[Mukluk]

As everyone has now undoubtedly heard, the White House is to limit the list of bidders on the most lucrative rebuilding contracts in Iraq to nations that were part of the "coalition" that illegally attacked Iraq in the first place.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/10/ir ... cts_031210

Countries like Uganda, Morocco, and Afghanistan are on the good list - please. Give me a break. Afghanistan? The US leads an assault on that nation, conquers it, puts a governing council in place, and then claims that the "Afghanis"(?) are supporting the war in Iraq? Un-be-lievable.

I like Paul Martin's comment about the US being willing to accept $300million in aid, but still keep them off the list. Sweet.

Then you've got the fact that the US keeps coming to the UN sounding the trumpets and claiming that it is up to the world to help rebuild Iraq - oh, except the US will remain in control, just send cards with money in them. Oh, also, forget about getting any contracts, those are for US companies.

Really? Gee, I never figured that there would be any financial gains for the US invading a country smaller than the state of Texas. I figured it was all about what was best for the Iraqi people. What could be better for the Iraqi's than limiting who can bid on rebuilding their country? Sound policy, not sure why Europe is so upset.

It's a damn good thing that Europe is upset too, because if it was just Canada, our government would whine a little bit then forget about it.

m

[Laconfir]

.... BULLSHIT! I don't understand how the US can treat something so important as though it was a game. The only good thing I can see of that policy is that they're alloy Iraqi companies to bid, but considering the current situation in Iraq, these companies will most likely be beaten out by American companies...

Also, is it just me, or is the US doing everything it can NOT to make friends and allies.

[Rev_Blair]

I think we all knew it was going to happen, but I don't think anybody thought the US would be so arrogant as to make it official. My recommendation at this point would be to cease all government aid immediately, request all international bodies look into how the US has been privatising Iraqi government-owned industries (that is undoubted against both international and US law), and introduce trade sanctions across a broad base of US industries.

The next step would be, as Russia suggested, to start calling in debts from both Iraq (the US will have to pay even more if all Iraq's funds go to service the debt), and the debts of the US, (Let 'em borrow from themselves).

Immediately after that I would target all countries that remain part of coalition of the bullied and bribed. The US would have few, if any, allies left after that.

They have now officially pissed the entire world off. If they want to go it alone so badly, let's make them go it alone. Georgie folded like a cheap table when England called his bluff on steel. It's time we called his bluff on everything else.

[Laconfir]

Manley already suggested ceasing Aid, and if our government, and others, do not do this, then the US will most likely continue to take advantage of us. Also, I don't understand how Blair could ruin his career like that by going along with Bush. I'm pretty sure everyone knows about the amount of hate Bush recieved while in the U.K., and I just don't think Blair will be getting in next term. I just hope that we do what Manley & Russia thought would be good ideas, because they are... Maybe that would teach US abit of a lesson, most likely not...

[sk1d]

It doesn't really matter if we stop giving them money for rebuilding iraq or afghanistan, the american's will still spend the money anyways by printing more off, congress has had to raise the limit on how much debt their government could go into two or three times since 9/11 so they could anilate countires under false pretenses

[Rev_Blair]

It does matter...the debt is becoming a major issue and there's an election coming up. Trade sanctions right now would also send the US economy into a tailspin. If we enter into those sanctions with other countries, we can expand our markets so we are less affected by placing the sanctions.

[Laconfir]

I just hope we take it now that the chance is open to us. I mean, not that I'd like to see America fall (Ok, its bullshit, I want it to happen) but, basically, more or less, they need a wake up call

[feeko]

It's lead, follow or get the hell outta the way....europe...did nothing so damm afraid of terroist attacks themselves they do nothing....canada..what do you do in the world area?

arogance...maybe...but we still have the balls to do something...not sit on the bench and bitch [ which is what im doing

right , wrong we do something.....

you say you like to see us fall....[ if that were to happen it would bite your ass where it hurts one day.]...youd be next there smart guy

why I dont expect to know all the answers...i could care less if we rebuild the place..as i believe some of them are gonna come here and look for some payback..always a few who wont forget....Saddam had an mo and time to get rid of any weapons [ easy to do ] ..look at drugs...so many cross so many borders why should weapons be any different


my 2 cents

[Laconfir]

... you are entitled to your two cents, and i am entitled to mine. I'm sorry i offended you, but I think you may of misunderstood me. I did not mean to have america fall as in the country is poor and a shit place or basically, a mini-apocalypse, but as in your government will finally realise, that, the shit they've been doing isn't making firends, or helping the world, but turning it into a bigger shithole... I mean, your country spends sooooo much money on national defense and why? Cause you guys have no friend making skills. I mean, if you guys were to make friends, and slowly decrease the defence budget, do you have any idea how many problems your country could fix with this world??

[Rev_Blair]

Feeko, doing something wrong is worse than doing nothing at all, especially in this case. Your president's foreign policies have created a whole new generation of terrorists. Your president's economic policies, at home and abroad, have created poverty and misery all over the globe. Now the little weasel is combining those policies in a very real way.

If you want help, get a new president with some new policies.

[feeko]

true....the thing is....either we're friends or we arent...we have alot of enemies, always have...thing is we are the lone power in the world...who could say take it over if we wished[ try , as it would kill us all]....but we are not like that....we stand by israel , and we get nothing but grief from the damm a rabs....seems to me if the germans had won...thed be in a bigger shit hole....I only say this...if america were to fall , the world would come appart..and weep.....

I am lucky to be an american and I have a few good canadian beer buddies
I am disteressed by our standing in the world....but people have to wake the hell up..american didnt cause the world sit today...there are others who want handouts or to kill their neighbors for whatever reason and we get locked in the middle

I voted against gore...as i think he [ he showed his meddle with the fiasco in fla, and now his buddy joe, cut him too] as opposed to voting for bush
9/11 hasnt helped

their are those who want to kill us [ you too] but we dont admit it..

if you look at the time after ww1..when heir hitler came to power, the hate was easily put upon the jews [ they didnt fight as much and stayed home got rich]...for whatever reasons...same about america

they say jews run the country

? I could care less

we have weath, prosperity [ as do y'all]...and that is envied

gee if we didnt have to spend so much on defence maybe we would have free heathcare too

not that I believe its a right
you have the right to starve to death for being a lazy mo fo too


Im just tired of the blame ameraic crap, cause thats what it is

if it wasnt us , it would be someone else...would you rather the chinese or the russians running the show/

And the damm un isnt helping peace in the world either

just a damm waste o money and a front for everyone to spy on eachother
when push comes to shove..I GOTTA BELIEVE IN MY FELLOW AMERICANS

THE PROBLEM IS liberals hate conservatives so much they will say do anythiong to thwairt them even if it hurts the country

there has been a polotical civil war in the states and elswhere for a long time now.far right gets cast as hitlers....as should the farr left...but the far left is well embraced by the dems....and I think thats wrong..and it will bite us all

[blubs]

That is the most childess and petty and arrogant peice of shit I have ever read. Tell me is it true that now the Americans do own the world. I totaly agree cease all government aide immediately. I am sorry just who the hell do the Americans think they are? Why is it we always have to kowtow to those guys? I think it is time for the Canadian government to take a stand and say fuck you. Canada went along with the judgement of the UN with the war we wanted to do it legally. Yet we are the ones being punished and they still expect us to haqnd over money? Even though we are not allowed to bid on contracts.
I think Martin is right when he said" The issue should be about what is best for the people of Iraq not about who gets the contracts. They dont care about the people all they care about is lining their pockets. I bet most of the contracts will come from Georges friends.

[blubs]

Feeko I do understand your frustration. I quote"I am just tired of blame america crap" I honestly do understand. We Canadians are tired of hearing the same thing from the states. I really wish we could get along. But how can we get along when you have a moron in office and a feaking senator who wants to nuke us. I mean throw down your guns and give A Peace a chance. I truly do not think that your govt does not want to give peace a chance.
Our countries do not have to agree on everything but why is that your govt expects us to agree all the time with them. Canadians by and large are a compassionate people and we would try to settle things before push came top shove. I am sorry if I offend you with this statement. It seems to me Americans shoot first and ask questions later. That really should not be the way. I used to be that way shoot first then ask questions. I learned the hard way after getting my butt kiccked on more than one occasion. Why cant George sit down and just listen to reason. He has lost it. I will most likely get a few scathing remarks but you know what I dont care any more. I am fed up with all the fucking hate in the world my god it is xmas. But no one seems to give a fuck about it any more. A time to get along BUt that wont happen people will still be fucking fighting when the world comes to an end. I am sorry guys this is all bullshit. Let George have his peice of the pie. Let him have all the fucking pie. DOnt mean nothing anymore. I have had I am fucking done.

[Twila]

$1:

we have alot of enemies, always have

Actually, America has not always had lots of enemies. America's enemies of today are countries that have been bullied into doing as the US wants regardless of the detriment it causes, the poverty it causes, or the death it causes those other countries. American foreign policy is nothing but a scam to line politicians pockets. This is what is causing those "terrorists". They understand the evil that has taken residence in your government. They are forced to sit back while the US government installs puppet gov'ts in their country. They have to sit back when those puppet gov't's no longer serve US interest and are invaded. Show me a third world country and I'll show you American's hand in destabilization of that country.

$1:

but we are not like that....we stand by israel , and we get nothing but grief from the damm a rabs

And why do you think that is? Arabs are not jews. This subject you should really do some research on. Course you'll have to set aside your western beliefs and try to see it from a foreign aspect. Do some research on Sharon the butcher and then ask why your gov't would support such a horrible human being.

[Twila]

Just thought I'd throw these in here as they are quite appropriate even if they were said 100's of years ago......

The world is in chaos. Honorable dealing is deteriorating, good friends are few, truth is held in disrepute, good service is underpaid, poor service is overpaid. Whole nations are committed to evil dealings: With one you fear insecurity, with another, inconsistency, with a third, betrayal. This being what it is, let the bad faith of others serve not as an example, but as warning. The real danger of the situation lies in the unhinging of your own integrity: accepting less than your best, being overly tolerant of stupidity, forgiving incompetence, fraternizing with the nonspiritual. The man of principle never forgets what he is, because he clearly sees what the others are.
--Baltasar Gracian (1599 - 1658), translated by J. Leonard Kaye, The Wisdom of Baltasar Gracian


I think this one might stir a few comments, if not by the quote then by the person who said it
Every ruling class develops a mythology, justifying its abuse of power and its exploitation of the subjects.
--Karl Marx, philosopher, 1848

Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.
--Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)