Bacchus

Yeah, me too... Canda is a bore!? oh no...and i thought i was popular

And let's not forget that Bush has the Cheneymon! mmh, 46.5% ppl are voting for another country!

AU is a very young !@#$%^&*ociations, i think multinational support is of the essence. Anyone as interesting and concise links on Sudan and Darfur? [/lazy]

who cares about sudan, eh? [/bump]

I'm really ill informed on sudan and the Darfour situation but i think that a multinational effort (i mean UN, therefore the USA are included) should be made to support the African Union own efforts. I doubt very much the AU can support a peace keeping military effort or that it can use political leverage on Sudan legates. But it can shows some alliances. Also, humanitarian aid conduit should be secured and prompt in responding to the situation. It shouldn't have to ask to many permissions or get lost in useless paperworks and petty arguments. Again, UN could hand out some of its own ressources to the AU, so that the latter have more chances at succeeding in bringing some more than needed relief. But i'll rerad more on the subjet and come back.

Can't be. Aristotle called that the "3rd person argument" (i'm translating). He was trying to picture the "first cause" (translating again) and reckon that if you say something like "God is the universe, or nature in it's many forms", you'll eventually have to ask yourself:"what created nature, or God?". So God, or the first cause, have to be "out of this world" kinda. It's just Aristotle but it does make some sense without having the pretention to understand parts or God's nature.

obviously, you didn't travel farther than the next state. Most poor people resent the rich, you don't have to go to 3rd world to witness that. Furthermore, most people in poorer countries are just like you and me with the difference that they have nothing compared to us. So when an american (larger sense) or west european travels there he's (she) is usually perceived as an economical factor. Small, micro economy begin revolving around the tourist: guide, cook, security, driver, etc. Small jobs they do as a sideline. Most of them will charge you 10-15 times what they'd charge someone native and it will still be cheap labor. Some of those will understand that the reason why their country can't look up to them and secure better social condition is because some other country is meddling in domestic policies. Then they'll think, know, that their leaders are corrupted. Paid by bigger powers. Next the culture goes down the drain. Pressure from economic priorities become too strong and day to day life and habits begins to change and with it the social peace. Crime goes up, minority are excluded and form ghettos, the rift between the different classes expands, envy makes its way (and it's very understandable) and then hate appears with all its unwanted effects. This scenario is common, just look in some of your own streets. I agree with your number 3. But to each ressources its limits. Just like oil, water supplies are limited. A no-share find your own policy can't bring anything else but war and conflict.

Good one Vile If i'm not mistaken (i'd have to confirm the sources and i'll do it if asked), multiple UN inspectors said that Irak didn't maintain a stockpile of WMD, that is has no capablities to produce them for any lenght of time and that if they did, they would have to be helped. In all cases, UN and particularly the USA have all the technological means to scan the country for trace gases and radioactivity. Furthermore, said WMD have relatively short "lifespans". the most dangerous, VX gas (spl, i'm translating) has a 5 years limit, after that it becomes unstable and hardly a threat to an organized military force. I remember a Scott Ritter, war vet from Desert Storm and weapon engineer i think. Republican also. oh, and UN chief inspector from 91 to 98 (if my memory isn't playing tricks on me). I can't remember the book's -*BAD WORD*-le, but here's a link to one of Ritter's article: Ritter's article I just made a search out of curiosity Ritter again here'S another one because i don't know anything about salon.com, consequently i'm more trustful of the BBC the BBC on Ritter i think those are interesting articles.

err...when you'll miserable enough to have to cope with polyo and foul water you'll begin to care. in fact, you'll probably want to punch the big guy with his bigmac just to have the pickle.

I'm not an atheist but i firmly believe that God, Allah, whoelse omnipotent, has no place in human politics and moral ground. We need to go beyond the belief that there will be salvation for those of the faith. The idea that some can be saved while others won't is an idea that leads to exclusion and intolerance. I don't believe that humankind belongs to a grand scheme of betterment. I believe that humankind is just another specie with no special privileges other then being very adaptable, thanks to our mind. As such, the only thing that matters is well being for a maximum of people, religion happens to be in the way. Christiannity is particularly troublesome... I see progress in "atheism", call it what you want...Hume called it "deism", i call it being realist although this could be debated since it won't happen anytime soon. I think this could be moved to a "religion" topic btw.

the "no valid reasons" always make me laugh. tks, you just made my day.

man... worth, get over it. I'm not alone in my lonely island you moronic freak. We as in "we from Quebec". Do you want me to draw you a "we" or you'll be clever enough to look for it with google? calvaire, crisse qui peuvent être colons...(sry, couldn't help it)

What i meant is that although i condone terrorist acts, i can't help but wonder why those are occuring and why USA interests are usually targeted more than others. Terrorists kills that's a fact. There's also those facts: 1) Canada is one of the biggest arms parts seller in the world. 2) Canada exploits a lot of open air mines in south america, those are destroying life, wildlife and forests. 3)Tibet is more then opressed by China but nothing gets done. 4)Burkina Faso pres., Blaise Campaore, is a mjor arm dealer, he killed his friend former pres., he's rigging his elections and rewriting cons-*BAD WORD*-tutionnal rights at a whim. People are dying all over the place and he's still being invited by Canada, USA and ONU as a friend. 5)Halliburton and [forgot company name] are using mercs to control and protect pipelines all over the world. Consequently, people gets deported and lose what little they have to survive...usually end up in ghettos. 6)USA ambargos indirectly killed a lot of people...kids, mothers, fathers, older, etc. 7) As a result of USA attack on Irak, more than 10k civil deaths have been reported. Osama is still runnning. 9)Chechens are being systematically raped, killed, they have no rights, no future. They just might be fighting for one right now. 10)could go on and on and on but there's always someone to answer :"so, what's your point?" Think about that for a mins: How would you react knowing that a nation is richer than rich and that one reason why its so ridiculously rich compared to you is because you're poor and miserable? in the face of no real future, only violence, disease, despair and pain...what would you do to try to secure a better life for your children? So terrorists are desperate, just like you they want retribution, they want you out...if it means that they die killing you so be it. If they had the means to battle you up front i'm pretty sure they would...but they can't so they are using another strategy, the only one available. Boom.

ooh, you ARE an actual anthropologist or are you just mentionning that out of divine inspiration? look, I couldn't care less about religion. We'd all be better off without it. If you think that God is the answer, good for you. But when "religious ideals" gets in the way of peace and tolerance, i just have no mercy on them. Religion, and God, is supposed to be about love, mutual understanding, knowledge of self, respect, tolerance. It failed miserably. Do we, as a society, need religion? Well, come here Ail, religion is at an all time low and when we hear god's name it's usually a swear. Humankind is just to thick headed to be autonomous, it needs to be re!@#$%^&*ured through parting clouds and sunlight that :" WE HAVE A HOLY MISSION!" It's what Taylor (one of your philosopher) called the "theory terrorism", conviction kills discussion. Ultimately you'll be right if God is in the picture...why would I, for one, wnat to discuss things over? Moreover, i'm gay and you seem to think that i'm "unnatural" somehow. To me Ail, you're just another "religiously impaired" person.

Worth, i stand corrected, point taken. Ail, i was shocked by the news...but i must confess that i wasn't aware that it was an Al-Qaeda ops. I know though that the tchetchens are very opressed by the russian military. I've read reports of "programmed" rapes, beatings, starvation, kidnapping, etc. Those barbarous acts aren't making any senses but i think that the terrorists were acting out of desperation. they needed this kind of "coup" to win media coverage, they're in need of attention...just like rabid dogs. Why did they need this coverage? i believe that this is an important question. I also believe that this is one question all americans should asked themselves.

i'm experiencing difficulties following this topic. What is it yet you're not agreeing with gay marriage?

I'm a liberal-atheist gay, and i'm having lotsa fun. Do you?

come on... 60 000$ US i could probably get a bigger loan for christ sake...

I haven't read half the posts because it reeks of prejudice and cheap religious ideals. Man...who gives a -*BAD WORD*- about gays and lesbians?...lots of people (most of this forum users i'm pretty sure of it) are hooked on porn like flies on dung so don't tell me you're against it...or you're idiot enough to think that only "male" gays are unnatural? Did you know that most women will find gays cuter, wiser, smarter, better looking than you sorry hetero !@#$%^&*es? "gnegnegne...gayness isn't natural...gnegnejesusgnelord almightygne" c'mon, stop acting like complete morons and just admit it: WHO CARES!! -*BAD WORD*-, you peeps are amazing. You so stuck up you sound like jesus freaks and half-senile nuns

Might not have "created" it, but you sure as -*BAD WORD*- encouraged it. To believe otherwise is not only naive, it's [insert better word here].

Ireland terrorism is more akin to a civil war then to foreign terrorism. USA interests are attacked by foreign agents...but since even that won't ring a bell, i suppose nothing will. Just so you know regarding USA "aid" to other countries: USA ambargo"ed" so much (like Cuba, Vietnam, Haiti also if i'm not mistaken..though it might be a bit out of my -*BAD WORD*-) that it practically killed more people from starvation, disease and other poverty "effects" that USA embargos could almost be compared to WMD's. USA "generously" gave 60 000$ US to Haiti, which is sinking right now. What Canada did? Well, i'm not much of a Canadian, but Canada sent 2 millions right away, no question asked. Quebec'S Gov alone sent 200 000$, Quebec's citizen are sending so much food, clothes, and money we don'T know how to bring it there. So on the "peace" game, you sucks.

bah. bye.

Look, I know I won't be arrested...it was an exemple. Do you have something relevant to say or do you just get your kick by being an -*BAD WORD*-? Have a nice day. Just like Vile said. I felt it like a loss of right and a clear exemple of non-cooperation between USA and Canada which resulted in my private life being at risk. USA asked for canadians data and an eye on every citizens personal file but those citizens can't benefits from their civil rights to refuse, neither can they ask the USA to disclose their analysis of their personal file. I do agree that cooperation is in order but this isn't quite cooperating.

anyhow, it seems that I (as an exemple) could be deemed "suspicious" or "terroristic" because of my political ideas. I could be investigated, thrown in jail, questionned, deported to Syria, tortured and sent back to Canada without having any rights, no protection, no counseling. In other words, USA just cast a shadow over my free will and freedom of speech...i "feel" like i have no rights in USA and it's supposed to be my allies and i'm a lawful canadian citizen. Am i making any sense now? It's just really distressful (spl) to understand that my fate might depend on an american custom agent's interpretation of my "personal files"... I talked about it with a lot of people tonite (i'm a bartender irl) and we were all quite err...mindful/anxious about it. none of us will travel to the USA any time soon. That's sad.

Maher Arar please before flaming me for an anti-american, take some time to ponder this: I was watching the news today and came across this one (i'm looking for the english version but so far i've been unssucessful. I'll post the link as soon as i find one): This isn't the verbatim, just my translation... US gov basically told Can gov that it was expectating full disclosure of all canadian citizens files as canada effort in the war on terror. but: USA won't disclose what it does or how it interprets the data. USA won't be held responsible for actions or file on canadian citizens following a "guilty" or "suspicious" verdict. USA won't share informations with Canada on any intel on or about canadian citizen. USA won't give out any explanations for its actions agaisnt canadian citiens. Basically, a canadian under suspicion will be treated by the USA justice but without any "american" rights. a canadian citizen won't be protected in any way by the american cons!@#$%^&*ution or bill of right (or else) and won't benefit from any help from his own country because USA won't cooperate with Canada courts of law. I'm not sure how to react to this... I understand why extraordinary measures are taken to protect citizen from unwanted harm but this is well...can't find words. I post Arar case because the news was a result of Arar trying to understand why he was deported to Syria (where he was held captive and tortured by his own account) and not to Canada. It seems that USA had a policies about Canada which Canada wasn't aware of.