Immediate Threat

[Tascar]

Today I read this:

 

The intelligence was described Tuesday by a senior counterterrorism official on condition of anonymity as extremely credible and backed by an unusually high level of corroboration.

 

The intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack but is among the most disturbing received by the government since the al-Qaida attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the official said.

 

"There is clearly a steady drumbeat of information that they are going to attack and hit us hard," the official said.

 

Then I read this:

 

FBI Director Robert Mueller and New York Gov. George Pataki said the initiative will enable beat cops to check watch lists of suspected terrorists and other information stored in databases maintained by the FBI, CIA, State Department, Customs and other agencies.

 

I'm concerned about this, but not worried because the news only tells a fraction of the story. Most of the security officials seem to be optimistic that an incident can be averted.

 

Imagine if we had spent all that money in Iraq on defeating terrorism world wide. I'm sure if anything does happen, we will conduct a massive international terrorist hunt leaving no stone unturned. Of course, that would mean first ousting illegal refugees from America, boosting security on all incoming flights/ships, and increased border patrols. You all think America is a mean beast now -- wait until its back is to the wall -- then you will see power.

[Bacchus]

Yeah, that's why and what i'm afraid of.

[Yupa]

not really sure what that was all about, but I agree if America ever truly had its back to the wall, some people would get SERIOUSLY -*BAD WORD*-ed up

 

I'm not talking about a few B-52 strikes over an entire country, no, SERIOUSLY -*BAD WORD*-ed up.

[Himura Kenshin]

yea lets hope that doesnt happen last thing we need is a nuclear warfare

[Slowking Man]

yea lets hope that doesnt happen last thing we need is a nuclear warfare

If you and your festering grasp of English went first, I'd die happy.

[Yupa]

yea lets hope that doesnt happen last thing we need is a nuclear warfare

it is inevitable

[Tascar]

No worries Bacchus my Dominican pal ur Carribean territory rests under the wings of US protection.

 

Errr SuSE -- that was what we thought during the cold war. No reason to fear it.

[Bacchus]

No worries Bacchus my Dominican pal ur Carribean territory rests under the wings of US protection.

 

Hooray, can we go to Disney now?

 

aah yea, i'm from Quebec...no US protection now...we're such losers...

[MonteZuma]

No worries Bacchus my Dominican pal ur Carribean territory rests under the wings of US protection.

 

Hooray, can we go to Disney now?

 

aah yea, i'm from Quebec...no US protection now...we're such losers...

LOL. If Nintendo wasn't cut off from the outside world, he'd probably laugh at this.

 

[Yupa]

Errr SuSE -- that was what we thought during the cold war.  No reason to fear it.

ya well Pakistan didn't have nukes during the Cold War

 

more nukes = increased likelihood one will be used somewhere

[Manus Celer Dei]

I'm so glad I live in a country where I can stick my head in the sand and ignore the outside world without fear of someone flying planes into our tall buildings or flying over them dropping cluster munitions behind my back.

 

 

Ahhh New Zealand, noone hates us enough to bother.

 

(which is good because our government sold off our entire air combat wing a short while back)

[Yupa]

they just find you inconsequential

[MonteZuma]

Being inconsequential is good.

[»nintendo64]

A dominican with at least a High School Degree from a Private School (not Bi-lingual oriented- [most of those ran/founded by USA citizens]) are well aware of USA interests in our country, and their past actions.

 

In fact, even Trujillo (Most famous Dictator from the DR) once told his son ramfis, he should learn from the americans, because they will cheat on you, in your face.

 

-nintendo64

[Tascar]

It's quite sad that you feel that way nin ... dubbing all Americans as cheaters. I'll agree that there are some here, and I'm quite sure your country is full of them as well just like every country in the world. Cheaters are not defined by nationality, ethnics, race, religion...it's just who they are.

[»nintendo64]

It's quite sad that you feel that way nin ... dubbing all Americans as cheaters.  I'll agree that there are some here, and I'm quite sure your country is full of them as well just like every country in the world.  Cheaters are not defined by nationality, ethnics, race, religion...it's just who they are.

Tascar, i am not labeling all americans as cheaters... But yes, i'm saying USA interests in the DR will always be present, in fact, most of the aid we get from USA always has some secret clause. Maybe you should read about neocolonialism and USA role in Latin America, from the Latin American perspective as well.

 

-nintendo64

[Tascar]

hahahahaha! when dominicans stop trying to get into the USA illegally...I'll worry. You're quite cliche thinking that the USA wants to take over your country. Screw that....we have everything needed right here.

 

neocolonialism....lol.

[A Soldier]

I don't see what's funny about neocolonialism.. Nintendo is right about it: if you'd read a little about it, maybe you'd be awared that some big american multinationals are installed in Africa, Asia or South America employing kids and adults with -*BAD WORD*-ty conditions and -*BAD WORD*-ty salary, also known as sweat shops. I'm still amazed to know that Africa, home of many important ressources, only posses 1% of the world's market today.

 

I don't know much about the dominican republic, but Cuba has been one of America's biggest target, probably because of its strategical position. A little bit like Bresil, whose current president Chavez is the target of assassination attempts, which are linked to the CIA, supporting guerrilleros.

 

And what is there in Bresil? Oil, of course...

[Tascar]

Soldier, sweatshops eh? lol w/e - that happens in every country by the people of that country to the poor and helpless. Welcome to life dude. In America you could call your sweatshop what happens to people in elderly homes. Or blue collar workers on 3rd shift at minimum wage. In other countries its people of all ages. WHY? Because those countries don't have a law to protect the children. Stop blaming America you -*BAD WORD*-, and go help whatever country you live in. Finger pointing -*BAD WORD*-ing doesn't resolve it - it simply pisses people off.

 

I'm dismissing your Chavez/CIA link as consiracy theorist crap. Gee I wonder how many times Bush has had !@#$%^&*asination attempts. Is any of this sinking in? I'm telling you, STOP BLAMING THE USA FOR YOUR MISFORTUNE -- get off your -*BAD WORD*- and do something about it.

[A Soldier]

Tascar... lol. I know that there are sweatshops troughout the world, obviously I should have made a bigger deal out of it, but what's the ratio Africa-Asia / northern rich world? (A little more on the Af-As side in case you were wondering). I don't understand how you can compare old people in elderly home (don't their kids put them there? or don't they do it by choice?) and blue collar workers to an whole population.. that's like comparing apples with oranges.

 

I am okay with the fact that you disagree with my opinions, but I am stating the facts, how is that "finger pointing -*BAD WORD*-ing"? You ain't giving me any other valuable arguments to prove me wrong, you're just stating I'm wrong with no reasons... Why personnal attacks by the way? And also, you claim I am blaming the USA for everything, which is wrong. Man, I just came back from a trip in New York on last weekend and I have to admit that I found the city amazing.

 

You're dismissing my "Chavez/CIA link conspiracy theorist crap" and yet you bring nothing to support your point. Again, I probably said it in an earlier post, but the USA overthrown many governments before (Iran, Nicaragua, etc...), which wouldn't surprise me if they what was said on the news was right.

 

Gee I wonder how many times Bush has had !@#$%^&*asination attempts.

well.. he almost chocked while eating a bretzel' date=' he fell off a segway (you have to teach me how to do that...) and more recently, he fell off his bike. Does that count?

 

P.S.: I am doing something about it right now, if you can call it like that. I boycott certain compagnies (Esso (ExxonMobil in the US), Starbucks Coffee, S-*BAD WORD*-, Costco), keep myself awared on the news and talk with friends on events that occur troughout the world, as currently, I don't much political powers [img']http://www.ssforum.net/public/style_emoticons/default/blum.gif[/img]

 

P.P.S:

I'm still amazed to know that Africa' date=' home of many important ressources, only posses 1% of the world's market today.[/quote']

 

That's about it

[Kryn]

I say again... (this is becoming my -*BAD WORD*-ed motto..)

 

The fact is, in this life ignorance is in power. There is nothing we can do.

Better luck next life.

[MonteZuma]

Screw that....we have everything needed right here.

 

neocolonialism....lol.

Clearly you don't. Otherwise the US wouldn't have so many military bases and diplomatic missions in every corner of the world. And the US wouldn't need to involve themselves in so many minor and major international conflicts.

 

In order to support its lifestyle and values, the US is very dependent on the rest of the world.

 

You reject the concept of US neocolonialism? LOL.

[Tascar]

Diplomatic missions open opportunities for trade agreements between countries. Bases are located in strategic locations to support the nations who need them.

 

I didn't say we couldn't use resources from the rest of the world - everyone wins in that case, however, Soldier stated that the US has interest in colonizing some foreign land -- simply absurd. You need to aim your arrows straight before shooting them toward USA for all your problems.

[»nintendo64]

Right now, after the change of Presidents, the DR just had its election on 16 May 2004, Leonel Fernandez won, and the other president who was going for a reelection, Hipolito Mejia lost.

 

The transition period between administrations is 3 months (yes i believe is too long), and even before Leonel Fernandez took power, the USA just offered "help" for our country of dropping our currency [Dominican Peso] for their precious dollar.

Basically Dollarize the country.

 

[Economics Situation in DR Summary]

 

The dominican peso is one of the most stable currencies in latin america, and one of the few who has been 1 on 1 with the dollar, and even once the change used to be RD$0.46 [Dominican Pesos] for 1 dollar on 1946. At 2000 the peso was 16 for 1 dollar, and because of the corruption of the administration that lost in the 16 May elections plus some global factors, the dominican pesos is 47 to 1 Dollar, and still deappreaciating...

 

The problem is Prices of products go up while people's salary stays the same, the USA is offering the Dollar because the prices will always be still as the income. Althought most dominicans fell for it, the DR will need 4 Billion USA dollars to dollarize, guess who's willing to loan us that?, guess who's willing to increase our external debt?, because they believe dollarizing will be good, amazing. To put it in perspective if you earn about what? let's say 500 pesos per month[What most people make], and use the 47 change your wage will be 11 dollars [Wage of average joe], yes, but what will be the price of let's say a family meal will be RD$22,000 about 468 dollars per month, do you think with a 11 dollar wage will it make a difference Peso Currency? or Dollar currency?.

 

 

In my opinion Dollarizing will be pointless, for another reason besides that, the Dollar is a hard currency which is deappreaciting compared to others such as Euro, maybe changing to Euro will be better, althought changing to either of those two will not be a good solution.

 

Probably, the richer will benefit, but because i'm a people's person i am going against it.

 

Soldier stated that the US has interest in colonizing some foreign land -- simply absurd.

Neocolonialism is not what colonialism is. Neocolonialism is predominant economic, politic, cultural,... influence from industrialized countries over independent development countries. This means let's say a powerful country is named X, and a development country is named Y. X dictates whatever Y policy will be, do you think Y is truly an independent country?

 

USA Citizens in the DR [Not Goverment oriented]

 

Europpean Union[uK, Germany, Spain, France mainly], Canada, Soviet Union [Russia,Ukraine and others now, lesser extent in today's world], some Latin American countries and others (Japan, Taiwan mainly) towards the DR has made also a positive impact, but because i'm going for the USA part, they will not be mentioned.

 

In my honest opinion, Education is the most important factor an industrialized country can help a country in development, therefore i'm biased towards mentioning as positive impacts only education.

 

To mention few examples:

 

Cornell University from New York, has come here to the DR and worked with national universities such as UNPHU [in Spanish] in different projects together [sending Teachers, Offering Courses to Students/Teachers etc...] as well as offering students exchange.

 

massachusetts Ins!@#$%^&*ute of Tecnology, as well has send professors to national universities and offered exchanges.

 

Harvard University being the more active here, they've come several times to do fauna/flora studies and medicine conditions, even few months ago they've offered to found an school of medicine with the help of other national universities in the DR.

 

USA Citizens acting alone, has also make an impact on education, i've met few USA teachers which are retirees or decided they liked the country and stayed, and went the education way, teaching in Universities/Schools. Most of them feel they want to teach dominicans to have a broader look of their country and them in the world, USA History teachers specially like to push students to participate more on the politics plane.

 

Those are few to mention about USA Citizens working here without Goverment pushing them to as "aid".

 

-nintendo64

[A Soldier]

interesting post nintendo. Have you read this essay?

http://www.ratical.com/ratville/CAH/RRiraqWar.html

I'd be more than happy if you could give me your opinion on it