Off the cuff responses to Cary's posting...

> Obviously, but that's because respect is earned....not given.

Respect  "is given"  to those who earn it.

>  The French,
> Germans and Russians have lined their pockets selling Saddam their wares
and
> making him into the problem that he is.

Various sources have shown that the US has participated in funding and
strengthening Iraq as well.  If none of our companies sold him weapons, they
were doing a disservice to their shareholders since during the 80s and some
of the 90s there was not a valid reason (other than the law, which is always
a sticky subject in international sales) not to make that profit.

> their
> underhanded, financial motives for opposing war (they're going to lose
their
> best customer...) are eminently more plausible than the looney idea that
the
> US somehow wants the Iraqi oil reserves.  Do you really think that the
rest
> of the world would sit around and watch the US help itself to Iraq's oil?
> In spite of the fact that we will likely spend hundreds of billions of
> dollars of our own money and the blood of our most precious sons and
> daughters in this endeavor, we are not after their oil.   We don't have
any
> problem *buying* oil, as I stated earlier.

But installing a favorable power (democracy, autocracy or friendly republic)
in Iraq improves our influence over the global marketplace for oil.  We
don't have to steal it, to benefit from it.  And power issues (not political
power, but elecricity) have been a driving force in the Bush administration
nearly since his first days (or need we mention California, Dynegy and
Enron?).

> The truth is that it will be America that rebuilds Iraq, provides
> humanitarian aid, technology and infrastructure to make Iraq into a free
and
> prosperous state that can proudly join the international community and
stop
> supporting terrorists and threatening its neighbors.

And if *this time* we actually build a democracy there (unlike in
Afghanistan), then we and the rest of the world would benefit greatly, in
the short term and the long term.  In the mid term, however, we will create
more fanatical extremists bent on destroying us and everything we try to
build there.

>  The whining Europeans
> will sit on the sidelines and throw a few nickels into the pot, so as not
to
> seem completely insensitive.

Um, that seems a bit catty.

> Why does America continue to pour billions of dollars into endeavors like
> this all over the world?  Why, when we get the shaft every time from
> whining, whoossie diplomats and talking heads?

Because we don't know how to mind our own business and clean our own houses,
then lead by example and help whenever asked but otherwise keep our noses
out of other people's affairs?  Just a thought.

> Because
> the American people are good and kind and generous.

As are the people of almost every country on the globe.  We just don't feel
self important enough unless we flaunt it.  Afterall, why tythe or donate to
charity if you're not going to get a tax credit?  I personally take every
opportunity to give my extra coins (except for the new quarters because I'm
saving them) to the homeless people I pass on the streets everywhere.

> There is not a country
> on the globe that has not benefited from that kindness and generosity and
> there have been many, many occasions that we could have left the lot of
you
> to swing in the wind.

But that would have been *really* bad P.R.

> Herein lies the truth....listen up.

Uh, oh, get ready....

>  The American way of life;  freedom,
> pluralism, secularism

[... capitalism, shameless disregard for the financial and environmental
world we leave for our children and grandchildren, glorifying Johnny who
can't read but has the best passing arm in three counties, accepting without
question that our politicians are very often for sale to the highest
bidder....]

> and democracy is the future of the world.  Our form of
> government is the most brilliant and fair system ever devised and it is
> destined to form what will be in the future, a world government in which

[... unlike our own which is based on financial influence,...]

> each and every state has equal representation and equal say and equal
access
> to the resources of our planet.
> Only then will peace be achievable....

[... which unfortunately, won't be very good for business, so we may have to
phase that out.]

>  The
> Saddam Hussein's, Kim Jong Il's and Usama bin Laden's of the world know
this
> and they are railing against it with every ounce of strength they have.
> They know it will be the end of their power to lord over the masses,
> brutalize, intimidate and force their religion on others.

Or, they will adapt and use the structure for their own means like our
leaders (and their families and buddies from college) do.

> President Bush is
> absolutely right when he states that the UN risks marginalizing itself by
> failing to stand behind its words.

Amen.

> The demise of the UN may please some but
> it would set us back decades and perhaps centuries in achieving what we
> must.

Ditto.

> It is noble to pray for peace and we all must.

Of course, working towards it instead of returning to deficit spending in
order to fund large weapons contracts instead of investing in our countries
infrastructure or the education of our children or taking real steps to
solve the retirement and medical problems looming as the baby boomers
approach their non working years....  That would be something.

>  However, some of us are
> going to have to go out and give our lives for it.  The American soldiers
> who *volunteer* to do this deserve more respect than any of us who sit
> comfortably behind our computers and pontificate.

For decades, a large percent of the Americans who join the military have
done so for a good education and an opportunity to advance, or to find the
comradery, structure or purpose which they found missing in their young
lives.  Fortunately, most of them have gotten to pass through this important
doorway into their future without having to stand in front an enemy's
weapon.

> Cary

You seem a bit angry.  Did you not sleep well last night?

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