figures.
But hey, as I said when you first brought this up, if you make it to the DC
environs, let me know--only takes me an hour or two to get there.

> >You sad sack of
> >excrement.
>
> Yes, that *really* sums up your intellectual calibre, doesn't it?

No, it more accurately sums up your situation. Drop by anytime.

Brooks

Paul J. Adam
June 9th 04, 10:00 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> In message >, Kevin Brooks
>> > writes
>> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
>> ...
>
><snip>
>
>Since you saw fit to snip most of the quotes of your own words I presented
>to you to support the accuracy of the "standard playbook" characterization
>of your argument, it is obvious there is little reason to continue showing
>you where your own words do indeed repeatedly convey that thought; it also
>points to the fact that continuing this discussion any further is a waste of
>effort, since you will just snip those items that prove your basic
>dishonesty.

What Kevin "accurately paraphrased" is that he alleged, I answered: he
alleged, I answered: he alleged and I answered: and he has no reply.


>But...
>> >Then you had
>> >the unmitigated gall to come back in this thread and claim you *never*
>> >attributed that paraphrase directly to me--
>>
>> No, I didn't. Where did I claim you said it? Remember, if it's a quote
>> then it's traceable.
>
>""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
>claiming they were irrelevant was
>something of a hint." Your meaning was quite clear, and your subsequent
>"apology" did not really address your misstep. The fact that you *continue*
>to claim yopu never did this is just topping on top of the cake.

And I replied, within 24 hours, that it was not a direct quotation any
more than your "accurate paraphrases" (pshaw!) of other folks' words
are, and apologised immediately for any misunderstanding.

(Note that Kevin has wriggled around and eventually claimed I insulted
and lied some other way from his original claim - and snipped out
without reply the immediate retraction and apology for that, too)
>
><snip>

>> And proved conclusively that you're attributing statements to me that I
>> never made.
>
>So you are now saying that the Google record of your 18 May statement,
>""It's not
>about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they
>were irrelevant was
>something of a hint" was not your words.

No, I've never denied those words, and I've already apologised for any
possible misinterpretation.

Now, I note *you* have snipped out multiple examples of where you have
falsely attributed words to me... how *remarkably* convenient!

I notice, also, you've neatly elided your repeated claims of "Nobody
said this!" where they were met with published speeches, and "This never
happened!" with the cites that it did.

So, just who's being dishonest here, Kevin?

>> >> If you want to put it like that?
>> >>
>> >> Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.
>> >>
>> >> Gauntlet's down.
>> >
>> >I said when you are in the area; I have never been to the UK, and don't
>see
>> >any chance of going.
>>
>> Oh, how *marvellously* convenient for you.
>
>I told you where this would have to occur up front-

Kevin, you issued the challenge.

"As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person,
in any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want." Kevin
Brooks, June 8 2004.

By rule and tradition, the challengee gets to choose time, place and
weapons. There is a sizeable body of tradition on the matter. That you
are as ignorant as you are dishonest is no surprise.

It is also no surprise that you avoid the first invitation, and now the
second. Indeed, when it turns out I'm willing to cross the Atlantic to
meet you, you're suddenly unable to even leave the environs of
Washington DC. Not unexpected, but hardly an indication of either your
courage or your certainty.

>-odd how you then
>lieterally *jumped* at the opportunity of making your invitation one that
>you already knew was beyond my reach. Gosh, how gutsy you are!

I played it according to tradition. Then when you claimed it was too
hard for you to travel, I offered to meet you on the far side of an
ocean. You're still running away. What conclusions shall we draw from
this matter?

>> Certainly does. Shall I see you on the 5th? And will it be swords or
>> pistols?
>
>As I said before, anytime--and I mean *anytime*, you screw up the courage
>and can get to the DC environs, let me know.

In other words, when invited to defend your words, you found it
inconvenient because it was the wrong country.

Then, when the opportunity was offered in your own country, even on the
correct coast, you found it inconvenient because it was the wrong state.

Shall we pursue this spiral downwards? Must I pursue you through excuses
that I'm in the wrong city, the wrong suburb, the wrong neighbourhood,
and eventually that you'd give me satisfaction if only I were not on the
wrong side of the street?

>You are the fellow who
>introduced this invitation--

Indeed, and I note with amusement your efforts to avoid it - while
loudly trumpeting your enthusiasm.

If I'm taking a three-thousand mile trip, can't you match even a
fraction of that?

>so I am assuming you will be quite happy to
>drive down for the show...unless you maybe lack the moral fibre to actually
>follow through?

As I said, it's a working visit so I'm constrained for time. (Fly in on
the 5th and the ship leaves on the 6th, and time and carriers wait for
no man). So, no long drives, but I'm willing to fit you in.

And you've indicated that you lack the means or the will to visit the UK
(or, perhaps, just the courage).

Still, never fear. There will be a third date and time for you to run
away from. Perhaps even a fourth.

>> No, Kevin. I offered you a challenge and you immediately claimed that
>> you couldn't meet it but had terrible travel constraints.
>
>LOL! Yeah, right... sure. The response to your initial invite stands.

Of course: on current form, I could knock at your door and you'd claim
it was "too far" to meet me.

>> July 5th. I'll pass more details as I have them.
>
>So you are not willing to follow through on your initial invite. Figures.

You've been offered and evaded two places and dates so far. What excuse
will you use for the third?

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Kevin Brooks
June 10th 04, 04:30 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes
> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> >> > writes
> >> >"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >
> ><snip>
> >
> >Since you saw fit to snip most of the quotes of your own words I
presented
> >to you to support the accuracy of the "standard playbook"
characterization
> >of your argument, it is obvious there is little reason to continue
showing
> >you where your own words do indeed repeatedly convey that thought; it
also
> >points to the fact that continuing this discussion any further is a waste
of
> >effort, since you will just snip those items that prove your basic
> >dishonesty.
>
> What Kevin "accurately paraphrased" is that he alleged, I answered: he
> alleged, I answered: he alleged and I answered: and he has no reply.

Sure you did. Just keep believeing that tripe....

>
>
> >But...
> >> >Then you had
> >> >the unmitigated gall to come back in this thread and claim you *never*
> >> >attributed that paraphrase directly to me--
> >>
> >> No, I didn't. Where did I claim you said it? Remember, if it's a quote
> >> then it's traceable.
> >
> >""It's not about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your
> >claiming they were irrelevant was
> >something of a hint." Your meaning was quite clear, and your subsequent
> >"apology" did not really address your misstep. The fact that you
*continue*
> >to claim yopu never did this is just topping on top of the cake.
>
> And I replied, within 24 hours, that it was not a direct quotation any
> more than your "accurate paraphrases" (pshaw!) of other folks' words
> are, and apologised immediately for any misunderstanding.

But you persisted in claiming it was an accurate paraphrase--it was not. The
ones I have presented of your arguments, OTOH, are supported by your own
past statements.

>
> (Note that Kevin has wriggled around and eventually claimed I insulted
> and lied some other way from his original claim - and snipped out
> without reply the immediate retraction and apology for that, to

> >
> ><snip>
>
> >> And proved conclusively that you're attributing statements to me that I
> >> never made.
> >
> >So you are now saying that the Google record of your 18 May statement,
> >""It's not
> >about the WMD". I can only go by what you say, Kevin...Your claiming they
> >were irrelevant was
> >something of a hint" was not your words.
>
> No, I've never denied those words, and I've already apologised for any
> possible misinterpretation.
>
> Now, I note *you* have snipped out multiple examples of where you have
> falsely attributed words to me... how *remarkably* convenient!
>
> I notice, also, you've neatly elided your repeated claims of "Nobody
> said this!" where they were met with published speeches, and "This never
> happened!" with the cites that it did.
>
> So, just who's being dishonest here, Kevin?

You are, and I am growing tired of pointing that out to you, as it obviously
serves no purpose. I do have one regret in this case--I should have just
plonked your lying ass on 18 May, and saved us both the effort of this
current meaningless "he said, she said". You are what you are, and there is
going to be no changing that.

>
> >> >> If you want to put it like that?
> >> >>
> >> >> Fort Widley courtyard, dawn, Saturday 19 June.
> >> >>
> >> >> Gauntlet's down.
> >> >
> >> >I said when you are in the area; I have never been to the UK, and
don't
> >see
> >> >any chance of going.
> >>
> >> Oh, how *marvellously* convenient for you.
> >
> >I told you where this would have to occur up front-
>
> Kevin, you issued the challenge.
>
> "As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
> line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person,
> in any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want." Kevin
> Brooks, June 8 2004.

Yes, I did. Though I kind of took that "coward" bit of yours as a challenge
in and of itself.

>
> By rule and tradition, the challengee gets to choose time, place and
> weapons. There is a sizeable body of tradition on the matter. That you
> are as ignorant as you are dishonest is no surprise.

Sorry, I have never had any plans to visit the UK, so if you are really
interested, you'll have to come to the DC area; that is enough of a trip for
me to make.

>
> It is also no surprise that you avoid the first invitation, and now the
> second. Indeed, when it turns out I'm willing to cross the Atlantic to
> meet you, you're suddenly unable to even leave the environs of
> Washington DC. Not unexpected, but hardly an indication of either your
> courage or your certainty.

Again, my original invite stands. Let's see, we have Paul, who has mentioned
visiting the DC area before, which would seem to pose a realistic
possibility of him doing so again. Versus me, who has never been to the UK,
and is extremely unlikely to ever have the opportunity of going there in the
future. Now which sounds like a more sincere invitation--the one to the guy
who has frequently commented about his trip(s?) to the DC area, or the one
offered to guy who has never visited your own stately shores? Methinks you
were not actually sincere in that offer about Fort whatever next
weekend...please, say it ain't so?

>
> >-odd how you then
> >lieterally *jumped* at the opportunity of making your invitation one that
> >you already knew was beyond my reach. Gosh, how gutsy you are!
>
> I played it according to tradition. Then when you claimed it was too
> hard for you to travel, I offered to meet you on the far side of an
> ocean. You're still running away. What conclusions shall we draw from
> this matter?

Go ahead and hide behind your tradition; I'll still be waiting in VA to make
that trek to DC at your leisure.

>
> >> Certainly does. Shall I see you on the 5th? And will it be swords or
> >> pistols?
> >
> >As I said before, anytime--and I mean *anytime*, you screw up the courage
> >and can get to the DC environs, let me know.
>
> In other words, when invited to defend your words, you found it
> inconvenient because it was the wrong country.

Gee, again, how sincere was that offer?

>
> Then, when the opportunity was offered in your own country, even on the
> correct coast, you found it inconvenient because it was the wrong state.

You could go along with my original offer--anytime.

>
> Shall we pursue this spiral downwards? Must I pursue you through excuses
> that I'm in the wrong city, the wrong suburb, the wrong neighbourhood,
> and eventually that you'd give me satisfaction if only I were not on the
> wrong side of the street?

No, I'd even be willing to meet you halfway (to NYC, that is); do you have a
suitable alternative in mind?

>
> >You are the fellow who
> >introduced this invitation--
>
> Indeed, and I note with amusement your efforts to avoid it - while
> loudly trumpeting your enthusiasm.

I have offered to meet you halfway now. Ball's in your court, Captain
Courageous.

>
> If I'm taking a three-thousand mile trip, can't you match even a
> fraction of that?

See above.

>
> >so I am assuming you will be quite happy to
> >drive down for the show...unless you maybe lack the moral fibre to
actually
> >follow through?
>
> As I said, it's a working visit so I'm constrained for time. (Fly in on
> the 5th and the ship leaves on the 6th, and time and carriers wait for
> no man). So, no long drives, but I'm willing to fit you in.

Oh, so now you have already started building your newest excuse. Halfway?

>
> And you've indicated that you lack the means or the will to visit the UK
> (or, perhaps, just the courage).

Just never had any plans to do so, now or in the past--but you already knew
that, didn't you? Which is whaty that whole Fort whatever on 19 June was
just your psing for the stage? Again, halfway?

>
> Still, never fear. There will be a third date and time for you to run
> away from. Perhaps even a fourth.
>
> >> No, Kevin. I offered you a challenge and you immediately claimed that
> >> you couldn't meet it but had terrible travel constraints.
> >
> >LOL! Yeah, right... sure. The response to your initial invite stands.
>
> Of course: on current form, I could knock at your door and you'd claim
> it was "too far" to meet me.

No, not as I have offered to meet you halfway to NYC.

>
> >> July 5th. I'll pass more details as I have them.
> >
> >So you are not willing to follow through on your initial invite. Figures.
>
> You've been offered and evaded two places and dates so far. What excuse
> will you use for the third?

The offer stands--ball's in your court.

Brooks

Paul J. Adam
June 10th 04, 10:29 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> What Kevin "accurately paraphrased" is that he alleged, I answered: he
>> alleged, I answered: he alleged and I answered: and he has no reply.
>
>Sure you did. Just keep believeing that tripe....

Let's take a single example of that "tripe".

Kevin said, this very thread, June 9th -
"Uhmmm...again, where in the White House's case against Iraq did you
find thaose descriptive terms? Eh?"


And I replied that

"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt
that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most
lethal weapons ever devised." President G W Bush, March 17 2003


"Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger
is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know
Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today -- and we do...

Iraq could decide on any given day to provide a biological or chemical
weapon to a terrorist group or individual terrorists...

Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is
increasing his capabilities to make more. And he is moving ever closer
to developing a nuclear weapon...." President G W Bush, October 17, 2002


So, either President Bush's terms were not "descriptive" of an immediate
and imminent WME threat from Iraq, or Kevin is at best terribly mistaken
and at worst lying through his teeth.


There are plenty more - it's not too surprising Mr Brooks chose to run
away from them, any more than it's a surprise that he's so amnesiac
about his own words and claims.

>> And I replied, within 24 hours, that it was not a direct quotation any
>> more than your "accurate paraphrases" (pshaw!) of other folks' words
>> are, and apologised immediately for any misunderstanding.
>
>But you persisted in claiming it was an accurate paraphrase--it was not.

It was as accurate as any of yours.

>The
>ones I have presented of your arguments, OTOH, are supported by your own
>past statements.

As are yours. You yourself repeatedly claim that it's simply not
possible to work out the priorities: therefore how can WMEs be an issue?
Show me evidence that they entered into the thinking: you claimed
several times that there *was* no reasoning and no analysis involved.

According to you, your own leaders never claimed WME were a factor
(though I provided the transcripts of the speeches where they said just
that - a useful point by which to judge any of your claims, despite your
hasty evasions).


According to you, it's not possible to identify reasons for the
conflict, and none of the factors precipitating conflict can be
identified.

Yet, apparently, with all that loudly-claimed and oft-cited certainty...
you're able to insist that WME *were* a signficant reason.


So, which of your claims is false? Is it possible to break out a reason
with some idea of its relative importance, or is it not? On the one
hand, you insist that such analysis is utterly impossible: yet on the
other hand, you insist that you have conducted just such an analysis and
concluded that WMEs were, in fact, a significant factor.

Which leads us to the question 'how significant'? More or less so than
alleged links to al-Qaeda? More or less so than sponsorship of
Palestinian terrorists? More or less important than Saddam's bad table
manners?

On the one hand you're calling me a liar for doubting your judgement of
this prioritisation: on the other, you loudly and repeatedly insist that
no such prioritisation is possible.

Either way means you've lied repeatedly - I'm curious which set of
statements you're choosing to repudiate.


>> No, I've never denied those words, and I've already apologised for any
>> possible misinterpretation.
>>
>> Now, I note *you* have snipped out multiple examples of where you have
>> falsely attributed words to me... how *remarkably* convenient!
>>
>> I notice, also, you've neatly elided your repeated claims of "Nobody
>> said this!" where they were met with published speeches, and "This never
>> happened!" with the cites that it did.
>>
>> So, just who's being dishonest here, Kevin?
>
>You are, and I am growing tired of pointing that out to you, as it obviously
>serves no purpose. I do have one regret in this case--I should have just
>plonked your lying ass on 18 May, and saved us both the effort of this
>current meaningless "he said, she said". You are what you are, and there is
>going to be no changing that.

Indeed. I'm sticking to the truth and you're running away from it as
fast as you can - no wonder you wish you'd just gone for a blustering
killfile. When challenged, intellectually or physically, you keep on
retreating until in the end you abandon everything in desperation.



(Are you *sure* you're not Fred McCall under an assumed name?)


>> Kevin, you issued the challenge.
>>
>> "As to cowardly, the next time you are in the area drop me a
>> line--I'll be more than happy to let you address that issue in person,
>> in any form you may so choose, if that is what you really want." Kevin
>> Brooks, June 8 2004.
>
>Yes, I did. Though I kind of took that "coward" bit of yours as a challenge
>in and of itself.

No, that was an *insult*. The challenge is the response to a slight, a
blow, or an imputation against a lady's honour.

>> By rule and tradition, the challengee gets to choose time, place and
>> weapons. There is a sizeable body of tradition on the matter. That you
>> are as ignorant as you are dishonest is no surprise.
>
>Sorry, I have never had any plans to visit the UK, so if you are really
>interested, you'll have to come to the DC area; that is enough of a trip for
>me to make.

How *remarkably* convenient. So, you're ignorant of the centuries of
history and the evolved traditions, you're confident that *you* will
never come near me, and now you insist that I should travel thousands of
miles to a few score for you.

And when I offer to meet you on your own continent, your own seaboard,
even closer than original plans would have allowed (I was originally
bound for Charleston but matters changed) you continued to find reasons
why you were suddenly able to match your words with deeds.

>> It is also no surprise that you avoid the first invitation, and now the
>> second. Indeed, when it turns out I'm willing to cross the Atlantic to
>> meet you, you're suddenly unable to even leave the environs of
>> Washington DC. Not unexpected, but hardly an indication of either your
>> courage or your certainty.
>
>Again, my original invite stands. Let's see, we have Paul, who has mentioned
>visiting the DC area before,

Indeed, once, in 2000, on a personally-funded vacation. (I was in New
Orleans last year, again at my own expense. Several planned trips to the
US have since fallen through for assorted reasons, though I did put in a
very productive week in Halifax further north)


I note with some amusement how this story changes.

"You, OTOH have indicated that you make periodic visits
to the DC area" (Kevin Brooks, June 9)

Guess what? This is another one of Kevin's "accurate paraphrases".

>which would seem to pose a realistic
>possibility of him doing so again.

Not that much tactical operational analysis in the DC area, sadly.
Though the Navy Yard gives me some hope of seeing what excuse Kevin uses
for avoiding the next encounter.

>Versus me, who has never been to the UK,
>and is extremely unlikely to ever have the opportunity of going there in the
>future.

Which makes flinging out challenges to UK residents *ever* so cheap and
convenient, doesn't it, since you insist they have to come to you (ever
closer, as your own evasions prove) to test your words with steel?

>Now which sounds like a more sincere invitation--the one to the guy
>who has frequently commented about his trip(s?) to the DC area,

His single vacation, yes.

>or the one
>offered to guy who has never visited your own stately shores?

So, you're challenging because you're sure you'll never be tested: and
evading as fast as you can when offered opportunity.

>Methinks you
>were not actually sincere in that offer about Fort whatever next
>weekend...please, say it ain't so?

Completely sincere. It's conveniently located for me, ninety minutes by
easy transport (train and taxi) from London for you, and has the
advantages of being a flat, open field where we shouldn't be
interrrupted at that hour. And as a side benefit, the view over the
Solent is superb.

Why, are you changing your mind and offering to present yourself? Or
will I have a lonely wait, with just a sunrise for company?

>> I played it according to tradition. Then when you claimed it was too
>> hard for you to travel, I offered to meet you on the far side of an
>> ocean. You're still running away. What conclusions shall we draw from
>> this matter?
>
>Go ahead and hide behind your tradition; I'll still be waiting in VA to make
>that trek to DC at your leisure.

Of course you will, Kevin. Until I find myself coming to DC, where
you'll find you've got urgent business elsewhere or some other pressing
reason to miss the appointment.

>> In other words, when invited to defend your words, you found it
>> inconvenient because it was the wrong country.
>
>Gee, again, how sincere was that offer?

Completely. Both of them.

Now, how sincere was that original challenge, given your evident
enthusiasm to carry it through and your obvious willingness to put
action behind your words?


>> Then, when the opportunity was offered in your own country, even on the
>> correct coast, you found it inconvenient because it was the wrong state.
>
>You could go along with my original offer--anytime.

The trouble with that, Kevin, is that you're running away as fast as I
can chase you down.

>> Shall we pursue this spiral downwards? Must I pursue you through excuses
>> that I'm in the wrong city, the wrong suburb, the wrong neighbourhood,
>> and eventually that you'd give me satisfaction if only I were not on the
>> wrong side of the street?
>
>No, I'd even be willing to meet you halfway (to NYC, that is); do you have a
>suitable alternative in mind?

Not immediately to hand, given that it seems I must pursue you in this
matter (doesn't *that* indicate your honesty and conviction!). But if
opportunity offers, then I'll give you another chance to demonstrate
your cowardice.

>> Indeed, and I note with amusement your efforts to avoid it - while
>> loudly trumpeting your enthusiasm.
>
>I have offered to meet you halfway now.

"Halfway" is mid-Atlantic, Kevin.

It's worth remembering that this "halfway" offer (halfway between NYC
and DC, not the US and UK... funny how Kevin's claiming to be the brave
and determined one here) came only after Kevin heard I was pressed for
time on the 5th.

>> If I'm taking a three-thousand mile trip, can't you match even a
>> fraction of that?
>
>See above.

In other words, "No, I'm too scared" (in a Brooksian 'accurate
paraphrase')

>> As I said, it's a working visit so I'm constrained for time. (Fly in on
>> the 5th and the ship leaves on the 6th, and time and carriers wait for
>> no man). So, no long drives, but I'm willing to fit you in.
>
>Oh, so now you have already started building your newest excuse.

If you want to call it an excuse, *you* persuade a carrier task group to
delay sailing.

>Halfway?

Halfway is about thirty-five degrees West, and rather damp.


I'm going very considerably further than that and you're still evading.
If I'm covering thousands of miles, you can manage a few hundred if your
honour is so wounded and your confidence so high.

That it is evidently not... allows obvious conclusions to be drawn.

>> And you've indicated that you lack the means or the will to visit the UK
>> (or, perhaps, just the courage).
>
>Just never had any plans to do so, now or in the past--but you already knew
>that, didn't you?

I didn't know anything about your travel habits (unlike you, who yet
again made seriously erroneous claims and passed them off as truth), but
I had a suspicion that your challenge was completely insincere and
looked forward to testing it - and I had some tiny hope that you
actually meant what you said.

>Which is whaty that whole Fort whatever on 19 June was
>just your psing for the stage?

No, the old tradition that the challenged party chooses the ground. I am
quite confident that you would never honour your challenge, but that
doesn't change the fact that I'll do so. Shall I wait there for you?

By tradition, you issued the challenge, you've been told when, where and
how: attend, or forfeit. (Of course, this applied to men of honour,
which is why I know you will not attend)


But, it's a long trip, so I offered you something closer to home. And
again it's too difficult for you.

So, now we just have to wait until I find myself in the DC area to
discover what your next reason why you can't follow your bluster through
might be.


>Again, halfway?

Okay, "halfway", but that'll be rather later - probably around the 10th
at a very rough guess - and I presume you'll be swimming unless you find
a mail buoy to cling to.

>> Of course: on current form, I could knock at your door and you'd claim
>> it was "too far" to meet me.
>
>No, not as I have offered to meet you halfway to NYC.

After making sure you knew I lacked the time to do so. And yet *you*
claim I'm making insincere offers? I'm sticking to what I can do: you're
large on claims, but short on substance.

I'll see you at Fort Widley on the 19th, or I'll see you in NYC on the
5th, or we'll wait to be amused by your next evasion.


--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Kevin Brooks
June 11th 04, 03:29 AM
"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Kevin Brooks
> > writes

<snip>

> >
> >No, I'd even be willing to meet you halfway (to NYC, that is); do you
have a
> >suitable alternative in mind?
>
> Not immediately to hand, given that it seems I must pursue you in this
> matter (doesn't *that* indicate your honesty and conviction!). But if
> opportunity offers, then I'll give you another chance to demonstrate
> your cowardice.

Offer stands.

>
> >> Indeed, and I note with amusement your efforts to avoid it - while
> >> loudly trumpeting your enthusiasm.
> >
> >I have offered to meet you halfway now.
>
> "Halfway" is mid-Atlantic, Kevin.
>
> It's worth remembering that this "halfway" offer (halfway between NYC
> and DC, not the US and UK... funny how Kevin's claiming to be the brave
> and determined one here) came only after Kevin heard I was pressed for
> time on the 5th.

Sounds like you are the one making the excuses here. DC was unacceptable to
you; now I guess Philadelphia or thereabouts is equally and conveniently
also unacceptable. Figures.

>
> >> If I'm taking a three-thousand mile trip, can't you match even a
> >> fraction of that?
> >
> >See above.
>
> In other words, "No, I'm too scared" (in a Brooksian 'accurate
> paraphrase')

The offer still stands.

>
> >> As I said, it's a working visit so I'm constrained for time. (Fly in on
> >> the 5th and the ship leaves on the 6th, and time and carriers wait for
> >> no man). So, no long drives, but I'm willing to fit you in.
> >
> >Oh, so now you have already started building your newest excuse.
>
> If you want to call it an excuse, *you* persuade a carrier task group to
> delay sailing.

And doubtless if i had offered to meet you at the airport gate you'd have
found some other excuse.

>
> >Halfway?
>
> Halfway is about thirty-five degrees West, and rather damp.
>
>
> I'm going very considerably further than that and you're still evading.
> If I'm covering thousands of miles, you can manage a few hundred if your
> honour is so wounded and your confidence so high.
>
> That it is evidently not... allows obvious conclusions to be drawn.

Yeah--that you really never had any intent whatsoever of following through.
Again, that is about par for the course with you.

>
> >> And you've indicated that you lack the means or the will to visit the
UK
> >> (or, perhaps, just the courage).
> >
> >Just never had any plans to do so, now or in the past--but you already
knew
> >that, didn't you?
>
> I didn't know anything about your travel habits (unlike you, who yet
> again made seriously erroneous claims and passed them off as truth), but
> I had a suspicion that your challenge was completely insincere and
> looked forward to testing it - and I had some tiny hope that you
> actually meant what you said.

Phily is not such a long trip from NYC, now is it?

>
> >Which is whaty that whole Fort whatever on 19 June was
> >just your psing for the stage?
>
> No, the old tradition that the challenged party chooses the ground. I am
> quite confident that you would never honour your challenge, but that
> doesn't change the fact that I'll do so. Shall I wait there for you?

And choosing ground that you know I have never visited, and have never
indicated I would visit, was oh-so-convenient. Yeah, right.

>
> By tradition, you issued the challenge, you've been told when, where and
> how: attend, or forfeit. (Of course, this applied to men of honour,
> which is why I know you will not attend)

Can't drag yourself on to Phily; too bad.

>
>
> But, it's a long trip, so I offered you something closer to home. And
> again it's too difficult for you.
>
> So, now we just have to wait until I find myself in the DC area to
> discover what your next reason why you can't follow your bluster through
> might be.

Anytime.

>
>
> >Again, halfway?
>
> Okay, "halfway", but that'll be rather later - probably around the 10th
> at a very rough guess - and I presume you'll be swimming unless you find
> a mail buoy to cling to.
>
> >> Of course: on current form, I could knock at your door and you'd claim
> >> it was "too far" to meet me.
> >
> >No, not as I have offered to meet you halfway to NYC.
>
> After making sure you knew I lacked the time to do so. And yet *you*
> claim I'm making insincere offers? I'm sticking to what I can do: you're
> large on claims, but short on substance.

You have plenty of time. Getting from NYC to Phily and back by train on the
same day is no problemo.

>
> I'll see you at Fort Widley on the 19th, or I'll see you in NYC on the
> 5th, or we'll wait to be amused by your next evasion.

Yeah, right.

Brooks

Paul J. Adam
June 12th 04, 09:57 PM
In message >, Kevin Brooks
> writes
>"Paul J. Adam" > wrote in message
...
>> Not immediately to hand, given that it seems I must pursue you in this
>> matter (doesn't *that* indicate your honesty and conviction!). But if
>> opportunity offers, then I'll give you another chance to demonstrate
>> your cowardice.
>
>Offer stands.

Until I close the range again, whereupon "halfway" will be redefined
(again) and more reasons why you can't present yourself will be
extracted.

Unless, of course, you simply cut it completely and "accurately
paraphrase" it as a refusal.


>> "Halfway" is mid-Atlantic, Kevin.
>>
>> It's worth remembering that this "halfway" offer (halfway between NYC
>> and DC, not the US and UK... funny how Kevin's claiming to be the brave
>> and determined one here) came only after Kevin heard I was pressed for
>> time on the 5th.
>
>Sounds like you are the one making the excuses here. DC was unacceptable to
>you;

Indeed, since I don't go there regularly - though at least I've visited
a few years ago. However, if I have opportunity I'll seek you out.


I compare with amusement the difference in travel required: I'm "a
coward" for crossing the Atlantic, you're bravely refusing to manage a
relatively short hop.

Just cut and "accurately paraphrase" as you see fit, of course.

>now I guess Philadelphia or thereabouts is equally and conveniently
>also unacceptable. Figures.

I'm travelling on taxpayer's money, Kevin - unlike you, who appears to
be unwilling to travel at all.

>> In other words, "No, I'm too scared" (in a Brooksian 'accurate
>> paraphrase')
>
>The offer still stands.

No, it doesn't, because every time I make it you run away. You
challenged, I gave you time and place, you cried off (hardly
unexpected). I gave you another time and place much closer to home, and
you cried off again.

Now, apparently, nothing less than Philadelphia will do. Okay, but it
wasn't in my travel plans.


(There's a question to be asked about someone whose bravado is in
inverse proportion to range... time will tell how it plays. So far I see
one person trying to accommodate and the challenger making excuse after
excuse)

>> If you want to call it an excuse, *you* persuade a carrier task group to
>> delay sailing.
>
>And doubtless if i had offered to meet you at the airport gate you'd have
>found some other excuse.

No, I'd have wondered how you'd persuade the bystanders to ignore the
debate that followed. (Why do you think I chose the original location?
Easy to find and reach, yet not too busy at the appointed time, and also
open and flat with good footing)

>> I'm going very considerably further than that and you're still evading.
>> If I'm covering thousands of miles, you can manage a few hundred if your
>> honour is so wounded and your confidence so high.
>>
>> That it is evidently not... allows obvious conclusions to be drawn.
>
>Yeah--that you really never had any intent whatsoever of following through.

Quite. Is that another "accurate paraphrase"?

>Again, that is about par for the course with you.

Indeed. I return your challenge and you either ignore it unanswered or
find reasons why you can travel shorter and shorter distances to honour
your words.

>> I didn't know anything about your travel habits (unlike you, who yet
>> again made seriously erroneous claims and passed them off as truth), but
>> I had a suspicion that your challenge was completely insincere and
>> looked forward to testing it - and I had some tiny hope that you
>> actually meant what you said.
>
>Phily is not such a long trip from NYC, now is it?

I've got a ship to catch, which is why I'm required to keep it close
this time.

Never fear: there'll be a third chance to run away.


>> No, the old tradition that the challenged party chooses the ground. I am
>> quite confident that you would never honour your challenge, but that
>> doesn't change the fact that I'll do so. Shall I wait there for you?
>
>And choosing ground that you know I have never visited, and have never
>indicated I would visit was oh-so-convenient. Yeah, right.

I've never been to NYC either, and never indicated any willingness to do
so (because I never wanted to) but I'll meet you there.

I've never been to Philadelphia, but apparently I'm meant to leap into
the unknown there as well. Can't make it on this trip, but there may be
other opportunities.


Kevin, do you ever read what you write? I'm offering to meet you on
unfamiliar ground of your choosing, since you refuse to travel. If I
were minded to withdraw rather than enjoy your writhings, I'd point out
that you just proved that I could not trust *your* choice of ground -
yet I'm chasing you through your evasions.

You want to prove *your* sincerity? Come to the UK and we'll fight. Oh,
I forgot, you can't come here and that's not debatable, so I have to
come to the US. Except not just to the US but to the right part of the
US. No, *really* close.

Sounds like you're making claims you can't back up. (I'd offer evidence,
but you'd just cut it and pretend it didn't exist)

>> By tradition, you issued the challenge, you've been told when, where and
>> how: attend, or forfeit. (Of course, this applied to men of honour,
>> which is why I know you will not attend)
>
>Can't drag yourself on to Phily; too bad.

Indeed - on this trip. However, at least I'm planning to drag myself to
your country and have witnessed your evasions: while your boasts become
increasingly desperate and limited as geographical proximity is eroded.


Out of interest, and since you claimed it, why is "ground that you know
I have never visited, and have never indicated I would visit" meant to
be any more acceptable to me than it should be to you? (Find me evidence
that I've ever been to either New York City or Philedelphia or anywhere
in between)


Or are you just lying through your teeth yet again?

Again, by the Old Ways of these matters there's a few centuries of
tradition that left the challenged party to choose the ground: the
challenger then decided whether to pursue the matter or not once the
details were known.

Seems we have *your* answer...


>> But, it's a long trip, so I offered you something closer to home. And
>> again it's too difficult for you.
>>
>> So, now we just have to wait until I find myself in the DC area to
>> discover what your next reason why you can't follow your bluster through
>> might be.
>
>Anytime.

No, just until you get offered Philadelphia - and then we find what the
*next* problem is. (Note that I'm less troubled by "ground that you know
I have never visited, and have never indicated I would visit" than you;
perhaps to simplify matters you should simply provide a list of those
places you *would* be willing to make yourself available?)

>> After making sure you knew I lacked the time to do so. And yet *you*
>> claim I'm making insincere offers? I'm sticking to what I can do: you're
>> large on claims, but short on substance.
>
>You have plenty of time.

I do? Arrive around three in the afternoon, need to be on ship by end of
working day.

>Getting from NYC to Phily and back by train on the
>same day is no problemo.

My map says differently.

(Or I could fly out on the 4th. Yeah, right, that'll be a money-saving
exercise with no cheaper alternative.)

>> I'll see you at Fort Widley on the 19th, or I'll see you in NYC on the
>> 5th, or we'll wait to be amused by your next evasion.
>
>Yeah, right.

Indeed.

It seems amusement is in order.

--
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Julius Caesar I:2

Paul J. Adam MainBox<at>jrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

Andy Salvo
June 13th 04, 05:03 AM
"Vaughn" > wrote in message


> I still haven't figured out what Iraq is all about, but it wasn't 9-11 and
> it has little or nothing to do with terrorism.


Maybe changing the Middle East, through military action when necessary,
is the essence of the war on terror.

In addition, I wouldn't underestimate the extent of Saddam's polarizing
influence on Arab public opinion at large. An extra 10 years of Saddam
in power, speaking to the Arab masses, are probably more
damaging in that sense than a 2 years occupation followed by the
establishment of a democratic regime.


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

Howard Berkowitz
July 1st 04, 11:16 PM
In article >, Chad Irby
> wrote:

> In article >,
> Howard Berkowitz > wrote:
>
> > In article >, Chad Irby
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > So which is more likely? That someone hid a pile of chemical weapons
> > > (a
> > > medium-sized arsenal of the things would fit in a building the size
> > > of a
> > > house) in a country the size of California, versus your contention
> > > that
> > > they didn't have any and were complying with the UN sanctions?
> >
> > Or something in between. There were some prototypes hidden away, and
> > one
> > or more was given to people setting up IEDs.
>
> ...but the people handing them out didn't bother to mention that they
> needed to be fired out of a cannon to work?


It's literally possible they didn't know, if their role was "Hey Achmed,
do me a favor and bury this in your garden."

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