Oh dear,

as anticipated in my earlier post - this was almost bound to happen - and the subject is getting overheated.  The divisions (should I say cracks?) within the US are appearing wider - if that were possible.

Really blaming one or another in historical terms takes us nowhere - if we do this then there could be a very good case for blaming Georges Clemenceau for World War 1 - as a direct result of the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, and an even better one for the signatories to the Versailles Treaty in 1919 for WW2.  It changes nothing to place past blame - although one would hope that we could all have learned from these mistakes.

The problem surely is not doing exactly that - i.e. learning from our mistakes - and not doing them again.

What troubles me are the reports that this President is apparently not learning from mistakes made, and is pushing the same messages again and again, and not surprisingly getting the same reactions from around the world.

I agree that this could be the reading by the various media (or misreading), but to ignore the media is pointless, but we must understand their standpoint before we rush to judgement.  I see the BBC is defined as 'liberal' (perjorative sense) in the USA, whereas it is still regarded highly as objective in most of the world - certainly by comparison with most.  I personally see the Fox network as pernicious, so where does that take us?

There is no question to my mind at least that we are currently under one of the greatest threats of my 66 years - and amazingly in the 21st century it is over religion.  Shows how far we have come as human beings where we try to fight irrationality with rationality - and fail.  Be that as it may, and as you all know I am completely non-religious, I see the only future here is for professed Christians to show a strong face against the fanatics of the Islamic faith. Note I say the 'fanatics' of that faith.

I lived and worked in the Middle East many years ago, and learned that Muslims respect strength, and despise weakness.  I also learned that despite the fanatics protestations of the 70 virgins awaiting in a land of milk and honey for those who die, very few of the ordinary men and women in the street are in any great hurry to find out if it is true or not. Incidentally what DO women get - 70 superstuds or do they also get virgins?  I have never been very clear about that point.

If ever the West needed a concerted face it is now - the internecine squabbles placing blame here there and everywhere else is ignoring the critical point. This is precisely what the fanatics want.  Ever heard of 'divide and conquer'?

The problem we face is now and in the future.  Let us learn from the past and ensure we are prepared for what I fear is to come.

A sombre Norm today as I a read the news from around the world.

 

1. I AM an Agnostic Atheist Activist. 2. ALL religions are nothing other than Childish Superstitions which most people would NOT believe in had they not been PROGRAMMED into that religion. 3. Religions are responsible for most war and nearly ALL terrorist acts. 4. The BBC IS LIBERAL in it's reporting and it is ANTI the actions of the US in Iraq. 5. I KNOW history and I learn from it. 6. Iran has been KILLING AMERICANS for YEARS BEFORE Bush even ran for office! 7. What Bush is saying about Iran is a FACT! (If you are too clueless to know what the facts are about Iran, I suggest you learn them.) Anyone who does not know we have more than reason to wipe out the government of Iran is a clueless fool. WE ARE IN WORLD WAR THREE! THE MOSLEM FANATICS (Which includes the governments of Syria, Iran and some others.) WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WHOLE WORLD AND KILL ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSE THEM.

Dave C. My comment about "BS" was in reference to your saying (among other things) that: "I am neither condemning Clinton, nor exhonerating Bush." As your original post MOST certainly DID condemn Clinton and to say it was not your intent is less than intelligent. Neil

Dear Neil,

sorry but diatribe is not debate.

Norm

You know what Norm...?

I happen to agree with you 100%.

There is no point in placing blame. The answers lie in what is taking place right now. Learn from the past to protect the future.

And Neil... Obviously, you think that you and you alone, are the only person on the planet with a clue.

I deal with Congressmen on a regular basis, as my activism takes me to seek out educational funding for my local school district. Even the powers that be, in Congress, think GWB is a putz! He has made no forward progress in this war. He's chasing shadows, while Osama Bin Laden sits in his foxhole laughing at him. And every day, more people die.

Trina