Official 'War on Iraq' - thread

[ckin2001]

im a borg? sweetness.

is it ok if i hate the war because cbs is following it instead of the ncaa tourny, or should my hate be directed at dan rather? i peddled my ass off all the way home from class cause i wanted to watch, and i turn it on and see HIM.

im not getting cable just for this....but im pretty damn close >.<

[alexnoe]

I agree in general but what i don 't like is to ban a thread even before someone does brakes the rules, as preventive censorship.

This would never happen if every political discussion would go as civilized as this one so far...

[ckin2001]

if you want to see an example of what can happen if threads go unmoderated, look at www.fark.com for one of the MANY iraq war threads. it always ends up with the 'we saved your asses in ww2' debate. always.

[Airhead]

Some end up with "we saved your ass against the Brittish in your war of independance" as well... I used to visit Fark but I've stopped, I don't like that site anymore. And this thread is going awfully OT with Borgs, NCAA and only a little bit Iraq in it.

But I'm so sick of this war even before it's begun. Every minute they talk about Iraq on the radio, every minute they talk about Iraq on TV. And I open up my startpage, Iraq is all over the cover. I mean I KNOW it's a war, and I KNOW it's a bad one, but can I PLEASE see something else for just one minute!?

There's so much war in the media now that I'm getting tired of it instead of engaging myself in the debate.
My view is clear though, I've already stated that several times so I won't do it again...

[Bloodstar007]

Damn straight airhead, nothing on tv except footage of baghdad where NOTHING IS HAPPENING. If you don't have something to report, stop talking.

Also whats with the embeding of reporters into the armored divisions? Don't they remember what happened to the french reporter during the afgani conflict?

[Flying Dutchman]

I think some reporters are still in Baghdad. Nic Robertson being one of them I believe.

You know the world is a different place when you wake up to see your news anchor reporting with a gas mask on his face.

[panos]

All big greek tv channel have still reporters in Baghdad and all is showing Iraq since last night. The only difererent was the Panathinaikos match in Uefa Cup but will lost there too .

[Savannah]

Originally posted by Airhead
Oh yes the Borg... That's why we have so many moderators, resistance is futile

Ah, hah! Now I know, CDFreaks is behind the secret plan to rid the universe of CD-Rs, DVD-Rs (etc etc)! In cahoots with Microsoft to, I mean, look at Domin8tors avatar! It just boggles the mind....

Originally posted by Flying Dutchman
You know the world is a different place when you wake up to see your news anchor reporting with a gas mask on his face.

It just seems to amplify the "tension" in the air I guess, its almost like September 11, were a heck off a lot of people went and bought, gas masks, tinned food, bottled water, and I believe quite a few people had bomb shelters built on thier property, not to mention all those people who converted thier basements into bomb shelters. I guess Im apathetic because my philosophy is, if thier going to bomb a place, then their going to bomb a place. My life had its moments, but it has to end sometime.

Originally posted by Airhead
But I'm so sick of this war even before it's begun. Every minute they talk about Iraq on the radio, every minute they talk about Iraq on TV. And I open up my startpage, Iraq is all over the cover. I mean I KNOW it's a war, and I KNOW it's a bad one, but can I PLEASE see something else for just one minute!?

And I totally agree, granted some people want an update on everything thats happening, but I suppose all I have to do then is just get online, visit my fav site (duh!) or play some games. Anything to occupy my mind. I didnt ask for this, and Im sure most of you also didnt, so why was it shoved on our laps?

PS - My deepest apologies for the CDFreaks/Microsoft talk. I didnt mean anything by it. No really! Stop looking at me like that....

[TeeCee]

Anyone getting the feeling that the news media is a bit disappointed ?? They seem to be confused ..

They keep dropping that "Shock and Awe" line like that's what they are waiting on.

Didn't understand that plan anyway .. why destroy something that your just going to have to pay to rebuild. I think so far the plan being used will gain the most respect if they can accomplish the goals.


Edit
______

5 seconds after sending the above, MSNBC said "it seems that some news media is a bit dissapointed." heheh Can't believe they admitted it.

[gowap]

Originally posted by Bloodstar007
Also whats with the embeding of reporters into the armored divisions? Don't they remember what happened to the french reporter during the afgani conflict?

Do you really think this so funny that you have to put such a laughing smiley near your sentence ?

[Savannah]

Calm down, Im betting Bloodstar007s smiley was just reffering to the irony of it. (ie. They never learn, no matter their nationality)

[Bloodstar007]

For the record I find the irony delicious! mmmm...sweet sweet irony...

Some people just need a sense of humor, it's not a french joke. I'd be just as funny if an American reporter got run down, or a german, or an italian. It just happened to be a french reporter.

[panos]

How much do you think of what we see, or will see, on TV is true and how much is set up by Americans (the surrender i saw today looked funny) or Iraq (how about Saddam videos)?

I think many of them are not true and directired.

[dansmug]

Originally posted by panos
I think many of them are not true and directired.

Of course, the influence of media has become too big imho. Or better, the connections between media and politics. Knowing how hard people fought for liberty of opinion and press, I find it most disturbing that, especially in the US, dissident voices are silenced in the various media. So you can be damn sure that fake material is given to papers, tv,... Read an interesting article about the previous Gulf War yesterday. Amazing how the press spread material that was at least a bit doubtable, hehe

But let's face it, there's nothing we can do about it. So I just hope that the war will be over very quickly with as little victims as possible. And afterwards a lightning bolt may strike down on Saddam and Bush.

[xox]

Originally posted by dansmug

Of course, the influence of media has become too big imho. Or better, the connections between media and politics. Knowing how hard people fought for liberty of opinion and press, I find it most disturbing that, especially in the US, dissident voices are silenced in the various media. So you can be damn sure that fake material is given to papers, tv,... Read an interesting article about the previous Gulf War yesterday. Amazing how the press spread material that was at least a bit doubtable, hehe

But let's face it, there's nothing we can do about it. So I just hope that the war will be over very quickly with as little victims as possible. And afterwards a lightning bolt may strike down on Saddam and Bush.

Can't agree more. I also like your last sentence - we need some sort of miracle to turn this event around.

[Airhead]

I only trust BBC and some Swedish media, never trust CNN...

[dansmug]

Originally posted by Airhead
I only trust BBC and some Swedish media

Where do you think they get their info?

[Airhead]

The BBC gets their own info. And they do not beautify like american media does, thats the BBC trademark.
As for local media, I only trust some of them. Those with their own reporters in Bagdad.

[Savannah]

Im actually avoiding watching the news, mainly because its so sensationalised its not funny. Not that it would be funny if it werent... you know what I mean.

However the adresses to the nation by the leaders of the political parties are a bit tiresome. Although the opposition leader raised some very valid points. In Parliament he told the Prime Minister that he should hang his head in shame. And he should. Anyone who has the power to decided if the nation is going to war, should hang their heads in shame. For Australia is at war.

I still cant believe that Australia had leapt upon the "lets kiss Bush's arse" bandwagon without even consulting the Australian public. I didnt even vote for the guy and he is speaking for me?
Not bl**dy likely!

[dansmug]

Originally posted by Airhead
The BBC gets their own info.

Mostly they do, but in Iraq, CNN plays the leading role.

[Crowley]

I've read that the pentagon has send a notice to independent journalists in Iraq not to use their communication sets because they could become a target?

Of course Iraq has fired Scuds at the armed forces( this would only prove the right of the Americans (It is however a little strange that a scud is'nt as accurate as a tomahawk, so it is only usefull in attacking city's and not armed forces on the roll))

Behind the American soldiers there will be American weapon inspectors who will find chemical and biologycal weapons , to justify the war.

As stated in this document there seems to be reports around that the 1988 chemical attack on some kurd villages took place in a time when Iran occupied that part of Iraq during the war Iran Iraq.
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/co...2/cr091002.htm

Iraq started this war agains Khomeiny (president/dictator of iran)
Why did Iraq started this war? Because Khomeiny puit the Sjah out of power (who was a "friend"of the USA) and the USA wanted a more USA friendly regime.
( http://www.ithaca.edu/politics/gagnon/talks/us-iraq.htm )

Here in the Netherlands was a refugee on the tv last night who said that Iraq was a well developed country under Saddam.

I really don't think the war has to be neccesary. Saddam is not a democratic leader, but that doesn't give US a reason to attack Iraq


ps. Not only Iraq (aka Saddam) made attacks on Kurd villages, the turks do it also

[TimG]

Yes, Saddam did gas Kurdish villages. This was during the Iran/Iraq war, when the US was actively encouraging Iraq to be the aggressor (witness the shooting down of an Iranian airliner). The US were aware of the gassing at the time, and did nothing to stop this happening (in fact, they tried to blame it on Iran). Does this involve the US in complicity in these acts? Who should be tried for this?

With respect to UN resolutions, there are at least 2 countries in the region who are still not complying i) Turkey, where there is a UN mandate to get out of occupied Cyprus, and ii) Israel, where there are a host of resolutions, none of which are acted upon. I would have believed the UN excuse more (justified as not complying with 1441.....etc) if these issues had been addressed first.

[Airhead]

Crowley: The SCUD is a old Soviet "dumb" weapon, it's targeting is not very up to date. It hurts where it lands though.

[Crowley]

Originally posted by Airhead
Crowley: The SCUD is a old Soviet "dumb" weapon, it's targeting is not very up to date. It hurts where it lands though.

And so you can not use it effecifly against moving targets, so I don't think there was ever a scud being fired (instead of what the press said).
This leaves the USA with one argument less for the war (Saddam didn't destroy his weapons of mass destruction)

(when he really has scuds he would have used them by now (loaded with the chemical or biological weapons he also has according to the US)

There was once a theory that he didn't use the bio/chem weapons in the first gulf war because the allies would come after him when he used them. The plot is now different: They are coming after him, so he hasn't got anything to lose by using them.
Why hasn't he used them yet? I think because he doesn't have them.

[Donald_Duck]

I've read that the pentagon has send a notice to independent journalists in Iraq not to use their communication sets because they could become a target?

It would make it harder for the pentagon to prevent real info from getting out as effectively done in most wars. I remember watching a tv show where some people demonstrated how easy it is to fabricate videos of war and destruction (we see it in movies and on the tv every day and it looks very real)