sorry to bust your bubble, but Hamas, although viewed as a terrorist organization by some, is still a legitimate part of the political process inside Palestine. Iran's current president was elected in free democratic elections.Fadedsteve wrote:
There are terrorists running Syria right now. . .Hamas is a terrorist organization that got fucking elected in Palestine. . . what r you talking about?? Iran is run by terrorists too!! Terrorists are very active in the political process! For christs sake, Muqtada al-Sadr wants to be the grand ayatollah of Iraq!!! BTW what "terrorist activities" have we been involved in? I mean this is all up to ones "interpretation", but jesus christ are you really gonna go there. . .USA a terrorist state? thats insulting. . .
And as far as US involvement in "terrorist" activities is concerned, recent history is full of examples where the US actively supported groups in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan, with the intent to overthrow the ruling government and install a more US-friendly regime. Does "Operation Ajax" ring a bell ?
this is from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax
"In planning the operation, the CIA organized a guerrilla force in case the communist Tudeh Party seized power as a result of the chaos created by Operation Ajax. According to formerly “Top Secret” documents released by the National Security Archive, Undersecretary of State Walter Bedell Smith reported that the CIA had reached an agreement with Qashqai tribal leaders in southern Iran to establish a clandestine safe haven from which U.S.-funded guerrillas and intelligence agents could operate."
Ironically, the US also supported Saddam when he was still fighting the "bad" mullahs in Iran ( remember the cool photo of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Hussein ? ), and the Taliban, when they were still fighting the "bad" Russians in Afghanistan.
In 1997, a Taliban delegation even spent a couple of days in the US, discussing the proposal to build a gas pipeline. Unocal, anybody ?
One day, you are an ally and potential business partner, the next day you are a terrorist. Funny, how life goes sometimes, isn't it ?
The US has not a clean sheet with regard to state-sponsored terrorism, Steve. No major superpower can claim the moral high ground here.
Afghanistan is a UN-sanctioned operation under NATO command. We have troops over there, doing what our laws will allow us to do. Military actions do not come easily for a country that has been blamed for sparking two world wars. These days, we are careful when sending tanks anywhere, and for good reason.Fadedsteve wrote:
LOL what tactics are the Europeans using to fight terror??!! All I have seen is appeasement after appeasement, concession after concession. Why didnt you guys join us in Afghanistan to your fullest extent? If Iraq is quote "illegal" in your eyes, what the fuck is Afghanistan, a paint ball match??. . .cmon!
Germany chose not to participate in the Iraq invasion because our government felt that such action would be unjustified, unnecessary, and - most importantly - not be covered by our laws and the German constitution.
Now, would you mind explaining to me how exactly Germany "appeases" the terrorists ?
You know, apart from chasing them down and arresting them in Germany ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mounir_El_Motassadeq
well, maybe Italy and Spain realized that getting more of their soldiers killed in Iraq does not contribute in any form to fighting terrorism ? Honest answer please: do you seriously believe that there are now less terrorists in Iraq than before 2003 ? Are you telling me the overall security situation in the region has improved since the US invaded ?Fadedsteve wrote:
An example of Europe's lack of action/concession. . .how bout pulling out troops in fear of being re-attacked (thanks Italy and Spain!). There is no commitment whatsoever, your countries would rather watch us go at it alone, and take verbal pot shots at us. That is what you are doing. . . THAT IS YOUR TACTICS for dealing with terrorism! Sympathize with them, and talk shit about us!! Am I at all wrong with that assumption as an American? cmon. . .
Almost 4 years now, Steve, and what have you achieved ?
You know what ? I apologize on behalf of all Europeans. I apologize for not being the willful servants of the US, I apologize for not supporting a war that was started over bullshit reasons, I apologize for not wanting more European soldiers getting killed in some middle eastern shithole without any purpose.
If you think that's appeasement, lack of action, or concession, then so be it.