aye st.patrick day again, no less---and five years since on this very day we lauched the unlucky
and ill-fated war. bombs kill 54 whilte that decorated hero and strategist, r.cheney is visiting,
all to tell us we must have what--10,25or 50 years of this to "clear el quaida out"--the whole
thing is as silly as an englishman talking about the glories of their parliament after starving
to death a whole nation of Irish for three centuries. we are heirs to a host of lies,
and this day reminds us how vicious and deadly most of them are. most of the irish who
came here, including me own grand-father, got told "no Irish need apply" and " no pope here"--we
were the right white color, but the wrong religion,ya know. I quite agree with Michelle Obama--
most of my adult life has been spent ashamed of this country and its sterling,British
"heritage"--maybe if we all go under with the stock market, poverty will put some sense back into
our heads. j.mc cormick

Why don't we follow the Japanese model?

After WW II the peace treaty forbid the establishment of the Japanese Army and Navy. Instead Japan took all that money that would have been wasted on the military and used it to develop their economy.

They discovered that you don't need to colonize other countries, and that the expense of a military is simply wasted effort. In fact you can BUY ANYTHING YOU NEED.
War is very,very bad for business.

And there is ALWAYS someone willing to sell, if you offer a good price.

China appears to be following this model as well.

how about a million dead and the rise in oil from 20 bucks to 110 bucks and the resultant collapse of the world economy? all bushco/chainey doing?

""The winner of the 2008 elections will command U.S. forces still at war in Iraq, Afghanistan and against elusive terrorists with a deadly reach. The U.S. economy will remain burdened. ... America's moral leadership and decision-making competence will continue to be questioned," begins a study of foreign-policy choices for the next president, which a Georgetown University task force released last month." and that in an understatement . . . the status quo will not suffice .. . America has to change its international strategy big time . . . the failure to impeach should be added to this list ... it shows an America totally lacking in credibility ... a country that no longer respects rule of law and its own Constitution .. .

The intellectually challenged and morally bankrupt George W Bush is a war criminal of the first order. Why this man is not impeached is totally beyond me.

You know, I remember back in the '80s (I was born in 1973), when the world as a whole respected us. An example than most can relate to is during Olympic contests...when America came out the whole world cheered for us, not because they wanted us to dominate the contests, but because they recognized that we held ourselves to a higher standard and that no matter what kind of society that they were brought up in, in front of their faces was a country that gave it's citizens the freedom they deserved to pursue whatever dreams they wanted. Now, with the Iraq war, and upcoming Iran conflict - - with our own freedoms being taken away under the guise of "security" and "terror", other countries being invaded without provocation, our willingness to allow this to happen - - even backing these kind of atrocities, and we wonder why the world is disappointed, even disdainful.

Some of you won't care, but don't forget that we are not the only country to exist on this planet, China is moving forward to become the next Superpower while the value of the dollar value drops to new lows (Has anyone else noticed commercials asking to send in your scrap gold for money?) J.P. Morgan buying Bear for pennies on the dollar? Ask your grandparents if this brings back any memories from 1913-1925, and question them as to what happened, why the US Dollar was backed in gold and is now legal tender.

Folks, you'd best realize that our freedom depends on the rest of the world as much as it does on our laws here. We are not separate from the rest of the world, we are part of a global family - - Assuming we are the father figure, the children will emulate what their parents do. So don't complain when it comes back to bite you in the ass.

Iraq War's Cost: Loss Of US Power, Treasury, Prestige And Influence, Respect, Life, Democracy, and Children's Future.

Oh, and let's not forget...............THE MONEY!!

Bush, all through his life, has failed to live up to his own expectations and those of his family. It is not surprising to those who never voted for Bush that the U.S. is on the verge of collapse. I plan to open a bottle of campaign when this country falls; to celebrate its demise; and then raise my class to the true Americans who will build a new Republic based on virtue instead of bigotry and greed.

We need to turn this occupation over to a financially stronger country. America can no longer fund this debacle. Why not China?

America's foreign policy should continue to prioritize our national interests over the interests of any other nation-state. We're not the saviors of the world atm, and frankly we don't have to be. We just need a government that will preserve, protect, and promote the U.S. America for Americans and no one else.

Loss of power and prestige do not mean anything. Yes, America has endangered the world by enhancing terrorism and so what if America is considered the leading terrorist nation on earth?
So what if we're bankrupt and have precipitated global recession? What's the problem in invading Iran even of we have no military to do the job? At least Israel is safer and that's all that counts. Not.

never will understand why we don't hear daily outrage...mine has been with me for years now

I think that the US lost all prestige when Georgie became president. He is obviously unqualified for the job, it is painful. Foreign dignitaries come her, with English as their second language, and make more intelligent speeches than he does. He acts like a frat boy, not an adult. Tap dancing on the steps of the WH? Boris Yeltsin is the only other "leader" who ever did something like that, and everyone knew he was drunk. Loss of prestige can be laid at the feet of the Bush administration.

Look on the bright side, my friends. McCain can walk over there now without a helmet. He has on a flak vest, and surrounded by armed guards. He will return and give us the "truth" about Iraq. He is as deluded as Georgie. How can he know what things are really like on a quick few hours trip? Let the three stooges stay there at one of the US base for a couple of weeks. Then report how great things are. Why no photo ops for Cheney? He is in the middle east, brokering a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. More likely he is checking on his place in Dubai. We pay for a group of doctors and medical team to accompany him everywhere he goes. McCain may want to keep them on retainer if he is elected. Looks to me like he will need them. The man is not healthy, my friends.