Lets get this straight Aldebaran, even if this is what America does, what makes you think America is so special into thinking that it most possibly couldn’t abuse its position? What makes you judge on how America acts and performs on the World stage? Give me examples of Islamic empires which haven’t abused their positions and status of power, give me any example actually where a state or large union or even empire hasn’t abused its opportunities or status for one reason or another. To regard America as a special case is insulting and laughable.
You missed my point. The CIA can and will do just about anything they want, international treaties be damned. No need for the US military, or “Heroes” as you call them.
Will it? Or will it reduce our liberty in the long term?
That’s what the ACLU is for.
Note: I was solidly on your side prior to being stuck with Bush for four more years. The Patriot Act will most likely end up being permenant and that prospect I find disquieting.
Jose Padila?
George Orwell called: he wants his schtick back.
Seriously, by what strange alchemy do we protect our freedoms by taking them away?
How do we ensure long term sustainability of our civil society if we strip it of freedoms and rights in order to protect those freedoms and rights?
I’d agree they seem to be largely useless. Bush does what he wants, the nation slumbers, seethes, or celebrates.
And the gears grind on.
Isn’t this a ‘protest’? Or do you need to march in the streets and possibly be arrested in order to make a largely futile gesture?
I prefer message boards.
It’s warmer next to my computer and I can drink tea.
Plus, no tear gas.
Pshaw.
If we’d figured out how best to not lose them and raise public awareness and affect positive change, we’d have done all that by now.
It’s not as easy as you make it sound.
I don’t give a flying fuck what those people want.
The Rule of Law demands that all people are equal before the law.
Or would you be willing to give up your right to a fair trial because lots of people thought you were a monster?
Every human has a right to defend themself in a court of law, and yes, resist and explain.
AFAIK, the American gov.t refused to join the ICC because they didn’t want the international community to be able to hold Americans liable for war crimes. The article here, though, seems to put forward the idea that Americans can hold citizens of other countries liable - even for things that aren’t even crimes.
Why should the USA be the ones to set the rules of ‘justice’ for the world? While at the same time wanting to be immune from trial for war crimes themselves - doesn’t seem much like justice to me.
Princeton’s WorldNet 2003 defines the terms as either a herder or his herd of swine.
Stop pretending to be more stupid than you actually are. You suggested that I misspelled Blair: “oh sorry in your words Bliar”. You are not only a coward, but a dishonest coward.
Why, are you holding a contest? Not that it will make a dent in your thick skull, but have someone read to you the greatest speech by a politician in modern times:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0624-15.htm
When you’re done with his list, here’s a list from the North Carolina Council of Churches:
People can’t protest, you recalcitrant dumbass. Protesting gets you blacklisted. Blacklisting qualifies you to be declared an “enemy combatant”. Being declared an enemy combatant means having your rights stripped from you like trinkets from a wealthy Jew in Auschwitz. Next stop: Gitmo. Stop acting like your question isn’t being answered. The longer the list gets, the more you will demand to see.
Ignorant on top of dishonest and cowardly. One or two more steps and you will be a vegetable. Luckily for us, you Christian fundamentalists are doing our work for us.
I should point out that one of the leading voices of the Democratic party – a star fundraiser and oft-mentioned 2008 Presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton – has said that she’s beginning to consider, reluctantly, a federal ID card as a necessity.
FWIW.
Hillary is merely George with a vagina.
Boo Hoo. As far as anyone on the SDMB knows, we are treating Saddam humanely. If/when we find OBL, on the other hand, it is my opinion, that he will be killed with extreme prejudice. Personally, I don’t have a problem with that. And if you think that makes my opinion “brutishly ignorant”, I most definitely couldn’t care less.
You should care, you ignorant fuck. Do you realize that killing him “with extreme prejudice” won’t do a goddamn thing, except perhaps make him a martyr to fundamentalist Muslim extremists, inspiring MORE terrorist acts?
Hell, if Hitler hadn’t committed suicide, and if Mengele hadn’t escaped capture, the two of them would at least have been held for trial at Nuremberg. As it was, they managed to hold trials for the Nazis that were caught. If we could try the fucking NAZIS for war crimes, don’t you think we can do the same for some pisshole like Osama?
I don’t disagree with you at all! This is another reason I didn’t vote for Bush. The unilateralism in his foreign policy is scary. Under his administration, the US is acting like a bully in the international playground, simply because we got the equilvilent of a black eye back on Sept 11th, 2001.
Yes, you’re right! We all know he’s guilty, so we don’t need to follow that nonsense about having a trial, presenting evidence, following due process and all that. String the bastard up! :rolleyes:
Man, I was with you until that point. Thanks for the mental picture. :eek:
Ryan_Liam, you are a spank. For starters, “pwned?” Have you suffered some sort of cranial trauma lately? After that you respond to posts with pithy lil comments. I know this is the pit, but come on.
There are those of us who think our freedoms, and those of others, are worth protecting even if it means a slight increase in risk of a terrorist attack. Heck, if we were actually fighting the war on terror instead of losing valuable soldiers in Iraq we may not even need the patriot act.
People always say “As long as it doesn’t happen to me” until they get the knock on their door.
Jane you ignorant slut!
We’ve been trying to kill OBL since before 9/11. What’s the difference if he were killed by a cruise missile in 1998, a daisy-cutter in Tora Bora in 2001, or a well placed shot between the eyes today?
whoa, whoa, whoa. Taking it back to five months ago, are we? Pretty gutsy, but I don’t think that’s old enough to be considered ‘retro’ yet.
Loser! Loner!! What-ever!!! [insert appropriate “L” hand gestures]
:rolleyes: yourself. This is war, not a criminal investigation.
BTW, what should FDR have done on 12/7/41, impaneled a Grand Jury? :smack:
Actually, that particular opinion of yours is not especially significant. Almost every single post you make confirms your ignorance—this is just one more piece of shit to add the pile.
Aw, now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings. You’re mean. 
You would think so, but unfortunately things like due process have become irrelevant in the Repugs’ scheme of things. Since actual facts are a barrier to their need to dictate reality to people, denying someone a fair trial out of spite is a perfectly logical decision from their standpoint. You can argue with them until you’re hoarse, but unfortunately it probably won’t make a difference.