Added: Wednesday, 03 December 2008, 02:23 PM Mecca time, 11:23 AM GMT
Wash: What I should have said was, "The US is responsilble for more deaths outside of its own borders." Stalin and his ilk tended to kill their "cousins". If the US was just guilty of an enormous number of deaths in SE Asia, but they are responsible directly and indirectly, i.e. funding war machines such as Savimbi and others in Africa, for more than any one has counted. From Mexico to Chile and now the Middle East, it runs into millions.The greater number being ordinary people.
Terry Davidson, Leamington Spa, Great Britain (UK)
Added: Tuesday, 02 December 2008, 09:17 PM Mecca time, 06:17 PM GMT
Given most of Obama's security team and other cabinet appointments, it appears that the US voters actually have unwittingly elected a McCain clone.
Jim H., United States
Added: Tuesday, 02 December 2008, 07:55 AM Mecca time, 04:55 AM GMT
The United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study being briefed on Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden. It suggests the Obama administration bolster efforts to counter and prepare for germ warfare by terrorists. "Our margin of safety is shrinking, not growing," states the report, obtained by The Associated Press. It is scheduled to be publicly released Wednesday. The commission is also encouraging the new White House to appoint one official on the National Security Council to exclusively coordinate U.S. intelligence and foreign policy on combating the spread of nuclear and biological weapons. The report of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism, led by former Sens. Bob Graham of Florida and Jim Talent of Missouri, acknowledges that terrorist groups still lack the needed scientific and technical ability to make weapons out of pathogens or nuclear bombs
Leonard, Raymond, New Hampshire, United States
Added: Tuesday, 02 December 2008, 04:42 AM Mecca time, 01:42 AM GMT
Barack Obama promised "a new dawn of American leadership" in a troubled world on Monday, announcing a strong-willed national security team headed by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who fought him long and bitterly for the presidency, and Robert Gates, the man who has been running two wars for George W. Bush. The president-elect said he hadn't changed his mind about bringing most U.S. combat troops home from Iraq within 16 months but added a cautionary note — he'll consult with his military commanders first. While his new team may be a bit more centrist — some war opponents might even say hawkish — than many Obama supporters might prefer, he said the withdrawal timetable he emphasized in the presidential campaign is still "the right time frame." Clinton, as secretary of state, and Gates, remaining as defence secretary, will be the most prominent faces — besides Obama's own — of the new administration's effort to revamp U.S. policy abroad.
Leonard, Raymond, New Hampshire, United States
Added: Monday, 01 December 2008, 12:48 PM Mecca time, 09:48 AM GMT
... and exactly what did we 'win', Robwash?
Leonard, Raymond, New Hampshire, United States
Added: Sunday, 30 November 2008, 10:22 PM Mecca time, 07:22 PM GMT
Leonard, USA: I would remind you of your comments about our "no-win" situation in Iraq only a year ago. At that time, this board was littered with posts about how we were losing in Iraq. In fact, most said we had already been defeated. But we have won in Iraq and we will win in Afghanistan.
Robwash, Los Angeles, United States
Added: Sunday, 30 November 2008, 07:54 AM Mecca time, 04:54 AM GMT
The main lesson of history is that few people learn anything valuable from it. This truth is as ancient as the world. Considering global developments, namely the wars conducted by the United States, one can't help getting the feeling of deja vu.
In a similar situation many years ago the Soviet Union preferred to build up its limited Afghan contingent as one of the main strategies of securing a victory. A large contingent was believed to ensure control over vast territories. That decision was justified to a certain extent, however, soon it became clear that it was pointless to build up a military contingent when there was no opportunity to deliver a blow to the adversary's supply and training bases.
We are seeing practically the same picture. The United States fight against guerrilla groups backed by Iran and Pakistan, but have no opportunity to destroy their bases. War on Pakistani territory, as well as war against Iran, is impossible at present. How can this situation end?
Leonard, Raymond, New Hampshire, United States
Added: Saturday, 29 November 2008, 11:06 PM Mecca time, 08:06 PM GMT
Every week of my life.
The stranger arrives with a present agility, and so my desire appears near a delicate border, the side of my life that discovers a dream.
Francesco Sinibaldi
Sinibaldi, Milano, Italy
Added: Friday, 28 November 2008, 10:45 PM Mecca time, 07:45 PM GMT
terry davidson, UK: The U.S. is responsible for more innocent deaths than any previous"empire". Ever heard of Stalin or Lenin? The Japanese Empire? How about the British Empire? Do they teach math where you live?
Robwash, Los Angeles, United States
Added: Friday, 28 November 2008, 07:51 AM Mecca time, 04:51 AM GMT
'There not a progressive among them. Not even one. If Obama was vague about his personal politics during the primaries and general election it was for a reason: he doesn't have any. I'm not sure what I honestly expected, but I know it wasn’t this. In the history of American politics we've had quite a few "conservative" administrations that didn't do much of anything save look after the interests of the powerful. We've had corrupt administrations, and reactionary administrations. We've seen the appointment of so-called centrists, alongside people so far to the right that they make Attila the Hun look liberal. But we've seldom seen anyone who even mildly represents working-class America… Our nation is lost, and the problem with the team Obama is putting together isn't simply that they've generally supported the Bush agenda for the last eight years - it's that they have no vision, and they leave us with seemingly no direction home' - The Team Obama Should Have Picked
