Originally posted by Babbar
Antagonizing the UN and the EU, who either hate America or are insanely jealous of our wealth and power? Who gives a rat's patoot about a bunch of third-world never-wases and a European Continent filled with has-beens like Germany and France who are jealous of our position in the world.
The economy is booming, unemployment is lower today than it was in the 1970's, 1980's, or 1990's. Even the much maligned manufacturing segment is taking off. In case you haven't noticed, the market is above 10,000 and the NASDAQ is also up, rebounding from the tech-bubble bursting in the late 1990's, the recession that started under Clinton's policies, and 9-11. Were not for the tax cuts, Clinton's recession would be continuing today.
The dollar was intentionally depressed to make U.S. goods cheaper on foreign markets, making them more appealing and easier to sell. No big deal.
In fact, none of your charges are anything worth bothering about. Bin Laden and Omar are non-issues. Democracy cannot be built in a day so your charges about Afghanistan and Iraq are simple-minded at best.
The intelligence about WMD was correct. 100% correct. In case you have had your head stuck in the sand, and from your wild pronouncements and yammering, it is obvious you have, check out some of the reporting by Syrians and Israelis that know exactly where Saddam's biological and chemical WMDs are buried in Syria.
All in all, limerickman, your response teeters between the pathetic and the laughable.
Limerickman : Ah, our cold warrior friend is back on line.
First of all, Barbbar, you only have to push the submit reply button once – not twice !
The same reply has been posted TWICE (on pages 5 & 6 of this thread).
I know you older folk living in the Nixon era ain’t used to technology, but believe me it works.
You only have to submit your reply once – for it to be published.
let’s now look at the latest set of exaggerations, which you have posted.
You contend that your economy is performing well.
Statistical evidence contradicts your opinion that your economy is in fact in good shape.
Let me refer you to the Economist March 2004 : “the US economy is in a perilous
state at present. We feel that the policy of tax cuts is not the solution to the current
woes of the US economy. Tax cuts are normally the fallback position when other measures taken to stimulate an economy do not work.
Aligning tax cuts with a deliberate policy of devaluing the dollar is a very risky move.
It is obvious that this government feel that they can boost their economy by trying to generate more service sector spending.
However, this only works when job security and job creation forecasts give people the comfort to spend willingly. This is not the case at present.
The rate of job loss in the US economy is very high – particularly in the IT sector where large amounts of jobs have been transferred to lower cost countries such as
India and South East Asia” Hans Mettling : OECD Official.
You quote that the stockmarket is above 10,000.
The Dow Jones has indeed gone above 10,000 points (as of today) for the first time in a long time.
The NasDaq is currently trading in the low 1,900’s – a whopping 3,000 lower than it’s all time high.
You see Barbbar, markets move up and down : the Dow Jones has been seriously devalued against it’s value in the late 1990’s.
In cumulative terms, the Dow Jones, in value terms, is 30% lower in value for the period 2000-20004, compared to 1996-2000.
Of the 1400 days or so of the Clinton Presidency, the Dow Jones index exceeded the 10,000 point mark for 1125 days.
The Bush Presidency the Dow Jones index has only exceeded the 10,000 point limit for – wait for it – 321 days !
Throw in on top of that, the current US budget deficit : in 2000, the USA had a surplus of $200 billion.
The latest data shows the US deficit to be $500 billion and counting.
This is the highest budget deficit in history.
To service this level of debt, each American will be forced to pay higher taxes in order to repay the debt.
Gross Domestic Product (the measure of the value of goods and services manufactured within the USA) is also down, even after factoring in the lower international dollar exchange rate.
All of this data indicates to me that the US economy is far from being healthy.
You also contend that BinLaden and Omar are not an issue.
This is a very surprising statement to make in light of the amount of money and time that your country has taken in trying to capture these people.
Throw in also how much money BinLaden and Omar have cost your country (military wages and costs, security costs at airports and airlines, insurance and re-insurance costs following the 2001 Trade center attacks, the cost for five days in which your whole economy was effectively shut down after the Trade center attacks, the cost of increasing security at all your national and foreign government buildings etc).
How many billions of dollars have these two cost your country, Barbbar ?
These two have cost your country dearly.
Two third world neverwases !
You state that Germany and France are jealous of your country.
Once again you exaggerate.
In economic terms, it’s a no brainer (although for you, I’d better take the time to explain it).
In comparing France and/or Germany to the USA, you fail to think that you are comparing a continent (USA) to individual countries.
In economic terms, you’re attempting to compare, apples with oranges.
Politically, Germany and France as part of the EU, have been against this illegal war.
The EU opposed the US invasion of Iraq.
The EU stated the Iraq never posed a threat.
The EU tried to urge Bush not to invade Iraq.
Who in their right mind could be jealous of a country which purports to be “liberating” a nation, yet ends up going to war with the very people they said they say they purport to liberate ?
Bush has sacrificed the good name and credibility of the USA on the altar of expediency.
Jealous of America – certainly not.
We despair for those Americans who have been shamed by the policy of the Bush government.
You also state that the WMD’s that the intelligence about WMD was 100% correct.
But Colin Powell stated to the UN in February 2002 that Hussein had WMD in Iraq !
Colin Powell produced photographs of mobile WMD’s !
Colin Powell’s evidence was later proven to be doctored !
Is this the intelligence that was 100% correct ?
Or is there another piece of intelligence that is 100% correct ?
Wait a second !
The USA has been occupying Iraq since MARCH 2003 – 14 MONTHS ; AND IT STILL HASN’T FOUND ANY WMD’s.
What part of the intelligence is missing here, Barbbar – because I’m getting confused now.
Your country has had unfettered access to all of Iraq and not a single solitary find of Uranium has been uncovered !
Not one ounce of Uranium !
(I know you’re in the slow lane – so I’ll explain it for you – you see Uranium is the constituent element that goes in to the making of nuclear weapons or WMD :
Uranium 235 and 238 give off radiation which can be detected for years)
So it’s now all buried somewhere and the Israeli’s and the Syrians know where it’s hidden, according to you.
If the Israeli’s know where it is – why haven’t they told the USA ?
Why ?
Because I tell you why.
Your statement is about WMD is a lie.
Another lie to go with all of the rest of the lies promulgated in the illegal war in Iraq.
One final point, when you post messages making generalizations – have some data to back them up !
Throughout this reply, I have referred to names and data and dates – all of which are freely available data if you take the time to read and inquire about a subject.
Try backing up your argument with information, instead of shrill pronouncements.
None of your posts to the Forum have data supplied with them.
And I would also suggest that you refrain from making exaggerated statements like
“quote Barbbar : who either hate America or are insanely jealous of our wealth and power”
These type of statements are frankly ridiculous.
No one that I know hates America or is jealous of America.
People dislike/hate Bush and his policies but they certainly don’t tar all Americans because of what Bush and his discredited government are doing.
People I know do not make sweeping generalizations like you appear to do.