ISIS in Iraq.....

[MyHigh]

Fact check,

My mistake, I snuck a 1 in there. 80+ for a barrel of oil.

 

[MyHigh]

One thing I'm sure we all can agree on is the next few week/months will be quite interesting. There is no mistake, that oil prices are what drive our economy. A little something I found while checking my mistake on oil prices

 

[MtnT4R]

One thing I'm sure we all can agree on is the next few week/months will be quite interesting. There is no mistake, that oil prices are what drive our economy. A little something I found while checking my mistake on oil prices

I do agree that oil prices play a significant part in our economy, but that is not why we crashed in '08. I have to quote Wikipedia again because I'm a bit pressed for time and they explain it better than I could anyways:

According the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (the official arbiter of U.S. recessions) the US recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, and thus spanned over 18 months.[20][21] US mortgage-backed securities, which had risks that were hard to assess, were marketed around the world. A broader-based credit boom fed a global speculative bubble in real estate and equities, which served to reinforce the risky lending practices.[22][23]
The bad financial situation was made more difficult by a sharp increase in oil and food prices. The emergence of sub-prime loan losses in 2007 began the crisis and exposed other risky loans and over-inflated asset prices. With loan losses mounting and the fall of Lehman Brothers on 15 September 2008, a major panic broke out on the inter-bank loan market. As share and housing prices declined, many large and well established investment and commercial banks in the United States and Europe suffered huge losses and even faced bankruptcy, resulting in massive public financial assistance.


Sorry to get so far off topic Ol' Blue. Back to ISIS.

 

[ndcent]

I sure hope I'm in the right socioeconomic group for this new conservative monarchy fantasy.

God help us, ****ing crazy talk.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Kid's point was that civilians have an extremely shallow understanding of Iraq, and the military in general. I haven't served, and I completely agree with that point. Sure, I'm entitled to my own views and opinions, but I'd be the first to admit that these are merely thoughts compared to anyone who has actually set foot in the sandbox on behalf of the United States of America. These guys should be the ones influencing the decisions made in DC.

What I cannot stand are civilians who have strong opinions about the war and our military, yet would never put on the uniform and carry a rifle anywhere. Frankly, your opinion is worthless in my mind. Stop quoting CNN and talk to the people who have actually been there.

I know you're not referring to me, but I'd like to point out that some of "us" (opinionated civilians) are unable to join the US Military (private sector has crossed my mind as has various institutions such as Merchant Marines as an alternative) because of certain requirements that are frankly in my opinion rather asinine, or come from military families with members who have been over-seas. For example my Asperger's is considered by the military to be a disqualifying factor, (because having a disorder that as a "high-functioning" individual means you basically have no empathy, high intelligence, tend to be very analytical, highly detail oriented, and can still perform physically is not a benefit to the military?) as is my depression, even though I can provide more than enough evidence to prove that I am capable and fit for duty (based upon the military's own regulations about contesting such disqualifying factors for certain individuals) despite my "mental health history," they simply ignored me after I disclosed that information as requested and made no effort to hear me out...twice; otherwise I would be a USMC EoD for 4+ years more than likely. But I do make it a point try and learn about what goes on as best as I can (as I said I lived near Camp Pendleton for many years and knew many Marines, as well as friends who are Air Force and Army who have been overseas many times.)

I just wanted to play devil's advocate on that statement. But I whole-hardheartedly agree about people who are too scared/pitiful to pick up a rifle if their country called on the, they have no place commenting on much of anything military related because they lack the proper understanding of what must be done in those situations.

 

[RedSled]

When your under fire you get a whole different outlook. Just sayin.

 

[BrianSD_42]

What I cannot stand are civilians who have strong opinions about the war and our military, yet would never put on the uniform and carry a rifle anywhere

Just to be clear .... You are a civilian who never served (although I realize you are considering it) so why (by your own logic) is your opinion valuable then?

I think you should cut your fellow civilians some slack. There are plenty of intelligent educated civilians who know more about Iraq and the middle East than veterans or active duty. How old were you in 2003? Remember ... the Pentagon did not even predict the local militia uprising back in 2003. "They will great us with flowers" said the administration. Such incompetitence by the mission's leaders led to a great loss in American lives over the next 10 years.

Who I would say is the worst are those who say "military yay ... Raaa raaa ... go fight em boys" --- yet have never served. Basically if you are pro war then do the right thing (eg follow your convictions) and put on a uniform.

 

[the great him]

Sure, I'm entitled to my own views and opinions, but I'd be the first to admit that these are merely thoughts compared to anyone who has actually set foot in the sandbox on behalf of the United States of America. These guys should be the ones influencing the decisions made in DC.

What I cannot stand are civilians who have strong opinions about the war and our military, yet would never put on the uniform and carry a rifle anywhere. Frankly, your opinion is worthless in my mind. Stop quoting CNN and talk to the people who have actually been there.

boom! you have it going on... :cheers: you get it, i only wish more people in this country had your mind set or shared your observations.

 

[the great him]

Well I definitely agree that we all don't have equal abilities but I see all people as equal under the law and I think Thomas Jefferson was right when he wrote

[We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights ....]

I would hope all Americans share that sentiment.

i think the key thing/word in that quote that people grossly over look is "created" yeah we are all born equal, but its our life and upbringing and so forth that sets us apart. sure there are classes in this world, but people break out of those classes all the time, they break the mold -it goes both ways, people rise up, people fall down. we all have a life to live, its how we live it that counts. to some extent yes people can be a product of circumstances, but that is no excuse. willpower and determination are greater forces than society imposed classes. anyone who thinks that for one second everyone is equal is naive, and has no clue as to reality. -does everyone deserve respect, no, that needs to be earned, just like your paycheck. should everyone give their fellow man the benefit of the doubt, yes, until they have proved unworthy of it. i dont go around disrespecting people just because they are a lower class than me, or just because i have, and they have not. no, i grant them the respect, because i do not know them and have not walked in their shoes, likewise i expect the same from them. now when they can not bother to grant me the same, piss off. to many people think that they know everything and have it all "figured out" well guess what, you dont. the more i see and do in this world the more i understand that i am only a very small part of things, and i can only control me and how/who i am.

thinking that everyone is equal in the world is a mystical myth of fantasyland. look at sports, there are winners and losers. look at nature, there are prey and predators, people and life are no different. -your saying Hitler is equal to you?, how about OBL? or Saddam, or lets consider an american, Charles Manson? yeah he is equal to us right, he should be walking the streets and have internet, go to parks, see the beach bla bla bla bla... or anyone else we should all be equal and have a 4runner like anyone else whos runner we like or admire, be cause we are all equal and so we should all have the same thing or rights to things... please be real here. no one is equal, not even close. equality is making a country full of pussies. your child is equal to the kids that won this years pop warner football league, so every kid should get a trophy huh...? get over yourselves people. wake up to reality. there has always been winners and losers and there will always have to be. same goes for everything else. is it always gonna be right and correct? no. but thats life, and we need to know how to deal with it and go about to make the best of things and do better next time.

equality has no place i life other than to afford everyone the opportunities they have worked for. but you see there is the caveat, you need to work for it. some will have to work harder than others.

this whole war over there is all because everyone thinks they are equal to the other guy, and so they should have the same thing. or because he has been oppressed for so long and has worked harder, he should have more. if you go back and look at history thats exactly what this war is about. its all over the birthright of Jacob and Esau... -but even then i guess you can take that to show that there was no equality back then, as the oldest/first born son got everything... doesnt matter if he had 12 girls then 1 son, the son gets it all, or if he had 3 sons and the first one was a lazy, lying, thieving, sack of crap, and his other younger brothers always worked their asses off and did what was right no matter what. the oldest son got everything. you see equality is a fake notion that americans made up, and now most of us believe it and run with it without giving a second thought to it.

 

[MyHigh]

Dude what I meant was ....

Bear Stearns
Leahman Brothers
Washington Mutual
AIG

Did not go bankrupt because of the cost of a barrel of oil.

No offense but your history is far far far off mark.

I highly suggest you read The Big Short by Michael Lewis. It's a great book and will shed some light (to say the least) on what actually happened.

I could be wrong, your right. I guess the future will hold the answer for my opinion when those company's are no longer a factor in the coming events. One thing is certain, and this is where I agree you are right and I mistakingly did not mention earlier is, it's usually the culmination of events and not a single factor. Oil and the price we pay for it will always be on the top of the list when it comes to our economy. Every single company in America relies on oil. You, rely on oil, electricity relies on oil, Washington mutual relies on oil, bear stearns relies on oil...get my drift? Hears a few more, Wall Street relies on oil, wal mart relies on oil,...should I go on?

 

[the great him]

:yield:

I guess I give in then.

I notice you never say where you are on on the equality ladder.

Are you superior? What about your son? Do you want him to grow up in a country where equal opportunity exists or just be thrown to the wolves? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you do want America to be a land of equal opportunity.

Far off topic now but I stand by comments that dismissing the opinions of civilians is a mistake. Anyone who's severed in the military (and I did 6 years active, 4 deployed on a warship) knows that the military is no bastion of unquestionable intelligence.

oh i am by no means saying the members of the military have all the smarts in the world or know everything or have all the answers, again dont go putting words in my mouth. what i am saying is for people to cast opinions about things they have not seen nor done nor experienced is imo ridiculous and at best hearsay/conjecture. -this goes for most people in DC as well...

equal opportunity!? are you kidding me. stop right here before you go any further and save face. do you even know what EO is about? its about the same thing as grading of the curve... you have a percentage of whites, blacks, mexicans, women, asians, gays, transgenders, handicapped ect ect ect. and you need to employ the correct applicable ratio if them all. it does not matter if they are more qualified, no you need to have them. and that means that someone some where is gonna be given a job they did not earn or do not deserve because they are not qualified other than by the fear or EO. i see it all the time. the fact is there are jobs women can not do, but have solely because she is a female and equal opportunity says she gets that job even though she can not do it -the same goes for a man doing a womans job. then there are jobs that one person is more than qualified to do but no because the color of his/her skin or his/her ethnic background, or sexual preference ect they not given the job and instead it is given to someone less suited for the job. equal opportunity has ruined this country more so than bush, or obama or any president we have ever had. EO is one of the single worst things to happen to us i can think of.

i have never said nor eluded to i am superior to anyone but myself of yesterday. i strive each day to be better than i was previous. i do not consider myself superior in the way you think of it. we humans are so dynamic simply saying someone is superior is stupid. you and i for example, you could be "superior" to me in many areas, and i in many areas to you, does that make one of us more superior than the other? no. what it makes us is dynamic. you have strengths where i may have weaknesses and vice versa. equality and superiority are two totally different things man, and you should know this. you are probably superior to me in naval situations and tactics especially in and around a ship. i am probably superior to you in regards to infantry/line tactics and situations, i am superior to you i D&C in the military, you are superior to me in your line of work now. that is superiority, not anything to do with equality. equality would deal more with rank, if you outrank me, i am not equal to you, vice versa.

dont be childish about this. i am not attacking you. i am simply trying to convey my thoughts here, and express the worlds as i see it in a way that others might see my logic. im sorry if its coming across as attacking or rude or arrogant, that is not my intent

 

[MyHigh]

I do agree that oil prices play a significant part in our economy, but that is not why we crashed in '08. I have to quote Wikipedia again because I'm a bit pressed for time and they explain it better than I could anyways:

According the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (the official arbiter of U.S. recessions) the US recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, and thus spanned over 18 months.[20][21] US mortgage-backed securities, which had risks that were hard to assess, were marketed around the world. A broader-based credit boom fed a global speculative bubble in real estate and equities, which served to reinforce the risky lending practices.[22][23]
The bad financial situation was made more difficult by a sharp increase in oil and food prices. The emergence of sub-prime loan losses in 2007 began the crisis and exposed other risky loans and over-inflated asset prices. With loan losses mounting and the fall of Lehman Brothers on 15 September 2008, a major panic broke out on the inter-bank loan market. As share and housing prices declined, many large and well established investment and commercial banks in the United States and Europe suffered huge losses and even faced bankruptcy, resulting in massive public financial assistance.


Sorry to get so far off topic Ol' Blue. Back to ISIS.

I digress, oil was the straw that broke Americas back in '08
Might I warn one from the use of Wikipedia ...lol it worked in this case but beware of the source when reading from them. :yield:

So what's with the billion dollar embassy in Baghdad?
Is ISIS in control of it or are we still in control and looking to blow it up?

 

[MyHigh]

Oh and I just can't let this one stay cramped up in my brain, just not enough space.

Really? John Kerry is going to be sent to Iraq to be a advisor for both parties?

Is it just me or is this a move that's "a day late, and a dollar short" of a half brained idea.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I get what you are going for and I agree that the everyone is equal , 1st place trophies for everyone thing has gotten quite out of hand.

 

[nevada]

I think you should cut your fellow civilians some slack. There are plenty of intelligent educated civilians who know more about Iraq and the middle East than veterans or active duty. How old were you in 2003? Remember ... the Pentagon did not even predict the local militia uprising back in 2003. "They will great us with flowers" said the administration. Such incompetitence by the mission's leaders led to a great loss in American lives over the next 10 years.

I think you are giving people way too much credit.
I agree that there are many educated people, but sadly they are far outnumbered but the uninformed and ignorant.

on on the equality ladder.

Are you superior? What about your son? Do you want him to grow up in a country where equal opportunity exists or just be thrown to the wolves? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that despite the rant you do want America to be a land of equal opportunity.

being equal, and having equal opportunities are 2 different things.

*snip*

equal opportunity!? are you kidding me. stop right here before you go any further and save face. do you even know what EO is about?

Do you mean affirmative action?

because I believe that everyone should be granted the same opportunities.

 

[Jumpkix]

I know you're not referring to me, but I'd like to point out that some of "us" (opinionated civilians) are unable to join the US Military (private sector has crossed my mind as has various institutions such as Merchant Marines as an alternative) because of certain requirements that are frankly in my opinion rather asinine, or come from military families with members who have been over-seas. For example my Asperger's is considered by the military to be a disqualifying factor, (because having a disorder that as a "high-functioning" individual means you basically have no empathy, high intelligence, tend to be very analytical, highly detail oriented, and can still perform physically is not a benefit to the military?) as is my depression, even though I can provide more than enough evidence to prove that I am capable and fit for duty (based upon the military's own regulations about contesting such disqualifying factors for certain individuals) despite my "mental health history," they simply ignored me after I disclosed that information as requested and made no effort to hear me out...twice; otherwise I would be a USMC EoD for 4+ years more than likely. But I do make it a point try and learn about what goes on as best as I can (as I said I lived near Camp Pendleton for many years and knew many Marines, as well as friends who are Air Force and Army who have been overseas many times.)

I just wanted to play devil's advocate on that statement. But I whole-hardheartedly agree about people who are too scared/pitiful to pick up a rifle if their country called on the, they have no place commenting on much of anything military related because they lack the proper understanding of what must be done in those situations.

^^You wanted to enlist as EOD? You sir, have balls of steel.

I respect and honor the fact that you are willing to serve, even if they won't let you. BTW, I know several guys who fight the same battles you do, and they are great men. Keep fighting the fight.


Back to ISIS, I think they need to bring in additional A-10 Warthogs and plow the roads they walk on with 30mm. Love that aircraft, and can't believe they are even considering scrapping them. If they do, I hope the Marines can adapt it to their needs and make it carrier deployable.

 

[the great him]

Do you mean affirmative action?

because I believe that everyone should be granted the same opportunities.

its basically the same thing just rebadged... same principles same way of operation same same.

I do believe in EO in the sense that every one has the right to an education and should at least be able to go to a community college for two years, but its your performance in those two years that says weather you should go on... after that yeah it should be competitive and performance based. there are some things that should be equally available to everyone, food, clean water, right to life ect...


but back to ISIS, I don't think we should try to control them. we should however take the weapons and means we have provided, indirectly or otherwise away from them and let them go at it old school with rocks and sticks...

 

[TheeMikeB]

I get so sick and tired of hearing the inequality crap. This is such a contrived leftist thought used to prey upon the disenfranchised and trick them into thinking they need government to help them. Ohhh pooor you.... X happened to you and therefore you are a victim... you are too stupid to think for yourself and do what it takes to fix or deal your issue. (where X = whatever the reason is you think you can't succeed) AND THAT"S NOT FAIR... so the person that may or may not have had similar issues who decided to do something about it and work to better his/her life and is now successful DOESN'T DESERVE IT and you are ENTITLED to what they have even though you did nothing yourself. SO here is the government to swoop in and help you. We will TAX this successful undeserving person and make them out to be EVIL because they worked hard every day, went to school, made sacrifices, and made sound choices.

There is no UTOPIA, some people will be poor, sick, and unsuccessful no matter what government program attempts to save them all. Conversely some will be rich and successful as well as right in the middle. So dividing us as a nation and spinning success into something evil is just plan wrong and Un-American. It does a complete disservice to us as a nation. It assigns labels to people and puts them into a little tiny box and makes them think they are stuck there for ever.

We live in the land of OPPORTUNITY all you need to do is SEIZE IT!! Get off your friggin ass, quit *****ing and do something about it. Is it easy NO, is it hard YES but that's life. Is everyone going to succeed NO, but you miss 100% of the opportunities you do not go for. We are a nation of free individual people with nothing but opportunity in front of us. Instead of preaching success is evil, it should be embraced again as it once was and used to motivate people start seizing the opportunities that are here. Stop letting the poison of liberalism invade your thoughts and convince you that you can't do something for whatever reason and convincing you that success is evil.


Don't think this is true...don't think anyone can do anything? Well let's just see here....

1. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built a multi-billion dollar industry in a garage and started with a WOODEN COMPUTER. AND they completely revolutionized the entire world.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger cam here as a frigging body builder and became one of the most recognized action movie actors of all time AND went into politics.

3. People from the Ghetto become Rap Stars and make millions. (Ice-T, Dre, Cube, Eminem)

4. People from tiny unheard of islands come to America and become huge sports stars and make millions.

5. Women of all races are CEOs of major corporations (Ursla Burns, Indra Nooyi, Mary Barra)

6. Lastly we have a BLACK PRESIDENT!!!!!!!


So I'm sorry please tell me again how there is no equality?

 

[BrianSD_42]

[MENTION=47731]TheeMikeB[/MENTION]

So which Duke brother are you? Raldolph or Mortimer .. Lol.

Love the avatar btw.

 

[02SE]

[mention=47731]theemikeb[/mention]

so which Duke brother are you? Randolph or Mortimer .. Lol.

Love the avatar btw.

ftfy