Aloha

The skill is to let others win, and then you are winning all the time. The Dalia Lama knows and lives this. The war is for valued life. In doing that you have to take the risk, that risk is you might have to walk, and in walking you might appear to loose. You might get killed. I feel as Barbara Hand Clow shares we are catastrophobia addicted. There is no valor in addiction only in awakening. I pray for those who choose to war to remember the valor I am. love patty

The time is not far off when we will come to know that the train of "What will happen will happen" is taking us where it will and our efforts to prevent it are nothing more than our pushing its compartments from within to stop it.

Was there any dearth of wise philosophers when Greek civilisation fell?

Harb

Deepak this is the real reason for War.. It's not Oil.. But something else which Oil can DO..

Currently almost all oil buying and selling is in US-dollars through exchanges in London and New York . It is not accidental they are both US-owned.

The Wall Street crash in 1929 sparked off global depression and World War II. During that war the US supplied provisions and munitions to all its allies, refusing currency and demanding gold payments in exchange.

By 1945, 80% of the world's gold was sitting in US vaults. The dollar became the one undisputed global reserve currency -- it was treated world-wide as `safer than gold'.

The Bretton Woods agreement was established (Accpet Dollar Instead of Gold). The US took full advantage over the next decades and printed dollars like there was no tomorrow. The US exported many mountains of dollars, paying for ever-increasing amounts of commodities, tax cuts for the rich, many wars abroad, mercenaries, spies and politicians the world over.

Over subsequent decades the world's vaults bulged at the seams and more and more vaults were built, just for US dollars

In 1971 several countries simultaneously tried to sell a small portion of their dollars to the US for gold. "The US Government defaulted on its payment of Gold on August 15, 1971. This denial to pay back in gold was an act of bankruptcy by the US Government."

The 1945 Bretton Woods agreement (Dollar instead of Gold) was unilaterally Smashed.

The US now had to find a way for the rest of the world to believe and have faith in the paper dollar.. The solution was in oil, in the petrodollar. The US viciously bullied first Saudi Arabia and then OPEC to sell oil for dollars only -- it worked, the dollar was saved.. Result Just one country Saudi Arabia owns major Equity in US Markets. (More than 500 billion Saudi Dollars and these are the Nos in 2004 when Oil was $20 a Barrel)

"This system of the US dollar acting as global reserve currency in oil trade keeps the demand for the dollar `artificially' high. This enables the US to carry out printing dollars at the price of next to nothing to fund increased military spending and consumer spending on imports. There is no theoretical limit to the amount of dollars that can be printed. As long as the US has no serious challengers, and the other states have confidence in the US dollar, the system functions."

Only months after the euro-launch by Europe, Saddam's Iraq announced it was switching from selling oil in dollars only, to euros only -- breaking the OPEC agreement. Iran , Russia , Venezuela , Libya , all began talking openly of switching too -- were the floodgates about to be opened?

Then aeroplanes flew into the twin-towers in September 2001. Was this another Houdini chance to save the US (petro)dollar and the biggest financial/economic crash in history?

In 2002, Iraq changed all their petro-dollars in their vaults into euros.

A few months later March 2003, the US began their invasion of Iraq .

In early 2003, Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela talked openly of selling half of its oil in euros (the other half is bought by the US ). On 12 April 2003, the US-supported business leaders and some generals in Venezuela kidnapped Chavez and attempted a coup. The masses rose against this and the Army followed suit. The coup failed. This was bad for the US .

But matters this month became far, far worse for the US dollar. On February 17, 2008 Iran registered its own Oil Bourse, the IOB. Not only are they now selling oil in euros from abroad -- they have established an actual Oil Bourse, a global trading centre for all countries to buy and sell their oil!

In Chavez's recent visit to London ; he talked openly about supporting the Iranian Oil Bourse, and selling oil in euros.

Currently, almost all the world's oil is sold on either the NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange, or the IPE, London 's International Petroleum Exchange. Both are owned by US citizens and both sell and buy only in US dollars. The success of the Iran Oil Bourse makes sense to Europe, which buys 70% of Iran 's oil. It makes sense for Russia , which sells 66% of its oil to Europe . But worse for the US , China and India have already stated they are very interested in the new Iranian Oil Bourse.

If there is a tactical-nuclear strike on - deja-vu - `weapons of mass destruction' in Iran , who would bet against a certain Oil Exchange and more, being bombed too?

Moral of the Story: It's the US dollar that is in trouble and Oil is just an excuse... With the expected Housing Bubble the valuation of the Dollar Assets is depreciating like wild fire in International terms...

US NEEDs another WAR FOR CHARTED PLANE TRAVELLING MILLIONERS ARE WALMART SHOPPING MIDDLECLASS AMERICANS to sustain their life style...

Anyone who agrees to go to war has war in his heart.
Who put it there?
The head put it there.
Off with his head.
Drape the nation's flags over his miserable body and bury them with him.
He lives.
Pin a medal on him, a worthy survivor.
Who served in spite.

It's a doomed war if we don't allow the honorable Gen. David Petraeus to do his job. Then your predictions will all come true with Obama or Clinton in the White House.

Steve

Deepak,

I don't know how "false" the reasons were to go to war. Saddam Hussein had a scary regime, said that he had chemical weapons...we all know what happened next...the US invaded. I think at this point, we need to support the troops.

Re 6#

Wake up Olivia before it's too late... US war is to save its depreciating dollar and not Oil...

US government itself does not have any socialistic policies and it does not care about its own population.. Do you think it gives a damn to how Saddam treats his own people...

In USA
a) A protester needs to apply for a permit to protest against the government. LOL

b) No universal Health care.. But you cannot deduct medical expenses from Income tax (only if they cross 10% of your Gross).. Vow way to go..

c) No free education from Uncle sam but he expects to compete with cheap foreign workers.. He He He

d) Housing busted, Govt helps Bear Sterns, and what do they do for the masses. Nothing...

e) Its easy for any President to go to War. Because he knows that 1000s of OLIVIA'S CAN B BRAIN WASHED USING "SUPPORT THE TROOPS".

f) A crying President becomes a headline. But a Dying Soldier cannot be shown even on the last page of the News papers.. Way to go "Support the troops"

g) Finally Politicians using Capitalist "Health Care Plans" to solve a Social no-Health Care problem...

Way to go Olivia...

..."That changed when war became a field for mechanized death and the push of a button could annihilate the enemy, with little regard for individual valor."

Apparently you didn't get the news feed(it got very little coverage) so I understand how you may not have heard about the following:

"On Tuesday, April 8, 2008, President George Bush awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously to a Navy Seal, Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, who had threw himself on a grenade in 2006, giving his life to save his comrades in Iraq.
When Petty Officer Monsoor jumped on that grenade in September of 2006, he saved two other members of his Navy Seal team and three Iraqi Army soldiers. The grenade was lobbed onto a roof where his security sniper team was positioned, it hit Monsoor in the chest and fell to the ground in front of him."

Save the dollar, cheaper oil !!!

Steve(who had better wake up before it's too late)

Hello Deepak and Everyone,

So True.

Hi Steve, I am afraid to say that this was a DOOMED WAR at conception. General Petreaus is in the unfortunate position of delaying the inevitable, troop withdrawal, as per request from President and Vice President Ineptness. And really, General Patraeus has a job that has no end in sight...and that is the true nature of this problem...if we gave him time to do his job I think it would be safe to say that in 10, 15, 20 years he would still be at it.

If the American people were not as distracted as they are they would be spitting fire each and every day we stay in Iraq. They would be spitting fire at this mess this Administration cooked up and f-ed up.

Frankly, I think the Democratic President should stand before the World and say, listen, we didn't know they were completely crazy, inept, non truth tellers! We trutsted them. They betrayed that trust. We can no longer support their endeavor. We will stay in Iraq for two years and do as much as we can do, in that time frame, to stablize the situation and then we are pulling out. We must live with the bad choices that we allowed the previous Administration to carry out but we will not carry those choices through simply because the past Administration says we have to. We do not. We will not. It is over and done. We are not proud of the past Administration's actions, but we are proud of our Armed Forces, for the men and women who served their Nation, their President, sacrificed their lives in the hopes that the Iraqi people would know freedom, and choose to live under a free and democratic government, but we cannot force them to choose their independence or to fight for their own freedom from Iranian influence, now, it is up to them, it is their fight, not ours.

Well, it is either go or stay and if we stay we will most likely end up policing the MidEast from an occupied Iraq.

I think if you took a vote Americans would vote to leave.

"...and one of the coldest comforts we can derive is that honorable men like David Petraeus soldier on without blame or recrimination." ~Deepak Chopra

Well .... The armed forces do not have a choice and they do exactly as they are instructed and there is no room for choice - this is the way of the Army/Navy/Air force operate to survive. It's cold war and this is the way war is won, if there are any winners.

It's ashame that we accept this way of living, but the whole wide world would have to change before we stop all wars upon the earth and as Deepak has said before, that change would have to first occur within each person individually and build to a critical mass.

Love, Char

American forces are what they are: MURDERERS! I don't care if they are "just following orders." It matters little if you take orders to kill other people from God, or a dog, and most certainly another "human" being; invading another nation b/c of WMDs all the way to now saying the "four freedoms" must be promoted by violence in any nations of our choosing, is nothing other than murder! It is no different than Hitler’s generals ordering their soldiers to kill! The verbiage simply changes; Gypsies one generation, Jews another, Communists next, the Nips and Huns before, European pagans one age, wars of religion another, Islamic “extremists” now, Chinese fascist-capitalists later, etc., etc.

Aye, extreme forces appear everywhere now that the “end of history” has come and the only obstacle now is the world entire accepting capitalism on American multinationals’ terms . . .

Iran and China next, this’ll be fun!

Or maybe we’ll get those “Tiger Woods” types first . . .

Pax vobiscum

Hello again,

When I hear this Administration and their spokesmen talk about the Iran influence, the Iranian threat, I think, well, did we not open the door wide and invite them into Iraq by invading this Nation and taking down Iran's #1 enemy for them, Saddam Hussein. Who has benefited more by this invasion, Iraq, the US or Iran? I think this invasion was a gift to Iran, at least that is the way it looks. They are in, taking advantage of all sides of the situation. The Kurds in the North are the only Iraqi citizens to experience peace in all of this.

Our invasion enabled Iran in Iraq. We have no one to blame but this Administration and for this Administration to constantly point the finger in Iran's direction is apalling.

If our invasion of Iraq was not so much about removing Saddam but more about being closer to Iran than I fear we are there for a very long time. Oh, what complicated webs we weave....

good evening, ruth

W Bush should be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in his GREEN ZONE in Iraq instead of hiding away in green pastures in Paraguay.

Please Craig, next time please don't sugar coat, tell what you really think!

Speaking of Tiger Woods, I'm going to enjoy watching the Masters this weekend. I bet Stan the Man is as well. Anyone else?

Btw, going to see Mom in June in Brooklyn for one of my neices' weddings. I look forward to it, haven't been to that part of the world since 1980, I wonder if it's changed at all? :)

Peace bro and sis,

Steve

Saddam lied, people died.

Am I wrong or does this post by Deepak spread fear? Or if Deepak writes it, then it's simply the truth? I thought we are trying to get beyond fear?

Again very confused and again fear is posted on IB.

Or is it simply Fatalism. When will this higher consciousness kick in, the solution to every problem? What if it never kicks in? What if we are experiencing the opposite of higher consciousness? Who says that it's a linear progression?

And why are prominent scientists talking about a upcoming global iceage?

Why silence from the IB posters on the Olympic torch running around with it's head cut off in San Fran?

Finally, would everyone be happy if Obama chooses Bloomberg as a running mate?

Politics make interesting bed fellows.

Steve

I've been against this war since the day I saw Colin Powell give his speech at the UN. It was wrong wrong wrong. But have the people who say withdraw now, really considered the violence, mayhem and bloodshed that will ensue if we leave prematurely? I suspect it could be much uglier than what we already see.

Since we are the ones who created the power vaccum, do we not have a responsibility to at least create some semblance of order before we do?
Or is it OK to just jump up and leave, 'cause we won't see all that bloodletting on the TV?

I'm tired to the bone of this war myself but somehow don't think Step Two is as easy as saying
Adios Amigos. Maybe Step Two could be Deepak negotiating a peace accord with the Shiite clerics. Would you do that Deepak?

Bonnie

Yes, murder is murder regardless of how nicely we wrapped it up in a palatable package of war for freedom. And it's wrong. Really, what else can be done? - as I ponder upon it. If America and other countries don't start standing up for freedom, another will take the lead and gain power to run things - and rightfully so. America is shameful, since we as a whole are also responsible for what our country does to the world. We need open presidents that are for world peace and that's what a "young male" might just do this time around.

Love, Char

”On the path to be awakened”

#3 QandA
Over the last several years this sort of thinking has been gathering momentum and what once looked pretty far fetched now starts making a lot of sense. The Europeans knew they had to create their own currency in order to have their say and know they have.

Iran’s Ahmadinejad may not be what he seems to be or at least he appears to have pretty good advisers.

The average American is a champion at having faith and believing the unbelievable. If only s/he would be more interested in the truth, scepticism and critical thinking.

At this point our future does not look very bright no matter how much of an optimist you are. But there are some promising signs on the horizon, Molecular Biology for example. If Craig Venter is right, we will have manmade, synthetic organisms that will help transform our garbage, and other waste products, into green fuels and energy.

Maybe time is right for some major disruptive technologies?

Craig Venter:
“But above all I believe the best examples of disruptive technologies that could change our future are in the new fields of synthetic biology, synthetic genomics, and metabolic engineering. These fields can change the way we think about life by showing that we can use living systems to increase our chances of survival as a species. Simply put: this area of research will enable us to create new fuels to replace oil and coal.”

Let’s hope Craig Venter is right and let’s also hope religious America does not find a soul in what biology is about to use.

Well said, Walter. Craig Venter is a visionary, a great scientisit and inventor - a public speaker of science and ethics with a compelling personal story.

#16 Hi Steve, You are not wrong in essence. Deepak has not yet resolved the contradiction we all suffer from as humans. That is the war that would seem the most worthy of our attention.
Seeds have always been the object of my fascination and the glorious array of potential that they encapsule. You know my calling, of course? Germination remains a miracle to me even after 50 years of gardening involvement.
Do you understand my previous post on this thread?
It's the best one can do if one Loves in a contradiction and I'd even die for it!

This war is not about the men and women fighting the war in Iraq - that is tragic in itself. To me, it is really about the insane manner in which it was pushed through. As far as I know, generally the military aim and war plans of a conflict are based on the political aim of those that decide whether the country goes to war. This war seems to be based on no firm political aim. It has been one of changing goal posts depending how things are panning out. The military has tyhen had to make constant adjustments to try and pursue these new goals.

Started with WMD, in quick succession the rallying cry regime change, constitution, freedom, democracy and I wonder what more. This is where the military has been let down and hoodwinked by the politcal apparatus. Moreover, there is nothing they can do about it and the fact that they still give it their everything they deserve nothing but respect and honour. This is indeed valour and devotion to duty.

That is also one reason why I think everyone is fudging around withdrawal plans. Its the politicians who are churning out military plans! According to me, I think here again the military needs to be a given a set of conditions on the ground which are supposed to be achieved and then be given the freedom to decide for itself how to go about it. If this can be spelt out comprehensively, the military itself will be able to give the answer to how and when it will accomplish the task.

Dara

Good post, Bonnie. A lot to think about.

I sense that what is occurring in Iraq is highly unnatural. And we could spent trillions for twenty years, and the underlying ill would continue to fester. It is no more natural than the communist incursions into Hungary in he name of some 'ideaology'.

Communism failed because local loyalties trumped general ideology.

So we can sit on this thing to quell chaos for a year, ten years, or a thousand, but eventually we're going to have to come to terms with tribal hate.

goodthursday everyone,

The problem with out continued presence in Iraq is that there are those in the MidEAst who will never accept a US presence there. Not, at all, unlike the problem that Israel has, even if, Israel were to let go of contested occupied territories.

If all of Iraq were as united as the Kurds in the North we would be fine but it is not and the different power factions in the south can continue disrupting any kind of stablization until the cows come home. Without a strong police force and military force that are united in their desire to protect and defend their new Government there is not much hope. Still, many times the police or other Iraqis will refuse to fight in some instances. We can spend years, there, training and assissting while the factions continue to go against each other and while Iran and Syria help to create disruption.

The Unite States will have to have a clear exit plan and stick with it or otherwise we will be there far longer than we can afford to and that exit plan should be sooner rather than later. If there were real progress in terms of an Iraqi Government taking hold and actually doing and caring for it's people and requested our continued help then we should give it. But as things stand now....saying we will be there for another five years, even, is only going to fuel the fires of those who are committed to destroying any progress we may make, just as in the situation between the Palestinans and Israel...the commitment to peace and harmony is weak compared to the commitment to the fight. I think just as in the situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis the facttions that are committed to the fight care more about the fight than they do for their own people's day to day well-being, so, I could easy envision the same long term fight in Southern Iraq.

We, of course, can, always, stay the course.

just thinkin..ruth

I think we're getting a taste of what Tito may have had to deal with...or a guy named Sadam Hussein...

goodevening all,

President Bush gave a little chat today on his Iraq Invasion/War. Really, what he had to say was that WE should FORGET how we got there, stay HIS course and yea, it's tough cookies, but, this, will be the NEXT President's little welcome to the Oval Office, giftie.

This will most likely never happen in a million years but the one important thing we should do is, REMEMBER,, exactly how we were lured into this back alley and taken advantage of, wake up, come to our senses and press charges against the swindlers who made off with all our goods, muddied our reputations and caused great harm to those near and far.

When it comes to Iraq, and, now, of course, the whole scenario has changed completely, now, we must stay in Iraq to keep Iran in check, Al KAYDA outside the Green Zone and away from our multi-multi zillion dollar bigger than Texas, Embassy, and to play Sheriff Bronco Billy in the land of Islam.

Seriously, remembering how we got there(Iraq) will guide us to finding our way home, otherwise we will stay lost for years to come.

evening ruth

She's The Boss: I'll Withdraw Regardless Of Military Advice

The New York Times reports:

"Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated her campaign pledge to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 60 days of taking office, and added on Thursday that she would carry out the policy regardless of the advice she might receive from military commanders.

At a news conference here, Mrs. Clinton was asked if she would keep to her promises on withdrawing troops, even if she is advised differently by military leaders on the ground.

"Well, let me just describe to you the way our system works," Mrs. Clinton said. "Policy is set by the civilian leadership. The president of the United States sets the policy. Our military, and thankfully so, carries out the policy that is set. You ask the military for their best advice about how to implement the policy that you have set."

Keep Reading
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/president-is-boss-clinton-says/

::

Some responses:

Clinton/Bush bull-headedness. We definitely need a change.

Watch her try to back-peddle soon.

::

boy, I thought that the governor of New York and the Senator from Louisiana got all the attention for cavorting with whores.

But, when it comes to whores Hillary CLinton takes the cake. What in the hell won't she say or do to gain one day's advantage? Remember the bait last week was to promote the concept of a poverty czar in hopes of getting John Edwards to take the bait?

I cannot wait until the final couple of days of the Pennsylvania primary to see what she pulls next.
Maybe saying that Chelsea is a space baby to get her on the front page of the National Inquirer is a good road to take as the legitimate roads are drying up quicker than a North Carolina spring rain

::

"I'll say anything, just vote for me! Please!"

::

And this is news? Hillary does things her way. She does them regardless of what anyone else thinks. This is exactly why she doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the white house. If she had spent more time researching before she voted for the war, then we would not have to bring them home. Hillary please sit your tired ass down.

::

she has painted herself in a corner on this one. now she CAN'T say that she will listen and act accordingly in regards to conditions when the next president takes over. now... ? now she has to do the same thing she had to do with her "war vote". it all just becomes a political S.N.A.F.U.

::

WOW

::

sorry - but this is reminiscent of Bush and not taking good advice, even from his own father. Arrogance is not a good quality in a president. You have to be able to listen to those that surround you. She has no military experience, who the hell does she think she is? Wonder Woman?

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BULL S*HIT!

::

Wow

hi dana

There's no such thing as winning this war. I know we do need to come to terms with tribal hate,but that's something they have to deal with. We can't force them to love one another. I'm just wondering what the wisest way is to get out of there without causing more bloodshed.

b

A Responsible Plan To End The War In Iraq

http://www.responsibleplan.com/plan

Twenty Page Plan (PDF doc)
http://www.responsibleplan.com/o/2757/images/responsible_plan.pdf

****************************
Chellie Pingree:

Heuvel, editor of The Nation, clearly got it: "There are no military solutions" to the crisis in Iraq, she said, and "if we withdraw responsibly, the region in the long term will be more stable, (and) America will be restored as a responsible global leader."

For too long the debate over Iraq has been limited to military solutions when in fact the only viable solution hinges on diplomacy, including ending the humanitarian and economic crisis in the region. The Republicans and the Bush administration have been successful in limiting the debate to winning vs. losing, or "stay the course" vs. "cut-and-run."

But that is beginning to change as Americans begin to see there is no military solution in Iraq.

Darcy Burner, a congressional candidate in Washington State, pioneered the concept of the Plan, and I began working with her on it this past winter. We had help from military and national security experts like retired generals Paul Eaton and John Johns.

Since we presented the Plan in Washington last month, more than 50 progressive House and Senate candidates around the country have signed on, and it continues to generate necessary conversation about how to end the war. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that General Petraeus and the Bush administration will pay any attention. It'll be up to the next administration and Congress to figure out what's responsible.

****

Arianna Huffington:

...this time around, voters want to hear more than "I am going to end the war." They want to know how. Specifically. Concretely. In detail.

Enter Darcy Burner, a Democratic challenger who is running for Congress in Washington state. Working with national security experts and retired military generals such as Major Gen. Paul Eaton, the officer in charge of training the Iraqi military immediately after the invasion in 2003 and 2004, she developed "A Responsible Plan to End the War," a comprehensive approach to Iraq based on legislation already introduced in Congress.

The 20-page plan (which you can read in its entirety here), doesn't just lay out how to end the war -- it also addresses the institutional failures that led to the tragic invasion and occupation of Iraq. This includes rebuilding the U.S. diplomatic apparatus, banning the use of armed military contractors like Blackwater, banning torture, promoting government transparency, and restoring accountability through the checks and balances laid out in the Constitution.

As of today, 45 Democratic challengers have signed on to the plan -- including 41 running for the House and 4 running for the Senate. Among the candidates who helped Burner launch the project are Chellie Pingree, running in Maine's First Congressional District; Donna Edwards, running in Maryland's Fourth Congressional District; Tom Perriello, running in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District; and Eric Massa, running in New York's Twenty-ninth Congressional District.

It's worth noting that this is no collection of "make love, not war" pacifists. Massa is a 24-year Navy veteran. Edwards' father was in the Air Force. Burner's brother served in Iraq. And they are all clear that there are real threats facing America, and that our military needs to stop being distracted -- and depleted -- in Iraq, so it can better address the mounting dangers in Afghanistan and the areas of Pakistan where al-Qaeda has reconstituted itself. So, for national security reasons, they are united in their commitment to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq and begin to repair the damage the war has done to America's standing in the world.

The idea is to band together a group of challengers running on a shared platform who, if elected, will be able to head into Congress armed with a mandate, supported by allies, and wielding a specific legislative agenda designed to end the war. Call it A Contract to Restore America.

It is also an effective way to let voters know that this is a group of Democrats who won't cave in every time the GOP accuses them of cutting-and-running or not supporting the troops, or when the media once again float the "precipitous withdrawal" meme.

It also moves the debate beyond "stay the course vs end the war". As Lawrence Korb, an assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan and a backer of the Responsible Plan, puts it: "Bringing our troops home is the first, but not the only step that must be taken to ensure a debacle like Iraq never happens again. This plan addresses the root causes that allowed the Bush administration to lead this country into this mess, and sets us in the right direction."

When President Bush can portray the resurgent violence in Iraq as "a very positive moment" -- one that "shows the progress" made during the surge -- and not be booed off the national stage by the public and the media, it's clear Democrats still have their work cut out for them in closing the message gap on Iraq. The Responsible Plan provides a powerful tool for doing just that.

Hi, Bonnie.

How come we want to avoid bloodshed? I mean REALLY why?

If our motives for wishing to "avoiding bloodshed" were honest ones (collectively, as a nation), we would never have invaded in the first place.

But our true motive is that we want to skip out on paying the karmic debt.

The sobering fact is that you can't blitzkrieg across the Middle East one day without paying the debt that's attendant with that sort of hubris the next. (Heads will roll.)

We elected these jackals back in 2000. It didn't need to be a close election judging from W's current approval ratings. We could've laughed at the Trust Fund Boy and sent him packing.

And if we didn't like Al Gore enough to elect him President (collectively, as a nation), then, as a party, we should've chosen someone else. Bill Bradley comes to mind. He certainly could've trounced all over Smirky Boy.

It's a case of plausible deniability. The prez didn't know what was going on (smirk), the electorate didn't know what was going on (smirk).

We want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed (smirk).

;)

Maybe Obama would make a good Bill Bradley...

"In a world of war there can only be One victory."

Written in August 2006. Click my name.

It Begins...

In a world of war there can only be One victory

That is Self Realization and the dissolution of ignorance. The collapse of the Illusion of separation, an Illusion that is necessary for war and conflict, that gives birth to all pain and suffering.

As you might have guessed One is implementing with that intention, it's already in operation and grows in magnitude, from the source intelligence it spreads in an exponential manner. It only requires that a mind be exposed, the truth becomes self evident.

Every day the Illusion disintegrates more and more, while the struggle grows by the few to preserve it.

But One wonders if in the end, only a small percentage will survive, those that did not cling to the Illusion and end with it...

Have a grand time in Brookly at the niece's wedding Amba! Congratulations! Awesome!

Shalom my brother

Brooklyn

;)

hi dana

See, the thing with me is this. I've moved beyond the finger pointing, indignation and condemnation of those perceived to be at fault here. It's not in my job description, so to speak, to judge but to understand. I'm totally fine with "Forgive them for they know not what they have done." That holds for all of us.

For us as a nation to now justify future actions based simply on reiterating how wrong we were in the past and our impatience to just have it over with solves nothing. We do, if we are to be an adult society, have a responsibility for our actions. As my Mom would say "You made the mess, now clean it up." That to me is the discussion we should be having, not all this other stuff.

b

I noticed in the first war about Kuwait that Mother Nature hurled Andrew at Florida and that there was a major flood in the midwest. I have never forgotten that as I honestly believed that because of the long history of that region of the world it was a serious mistake for Americans to bomb Iraq.

So on the second time round of battles with Iraq, I predicted with a sense of resignation that the same thing would happen again to America, that Mother Nature would bomb American states and cities just as American troops were bombing cities in Iraq.

I believe that there are laws that govern life on the planet, and that there is justice everywhere. That justice appears to be that Americans are getting a dose of their own medicine but it is called God's justice, isn't it?

Bonnie, I see where you're coming from. And you're clear of a lot of the black-and-white thinking that saddles people (me included) when it comes to this conflict. And I think where you're coming from is from an honorable intention.

However, I believe that a lot of people would merely like to take 'face-saving' measures to suit their momentary mood. (See Charlie Wilson's War.)

Looking forward--as you said, this shouldn't be about blame-- if we're going to insist on having a standing army, which is something most of our forefathers opposed vehemently for the very reasons we're now experiencing, there should be a constitutional amendment requiring a military plebiscite to determine the merit of any proposed war short of US invasion (Howard Dean's idea back in 2003).

In this way, soldiers, sailors, and airmen themselves (the ones whose lives would be sacrificed) would thwart elite family "trophy hunting" adventures and War Crimes like Abu Graib.

ArizonaSunset, I've heard it said that we are punished by our sins, not for our sins.

Indeed danashields, the "discussion" should not only focus on "cleaning up the mess" and "taking responsibility" but also in understanding the problem holistically and making sure that we have a system in place where such "irresponsible" mistakes are not repeated again.

Prepositions in languages do serve a useful purpose for being concise in communication. I appreciate your thought.

The problem is that if one truly ever reads some of the lost books of the Bible, the book of Enoch, there is a section that discusses the angels and spirits that control the aspects of nature on the planet. Some believe it, some do not.

HOwever, the idea of what occurs below also occurs above means that as man unleashes his own hostility, his anger, his negativity, so do then the other places in the atmosphere become charged with that same energy force. Thus, it circulates round and round so that it revisits its own origin.

In other words, when we begin to hurl arrows at another, the forces of nature are unleashed to continue the process so like a boomerang it all comes back to us.

Mesopotamia is an ancient cradle of civilization. It should be treated with respect not only by its inhabitants but by its neighbors too, no matter how far away.

I can't treat this subject too lightly because it does not matter which person is injured or damaged by this, all are children of the One God and all should be treated with Love, not with retaliation of hate.

Prepositions in languages do serve a useful purpose for being concise in communication. I appreciate your thought.

The problem is that if one truly ever reads some of the lost books of the Bible, the book of Enoch, there is a section that discusses the angels and spirits that control the aspects of nature on the planet. Some believe it, some do not.

HOwever, the idea of what occurs below also occurs above means that as man unleashes his own hostility, his anger, his negativity, so do then the other places in the atmosphere become charged with that same energy force. Thus, it circulates round and round so that it revisits its own origin.

In other words, when we begin to hurl arrows at another, the forces of nature are unleashed to continue the process so like a boomerang it all comes back to us.

Mesopotamia is an ancient cradle of civilization. It should be treated with respect not only by its inhabitants but by its neighbors too, no matter how far away.

I can't treat this subject too lightly because it does not matter which person is injured or damaged by this, all are children of the One God and all should be treated with Love, not with retaliation of hate.

Prepositions in languages do serve a useful purpose for being concise in communication. I appreciate your thought.

The problem is that if one truly ever reads some of the lost books of the Bible, the book of Enoch, there is a section that discusses the angels and spirits that control the aspects of nature on the planet. Some believe it, some do not.

HOwever, the idea of what occurs below also occurs above means that as man unleashes his own hostility, his anger, his negativity, so do then the other places in the atmosphere become charged with that same energy force. Thus, it circulates round and round so that it revisits its own origin.

In other words, when we begin to hurl arrows at another, the forces of nature are unleashed to continue the process so like a boomerang it all comes back to us.

Mesopotamia is an ancient cradle of civilization. It should be treated with respect not only by its inhabitants but by its neighbors too, no matter how far away.

I can't treat this subject too lightly because it does not matter which person is injured or damaged by this, all are children of the One God and all should be treated with Love, not with retaliation of hate.

Just a short comment on the military. A military system is necessary to defend one's country from invasion. A pre-emptive war is not a form of defense in my opinion but an act of aggresion. I believe that the USA erred in its decision to begin a pre-emptive war.