Michael, <If you want to get Osama and don't have the resources to do it on your own, start growing an economy and supporting a military to make it happen. >
I have been growing an economy and have done quite well at it. Have you checked Qualcomm's revenue lately? I pay taxes in the USA and here. Quite enough taxes thanks and I don't even get a vote despite the "no taxation without representation" slogan which hypocrites love to use.
Actually, I've grown a few economies.
It was more a political criticism than a criticism of the military to say that chasing wild geese in Iraq left Afghanistan unresolved. The decision to conquer Iraq was a political decision.
I didn't object to Americans wanting to do it, but it did seem to not be the best idea and it has turned out to not be such a good idea. Osama continues to poke fun at the USA.
I heard John McCain was complaining and harping about Abu Ghraib torture - not many people object to the idea of prisoners of war being treated humanely. < All the American military does is protect the peace all over the globe. You would think a tiny bit of thanks would be in order, but all we hear is complaining, harping about Gitmo and Abu Ghraib etc.>
As the USA likes to lecture others, human rights are considered important by many people around the world. As you can imagine, the USA politicians won't be mentioned human rights in China much these days - Chinese politicians would laugh at them and hold up photos of prisoners in Abu Ghraib.
There is a thing called habeas corpus. During bulk conflict, the paperwork gets left behind, reasonably so, but after several years, one could reasonably ask just why somebody is being held prisoner and on what evidence. "Disappeared" people is what happened in places like Chile. Hardly a model for the free world.
The USA doesn't keep people safe. The USA acts in USA interests which might or might not inadvertently "keep people safe". If China decides to conquer NZ [an easy thing for them to do and it's in the process] the USA might or might not stop them and whichever way the USA goes, it will be to suit USA interests, not to suit me.
It's not just radical Islamists who a threat to freedom, the whole ideology of even the most moderate Moslems is against freedom. It's part of the theology and rules. Thou shalt obey, or else. Which is pretty much like Helen Clark's rules [just different ones]. Freedom is thin on the ground everywhere. And getting thinner. Including in the USA. Try cutting down a tree on your own land and see what you get.
Mqurice |
