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Michael Stueart
USA
26 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2003 : 20:26:28
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I got this e-mail forward and thought I would share it with you all.
"An open letter to the Dixie Chicks: Earlier this week, while performing in
London, you stated that you were ashamed that our President is from your
home state. I wonder if you realized how many Americans would be listening.
This American was listening. This Texan is ashamed that you come from my
state. I serve my country as an officer in the United States Navy.
Specifically, I fly F-14 Tomcats off carriers around the world, executing
the missions that preserve the very freedom you claim to exercise. I have
proudly fought for my country in the skies over Kosovo, Iraq and
Afghanistan without regret. Though I may disagree wholeheartedly with your
comments, I will defend to the death your right to say them, in America.
But for you to travel to a foreign land and publicly criticize our
Commander in Chief is cowardice behavior. Would you have so willingly made
those comments while performing for a patriotic, flag-waving crowd of
Texans in Lubbock. I would imagine not. How dare you pocket profits off
songs about soldiers, their deaths and patriotism while criticizing their
Commander in Chief abroad, even while they prepare to give their lives to
ensure your own freedom of speech. Please ask yourself, what have you done
to deserve that sacrifice? Do not try to justify your comments by claiming
that you made them only because you care about innocent lives. Never once
in our history have we committed troops to war for the purpose of taking
innocent lives. We do it to protect innocent lives, even yours. If the
world leaders of the late 1930's had the vision and courage of our present
Commander in Chief, perhaps the evil men who caused the death of millions
in WWII would have never had the opportunity to harm a soul. The potential
loss of millions of lives in the future at the hands of today's evil men
necessitate action. In a separate correspondence, I am returning to you
each and every Dixie Chicks CD and cassette that I have ever purchased.
Never again will I allow my funds to support your behavior. All you have
done is to add your name to a growing list of American "Celebrities" who
have failed to realize that they have obtained their successes on the backs
of the American blue-collar workers such as our servicemen and women. To
Natalie Maines: This Texan , this American will continue to risk his life to
guarantee your freedoms. What will you do to deserve it?"
What reaction do you have?
I have met Natalie when she was just starting and was doing back up vocals at Don Caldwell's Studio in Lubbock, Texas I thought she was nice but these comments she made were way out of line especially in a foriegn country.
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Michael Stueart |
Edited by - Linda on 03/25/2003 10:16:31 |
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terra
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 07:53:20
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| I agree with you, Micheal. I personally am a proud Texan and American and I fully support our president not only because he is a Texasn but, because he is brave and has made the right decision. I wish celebrities would begin to show some respect. |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 08:14:45
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Terra, I am struck by your comment that you "wish celebrities would begin to show some respect."
Could you please expound on your viewpoint of how a celebrity might 'show some (more) respect'?
I am unclear as to what your meaning of 'respect' might constitute and would appreciate any thoughts you might be willing to share in expanding on your definition of 'respect.'
As I am sure you undoubtedly know, the Pope has called the American war with Iraq "unjust" and just out of curiosity, I wonder if you also feel that the Pope should 'begin to show some respect' as well? |
Edited by - JimF on 03/25/2003 08:32:12 |
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tomgriffin56
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 10:58:45
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While I do not condone the idea that free speech should be curtailed, I do believe that people who are celebrities have a personal obligation and duty to consider the effects of their statements. It is unfortunate that most celebrities nowadays are not thoughtful, considerate, or even possess much more than crawdad level intelligence. On the same note, many of their fans may share their level of intelligence and actually pay attention to their ill-considered rambles.
Everyone has the right to free speech, just as everyone has the right to ignore them. |
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Justin
USA
137 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 11:07:23
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Thought you all would enjoy the email I received today which is reproduced below.
The Hollywood group is at it again. Holding anti-war rallies, screaming about the Bush Administration, running ads in major newspapers, defaming the President and his Cabinet every chance they get, to anyone and everyone who will listen. They publicly defile them and call them names like "stupid" , "morons", and "idiots". Jessica Lange went so far as to tell a crowd in Spain that she hates President Bush and is embarrassed to be an American.
So, just how ignorant are these people who are running the country? Let's look at the biographies of these "stupid", "ignorant" , "moronic"
leaders, and then at the celebrities who are castigating them:
President George W. Bush: Received a Bachelors Degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He served as an
F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National Guard. He began his career in the oil and gas business in Midland in 1975 and worked in the energy
industry until 1986. He was elected Governor on November 8, 1994, with 53.5 percent of the vote. In a historic re-election victory, he
became the first Texas Governor to be elected to consecutive four-year terms on November 3, 1998 winning 68.6 percent of the vote. In 1998
Governor Bush won 49 percent of the Hispanic vote, 27 percent of the African-American vote, 27 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of
women. He won more Texas counties, 240 of 254, than any modern Republican other that Richard Nixon in 1972 and is the first
Republican gubernatorial candidate to win the heavily Hispanic and Democratic border counties of El Paso, Cameron and Hidalgo. (Someone
began circulating a false story about his I.Q. being lower than any other President. If you believed it, you might want to go to
URBANLEGENDS.COM and see the truth.)
Vice President Dick Cheney earned a B.A. in 1965 and a M.A. in 1966, both in political science. Two years later, he won an American Political
Science Association congressional fellowship. One of Vice President Cheney's primary duties is to share with individuals, members
of Congress and foreign leaders, President Bush's vision to strengthen our economy, secure our homeland and win the War on
Terrorism. In his official role as President of the Senate, Vice President Cheney regularly goes to Capital Hill to meet with Senators
and members of the House of Representatives to work on the Administration's legislative goals. In his travels as Vice President, he
has seen first hand the great demands the war on terrorism is placing on the men and women of our military, and he is proud of the
tremendous job they are doing for the United States of America.
Secretary of State Colin Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second
lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration Degree
from George Washington University. Secretary Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. Secretary
Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal,
the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. Several schools and
other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Attended Princeton University on Scholarship (AB, 1954) and served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as a Naval
aviator ; Congressional Assistant to Rep. Robert Griffin (R-MI), 1957-59; U.S. Representative, Illinois, 1962-69; Assistant to the President, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Director of the Cost of Living Council, 1969-74; U.S. Ambassador to NATO, 1973-74; head of Presidential Transition Team, 1974; Assistant to the President, Director of White House Office of Operations, White House Chief of Staff, 1974-77; Secretary of Defense, 1975-77
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge was raised in a working class family in veterans' public housing in Erie. He earned a scholarship to
Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where
he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor. After returning to Pennsylvania, he earned
his Law Degree and was in private practice before becoming Assistant District Attorney in Erie County. He was elected to Congress in 1982. He
was the first enlisted Vietnam combat veteran elected to the U.S. House, and was overwhelmingly re-elected six times.
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her Master's from
the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. (Note: Rice enrolled at the University of Denver at the age of 15, graduating at 19 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (Cum Laude). She earned a Master's Degree at the University of Notre Dame and a Doctorate from the University of Denver's Graduate School of International Studies. Both of her advanced degrees are also in
Political Science.) She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, and the University of Notre Dame in 1995. At Stanford, she has been a member of the Center for
International Security and Arms Control, a Senior Fellow of the Institute for International Studies, and a Fellow (by courtesy) of the Hoover Institution. Her books include Germany Unified and Europe Transformed (1995) with Philip Zelikow, The Gorbachev Era (1986) with Alexander Dallin, and Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army (1984). She also has written numerous articles on Soviet and East European foreign and defense policy, and has addressed audiences in settings ranging from the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Moscow to the Commonwealth Club to the 1992 and 2000
Republican National Conventions. From 1989 through March 1991, the period of German reunification and the final days of the Soviet
Union, she served in the Bush Administration as Director, and then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National
Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. In 1986, while an international affairs fellow of the
Council on Foreign Relations, she served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1997, she served on the
Federal Advisory Committee on Gender -- Integrated Training in the Military. She was a member of the boards of directors for the Chevron
Corporation, the Charles Schwab Corporation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, the
International Advisory Council of J.P. Morgan and the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors. She was a Founding Board member of the
Center for a New Generation, an educational support fund for schools in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, California and was Vice President of
the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. In addition, her past board service has encompassed such organizations as Transamerica
Corporation, Hewlett Packard, the Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Rand Corporation, the
National Council for Soviet and East European Studies, the Mid-Peninsula Urban Coalition and KQED, public broadcasting for San Francisco. Born
November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta
Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her Master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate
School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been
awarded Honorary Doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, and the University of Notre
Dame in 1995. She resides in Washington, D.C.
So who are these celebrities? What is their education? What is their experience in affairs of State or in National Security? While I will
defend to the death their right to express their opinions, I think that if they are going to call into question the intelligence of our leaders, we
should also have all the facts on their educations and background:
Barbra Streisand : Completed high school
Career: Singing and acting
Cher: Dropped out of school in 9th grade.
Career: Singing and acting
Martin Sheen: Flunked exam to enter University of Dayton.
Career: Acting
Jessica Lange ropped out college mid-freshman year.
Career: Acting
Alec Baldwin: Dropped out of George Washington U. after scandal
Career: Acting
Julia Roberts; Completed high school
Career: Acting
Sean Penn; Completed High school
Career: Acting
Susan Sarandon; Degree in Drama from Catholic University of American Washington, D.C.
Career: Acting
Ed Asner; Completed High school
Career: Acting
George Clooney; Dropped out of University of Kentucky
Career: Acting
Michael Moore; Dropped out first year University of Michigan.
Career: Movie Director
Sarah Jessica Parker: Completed High School
Career: Acting
Jennifer Anniston: Completed High School
Career: Acting
Mike Farrell; Completed High school
Career: Acting
Janeane Garofelo; Dropped out of College.
Career: Stand up comedienne
Larry Hagman; Attended Bard College for one year.
Career: Acting
While comparing the education and experience of these two groups, we should also remember that President Bush and his cabinet are briefed
daily, even hourly, on the War on Terror and threats to our security. They are privy to information gathered around the world
concerning the Middle East, the threats to America, the intentions of terrorists and terrorist-supporting governments. They are in constant
communication with the CIA, the FBI, Interpol, NATO, The United Nations, our own military, and that of our allies around the world. We cannot
simply believe that we have full knowledge of the threats because we watch CNN!! We cannot believe that we are in any way as
informed as our leaders.
These celebrities have no intelligence-gathering agents, no fact-finding groups, no insight into the minds of those who would destroy our
country. They only have a deep seated hatred for all things Republican. By nature, and no one knows quite why, the Hollywood
elitists detest Conservative views and anything that supports or uplifts the United States of America. The silence was deafening from the
Left when Bill Clinton bombed a pharmaceutical factory outside of Khartoum, or when he attacked the Bosnian Serbs in 1995 and 1999. He
bombed Serbia itself to get Slobodan Milosevic out of Kosovo, and not a single peace rally was held. When our Rangers were ambushed in
Somalia and 18 young American lives were lost, not a peep was heard from Hollywood. Yet now, after our nation has been attacked
on its own soil, after 3,000 Americans were killed by freedom-hating terrorists while going about their routine lives, they want to hold
rallies against the war. Why the change? Because an honest, God-fearing Republican sits in the White House.
Another irony is that in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was in office, the Hollywood group aligned themselves with disarmament groups like SANE,
FREEZE and PEACE ACTION, urging our own government to disarm and freeze the manufacturing of any further nuclear weapons,
in order to promote world peace. It is curious that now, even after we have heard all the evidence that Saddam Hussein has chemical,
biological and is very close to obtaining nuclear weapons, their is no cry from this group for HIM to disarm. They believe we should leave
him alone in his quest for these weapons of mass destruction, even though it is certain that these deadly weapons will eventually be used
against us in our own cities.
So why the hype out of Hollywood? Could these celebrities believe that Since they draw such astronomical salaries, they are entitled to also
determine the course of our Nation? That they can make viable decisions concerning war and peace? Did Michael Moore have the backing
of the Nation when he recently thanked France, on our behalf, for being a "good enough friend to tell us we were wrong"? I
know for certain he was not speaking for me. Does Sean Penn fancy himself a Diplomat, in going to Iraq when we are just weeks away from
war? Does he believe that his High School Diploma gives him the knowledge (and the right) to go to a country that is controlled by a
maniacal dictator, and speak on behalf of the American people? Or is it the fact that he pulls in more money per year than the average
American worker will see in a lifetime? Does his bank account give him clout?
The ultimate irony is that many of these celebrities have made a shambles of their own lives, with drug abuse, alcoholism, numerous
marriages and divorces, scrapes with the law, publicized temper tantrums, etc. How dare they pretend to know what is best for an entire
nation! What is even more bizarre is how many people in this country will listen and accept their views, simply because they liked them in a
certain movie, or have fond memories of an old television sitcom!
It is time for us, as citizens of the United States, to educate ourselves about the world around us. If future generations are going to
enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers bequeathed us, if they are ever to know peace in their own country and their world, to live without fear of
terrorism striking in their own cities, we must assure that this nation remains strong. We must make certain that those who would
destroy us are made aware of the severe consequences that will befall them.
Yes, it is a wonderful dream to sit down with dictators and terrorists and join hands, singing Cumbaya and talking of world peace. But it is
not real. We did not stop Adolf Hitler from taking over the entire continent of Europe by simply talking to him. We sent our best and
brightest, with the strength and determination that this Country is known for, and defeated the Nazi regime. President John F. Kennedy
did not stop the Soviet ships from unloading their nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962 with mere words. He stopped them with action, and threat of
immediate war if the ships did not turn around. We did not end the Cold War with conferences. It ended with the strong belief of
President Ronald Reagan... PEACE through STRENGTH.
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 11:46:56
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Why is it that when one cannot rationally or logically or factually dissect a particular argument expostulated by 'the other side' that one resorts to personal attacks and ad hominum slurs?
(And yes, that goes for either side and the other side too!)
Justin, since the only clear distinction you make between a group of government officials and the celebrities mentioned, center around college educations, are you suggesting we amend our Constitution to require a college diploma as a prerequisite for holding public office and perhaps going further in taking away the rights of free speech and the right to vote from those without a college degree; or in the alternative, perhaps giving the educated two votes for every one given to the illiterate among us, as your inference is that they are smarter and more deserving to be heard in their opinions? If you're not suggesting that, then whatever other point it is you are trying to make is largely unclear. |
Edited by - JimF on 03/25/2003 13:41:00 |
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Justin
USA
137 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 15:07:43
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| Jim, unlike many of the other posts on CADO that you do not understand, you will just have to open your mind and concentrate a little harder. I thought it was pretty self explanitory. Got to get back to work now, overloaded with claims. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 15:16:05
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| Jim, the point he is trying to make is that marginally educated people with no access to secret intellegence sources such as CIA, DIA, NSA and the intellegence arms of each of the service branches are questioning the decision making abilities of people with advanced degrees from the best institutions in the nation and the best intellegence resources in the world. That is all. |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 15:19:52
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Justin isn't it incredible how much smarter all these folks are than when working for President GHWB 41 twelve years ago?
What great vision and absolute insight they commonly possess and have gained in only 12 short years! You think it was all those courses they took in college? |
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Michael Stueart
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 15:55:28
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Jim,
Can you imagine how this would be handled if "your president" had won the election????
First we would not be at war, we would not have been attacked on 9-11, no Al Gore would have been in bed with them long before the attacks happened.
I just thank God everyday that we have a president that has morals, is a God fearing man, a compassionate man, a person that is worthy of respect, that is steadfast in purpose, and has the backbone to do whats right for the country.
He is not opperating on polls he is opperating from his heart and with the welfare of the world in mind. He hits his knees and asks for gidance, and is not afraid to ask for prayers.
No many belittle him after all he is from Texas for God sake, he cant have a concept of the real world, he mis-speaks occassionally- Yes he does because for the most part he speaks from his heart and not from the pen of speech writters. I for one get a cold chill when he makes an appearance on TV , because I believe he is what our nation has been hungry for for the last 12 years.
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Michael Stueart |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2003 : 16:25:41
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Jim, why do you think they are smarter now? I think they were just as smart then. They haven't changed, the world has.
To be fair to my and Justin's previous posts, many who have lacked a traditional education, i.e. a college degree, have been very succesful in the world and I think that is because they are able to think outside of the box. They haven't had the intellectual establishment teach them the same old line of thinking and reasoning that has been around for generations. Bill Gates comes to mind.
But the Bill Gates of the world are the exception, not the rule. |
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roy
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 09:47:08
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| T0:Jim from N.C. Please take this anyway you want,I don't know you & I don't usually reply to posts on here. I just like to read them occasionaly. But I just wanted to reply to you that I hope you & I never meet in person because I am sure I would feel very small & ignorant around you , because I can tell by the way you talk here that you know everything about every subject & you should probably be the president of the world or king or something. Oh I don't know though,maybe you were just trying to get the discussion going. I don't really care. I just wanted to tell you that if I wasn't so stupid I would probably want to be one of those guys,who no matter what the subject,I would know all about it,and would strive to make the other guy in the conversation look as dumb as I possibly could. Get'em down & then kick'em while their down would be my motto. A favorite good-bye of mine is "SEE YA,WOULDN'T WANT TO BE YA." Roy Phillips,TEXAS |
Roy |
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olderthendirt
USA
370 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 10:00:54
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| The worst side effect of this type of situation is the potential for loss of freedoms including free speech in the name of security. Those who see the world in pure black and white are the first to resort to attacks (which they call the truth). The saddest thing is that Bush 43 has to find WMD or have them used against our troops or face the back lash of an angry world and crushing defeat at home. Now we are in this war, we need to win it and fast and clean. When it is over then Bush 43 will either be a hero or a goat. Time will tell. And let's hope that in the name of homeland security we do not loss the right to debate different opinions. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 10:20:50
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Well, they found 3000 chemical protective suits and the troops they have killed and captured are carrying brand new gas masks, atropine, decon kits and cipro. Everyone knows that the US does not use chemical weapons so it can only mean one thing.
Lets just hope that we find the weapons before they are released. I'm more worried about the civilians in Baghdad than our troops. Our troops have a fighting chance, they have chem/bio protection, the civilians don't.
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 12:24:13
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For all you flesh eating dissent bashing French Haters, here's an article entitled "Blurred snapshots of France" with some 'facts' which might not sit so well with those of you who prefer to cling to narrow minded stereotypes and arrive at your conclusions without regard for factual support.
For others, you might find this article informative as well.
http://newsobserver.com/editorials/columnists/story/2353579p-2197351c.html |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 12:37:13
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And not to leave out those who say this war is not about oil, here's an interesting commentary by noted columnist Richard Reeves, which sheds some light on the self interests of some of the decision makers who instigated the current military actions.
Entitled, "Why We Are In Iraq and Who's Next?", the article makes suggests: "This war, which will almost certainly go beyond Iraq, is about oil. It is not only about oil, but we would not be there if the oil was not."
The column in it's entirety can be found at the following link:
http://www.richardreeves.com/
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Edited by - JimF on 03/26/2003 12:38:47 |
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Iraq
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