Fires argh!

[impulse]

There is no doubt fellow aussies are aware of the fires that devastated Canberra last weekend. Unfortunately my home along with many others were lost in the freak fires and as a result I have had to endure a painful week without access to a computer nor tut. I guess that was one positive aspect of the fires; the fact that I can purchase a new computer with more guts than the former.

Anyway, in terms of facts about the fires; 4 were killed, 300+ homes were completely destroyed and 2000+ were forced from their homes (if they were still not there altogether). Canberra, having a population of 300,000 and being the capital of Australia, it was quite disturbing to see how vulnerable we were in the face of these fires.

In addition to fires, Australia is currently sufferring the worst drought period for decades (the drought to some extent, being responsible for the fires). During this disaster we have depleted water resources in our dams and have required to transport water from other cities nearby such as Sydney.

The thought also came that our position as an ally with the U.S oblidges us to send forces to the Middle East, which further weakens our country's position if a world war were to occur. I would be interested to hear what everyone else's position on an attack on the middle east is, especially those from the U.S.

[LaughingRat]

Apparenlty public opinion polls here in the US show a shift against it, with over 50% saying they don't think we should attack Iraq without definitive proof of weapons manufacturing. Our government, however, is considerably more hawkish.

Sorry to hear about your situation and the conditions down under overall. Hope things shape up down there.

[SNAFU]

I would be interested to hear what everyone else's position on an attack on the middle east is, especially those from the U.S.

Honestly, who cares what I think. Bomb the SOB and go home, I say. All I want is Saddam to be out of power; he's a power-hungry nut, but he's not a democratically elected power-hungry nut. Big difference, no?

I find it sad that the Iraqi people would be caught in the crossfire; it's not like any of these recent events were their fault. If anybody is responsible for any of the problems inside and outside the country, it's their "leader", if you can call him that. I swear, I hope we break our own laws and just assassinate him. It might be illegal to "assassinate leading figures of other countrys", but going to war and killing HUNDREDS, possibly THOUSANDS of PEOPLE IS PERFECTLY LEGAL.

That makes me sick... when we could solve 95% of our problems by killing one guy who's an asshole anyway, and we instead opt for all-out war.

Hmmm... enough with this political turmoil stuff; it's REALLY out of place here, I don't speak the language, and I'm tired of hearing it. No offense impulse; I just think that this is a little too much of a touchy topic, and that it's almost cliche by now.

[impulse]

I would be interested to hear what everyone else's position on an attack on the middle east is, especially those from the U.S.

No offense impulse; I just think that this is a little too much of a touchy topic, and that it's almost cliche by now.

None taken...I was just curious as to how the u.s citizens reacted to the decisions made by George Bush. The media tends to bend the truth as I'm sure you are aware, so I wanted to hear from you guys first hand how you felt on the movement to attack the middle east.

To a less touchy issue, have these fires I am talking of been on your national news? I was interviewed by some english blokes from ITN, and many of you may have seen me on the news bitching about our government :lol: .

[Machine]

The death of one is a tradigy, the death of a million is a statistic
-Stalin.

[Lurox]

The death of one is a tradigy, the death of a million is a statistic
-Stalin.

Well said.

[Mad_Gerbil]

I know the responsible thing to do is go in and kick the crap out of Sadaam, however, I'd rather pull out of the area altogether and allow the superior European intellect handle the problem.

On a more important note, I'm sorry you lost your home. I'm also sorry to see Australia in a mess since I've always had a warm spot in my heart for Australia.

[Swiss Mercenary]

I would be interested to hear what everyone else's position on an attack on the middle east is, especially those from the U.S.

Honestly, who cares what I think. Bomb the SOB and go home, I say. All I want is Saddam to be out of power; he's a power-hungry nut, but he's not a democratically elected power-hungry nut. Big difference, no?

I find it sad that the Iraqi people would be caught in the crossfire; it's not like any of these recent events were their fault. If anybody is responsible for any of the problems inside and outside the country, it's their "leader", if you can call him that. I swear, I hope we break our own laws and just assassinate him. It might be illegal to "assassinate leading figures of other countrys", but going to war and killing HUNDREDS, possibly THOUSANDS of PEOPLE IS PERFECTLY LEGAL.

That makes me sick... when we could solve 95% of our problems by killing one guy who's an asshole anyway, and we instead opt for all-out war.

Hmmm... enough with this political turmoil stuff; it's REALLY out of place here, I don't speak the language, and I'm tired of hearing it. No offense impulse; I just think that this is a little too much of a touchy topic, and that it's almost cliche by now.

I see... So you have these pretty laws, and ethics, but whenever they get in the way, we put them aside...

About the war - if the US will have proof for the war, it's legal. Beating COUNTRIES(Cough cough Afganistan), instead of the bad people living in them (Cough cough Al Quaid) is retarded.

Let me get a few facts straight -

The US should stop screwing around with other countrie's politics.

The US has no proof of Saddam being connected with terrorists. No proof - go home.

The US has no proof of Saddam posessing weapons of mass destruction.

Even if Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction, A: He's smart enough not to use them. B: So what? How many countries have nuclear weapons? How many could produce nuclear weapons? Let's go to war with all of them... /Sarcasm

Now, remember, Saddam Hussein was democraticly elected, recieving 100% of the votes in the last election...

While the election was obviously screwed up, the US have no proof of that.

Did I mention that Saddam Hussein isn't the only one killing people with US-given weapons. Does Turkey spring to mind? Hell, why not declare war on Russia, for declaring war on a country that harbours terrorism. Somehow, when Russia did that, they were the bad guys. When the US goes after Afganistan, they are the good guys.

To summ it up - Saddam Hussein probably should be killed. But, we don't have proof. Have you ever heard of "guilty untill proven innocent"? Isn't that what America takes pride in? Or, do we throw our laws, and ethics out of the way, when Dubya starts babbling something unrecognisible about terrorists...

[Mad_Gerbil]

Swiss:

We already have proof that he has weapons of mass destruction, we found them.
Also, his son just this week said they'd use weapons of mass destruction on us if we attacked them. That is basically a confession.

[Swiss Mercenary]

Sorry, I wasn't up to date.

Now, if they are threatening to use them, IF the US attacks, then there's an even greater reason not to attack Iraq.

Did I mention that, from what I hear, there are people right beneath Saddam in power who are much worse...

[Mad_Gerbil]

Sorry, I wasn't up to date.

Now, if they are threatening to use them, IF the US attacks, then there's an even greater reason not to attack Iraq.

Did I mention that, from what I hear, there are people right beneath Saddam in power who are much worse...

See, this is the exact reason why I DO NOT want the US to mess with Saddam. Apparently the lessons of WWI and WWII have already been forgotten. Even worse, the lessons of Kuwait have evaporated as well.

We desperately need Saddam to build nukes and use them on Israel and Saudi Arabia and maybe even detonate one in Paris, France so that world once again realizes that there are SOME PEOPLE that must be destoryed because they REFUSE PEACE and HUNGER FOR BLOOD.

Too many people do NOT understand the nature of men like Saddam and I'm all for backing down and letting him teach this generation what the word "tyrant" means.

As arrogant as this may sound, I cannot loose this argument.
1) If we go in and take out Saddam, I win.
2) If we don't, he'll prove that we should have done so.

Here we go again....

[Entropy]

None taken...I was just curious as to how the u.s citizens reacted to the decisions made by George Bush. The media tends to bend the truth as I'm sure you are aware, so I wanted to hear from you guys first hand how you felt on the movement to attack the middle east.

To a less touchy issue, have these fires I am talking of been on your national news? I was interviewed by some english blokes from ITN, and many of you may have seen me on the news bitching about our government :lol: .

Actually there's quite a few Americans who are very much against a war with Iraq. There was a protest march in Seattle just a few days back. There's also plenty who think the US should kick ass all over the middle east and prove who's boss. On average it looks like Americans are against war, but whether it's because more people think it's the wrong thing to do or whether more are afraid of the consequences isn't clear, probably a fair bit of both.

It just sucks about the fires. I'm sorry you and your family were affected, but then I'm sorry anyone was affected at all They have appeared in the media here, but only briefly from what I have seen. Still, it's nice that it got some coverage - US news isn't really very attentive to the wider world.

Entropy - Aussie abroad

P.S. I'm going down to an Aussie pub in Seattle tonight, coz they have an Australia Day party! I'm as sick as a dog but I'm pretty sure I'm going to make it there anyway

[SNAFU]

The death of one is a tradigy, the death of a million is a statistic
-Stalin.

Best said by the world's evilest man.

And to believe he was on our side....

[BobTheDog]

The death of one is a tradigy, the death of a million is a statistic
-Stalin.

Best said by the world's evilest man.

And to believe he was on our side....

Actually, it's hard to decide as to whether or not Hitler or Stalin was worse. Stalin killed many more people and they were of his own nation. Hitler was more sadistic and insane. And that's just to boot.

Sorry to hear about the fires and your home. It's really awful when disasters strike. I always hope we don't get the 9.0 earthquakes California's very capable of.

[LegalAssassin]

Fact: USA and allies committed a huge amount of warcrimes during Kuwait.
Fact: USA did bomb the shيt out of Afghanistan. They had promised to rebuild everything when they were done, nothing has yet happened. This will give them "new bin Ladin"s in 20 years.
Fact: Only 12 % of the USA citizens know where Iraq is.
Fact: The USA has everything Saddam has (except for a Camel 2000 Z+), the difference being that they "democraticly" elect a new, kind of dictator-ish, prestident every four years. A president can sit as a maximum 8 years.

As I think of Bush more as a trained monkey wanting to be his dad than an intellegent, righteous man, I do NOT WANT HIM TO HAVE THE NUCLEAR FOOTBALL!

But let him bomb Iraq to Babylonia! Then send all the un-employed weapon-inspectors to his lawn :lol: Imagine what the US gov would say about letting UN inspectors into the core of the Pentagon! I wish...

And imp, sorry to hear about your home. Is suspect your computer isn't your biggest loss, such as photos and other memorial things.