>>>>> Just to rouse the rabble some more, here's Krugman talking about direct and indirect costs. Perhaps it's time for some voodoo economics. Oops, I think we're there already, what's the next step beyond voodoo? I will indulge myself in one highlight.>>>
Lets see how we can handle P for Paul. K
<<< By PAUL KRUGMAN
Of course we'll win on the battlefield, probably with ease. I'm not a military expert, but I can do the numbers: the most recent U.S. military budget was $400 billion, while Iraq spent only $1.4 billion.>>>
Does this mean we are spending too much? ENE lost $100 bil of shareholders value, Csco perhaps $250 bil.
Millitary expences are not a direct loss, the Companies with contracts pay @ 30 % tax on income, the workers pay on earnings, the shareholders pay taxes on income. So a great deal of military costs are retuned to the government. And it makes jobs for many people while advancing technology
<<< What frightens me is the aftermath — and I'm not just talking about the problems of postwar occupation. I'm worried about what will happen beyond Iraq — in the world at large, and here at home.>>>
You dont have the foggiest idea of what the future holds and there will be some very positive happenings.
A cure or vacine for Malaria( talk to Ken) - so go right ahead and worry.
<< The members of the Bush team don't seem bothered by the enormous ill will they have generated in the rest of the world. They seem to believe that other countries will change their minds once they see cheering Iraqis welcome our troops, or that our bombs will shock and awe the whole world (not just the Iraqis) or that what the world thinks doesn't matter. They're wrong on all counts.>>>
1. If Bush was bothered by World opinion we would be back to Pre Resolution 1441 with Saddam buying more of the banned long range missiles to hold his chemicals and toxins
2. The countries did change their mind , Japan, Australia, and so will Turkey tomorrow.
3. Shock and Awe was strictly for IRAQ , nobody else- designed the terrify Iraqies into not fighting and perhaps to eliminate SAddam themselves
<< Victory in Iraq won't end the world's distrust of the United States because the Bush administration has made it clear, over and over again, that it doesn't play by the rules. Remember: this administration told Europe to take a hike on global warming, told Russia to take a hike on missile defense, told developing countries to take a hike on trade in lifesaving pharmaceuticals, told Mexico to take a hike on immigration, mortally insulted the Turks and pulled out of the International Criminal Court — all in just two years.
What the H-- are you talking about ? There is no "victory" planned in Iraq for anyone except their own peoples.
The place is a mess with people starving and oppressed- it will be their victory not ours.
What has Global warming got to do with the present conversation?
<<< Nor, as we've just seen, is military power a substitute for trust. Apparently the Bush administration thought it could bully the U.N. Security Council into going along with its plans; it learned otherwise. "What can the Americans do to us?" one African official asked. "Are they going to bomb us? Invade us?">>>
So are we now to trust France, the self-proclaimed leader of the UN who will Veto anything they disagree
with hahahahahaha
Bomb Africa ? Dont go planting any ideas in Mr Rumsfelds head now, Powell has enough trouble already
restraining him. Whut country do yu wanna bomb, anyway?
<< Meanwhile, consider this: we need $400 billion a year of foreign investment to cover our trade deficit, or the dollar will plunge and our surging budget deficit will become much harder to finance — and there are already signs that the flow of foreign investment is drying up, just when it seems that America may be about to fight a whole series of wars.>>>>>
Have you seen the markets yesterday and today?
There are at this moment 50 active wars or armed disputes going on in the world. We have been pretty lax in participating and very selective so far. Our unwavering determination to fight terrorism should provide a reduction in the overall quantity of on-going wars.
<< It's a matter of public record that this war with Iraq is largely the brainchild of a group of neoconservative intellectuals, who view it as a pilot project.>>>>
BS, this war is being caused by one man alone ,Saddam, refusing to disarm per an agreement signed by every member of the UN. Are UN members all neoconservative intelletuals; if so they certainly fooled me.
<<< In August a British official close to the Bush team told Newsweek: "Everyone wants to go to Baghdad. Real men want to go to Tehran.>>>
I dont know of anyone who wants to go to Bagdad today except some crazies like Geraldo
General Franks, 300000 Us troops, 35000 British troops, and 2000 ( or 20000?) Aussies will be there soon enough.
<<<" In February 2003, according to Ha'aretz, an Israeli newspaper, Under Secretary of State John Bolton told Israeli officials that after defeating Iraq the United States would "deal with" Iran, Syria and North Korea.>>>
Thats not for John Bolton to say, its up to GWB , the UN ( you notice we did go the UN with the Iraq problem) and the behavior of those nations from this point forward
<<< Will Iraq really be the first of many? It seems all too likely — and not only because the "Bush doctrine" seems to call for a series of wars. Regimes that have been targeted, or think they may have been targeted, aren't likely to sit quietly and wait their turn: they're going to arm themselves to the teeth, and perhaps strike first. >>>
If you identify any countries with a sadistic dictator as mean and vile as Saddam then let them know the heat is on and its time to change their ways
<<<People who really know what they are talking about have the heebie-jeebies over North Korea's nuclear program, and view war on the Korean peninsula as something that could happen at any moment. And at the rate things are going, it seems we will fight that war, or the war with Iran, or both at once, all by ourselves.>>>>
I am glad you recognize the threat posed by N Korea, thats a good reason to spend the $400 bil on defense
My keyboard is losing power so will stop here
Sig @ runoutofgas.com |
