PeakTrader.com

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PeakTrader said...

It's time to move NATO headquarters from Brussels to Riyadh.

We need to send more oil to the West and more terrorists to Allah.

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PeakTrader said...

Some people prefer a world where Saddam Hussein and his two sons sit on trillions of dollars of oil and wait to seek revenge on the U.S., while the Taliban train more terrorists. However, these people don't:

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Letter to President Bush, Signed by: -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" -- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." -- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." --Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

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Anonymous said...

PeakTrader,

Lots of people were duped into Iraq, but the point is not to continue supporting a terrible mistake that was started because of assertions long ago proven false.

Iraq had no WMDs according toIraq Survey Group head Charles Duelfer...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3718150.stm

"Would the Iraq War have occurred without WMD? I doubt it." - Karl Rove

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7374390/George-W-Bush-would-not-have-invaded-Iraq-had-he-known-about-WMD.html

“On the question of whether or not Iraq was involved in 9-11, there was never any evidence to prove that.” - Dick Cheney

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/06/02/cheney-no-evidence-iraq/

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PeakTrader said...

Anon says: "I wouldn't be surprised if you were one of these dupes who got suckered into supporting the invasion of Iraq."

There were also many "dupes" who got suckered into not supporting the invasion of Iraq. The alternative of not invading Iraq could've been worse.

Also, you state "cheap food is unhealthy."

There are lots of healthy foods that are cheap. It's a matter of healthy diets.

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The Health Nut said...

PeakTrader,

"There were also many "dupes" who got suckered into not supporting the invasion of Iraq. The alternative of not invading Iraq could've been worse."

Again, the premise of invading Iraq was due to Saddam piling huge caches of WMDs - a premise long proven false. I was against the war before the start, and predicted the easy victory followed by the peace from hell that would nag our entire stay. If we remember correctly, 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, along with with plenty of funding for Al Qaeda - should we invade them, too?

Anyway, we've spent piles of money, have a fragile situation which may fall apart after withdraw, a lot innocent people have died as a result and we lost a lot of credibility in the eyes of the world. 9/11 was a terrible tragedy that affected us all, absolutely; but we should use more cerebral judgment when deciding a course of action, rather than baser desires of revenge get the better of ourselves.

"There are lots of healthy foods that are cheap. It's a matter of healthy diets."

I wish it was more of the case. I mean one can buy a bag of oranges for under $3.00, but it takes more than that. In contrast, a Hungry Man frozen dinner can be purchased for around $3.00; they're laden with preservatives, sodium and calories.

That's not to say all lower income individuals eat poorly: some are extremely intelligent of foods to purchases, where as an old housemate of mine, a computer programmer who earns $80,000 per year, lives off microwavable burritos and fast food - plus has the body to show it.

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PeakTrader said...

HealthNut, almost everyone believed Saddam had WMDs, even the Europeans. Afterall, he actually used them (at least) 10 times in the past. In the Gulf War, in 1991, Saddam sent his fighter jets to Iran for safety. Perhaps, he also sent his WMDs.

9/11 was so diabolical, that the terrorists wanted to start a war between the U.S. (the largest oil consumer) and Saudi Arabia (the largest oil producer) by using Saudi hijackers.

More innocent people would've died if Saddam stayed in power (based on past killings). The U.S. has much more credibility now by following through with its tasks. The world is not as simple as many believe.

Americans could eat three highly nutritious, well-balanced meals on less than $10 a day, and they could even do that without cooking at home. Yes, some people are "extremely intelligent" about some things and extremely ignorant about other things, including diet.

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The Health Nut said...

Peak Trader,

"HealthNut, almost everyone believed Saddam had WMDs, even the Europeans."

While lots of Americans believed Saddam had WMDs, many Americans, myself included, questioned the claims validity months before the war's start. As time went on, many of my conservative friends who were adamant supporters - ones whom I engaged in strenuous debates about - questioned the rationale for war and became disillusioned by the lack of WMD material; some have come to believe the war's a mistake.

While Britain was an enthusiastic ally with many citizens supporting invasion, many Europeans did not and questioned validity of our claims.

"Afterall, he actually used them (at least) 10 times in the past. In the Gulf War, in 1991, Saddam sent his fighter jets to Iran for safety. Perhaps, he also sent his WMDs."

Yes, Saddam had WMDs in the past - we gave them to him. In fact (and I know this sounds like it's from the "Blame America first" crowd), after the Gulf War, the US forced Saddam to destroy his cache - something Hans Bix confirmed. Also, Iran and Iraq are bitter enemies: if Saddam did ferry his WMD stash over to Iran, it's doubtful he would have gotten his weapons back as Iran simply confiscated the Iraqi jets flown over.

"9/11 was so diabolical, that the terrorists wanted to start a war between the U.S. (the largest oil consumer) and Saudi Arabia (the largest oil producer) by using Saudi hijackers."

Some scholars have theorized one of the rationales for the attacks was to enrage America into sending a military presence to the Middle East, thus enraging Muslims into rising up and sparking a "holy war." Anyway, Iraq didn't supply a single hijacker, nor was responsible for planning, supplying material or funding of the act. In contrast, some of the planning occurred in Germany where some of the hijackers stayed for a while.

Anyway, 9/11 was an abhorrent tragedy that will not be forgotten by anyone who experienced it, Saddam was a tyrannical human being; still when lives, resources and large quantities of money are at hand, one needs to tread carefully when seeking appropriate avenues justice rather than take quick and irrational paths to satisfy desires for revenge. That way, we could have focused more on obtaining the sheep herder of this atrocity: Osama bin Laden.

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Anonymous said...

The u.s.a. has a postal system that actually works.

Could the netflix business model of DVD return/delivery via snail mail work in those countries? Nope.

Quit beating down the USA.
Love it or leave it.

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PeakTrader said...

Anonymous said..."The u.s.a. has a postal system that actually works."

It depends how you define "works." Higher prices, reduced services, and yet still operating at huge losses. What if all firms worked that way?

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PeakTrader said...

Optimistic words without the complementary actions can be like diving into a pool that has no water.