[un]Holy smoke! Is Rush still doing drugs?

[Cool Hand]

Originally Posted by warrenly

Oh, come on, people would kill each other with sharpened sticks. It's in their nature.

I don't know if you are being facetious or cheeky, but I happen to agree very strongly with your remark.

Humans are animals. We have many or most of the same animal urges and impulses that other "higher-level" mammals do. One of the them is to fight over mates, our young, our tribles, food (and other resources), and territory.

We haven't and won't outgrow those urges. It's unrealistic to think that so-called social progress has or will lead us, as a species, to be able to suppress them on a wide scale, under all circumstances, and indefinitely.

Cool Hand

[Petra]

Never say never.

[Cool Hand]

Originally Posted by lunachick

Never say never.

I never do.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand

our tribles,

Yes, that's the trouble with tribles.

[Scotty]

So, basically, we knew Iraq had WMD's because we sold them to them, right?

Just curious how this all works.

I guess they were really surprised not to find them. Makes sense.

What a convenient way to make terrorists so you can go kill them later.

-Scott

[beyelzu]

Originally Posted by Scotty

So, basically, we knew Iraq had WMD's because we sold them to them, right?

Just curious how this all works.

I guess they were really surprised not to find them. Makes sense.

What a convenient way to make terrorists so you can go kill them later.

-Scott

well,

if you are serious, I would like to point out that first we gave saddam chemical weapons when we liked him, then he decided to start making them when we didnt like him anymore iirc.

[Scotty]

Originally Posted by beyelzu

well,

if you are serious, I would like to point out that first we gave saddam chemical weapons when we liked him, then he decided to start making them when we didnt like him anymore iirc.

I think I was being slightly non-serious, but it just seems so ludicrous, you know, our foreign policy. Whatever it is today.

-Scott

[Cool Hand]

Originally Posted by Scotty

I think I was being slightly non-serious, but it just seems so ludicrous, you know, our foreign policy. Whatever it is today.

-Scott

Serious or not, forming and implementing a coherent foreign policy is difficult in the post-Cold War era we are in at the moment.

Foreign policy towards whom? There's really no such thing as a blanket, generic foreign policy, especially when you are a (or the only remaining) world superpower. Relations with each other nation are going to be different, for a variety of reasons, including geography, culture, trade, past relations, history, alliances with other nations, etc. Also, relations with any given nation change over time.

Cool Hand

[Scotty]

I understand it is very complex, not just one thing. But, oh heck, I don't want to continue on this, it is too depressing.

-Scott

[Dingfod]

Originally Posted by Scotty

So, basically, we knew Iraq had WMD's because we sold them to them, right?

I'm sure that's where the idea originated.

I guess they were really surprised not to find them. Makes sense.

It shouldn't have been a surprise if they would've paid attention to the reports from the UN weapons inspectors, who had supervised the destruction of many a ton of chemical weapons since 1992.

What a convenient way to make terrorists so you can go kill them later.

Or they can kill us like Osama bin Ladin's 19.

Cool Hand, I was serious in my "sharpened sticks" comment. I believe it is in human nature to be violent if provoked, some even just to get what they want, but I also think we humans should rise above the reverse golden rule oft applied, "Do unto others before they do unto you."

I reserve the right to respond to someone attacking me or my family, but I will not shoot my neighbor, his family and his dogs, just because he has expressed extreme dislike for me and I merely think he's stockpiling ammunition and guns. What I will do is lock my doors (defense by barricade), train the dogs to bark when someone comes around (warning systems), maybe even install security cameras and motion detectors (vigilance, not vigilantism) and be ready to respond in the event of an attack (self-defense). Anyone messing with me or my family, will get fucked up or dead (I'm a Democrat with guns) but I'm not going out looking for trouble by abusing others or flaunting my arsenal or even my economic status. I will not seek personal revenge on someone that does harm me or my family, but I will make sure they pay for their crime via any legal means possible.
[/bad analogy]

[Cool Hand]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

Yes, that's the trouble with tribles.

LOL. Thanks. (insert same smilie here)

Cool Hand