This Year's Presidential Elections and the Peace Corps
| Leave a message below if you support George W. Bush for President. You don't have to sign, but please leave a short message on the reason for your vote. |
George W. Bush
| Leave a message below if you support George W. Bush for President. You don't have to sign, but please leave a short message on the reason for your vote. |
| By Walt Gray (cache-mtc-ab06.proxy.aol.com - 64.12.116.70) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 11:27 pm: Edit Post |
The country and world need stability. Bush has done the best possible job given the adversity of events over which he has little direct control during his administration. He needs more ambassadors via the Peace Corps.
| By Aminta Lara-Peters (dsc04-sei-wa-205-187-140-251.rasserver.net - 205.187.140.251) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 2:46 am: Edit Post |
President Bush has shown good faith towards keeping the integrity of the Peace Corps' mission alive in spite of the adverse circumstances that have impacted the government's budget since 9/11. He is sincere in his belief in the importance of the Peace Corps concept and I trust that he'll do everything possible to keep supporting it.
| By jimmy socash (adsl-158-224-114.mia.bellsouth.net - 68.158.224.114) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 6:46 am: Edit Post |
Surprisingly, Bush has come out in support of the
Peace Corps...but he is the same man who wanted to be a President of all the people...but has regressed to a partisan politician...comfortable in the wing of ultra conservative, anti-environment, pro-dogmatic religious decision-making.
with this track record, it is not wise to accept his rhetoric (pre-election)...that the Peace Corps has a future in his term...
Yet, because of the image of arrogance and superiority that he has spread about us, the Peace Corps, with its face-to-face efforts is one of the most important ambassadors that the U.S. can have.
To believe Bush about the Peace Corps importance, would be similar to believing that he also loves the environment, that he has previously stated.
It all sounds somewhat familar to WMD...and too
unbelievable for me.
| By Craig R. Gardner (218.154.201.182) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 7:58 am: Edit Post |
Not since the founding of the Peace Corps has a President not only spoken loudly in support of the Peace Corps, but has followed his words with action and budget. This is no small feat in the world of gerrymandering, pork belly stuffing and the usual congressional tripe. Remember -- Congress holds the purse strings, not the President. I do not trust his apparent opponent in the upcoming election simply because of his recent statement that many foreign leaders want him to be President, but he can't say who -- never in my 55 years have I heard a presidential candidate even hint at what foreigners may wish for our presidency; and with such kabbalistic secrecy. I can just imagine what foreign leaders wish Kerry to be President.
| By Abner Dyman (204.97.228.116) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 8:20 am: Edit Post |
By alienating so many peoples throughout the world with his unilaterial wars and his contempt for the United Nations, GWB has created more need for goodwill ambassadors for America.
| By John A. Geistweidt (alden) (ppp-c-23.hctc.net - 63.175.3.23) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 8:52 am: Edit Post |
With President Bush, at lease I know where he stands. The individual from the other party will just say about anything if it gets him elected. Trust and honesty is will re-elect Bush.
| By Connie Jaquith (walloffire.bellarmine.edu - 198.190.212.45) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 9:12 am: Edit Post |
I supported Bush in the last election and will vote for him again in this election. He has a long-standing history of support for "service" initiatives of all kinds in the voluntary sector - Peace Corps is just one of them. He has created opportunities for all to volunteer both in and outside the country, created the service corps web-site where all American (including returned Peace Corps volunteers) can continue our legacy of service to others.
I also share his belief that it is our message of freedom that we carry to the world, in all that we do. Our republic, the structures of our republic, our action in the world are on behalf of others and offering others the opportunities and responsibilities of freedom. He supports increasing the numbers of volunteers, providing the budget and increased safety for more volunteers, then asks us to do the rest - simply give our time and talent and join Peace Corps. He does not try to "entice" volunteerism by offering perks that will only cost taxpayers more in the long run. He simply calls us to serve. He stands for individual responsibility, giving us the widest possible freedom to choose how we serve and how we use our resources to serve. He has done what he said he would do; it is up to us to lobby Congress for the additional budget for Peace Corps, which I also intend to do.
| By M.Powell (64.139.110.164) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 12:49 pm: Edit Post |
Kerry reminds me of Al Gore, full of rhetoric (environment, etc.) but unable to muster the courage...finger always in the air...to strike out boldly. Even Al conceded his failure in this regard. While I don't always agree with Bush, I do trust he means what he says and has the political courage to act. He is more like Truman in this regard.
Kerry should be silent on world leaders who support him. The President of N. Korea has given him a hearty thumbs up.
Another concern is the age of the volunteer under Kerry's plan. Hopefully they would serve after college..like the ROTC plan. We need mature college grads and folks who have some jobs skills
serving as PC ambassadors.
| By kevinmdoyle (81.199.8.83) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 1:20 pm: Edit Post |
In just three short years, George W. Bush has done more to "undo" the collective work of Peace Corps volunteers of the past 40 years than anyone could ever imagine. As an American (an RPCV) living overseas, I feel the danger everyday of simply being an American. His so-called war on terrorism. His invasion of Iraq under false pretenses. His coporate-friendly foreign policy. His global gag-rule on family planning services. His denial of U.S. responsibility for climate change. His turning his back on democracy in Haiti... it goes on and on and on and on.... Vote for John Kerry, and change the target on the backs of all Americans into an olive branch.
| By Sally Dayton (cache-dg05.proxy.aol.com - 205.188.208.137) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 3:58 pm: Edit Post |
I trust George Bush more than John Kerry to do what's right for the Peace Corps. Kerry wants to have the government (us!) pay for college educations for all Peace Corps volunteers; I think Peace Corps volunteers should get their college degrees FIRST, by the sweat of their own brows if necessary, and then give of their time and talent in third world countries. Peace Corps service should be a gift from those who volunteer--to our nation and to the people they serve--and not something for which they expect payment in any monetary form. A Peace Corps volunteer gets his payment in the form of enduring relationships with foreign nationals,the memory of a hard job well done, and in the knowledge that he has presented some little piece of Americana to people who otherwise would not know what good and generous people Americans are. I served in the first group that went to Thailand in 1962 and my vote goes to George Bush who best embodies the spirit of volunteerism.
| By Wayne Newhart (h69-21-209-117.69-21.unk.tds.net - 69.21.209.117) on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:31 am: Edit Post |
President Bush , of course.
There are things about Bush I dont like - his style, his mannerism and some of his faith-based ideas, but he is getting some tough jobes done that the UN and others should have done years ago. (I don't know what PC has planed, but they need to be ready to go to Iraq and Afghanistan soon, even if they need to wear flack jackets.)
Both President Bush and Senator Kerry are Peace Corps supporters and they value the work of the PC volunteers. The exact size of the PC budget or the number of volunteers in the field isn't the reason why people will vote for Bush or Kerry.
People will vote based on their perception of their economic situation and how secure they feel. Having some recall of the 1930s Great Depression, the economey "ain't" bad. It's the security, "stupid".
| By Dillwyn J. Otis (host-64-179-13-130.syr.choiceone.net - 64.179.13.130) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 11:54 am: Edit Post |
I feel Bush and his cronies have under cut the ideals of the Peace Corps. No mater how much money he alocates to the Peace Corps our image as a cicilized peace loving nation has been lost.
| By Robert Krug (dialup-171.75.197.73.dial1.saintlouis1.level3.net - 171.75.197.73) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 9:50 pm: Edit Post |
As a RPCV and Army Veteran, I believe George Bush has been an outstanding Commander-in-Chief and has strengthened national security. John Kerry casted the first stones with accusations about George's National Guard Service. This from someone who used his political connections to leave Vietnam 8 months early, exited the Army early and then traveled to the White House to throw his medals over fence. (Kerry left Vietnam about the same time most Peace Corps Volunteers finish their training and are sworn in as PCV.) As a Veteran I find this appalling. George Bush has made scant few friends during his time office. Life is probably harder for Peace Corps Volunteers as a result of President Bush and his policies. I was in the Peace Corps when the captives were being held in Iran. The 20 + years of appeasing Islamic fundamentalists fostered an environment that permitted the attacks of 9-11. The US is safer today because of George Bush. He gets my vote even if I find some of his policies repulsive.
| By woster (cpe-024-165-162-055.midsouth.rr.com - 24.165.162.55) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 1:39 am: Edit Post |
In response to the above post....a timeline of Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam:
November 17, 1968:
Kerry arrives in Vietnam, where he is given command of Swift boat No. 44, operating in the Mekong Delta.
December 2, 1968:
Kerry gets his first taste of intense combat, and is wounded in the arm. He is awarded a Purple Heart.
January, 1969:
Kerry takes command of a new Swift boat, completing 18 missions over 48 days, almost all in the Mekong Delta area.
February 20, 1969:
Kerry is wounded again, taking shrapnel in the left thigh, after a gunboat battle. He is awarded a second Purple Heart.
February 28, 1969:
Kerry and his boat crew, coming under attack while patroling in the Mekong Delta, decide to counterattack. In the middle of the ensuing firefight, Kerry leaves his boat, pursues a Viet Cong fighter into a small hut, kills him, and retreives a rocket launcher. He is awarded a Silver Star.
March 13, 1969:
A mine detonates near Kerry's boat, wounding him in the right arm. He is awarded a third Purple Heart. He is also awarded a Bronze Star for pulling a crew member, who had fallen overboard, back on the boat amidst a firefight.
April, 1969:
According to Navy rules, sailors that have been wounded three times in combat are eligible to be transfered to the U.S. for noncombat duty. Kerry is transferred to desk duty in Brooklyn, NY.
~4 months tour of duty
3 Purple Hearts
1 Bronze Star
1 Silver Star
Yeah, 4 months is short, but considering the circumstances.... By the way, since we're on the topic of counting, how many months was GW in Nam? Kerry has a clear understanding of the horrors of war, based on personal experience; which is more than I can say for our Commander in Chief, who dons a flightsuit for a photo-op and declares "Mission Accomplished."
| By MarkMurphy (65.174.45.132) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 9:22 am: Edit Post |
God bless you W! An honest president with guts.
No, not all RPCVs are flaming liberals. Some support our military and our president. Go W!
Mark Murphy
'87-90
Western Samoa
http://Doublehorn.com
| By skeeterdee (66.231.2.144) on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 10:49 pm: Edit Post |
I think that Bush has a right to try to finish everything he has started. He should have the option to prove that there was actually a reason for his decisions on Iraq. I would hate to see his projects abandoned in mid stride because someone else didn't want to persue his issues.
| By Colleen Clark, Turkey IV (user-105n8sn.dialup.mindspring.com - 64.91.163.151) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 12:58 pm: Edit Post |
If President Bush is a supporter of the Peace Corps that's good.
But as a young person he himself didn't complete the public (National Guard) service he signed up for.
His current international policies are imperialistic and in the opinion of millions, at home and abroad, threaten world order and undermine democracy. President Bush does not stand for the values I had in 1964 when I joined the Peace Corps and the values I still hold. He will not get my vote and I will put my energy toward urging others not to vote for him either.
| By Lance Lyman (cpe-66-1-222-204.fl.sprintbbd.net - 66.1.222.204) on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 4:30 pm: Edit Post |
In catching up with emails after returning from an assignment in central Africa, I am responding to the Kerry/Bush straw voting. I have always voted for the person + platform, avoiding the bitterness of partisan politics. My vote will probably go to Bush on the basis that his administration needs to finish whatever it is that they started. This view is influenced by my experiences of finishing what you start. I was one of the longer serving PCV's. Continuous from 1964 to 1971 in Malaysia as a telecommunications engineer. After doing this and that I started my own company doing telecoms work only in the most difficult and dangerous places in the world. Experience has taught me some hard bitter lessons of international business life in unsavory places. Including standing firmly by principles and finishing the job. So far, I see these traits in Bush and not in Kerry.
| By Ralph Andrews (ca-westside-cuda1-c2b-a-134.vnnyca.adelphia.net - 67.21.4.134) on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 9:34 pm: Edit Post |
We have never changed presidents during a war, and we are now in the midst of WW III. This is not the time to change leaders, particularly one as "wishy-washy" as Kerry. As I heard somone say recently, Kerry has been on both sides of every issue facing the senate. besides, senators make lousy presidents.....with one exception...JFK.
RE-ELECT GWB !
| By ReaganDem (adsl-82-173-153.mem.bellsouth.net - 65.82.173.153) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 2:04 pm: Edit Post |
Bushes make lousy presidents too. And once again, it's the economy Stoopid!
| By Rabes (adsl-68-73-107-101.dsl.mdsnwi.ameritech.net - 68.73.107.101) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 12:48 am: Edit Post |
To those who say GWB should be re-elected to finish what he started-- you are out of your minds and clearly not in accordance with the political system of this country. We have term limits in order to keep those in power in check by allowing the people a chance to pass judgment on their accomplishments or lack thereof. Saying GWB should stay in power because he's gotten us into a mess is a cop-out. GWB's policies have managed to unite the Sunni and Shiite factions in Iraq... who thought it possible. Now they get to kill Americans together. His actions have made targets of us all, and the damage will take years to undo. Let's get the ball rolling on the process in November and get him out.
| By Nino de Prophetis (pcp03985678pcs.walngs01.pa.comcast.net - 68.80.173.77) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 1:06 am: Edit Post |
The issues of primary importance this election are foreign policy, the economy, the mission of the constitution and declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, employment, fiscal integrity, trustworthiness, and National Security. In other words, it is a matter of National emergency that we get that maniac out of office with such a majority vote that no one else from his ilk can ever entertain the notion of running the country again.
| By Tim Enright (156.80.190.207) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 8:55 am: Edit Post |
The President has done a great job during his first term, and I sincerely hope he is elected for a second. When I returned in the Summer of 2001, I moved to DC to look for work, and shortly thereafter the attacks took place on Sept. 11. Honestly, the President made the nation feel safe, even when it didn't have much reason to do so.
President Bush has made the right decisions for our country, and will continue to make them for the next four years. He is committed to service, both to our country and to the world, and believes in leaving the world a better place than he found it. If I'm not mistaken, that's exactly what most PCVs strive to do at their sites.
| By Jcushing32 (pcp08899444pcs.hcksrd01.tn.comcast.net - 68.53.74.108) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 9:22 am: Edit Post |
Let me count the reasons: iraq, environment, deceit, inflating the deficit, non-funding of education, ........
No more Bush!
| By Larry Nahlik (ididnt.doit.wisc.edu - 128.104.19.173) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 9:32 am: Edit Post |
Point of history, Ralph Andrews: Ever heard of Harry Truman (WWII)? Dwight Eisenhower (Korea)? Richard Nixon (Vietnam)? Don't make up history. We have changed presidents during wars. Where'd you get the idea we haven't? Did Rush say that?
| By Larry Nahlik (ididnt.doit.wisc.edu - 128.104.19.173) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 10:23 am: Edit Post |
Another point of history for Ralph Andrews: JFK was the only former senator to become president in the last 50 years. Truman (slightly longer than 50) wasn't too bad, either. So who are you referring to in your convenient right-wing truism?
| By Robert J. Shepherd (66.255.9.143) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 10:32 am: Edit Post |
Read John Dean's new book on the secrecy and paranoia of this administration. Read Paul O'Neil's book. Read Richard Clarke's book. Then decide if these three guys are simply out for money and have been closet dem-symps for years[the standard Bush attack dog response to criticism]or whether a pattern is emerging of an administration teetering on the edge of moral bankruptcy. Think about the sad fact that shame apparently has no place in American politics, since no one is willing to resign for their mistakes and/or false claims [are you listening, Mr. Defense Secretary? Mr. Secretary of State?]. Then do the decent thing and send these people back to their caves.
| By Re-electBush2004 (67.34.173.154) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 1:12 pm: Edit Post |
Let's not re-defeat Dubya in 2004! Let him finish what he started...we need him to continue to not find WMDs...
continue lying to the American people...
continue wasting the youth of our country...
continue ballooning the deficit...
continue feeding the rich instead of the hungry...
continue spinning "intelligence" to fit his right-wing agenda...
continue taking advice from an increasingly incompetent collection of cronies...
continue making the USA increasingly irrelevant in the 21st century to the rest of the planet...
continue rolling back the clock on civil, womyn's, gay, environmental, (you name it here), rights etc....
and continue polluting the fresh air of true patriotism with paranoia and fear.
...W all the way, let's let him finish raping the ideals of our country...like we shoulda let Nixon do--poor prez never got to finish his job either...damn democracy!
| By I. M. American (ip68-4-159-198.oc.oc.cox.net - 68.4.159.198) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 3:51 pm: Edit Post |
Bush for President, Oh really, be serious. He will go down as the worst person to occupy the White House in the history of America. He wasn't elected in the first place. He is, in my opinion, a black mark on this country. Poor soul, he doesn't have a clue.
| By RPCV for Peace (69.9.216.64) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 10:49 pm: Edit Post |
Hey, in response to "re-electbush2004":
I can think of other leaders that didn't get a chance to finish what they started throughout history. Hitler. Stalin. Damn, you're right. We really need to let this guy finish his job...
Wow. Can u believe that would be the reason to re-elect this self-declared king? Some things shouldn't be finished.
| By mcdono1208 (sdn-ap-020watacop0063.dialsprint.net - 63.190.40.63) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 12:44 am: Edit Post |
A strong moral President who puts America first and not his own self centered interests. The secular liberal people of this country do not understand what America is about.
| By Kerry2004 (67.32.85.249) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 11:53 am: Edit Post |
Dubya in no way deserves to be called a "war president," which by the way he says with so much pride and a silly sh-t eating grin that it makes any comparison to him with those chimps scary. War is no frat party--ask Kerry. While Kerry was in 'Nam getting shrapnel and dodging bullets, Dubya, our fortunate son, was AWOL in Bama getting sauced. Same for Rummy, Cheney, and Wolfowitz--who talk the talk but have never walked in formation.
Seriously, Dubya does not deserve to be Commander-in-chief, responsible for the lives of our nation's youth. The closest he has come to war was almost a year ago when he played Ice-man (or Maverick or Goose or whatever TopGun character he imagines himself to be) for a day to declare "Mission Accomplished."
Kerry knows what war is about, he spilled his own blood for the country, saw the mistake Vietnam had become, and began to speak out against it. Flip-floppy? Or enlightenment? Only a Kerry presidency can mitigate the economic-diplomatic-military quagmire we find ourselves sinking into. Thank you Dubya!!!!
| By Kevin Gaudette (61.173.45.214) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 3:11 pm: Edit Post |
"In Washington, noses continue to grow, minds continue to be devoid of intelligence and hearts have yet to be found. Such is the calamity that is the group of liars who comprise the Bush administration, nothing more than an amalgam of unscrupulous beings molded out of the same bed of clay. This clay has yielded us men and women of similar proclivity towards malfeasance who are leading us into bottomless sewers of ignoble and hazardous waste. . . . This group has unleashed a Reign of Error and Terror on America and the world. The Pinocchios have made us less safe, not more. They have exacerbated terror, not alleviated it. They will leave Washington with the world having become a worse place than when they first took office. Many should be tried at The Hague for the atrocities and misery they have helped create. Crony capitalism and debauched democracy runs through their veins. Warmongering and profiteering, subjugating and exploiting, murdering and destroying are ingrained principles they espouse. . . . Yet their days are numbered, for karma is knocking on their White House door. The veil that has shackled us for three years is beginning to lift. Truths are beginning to emerge. Fictions and their creators suddenly find themselves nervously uneasy for the winds of change are breezing through their bodies. Universal principles of fairness, truth, justice and morality have fused together, joining hands with billions of human energies to make right what has been made wrong. The positive energy of right is meticulously yet slowly swallowing up the negative energy of wrong. The momentum is in the air and it can be felt with the rebirth of life in these warm days of Spring."
| By RPCVinLosAngeles (ca-stmnca-cuda1-blade8a-141.stmnca.adelphia.net - 68.65.206.141) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 7:54 pm: Edit Post |
The amount of bias and misinformation in the media is astounding. Even smart, educated, experienced people such as RPCVs are misinformed and know little about the issues, and much less about the facts. This board proves that.
The Economy
The economy has suffered huge shocks in the last 4 years, for many many reasons that no President could have avoided. This President, who I do not necessarily support, inherited a recession from the last one. And yet, the unemployment rate sits at 5.6% last month, EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN CLINTON WAS RE-ELECTED. In fact, for most of the time Clinton was President in his first term, the unemployment rate rarely dipped below that last months number. And, Clinton inherited an economy that came OUT of a recession well before he took office. 4 years of peace and properity and rising taxes. Still, 5.6% unemployment. Those are the FACTS.
I dont remember anyone harping on Clinton for the economy then, as they are now with Bush. Instead, they lauded Clinton. Furthermore, the number of jobs lost that Kerry loves to soudbite, 2 million, is meaningless without the unemployment rate. Why? Because 100K+ people are added to our workforce EVERY MONTH. It is about the unemployment rate, which is exactly the same today as it was during Clinton's re-election campaign. FACT. TRUTH.
And this point being pushed by Kerry supporters that the unemployment rate doesnt count those who have given up looking for jobs, is another lie. NewsFlash: the dept of Commerce has kept records on that number for decades. And it is no different today than it was during Clinton's entire run in office. Look it up. Get the facts! This is just the beginning of an argument on the economy. I despise politics and lies more than anything, and as much as I dislike Bush, Kerry is the biggest liar and sleaze peddler that I can remember. How the heck can anyone trust that guy? At least I know where Bush stands.
IRAQ
If anyone can remember, the public was anti-war before in our history, when our Presidents sent 10s of thousands of soldiers to die, and millions more got wounded, to save and occupy an entire region. For a battle that was not in our backyard. And yet we went. Sound familiar? Stupid right. Wrong, it was WW1 and again WW2. This time, as bad as it is for one person to die, let alone 3000+ on 9/11, 600 soldiers have died. If someone asked any leader of a free country today that there could be real change, positive democratic change, in the Middle East, and a real reduction of the nuclear threat, but it would cost you public opinion and 1000 soldiers, there is not one true leader that would not take that deal. Not one.
The Middle East, because of racism towards Arabs/Muslims, or because of fear, or because of shortsightedness, has been left by the West to fester in hatred and human indignity for far too long. We were willing to send 100,000s of young men and women to die for White Europe, but not even less than 1000 for muslim Middle East. We were willing to spend $16B to rebuild a devastated White Europe in 1946 dollars, and yet we have a problem rebuilding muslim Middle East for far less. We were willing to OCCUPY White Europe (not to mention Japan) for a decade and keep our troops in White Europe (and Japan and Korea) for now 60 YEARS (and counting!!!) and yet we have a problem keeping them in muslim Middle East to rebuild an ambitious, renewed democratic region. FACTS. TRUTH.
The TRUTH is there, if you choose to open your minds to it. Lybia - capitulated in full, Pakistan - capitulated (finally admitted to spreading nukes to rogue nations led by irrational, hateful dictators), Iran - capitulated (finally admitted nuke program and let inspections in), Syria - partially capitulated (kicked terror orgs out and freed up press). N. Korea - admitted to nukes finally and is now more isolated in its position. All this would have been unthinkable without the toppling of a dictator in IRAQ. TRUTH.
Another TRUTH. A new Muslim democratic Constitution. Unthinkable, undoable before IRAQ. Not done yet, but the interim constitution holds tremendous promise - a fusion of islamic law and the inaliable individual human rights assured by democratic ideals. Truth.
World Opinion
Seriously, is this really what people care about? Should we care about what celebrities think too? Should we develop policy based on what others think, people who have dont have our responsibilities nor interests? Had we and the world not listened to France's appeals for appeasement (sound familiar, it should) and confronted a violent Germany on TWO OCASSIONS, the world would have AVOIDED the atrocities of two world wars, and the countless equally appalling events that followed in their wake, and to this day we still deal with. France and Germany are the LAST countries on Earth that have any moral standing when it comes to global security. We would all be speaking German or Russian had we continued to act according to their positions. Thankfully, we did not. And it took countless lives to respond to their actions and inactions. IRAQ, is a much smaller price to pay, albeit still too expensive, for a safer world. Such leadership and wisdom, the kind we displayed to the world against the popular wisdom of the day during two world wars, and other events, is what we are doing now. The politics destroying our morale reminds me of lawyers chasing ambulances, its repulsive.
This war was started on our soil first. People forget that terrorism reigned in Europe in the 70s. People were scared. The French wanted to pay the terrorists off. Thankfully, we didnt listen to them then. We dealt with it directly, the terrorists are gone. We will deal with it again. And we should. This is not a time to allow violent criminals acting on fear and hatred and their own agendas to rule our lives, when rogue irrational hateful dictators have nukes!!
By the way, I would still take that frantic call from France the next time they let a country run them over.
War is bad, it is never good. It is not an option. Not one we should ever choose. But the world is not made up of peace-loving, harmony-loving Buddhists (and neither is the Buddhist religion). Their are killers out their with passion and intolerance, and weapons, and they will not negotiate. We can only prevent another 9/11 or God forbid something worse with action. The court system and intelligence didnt stop 9/11 as Clinton thought they would after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Intelligence and courts never fully have nor ever will. Its a sad comment but a real one. TRUTH. We have to protect our families.
Kerry
Kerry, where the heck does he stand??? Im not sure he even knows. But I AM sure that he will read the polls day in day out to find out.
| By Robert J. Shepherd (128.164.237.46) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 6:12 pm: Edit Post |
The Truth???? If there should be but one thing you learned in the PC, oh "RPCVin Los Angeles", it is that one's ideals do not and cannot stand in for reality. Now, for your fast facts: much of what you say would make more sense if we were not faced day in and day out with other truths: that people do not like to be invaded and occupied, that calling an occupation 'liberation' and all resistence 'terrorism' might make us feel better, but it doesn't change what people over there think; that the deaths of all people should count in this conflict, not simply American deaths, and that waging urban warfare and bombing mosques might technically be within the Geneva Convention, but politically it is profoundly dumb. Think about what you think: you magically make an invasion a liberation in the name of a (past) anti-Muslim racism. I would love for you to go over there and tell a guy in the street this -- "Oh, you see, we are here to save you from anti-Muslims." Sound familiar? Empire is seductive; alas, those whom it most seduces do not do either the fighting or the dying. And, in the last analysis, even if you firmly believe this crap, do you actually believe George Bush is the man to run this war? Oh, and your "Muslim democratic constitution"? We made up one of those for South Vietnam, too? About the same time we were saving them from themselves?
I sign my real name.
| By Robert J. Shepherd (128.164.237.46) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 6:15 pm: Edit Post |
The Truth???? If there should be but one thing you learned in the PC, oh "RPCVin Los Angeles", it is that one's ideals do not and cannot stand in for reality. Now, for your fast facts: much of what you say would make more sense if we were not faced day in and day out with other truths: that people do not like to be invaded and occupied, that calling an occupation 'liberation' and all resistence 'terrorism' might make us feel better, but it doesn't change what people over there think; that the deaths of all people should count in this conflict, not simply American deaths, and that waging urban warfare and bombing mosques might technically be within the Geneva Convention, but politically it is profoundly dumb. Think about what you think: you magically make an invasion a liberation in the name of a (past) anti-Muslim racism. I would love for you to go over there and tell a guy in the street this -- "Oh, you see, we are here to save you from anti-Muslims." Sound familiar? Empire is seductive; alas, those whom it most seduces do not do either the fighting or the dying. And, in the last analysis, even if you firmly believe this crap, do you actually believe George Bush is the man to run this war? Oh, and your "Muslim democratic constitution"? We made up one of those for South Vietnam, too? About the same time we were saving them from themselves?
I sign my real name.
| By gvibe (209-6-102-21.c3-0.smr-ubr1.sbo-smr.ma.cable.rcn.com - 209.6.102.21) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 11:23 pm: Edit Post |
What year is this, 1984? GWB and Co. took a page out of the Orwellian world as the administration's official language of Doublespeak becomes more prevalent. We need to cut down our forests to have healthy forests. Fiscal conservativism through increased spending. Wage war to make peace. And here we are at the Peace Corps, two-faced and doubletongued, publicly supporting the Peace Corps while working to undermine it. Why did he create Volunteers for Prosperity? It looks the same as Peace Corps, there's just photos of GWB of the USA Freedom Corps website.
How long must we watch this happen? Where's the HIV/AIDs funding promised? "No child left behind," why are all my teacher friends looking for a new line of work? How can he fight two wars in four years, articulate (barely) his support for veterans, and then cut their services?!
Every time the W teqam opens their mouth I expect them to do the opposite, and well, they do. Try it, it's frightenly laughable.
ANYBODY BUT BUSH IN 2004!!!
| By gvibe (209-6-102-21.c3-0.smr-ubr1.sbo-smr.ma.cable.rcn.com - 209.6.102.21) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 11:26 pm: Edit Post |
What year is this, 1984? GWB and Co. took a page out of the Orwellian world as the administration's official language of Doublespeak becomes more prevalent. We need to cut down our forests to have healthy forests. Fiscal conservativism through increased spending. Wage war to make peace. And here he is at the Peace Corps, two-faced and doubletongued, publicly supportive while working to undermine it. Where's all the funding promised? Why did he create Volunteers for Prosperity? It looks the same as Peace Corps, there's just photos of GWB instead of Kennedy on the USA Freedom Corps website.
How long must we watch him dismantle everything we hold dear? Where's the HIV/AIDs funding promised? "No child left behind," why are all my teacher friends looking for a new line of work? Expand Medicare by bankrupting it? How can he fight two wars in four years, articulate (barely) his support for veterans, and then cut their services?!
Every time the W teqam opens their mouth I expect them to do the opposite, and well, they do. Try it, it's frightenly laughable.
ANYBODY BUT BUSH IN 2004!!!
| By gvibe (209-6-102-21.c3-0.smr-ubr1.sbo-smr.ma.cable.rcn.com - 209.6.102.21) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 11:30 pm: Edit Post |
What year is this, 1984? GWB and Co. took a page out of the Orwellian world as the administration's official language of Doublespeak becomes more prevalent. We need to cut down our forests to have healthy forests. Fiscal conservativism through increased spending. Wage war to make peace. And here he is at the Peace Corps, two-faced and doubletongued, publicly supportive while working to undermine it. Where's all the funding promised? Why did he create Volunteers for Prosperity? It looks the same as Peace Corps, there's just photos of GWB instead of Kennedy on the USA Freedom Corps website.
How long must we watch him dismantle everything we hold dear? Where's the HIV/AIDs funding promised? "No child left behind," why are all my teacher friends looking for a new line of work? Expand Medicare by bankrupting it? How can he fight two wars in four years, articulate (barely) his support for veterans, and then cut their services?!
Every time the W teqam opens their mouth I expect them to do the opposite, and well, they do. Try it, it's frightenly laughable.
ANYBODY BUT BUSH IN 2004!!!
| By RCPVinLosAngeles (ca-stmnca-cuda1-blade8a-141.stmnca.adelphia.net - 68.65.206.141) on Monday, April 12, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit Post |
Robert Shephard
You are factually incorrect in many fundamental ways, I cant even begin to explain. You argue with emotion, not fact. Everything is bad, every action is Vietnam, everything is murder, war is always wrong, there is never any such thing as liberation, muslims hate us, the world is against us, the media shows us the truth, Bush is a murderer, Saddam was the benevolent leader of a harmonious muslim country, the world is coming to an end.
Its surprising we dont see rational, realistic people here, considering we are all RPCVs. Its sad and unfortunate.
Robert, where on earth do you get this idea that everyone over there thinks we are invaders???? Try actually learning about the country rather than just blindly believing Al Jazeer, or biased US media. I know that is not likely, but you couldnt be more wrong about what people over there think. There are over 150 free newspapers in IRAQ that will tell you what the REAL thinking is there. At least read one of them and educate yourself before you make an ill-informed comment like that.
If someone from IRAQ saw our local news they would think that our country is in a civil war (killings, car chases, celebrities and politicians in sensational trials). But, is that really the case?? (I sense you will argue that we are). Take a camera to IRAQ and you will get an impromptu "crowd" of "civilians" that look like all of IRAQ hates the US. Not true. This last set of attacks was carried out by a band of murderers, isolated but lethal, and yet the way it was reported made it seem like there was civil war and war against the US. Not true. A subpeana was issued by an IRAQI judge for the arrest of the cleric who murdered a rival cleric last summer. Surprise, he didnt want to be arrested so he starts this uprising. TRUTH. (I can see you responding that the IRAQI judge is a US puppet and all that).
Maybe you can actually go the CPA site, and see that it is IRAQIS that are building a new nation, a free nation, from the ground up, as well as their constitution, NOT the US. If you would only take a moment to see the mountainous amout of work that IRAQIS have done with our help to build their country you might actually start to sound intelligent on the matter. Or maybe you think a country can be built in a few months. (Forget that Europe took more than a decade to do that and we are STILL THERE militarily). Is Europe Vietnam?! IRAQIS are grateful for our help, including the clerics. But you cant know that seeing ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN or Al Jazeera, as it appears you do.
I can see your response now - I am out of my mind, I dont know what Im talking about, Im part of the evil right wing conspiracy. Try FACTS, Try the TRUTH. When you know them, then maybe we can actually have a substantive conversation.
I dont care for Bush or Kerry. Both parties are not meeting the needs of our country. They are pathetic in so many ways, it would take days to even qualify my remarks. But that is what you get when you have an archaic political system like we have, unchanged essentially for 140+ years.
But I sense you will continue to make opinions based on emotions, believe the media and see nothing beyond your own inadequate understanding of the issues and the facts.
Finally, on your noble and courageous name signing. I went to the Kennedy School at Harvard. Should someone be cautious with their views there?? KSG is a bastion of liberal thought, this is no secret (Im using labels here to illustrate a point). And that is ok, as long as they are objective and open, which most are. But, the few conservative students who attended kept quiet in many, though not all, of the classrooms because of the very attitude you and others here demonstrate to those who dont agree with you. You hate. You brand. You marginalize. And you are irrational, capricious and opportunistic. I despise all that and everything that comes from that. I would think that you would say you do as well, and yet, you dont see it in your own writing.
I wont sign my real name because of the McCarthyism on this board, as well as in society. The media perpetuates that and because it is not a right-wing McCarthyism this relentless political correctness is somehow just mainstream thinking. Someday, I will work on nothing but getting rid of this archane political system, this destructive side of the media, and the hate that eminates from both. Then maybe we can all go back to using our real names.
PS. you still do not know what my political leanings are, though Im sure you think you know. Wouldnt it be nice if we could just argue the facts and solve problems without sitting on sides with labels?
| By mike osborn (majoroz) (cache-ra07.proxy.aol.com - 152.163.252.7) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 2:20 am: Edit Post |
Don't sweat it, LA; some folks are so imbued with Truth that they can't see facts.
They are incapable of logical thought and think that emotional judgements will substitute for it and are actually better.
This is the extreme "...let's just hug each other and the world will be a better place..." attitude.
The world is a nasty and vicious place, due, not to nasty and vicious people, but to idealistic people who appease under the guize of "understanding".
Don't worry. It seems that logic will prevail.
cheers
oz, RPCV, Micro 61; USAF, retired.
| By RPCV (249.46.171.66.subscriber.vzavenue.net - 66.171.46.249) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 7:02 am: Edit Post |
While I largely agree with the previous two postings, I am very concerned that our two choices for president are GWB and JFK.
GWB fumbled the press conference last night, responding poorly to the pressure of aggressive questioning and inadequately explaining to the American people the plan for US forces and turnover of sovereignty in Iraq. I fear this is indicative of his grasp of the issues and his ability to command without an advisor whispering into his ear.
JFK has yet to demonstrate an ability to prioritize facts and to be decisive in complementing his predisposition to consider and re-consider all nuances of the issues at hand. I envision a president struggling to make decisions while constantly reconsidering various perspectives and agonizing over the second guessing that a president - any leader - inevitabley encounters.
| By donbeck (host-217-159-14-177.satlynx.net - 217.159.14.177) on Tuesday, May 04, 2004 - 6:32 am: Edit Post |
Bush has made himself abundantly clear.
1- His working policy is "preemptive war" in the name of peace... his own words.
2- Peace Corps is the way he sees to "spread American ideals" worldwide... again his own words in early speeches as president.
3- His words are NOW more carefully chosen, by others who aim and target his messages, BUT his own understanding remains as it ever was, a double think that...
---"premptive war" is peace
---spreading US values is apreciation of other cultures
I dont support the beliefs he acts.
| By enal eneg (enduser5.faa.gov - 204.108.8.5) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 8:52 am: Edit Post |
This is an excellent reason to vote for President Bush, and not for Kerry. But of course, the media and most RPCV's don't want to hear this kind of news, because it does not support their agendas. Read the below very closely before you vote- - - -and please don't embarass yourself by writing something crude or inappropriate about the soldier who wrote it. He and every other of our brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, and colleagues that are fighting for freedom and peace deserve better than to have comments made to or about them like some that have been made in this forum. Let's show them the respect they need and deserve for once. Now read - - -
Subject: A letter from a medic in Iowa, serving in Iraq
As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home.
And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently:
* Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
* School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
* Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur.
* The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster.
* The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
* Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
* The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
* 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war.
* Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place.
* Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
* Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
* Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
* Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
* Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
* Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
* An interim constitution has been signed.
* Girls are allowed to attend school.
* Textbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.
Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed,
email this to a friend and let them know there are good things happening.
Ray Reynolds, SFC
Iowa Army National Guard
234th Signal Battalion