Debate tonight

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Debate tonight
303
Thu, 09-30-2004 - 10:54pm
So, what did everybody think? This debate was my first (missed last yr's) and I enjoyed it. I liked how they were both respectful to each other and professional. No sighing, making facial expressions, slouching etc. I can't wait for the vp debates. :) XOXO.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 11:25am
Yep, the French stay out of wars. Like the American Revolution. Like the Napoleonic Wars, like Vietnam, like Algeria, like World War I, like World War II, and like the first Gulf War. If I were the French President, I wouldn't join the US right now either. This administration has consistently slandered the French. Remember Freedom Fries?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 11:27am

I am guessing also that you do not realize they still have a large number of reservists and national guard that have been yet to call in command.


I think anyone who has had their eyes and ears ope know there are reservists and national guard being called and yet to call. I work with a lady whose husband is in the reserves and has been called up twice.


I do not put much stock in what the TV media says. I get my info from books and many sources. I do not know much about troop strength except that having to call reservists and national guards leaves us without guard here at home. I do know from the soldiers themselves that many have had thier tours extended and want to come home. I am sure it matters which soldiers you listen to.

Donna

"Patriotism means to stand by the Country. It does not mean to stand by the President." -- Theodore Roosevelt.

Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2004
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 1:45pm
In June we had 41 soldiers die in Iraq.

In July we lost 56, in August 67, in September 73.

How many will it be in October? Next year? The year after?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-23-2004
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 2:02pm
you wrote:

"I sincerely hope they do not institute the draft. If we were not in this unecessary war we would not have to worry about being over extended."

^^^^

Donna there was an excellent piece in Newsweek last week by Jonathan Alter, fyi. It basically debunks the rumors circulating via email (that draft is imminent) while making excellent points about our military preparedness. It reminded me why the delicate business of diplomacy & forging good foreign relations must NEVER be taken for granted or given short-shrift. At any moment, a military crisis could befall our country and we will need friends & global support in order to triumph.


"We're dodging the draft issue"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6099727/site/newsweek

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 2:11pm
I was just listening to CNN and heard that it is just a rumor too, at least at this point. Thanks for the link. And yes, our relations with other nations are always important.
Donna

"Patriotism means to stand by the Country. It does not mean to stand by the President." -- Theodore Roosevelt.

Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 3:00pm
It basically debunks the rumors circulating via email (that draft is imminent) while making excellent points about our military preparedness>>

These are links to the actual bills that were passed in 2003.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:s.89:

S. 89

To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:h.r.163:

H. R. 163

To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 3:01pm
This came from an article you posted earlier on the boards. I read something that goes into this in more detail and talked about France as well but can't remember now where.

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-elpoliticsto&msg=4282.1

<<"I cannot imagine that there will be any change in our decision not to send troops, whoever becomes president," Gert Weisskirchen, member of parliament and foreign policy expert for Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party, said in an interview.

"That said, Mr Kerry seems genuinely committed to multilateralism and as president he would find it easier than Mr Bush to secure the German government's backing in other matters."

........................

There is no sign that the German public, which loathes the US president, would accept risking German lives to salvage what is widely seen as Mr Bush's botched war.

In fact, high-ranking German officials are privately concerned at the prospect of Mr Kerry becoming president, arguing it would not change US demands but make it more difficult to reject them.

Both France and Germany, however, have said they would contribute to the reduction of Iraq's debt and participate in economic and environmental development programmes. Berlin already trains Iraqi security forces outside Iraq and France has said it would do so.>>

--------------------------------------

You wrote:

<>

I don't think you can KNOW or assume that he is only talking about troops specifically (though I'm sure that he and most Americans would really like that kind of help). I've heard him say on a number of occasions that America is shouldering the majority of the burden....I missed it where he mentioned troops in the same breath. I'm not saying you are wrong here, only that I didn't hear that myself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 3:02pm
<>

I anticipate a worldwide day of mourning.

;o)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 3:20pm
....like Korea, like Afghanistan.....

I continue to mention this about France. Not because I admire what they did in the run up to the Iraq War (I did not), nor their participation in the oil for food scandal (which was very bad) but because I get frustrated when people out of total ignorance forget that France has a history of helping out in America's wars and their strong military is nothing to dismiss lightly either. Oftentimes, the military contribution of France was greater than any other allied nation. They have, throughout recent history, been a significant player in coming to America's aid.

The American people have conveniently forgotten this and jumpted on the bashing France bandwagon but the French people (and other people in the world) have not. This critisism of the French by people who probably have never even met many (if ANY) french people just displays a total ignorance on their part and reinforces the reputation that Americans have of being narrow minded and prejudiced.

Perhaps as a Canadian we covered the history of many more nations in school. In particular Britain and France which both have played a significant part in our own history.




Edited 10/3/2004 3:44 pm ET ET by suemox

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 3:23pm
I agree. Americans are very uninformed when it comes to the history of other nations, and aren't even that informed about their own history. And those who don't know history . . .

Pages