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Politics : The Donkey's Inn -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Raymond Duray who wrote (5727)	12/31/2002 2:08:21 PM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 15516

Well, a nuclear war in Asia wouldn't help the American economy. The sight of thousands or pehaps hundreds of thousands of people dying and the enormous physical destruction would be devastating to the American consumer. Of course, the American press would try to cover up ugliest pictures.

To: Raymond Duray who wrote (5727)	12/31/2002 2:25:45 PM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 15516

Consumer confidence in the US slumped in December, adding further gloom to the outlook for the US economy. news.bbc.co.uk The Consumer Confidence Index dived to 80.3 in December from a revised 84.9 in November, according to data from an influential business lobby group, the Conference Board. The figure was in stark contrast to analysts' forecasts of a slight rise to 85.5, and was the sixth fall in the past seven months. "The major factor dampening consumers' spirits has been the rising unemployment rate and the discouraging job outlook," said a Conference Board spokeswoman. The data reinforces fears that consumer spending, which makes up two-thirds of the US economy, is unlikely to fuel an economic recovery any time soon. The US economic outlook weakened after unemployment jumped to an eight year high. Continuing talk of a war in Iraq and rising tensions with North Korea have also unsettled the population. Chain store massacre On Monday, US chain stores reported that sales grew only slightly in December, with a last-minute rush around Christmas failing to make up for an otherwise poor month. There was a 0.7% rise in the four weeks ending 28 December compared with the same period in November, Instinet Research said in its weekly Redbook report. "The last-minute Christmas rush was not enough to make up for the pre-Christmas slump," the report said. On Monday, discount retailer Target said sales last week at stores open at least a year were well above expectations but had not made up for a disappointing month. Wal-Mart revised its December sales figures down to a rise of between 2-3% from 5%.

To: Raymond Duray who wrote (5727)	12/31/2002 5:00:38 PM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15516

Using nukes won't and shouldn't work anywhere. They won't be used to end a prolonged world war, as the stage was when Truman used 'em, and any public support to use nukes only will come from a few GOPhawks, at best. Unfortunately, I don't think the military buildup would exist in its current and growing proportion without any intent to utilize those forces. Remember, cowboy Bush won't wanna seem muscle-bound, and he probably does have the support of World Wrestling Foundation types. What I'm curious to note is exactly how the U.S. will play its war card before the United Nations if possession of weapons of mass destruction cannot reasonably be proven. I mean snuffing the life out of a few hundred thousand or perhaps a million or more people shouldn't exist on the same level as beach cops moving in like gangbusters in order to bust a couple dozen teenagers for being knowingly present where marijuna is found, i.e., a joint or two, seeds even. But what's also frightening is the prospect that the Iraqi forces will retreat into both Baghdad and Tikrit, two major heavily-populated cities, in the intent conducting an urban warfare campaign so as to kill as many Americans and Brits as possible. The U.S. will then be in a faceoff choice of the following: a) attacking with a tremendous risk of mass casualties (something Americans will not and should not have to stomach); or, b) surround those respective cities until the occupants surrender, sorta like the good ole' days when they choked off supplies to seiged castles. Should the latter situation become a reality then the U.S. stands to risk losing an incredible public relations war, especially if no weapons of mass destructions are used by the Iraqis, and if millions of Iraqi non-militant citizens become trapped and starving in those cities. Were this to happen the Twin Tower tragedy would pale in comparison.