Ted,
Joe, did you want to post with me on this issue......if os, then stop with the innuendo and half mocking comments.
It was my understanding that the coalition consisted of Americans, British, Canadians, Pakistanis, with support from Germany, France and one of "the stans" north of Afghanistan. I figured the US was the majority partner but I didn't think the others were irrelevant........at least, Rumsfield seemed to think they weren't.
The "Stans" with Pakistan to a lesser degree are ruled by unsavory characters not unlike Saddam in early 80s. You had a lot of criticism on that issue in your posts just today. And nobody was there when the bombing started, other than the British. Others showed up when it was more or less over.
What are you doing........the worst has yet to happen.
Let's see.......in August, the leading indicators were done for the 3rd straight month.....three months in a row is considered an indicator of a change in direction for the the economy; unemployment is up for the 4 straight week and is well over 400 k; retail sales have been flat with the exception of autos, and the fear is that auto companies are cannibalizing 2003 sales into this year; consumer confidence is dropping and is well below 100; the Production managers' ISM index is slipping down to 50....above 50 is expansion, below is contraction......the index had moved about 50 this past Spring but is sliding back down again, the markets have yet to bottom, the B2B is slowing......I mean what other evidence do you need......the collapse of JPM?
2 quarters of negative growth. Which of course is a lagging indicator, which is kind of stinks, but as I said, I would not be surprised to see Q3 negative, but I think Q4 will be positive.
Excuse me.......I have no idea what you are talking about..... its my understaning that NATO peacekeeping units were there in full force.
First of all, I am not talking peacekeeping but bombing - things like power plants so that people can't turn their light on, water system, so that people can't drink clean water, gas distribution, so that people can't worm babies' milk or heat their homes, sewege system, so that diseases spread, civilian bridges, so that people can't see their relatives who live on the other side of the bridge.
Second of all, it may be a news to you, but NATO does not equal UN. NATO countries are a subset of the UN countries. And the UN Security Council, which is a subset of UN countries was against the Yugoslavia bombing, never approved it, for important reason that 2 permanent members of Security Council (Russia and China) were against it. I thing this should be very important to you, since you place such a high emphasis on the UN approval. As far as UN is concerned, it was an illegal war. And this is the war that you supported, so I find it surprising and inconsistent that you are now talking about UN approval of US actions.
You and Steve think we should close down our airbases in Germany. I think you will find that's not what the US military and defense want.
I have read the criticism of the US bases in Germany, and the force structure there way before the recent slap on the face by German Prime minister. I think it would make more sense to strenghten the bases in Italy and Turkey, maybe adding a ground forces base in Turkey (in addition to the air bases).
Schroder's popularity was on the ascendency due to the way he adroitly handled the flooding in Dresden/E. Germany.
He was deep in a hole, and as you said, the situation around the floods helped him, but mainly, it seems that running against Bush (who I agree is not popular in Europe) seemed like the major theme, that helped him persuade the 1% that got him over the top.
Anyway, Europe is turning out to be such a peaceful trouble free part of the world, that the Europeans like to pretend that the rest of the world is like that. Gee, it would be easier for us in the US to bury our heads in the sand the same way, but someone has to be the responsible one, and the role unfortunately belongs to us. I would rather see Denmark and Luxemburg go out there and kick Saddam butt, but that's not going to happen.
Joe |
