Condemning terrorism is fine, but it means very little to me, and has little effect on American troops over there.

So you prefer no effect rather than some, even if just a little? You're one of those people who expect things to happen over night.

Frankly, I don't really give a damn about the Iraqis, or the Mohammedans in general

How does one expect to make a better world if one doesn't care about it in the first place. whether you like it or not, its a fact that we all live on the same planet and that's good enough for me to want to care for them as well.

If satisfying their desires and looking out for their well-being benefits America and our allies, then I'm all for it.

Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's not always about you? Haven't you ever heard that it's better to give than to receive? When will people ever learn to give without expecting anything in return.

I do not support the creation of democracies in the Mohammedan world which legitimizes and enables their hatred of us.

As long as we are known as the biggest power on earth, every democracy created with our help will always have some hatred for us. Even those not created with our help have always hated us. It's just more convenient to have us as allies, which doesn't mean friends, more like "I'll get along with you, for now, doesn't mean I like you".

Given the choice, I'd much rather see a pro-American strongman in power than an anti-American democracy that supports and exports terrorism and jihad.

Isn't America great, choices is what this country is all about. Just look at the Burger King menu.

Another point I would like to make is despite the increase in car bombings and such against Iraqi civilians, attacks against American troops are not going down, nor are American casualty rates. The increased Iraqi casualties are in addition to the steady casualty rates for Americans. In other words, the number of American casualties is not going down, just the proportion of American casualties to Iraqi casualties.

They are terrorist, what did you expect would happen? I had to say something here otherwise you would point out that I failed to address your entire reply.

So you prefer no effect rather than some, even if just a little? You're one of those people who expect things to happen over night.

That "some effect" is representatives of Iraq saying that attacking American troops is legitimate. The very people who American troops have given their lives to protect turn around and say there is nothing wrong with killing them. Yes, I'd rather see Iraqis die than Americans. Far better for them to die for their own country than for our troops to die for people who hate them with every fiber of their being.

How does one expect to make a better world if one doesn't care about it in the first place. whether you like it or not, its a fact that we all live on the same planet and that's good enough for me to want to care for them as well.

I'm not a mindless utopian. My goal is not "making the world a better place" for all. We all have different goals, and different interests. The Mohammedans have sinister plans for us infidels, and compromise is not an option. The Moslem and the Christian cannot live together in peace as equals, and therefore must be separated.

Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's not always about you? Haven't you ever heard that it's better to give than to receive? When will people ever learn to give without expecting anything in return.

Has anyone ever taught you these lessons are only relevant when talking about how people within our society should behave towards one another?

As long as we are known as the biggest power on earth, every democracy created with our help will always have some hatred for us. Even those not created with our help have always hated us. It's just more convenient to have us as allies, which doesn't mean friends, more like "I'll get along with you, for now, doesn't mean I like you".

This is not a matter of "some hatred," we're talking about a hatred so strong that people would be willing to hijack airplanes and crash them into buildings full of tens of thousands of people. We're talking about people who have no problem strapping bombs to themselves and detonating them in a crowd of people. I'v e yet to meet a South Korean, German, or Frenchman who has felt the same. I doubt anyone else has either.

They are terrorist, what did you expect would happen? I had to say something here otherwise you would point out that I failed to address your entire reply.

They're not terrorists so long as the aim their attacks at American troops--at least that's what the Iraqis stated in the communique.

It's a matter of methods, not political stance. If they were "resisting" democratically, or through non-violent means, there wouldn't be anything wrong with it. From that perspective, I'd agree. The problem is sickos like those referred to will take any statement like this as an affirmation of their tactics. They'll see it as winking at their methods, just like they do in Israel.

Bakerstreet, I'd still be pissed that the invasion and the result didn't benefit, in my eyes, the US in the long run, but it would be a lot easier to swallow seeing that fewer people were being killed for particular groups to voice a political stance.

Well, then I guess all you want is a puppet government, which hasn't ever been the plan. Too bad freedom means so little to you that you would wish bondage for Iraqis, as long as they are held down by a tyrant friendly to the U.S.

Freedom doesn't exist in Iraq right now. There is no freedom when 50 Iraqis a day are killed in car bombings. Freedom doesn't exist when the entire country must be put on lockdown to hold one election. Freedom is not anarchy. Freedom is not Sharia law. Iraqis don't want freedom--not as we know it.

May you never live what you wish for others.

I lived through hell, and the missing toes and scarred flesh on my body can attest to that from driving over a mine. This "freedom" you speak of was the cause. In the end, it's not freedom you are supporting, it's mob rule. I'm a victim of the desire for mob rule.

GP, would you consider Japanese kamikaze pilots to have committed terrorist acts?

They attacked military targets using similar means, i.e. blowing themselves up.

GP, would you consider Japanese kamikaze pilots to have committed terrorist acts? They attacked military targets using similar means, i.e. blowing themselves up.

No. Gideon wrote an article a few weeks ago about insurgents and terrorists and the naming conventions that are used in the media. The problem for me is not what the insurgents or terrorists think. I have an issue with the fact that official representatives of the Iraqi government, which is supported with the blood of American troops, gives a communique that declares that there is nothing wrong with terrorists and insurgents killing our boys.

Imagine if during the LA Riots in 1992 the mayor declared that rioters should stop looting and burning buildings, stop killing innocent civilians, but said nothing about gang members shooting policemen trying to bring order and security to the city. Would you have a problem with that? I would.

How does one expect to make a better world if one doesn't care about it in the first place. whether you like it or not, its a fact that we all live on the same planet and that's good enough for me to want to care for them as well.

Curious as to how YOU care for the Iraqis. What do you do to support the war efforts? Do you serve? Are you involved in any volunteer group? Do you send Beanie Babies and soccer balls to Iraqi children or donate to some other token charitable Iraqi cause? What's your role in all this?

Or is it merely an intellectual debate for you?

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