Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace? (1 Viewer)

[Christo]

The thread title is:

Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?

And according to the global poll, 25% of the world believes we are.

I will ask you again, do you understand that we are viewed this way?

The poll was merely a springboard for the question. It didn't define the question.

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true? I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

 

[Christo]

I believe this is the poll the OP is talking about: http://rt.com/news/us-biggest-threat-peace-079/

Congratulations! You can make a link. How does that help us?

 

[roadkill1292]

Given that there are economic benefits to the USA (and maybe for many others) in being the world's policeman, when do we reach the point where we can't afford to be and we can't afford not to be? Those will be interesting policy decisions that will have to be made.

 

[timschochet]

Drones are not a threat to world peace.

 

[datonn]

Jeez. If you guys could only eliminate one holiday, would it be the 4th of July or Memorial Day?

I am an American. I don't know that it's necessarily something to be proud of simply because I was born in this particular country. I consider it chance, luck, and/or circumstance, and my life is now what I choose and how I choose to live it. It was not my destiny or anything metaphysical.

Yeah, and what's up with people being proud of their heritage? Or their family name? Or their home town? Or their local sports teams?Luck and chance.

Pride: a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

"Nationalism does nothing but teach you how to hate people that you never met. And all of a sudden you take pride in accomplishments you had no part in whatsoever, and you brag about - and the Americans will go "#### the French! #### the French, if we hadn't had saved their ### in two World Wars, they'd be speakin' German right now!" And you go, "Oh, was that us?" Was that me and you, Tommy, we saved the French? Jesus! I know I blacked out a little bit after that fourth shot of Jägermeister last night, but I don't remember... I know we went through the Wendy's drive-thru to get one of them "Freschetta" sandwiches that looked so alluring on the commercial, but then we ordered it and realized we had no money, and we had to ditch out before the second window, and those douchebags in line behind us with the bass music probably got our order and we laughed about that. But I don't remember savin' the French. At all! I went through the last ten calls on my cell phone and there's nothin' incoming or outgoing to the French, lookin' for muscle on a project! I checked my pants, there's no mud stains on the knees from where we were garroting Krauts in the trenches at Verdun. I think "we" didn't do anything but watch sports bloopers while we got hammered. I think "we" should shut the #### up!"

-Doug Stanhope

Why, upon reading ^ this, was I having visions of Green Bay Packer fans (okay, any individual cheering for any team and placing said team in priority over fifty more important things in life) dancing in my head?!

 

[Politician Spock]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

 

[Christo]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"

Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

 

[Politician Spock]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

To the 25% in the poll who answered "yes", of course it doesn't matter to them. Again, I will ask the OP's question... do you understand that we are viewed this way?

 

[MaxThreshold]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

And I bet they are using past and recent history to form those opinions. Why can't we?

 

[Politician Spock]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

And I bet they are using past and recent history to form those opinions. Why can't we?

Go ahead. I've never said you can't. I took issue with those who claim that those who ignore our history are anti-american and deserve to be criticized. In my opinion, those around the world who believe this about us don't care about our history. I can't see why that opinion is anti-American.

 

[mon]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"

Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

Calm down.

 

[Geezil]

Why does America ALWAYS need to be involved militarily or otherwise in almost every foreign affair? We need to stop wasting our money on this feel good love fest with christ or humanity. Let it go and allow another to step to that plate.

Who here has read 'The Art of War'?

 

[Christo]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

To the 25% in the poll who answered "yes", of course it doesn't matter to them.

How do you know?

 

[Christo]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"

Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

Calm down.

Why would you think that I'm not calm?

 

[Politician Spock]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

To the 25% in the poll who answered "yes", of course it doesn't matter to them.

How do you know?

 

[Gandalf the Grey]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

Calm down.

Why would you think that I'm not calm?

Nothing better than reading a Christo word loop. Best schtick in the history of FBG's. Easily #1 in any schtick draft. Best when seen from a distance of course.

 

[Christo]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

To the 25% in the poll who answered "yes", of course it doesn't matter to them.

How do you know?

Thanks for your honesty.

 

[timschochet]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

 

[mon]

Who cares what people believe in the context of a discussion about whether something is factually true?

What the rest of the world believes about us IS something we should care about regardless of whether or not it is factually true.

What they believe about us is based on what they experience, and this is the kind of stuff they experience from us: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-yemen-strike-idUSBRE9BB10O20131212

Air strike kills 15 civilians in Yemen by mistake

Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:34pm EST

(Reuters) - Fifteen people on their way to a wedding in Yemen were killed in an air strike after their party was mistaken for an al Qaeda convoy, local security officials said on Thursday.

The officials did not identify the plane in the strike in central al-Bayda province, but tribal and local media sources said that it was a drone.

"An air strike missed its target and hit a wedding car convoy, ten people were killed immediately and another five who were injured died after being admitted to the hospital," one security official said.

Five more people were injured, the officials said.

The United States has stepped up drone strikes as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the most active wing of the militant network.

Yemen, AQAP's main stronghold, is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment on the practice.

Human Rights Watch said in a detailed report in August that U.S. missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen.

Stabilizing the country, which is also struggling with southern separatists and northern rebels, is an international priority due to fears of disorder in a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes.

On Monday, missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen.

I believe you are talking out your butt because you have said that history doesn't matter when discussing whether the US is the biggest threat to world peace. Does that make my belief true? If you try to defend yourself, are you only allowed to discuss my belief? Or can you look at your butt in the mirror to determine whether your butt is actually forming words?

These people around the world who have formed this opinion of us don't give a #### about our history. You can talk about it if you think it matters. But those of us in this thread who don't believe it matters to these people have been criticized and called anti-american because we don't believe these people care about our history. That makes no sense. Why is it anti-american to say some 20 year old guy in Yemen who just lost his sister who was a bridesmaid in that wedding doesn't give a #### about US history after we just killed his sister?

"Is the U.S. the biggest threat to peace?"

Are you still claiming history doesn't matter in discussing this question?

Calm down.

Why would you think that I'm not calm?

Come on man. Just get up from the computer for a while if you have to. It's not worth it.

 

[Politician Spock]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

 

[timschochet]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

 

[timschochet]

Politician Spock's ignorant statements are, unfortunately, largely representative of people who follow Ron Paul. They know nothing about American history and claim they don't care. They know nothing about what the United States is actually doing in the present, and they claim they don't care about that either. But whenever the most radical elements around the world make a complaint against the USA, usually without context, they repeat it as if it were gospel.

 

[Politician Spock]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

Tim, money is not a solution. No amount of money will make these people feel better about us having our cameras, microphones and guns pointed at them 24/7 like a pre-crime world police force ready to kill anybody who MIGHT commit a crime.

 

[timschochet]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

Tim, money is not a solution. No amount of money will make these people feel better about us having our cameras, microphones and guns pointed at them 24/7 like a pre-crime world police force ready to kill anybody who MIGHT commit a crime.

I have no idea what you're talking about here.

 

[Politician Spock]

Politician Spock's ignorant statements are, unfortunately, largely representative of people who follow Ron Paul. They know nothing about American history and claim they don't care. They know nothing about what the United States is actually doing in the present, and they claim they don't care about that either. But whenever the most radical elements around the world make a complaint against the USA, usually without context, they repeat it as if it were gospel.

And you wonder why it pains me on those rare occasions in other threads where I agree with you.

You are an ###!

 

[Politician Spock]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

Tim, money is not a solution. No amount of money will make these people feel better about us having our cameras, microphones and guns pointed at them 24/7 like a pre-crime world police force ready to kill anybody who MIGHT commit a crime.

I have no idea what you're talking about here.

It takes ignorance to not know what I am talking about there.

 

[timschochet]

Politician Spock's ignorant statements are, unfortunately, largely representative of people who follow Ron Paul. They know nothing about American history and claim they don't care. They know nothing about what the United States is actually doing in the present, and they claim they don't care about that either. But whenever the most radical elements around the world make a complaint against the USA, usually without context, they repeat it as if it were gospel.

And you wonder why it pains me on those rare occasions in other threads where I agree with you.

You are an ###!

Sorry you feel that way. I don't feel that way about you.

I realized after I wrote that that you might find it insulting. But I really do think you are ignorant on these matters. How many times can you write "I don't care" without me reaching that conclusion? You seem proud of it.

In general I find you a very smart guy. You actually changed my mind quite a bit in the NSA thread. But I think that in issues of foreign policy you are woefully naive.

 

[timschochet]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

Tim, money is not a solution. No amount of money will make these people feel better about us having our cameras, microphones and guns pointed at them 24/7 like a pre-crime world police force ready to kill anybody who MIGHT commit a crime.

I have no idea what you're talking about here.

It takes ignorance to not know what I am talking about there.

We are fighting terrorists who attack us. We are not the world's police force, and never have been.

 

[Politician Spock]

Using Politician Spock's formula of looking at things RIGHT NOW, let's examine what we are doing in terms of foreign policy, either to promote war or peace:

1. For the first time since 1979, we are attempting to open up trade with Iran in exchange for an end to their nuclear weapons program, and hopefully for more peaceful relations in the future.

2. We contribute millions of dollars to the nations of the Arab Spring, especially Egypt and Sudan, in the hope that economic conditions in those countries will improve, with the hope of peace.

3. We are pushing strongly for a two state solution between Israel and Palestine, and to this end we pour millions every year into Palestine with the hope of economically moving the Palestinians away from terrorism and toward the conference table with Israel. We also have placed major pressure on the Israelis to stop building new settlements within the territories.

4. We pour millions of dollars into Pakistan and are attempting to broker a long lasting peace between that country and India, which is probably the most dangerous spot for future warfare in the world (even more than Israel-Palestine.)

5. And we continue to pour money and attempt diplomatic solutions in the following areas: Korea, North Africa, central Africa, southern Africa, almost all of Latin America, east Asia, south East Asia. Indeed, there is, to my knowledge, no part of the world in which the USA is not involved both economically and diplomatically in an attempt to bring peace or preserve peace. We are also the single largest contributor to the United Nations, and have been since it's inception.

So again I must ask: what should we be doing that we are not doing? How exactly are we a threat to peace?

Politician Spock, I'm wondering if you're ever going to bother to respond to this post. I don't honestly expect you to, but you DID claim to want to discuss what the USA is doing now, and not in the past, to promote peace or war.

Look Tim. I know you have an agenda. You always do. Why should this time be any different.

None of that matters. You can swarm this thread with all the details that you want, to frame it in the direction you want it to go, but you will not drag me along.

The people around the world who believe the US is the biggest threat to peace couldn't care less about any of the points in your post. I'm sure you'll disagree, and claim they do care. But so what. Even if I were to give you an opinion about your points, what I think has absolutely no bearing on how the rest of the world views us.

I don't have an agenda. I just listed the world's major hot spots which have the biggest potential for war, and what the United States is doing about them. You say that there are people around the world who don't care about this, and apparently YOU don't care about this, and I'm sure both statements are true. But if there's somebody out there who doesn't care about what the United States is actually doing, why should we be concerned about their opinion?

As far as YOUR opinion goes: you've stated you have no interest in what the USA did in the past. Now you have stated that you have no interest in what the USA is doing currently. I can only conclude that any opinion you have regarding this issue is irrelevant.

Tim, money is not a solution. No amount of money will make these people feel better about us having our cameras, microphones and guns pointed at them 24/7 like a pre-crime world police force ready to kill anybody who MIGHT commit a crime.

I have no idea what you're talking about here.

It takes ignorance to not know what I am talking about there.

We are fighting terrorists who attack us. We are not the world's police force, and never have been.

AH! So you DO know what I'm talking about! Thank you for having the balls to admit it.

They don't care WHY we do it.

 

[Politician Spock]

Politician Spock's ignorant statements are, unfortunately, largely representative of people who follow Ron Paul. They know nothing about American history and claim they don't care. They know nothing about what the United States is actually doing in the present, and they claim they don't care about that either. But whenever the most radical elements around the world make a complaint against the USA, usually without context, they repeat it as if it were gospel.

And you wonder why it pains me on those rare occasions in other threads where I agree with you.

You are an ###!

Sorry you feel that way. I don't feel that way about you.

I realized after I wrote that that you might find it insulting. But I really do think you are ignorant on these matters. How many times can you write "I don't care" without me reaching that conclusion? You seem proud of it.

In general I find you a very smart guy. You actually changed my mind quite a bit in the NSA thread. But I think that in issues of foreign policy you are woefully naive.

Tim,

Honestly I think you saw the title of this thread and entered into it already knowing what you intended to type, and never really read the original post.

I will ask you what the OP asked. Do you understand that we are viewed this way?

 

[timschochet]

Yeah but the "they" you refer to hate us anyhow. It's absolutely true that if a man sees his children killed by a drone, he's going to hate the USA no matter what the reason was. Who can blame them? If that's your argument, I agree with it.

But while I can empathize with such an emotion, that's what it is: an emotion. It's not a rational look at what the USA does, and whether or not we're a threat to peace. The issues that I listed above, which you chose to ignore, are much more relevant to most of the world, or should be.

 

[timschochet]

Politician Spock's ignorant statements are, unfortunately, largely representative of people who follow Ron Paul. They know nothing about American history and claim they don't care. They know nothing about what the United States is actually doing in the present, and they claim they don't care about that either. But whenever the most radical elements around the world make a complaint against the USA, usually without context, they repeat it as if it were gospel.

And you wonder why it pains me on those rare occasions in other threads where I agree with you.

You are an ###!

Sorry you feel that way. I don't feel that way about you.

I realized after I wrote that that you might find it insulting. But I really do think you are ignorant on these matters. How many times can you write "I don't care" without me reaching that conclusion? You seem proud of it.

In general I find you a very smart guy. You actually changed my mind quite a bit in the NSA thread. But I think that in issues of foreign policy you are woefully naive.

Tim,

Honestly I think you saw the title of this thread and entered into it already knowing what you intended to type, and never really read the original post.

I will ask you what the OP asked. Do you understand that we are viewed this way?

The people that view us this way, IMO, are wrong to do so. Yes I understand their position, but I strongly take issue with it, and I take issue with anyone who agrees with them. I stated the reason why I take issue in a couple of posts.

 

[Politician Spock]

Yeah but the "they" you refer to hate us anyhow. It's absolutely true that if a man sees his children killed by a drone, he's going to hate the USA no matter what the reason was. Who can blame them? If that's your argument, I agree with it.

Thank you!

But while I can empathize with such an emotion, that's what it is: an emotion. It's not a rational look at what the USA does, and whether or not we're a threat to peace. The issues that I listed above, which you chose to ignore, are much more relevant to most of the world, or should be.

It's a poll of how THOSE PEOPLE feel about us. I understand you have an agenda to change the way people here at FBG think. Go right ahead. Like I said, I'm not going to let you drag me along on that ride. Nothing you do here is going to change the results of the next time they take this poll of how THOSE people feel about us. Your agenda is a waste of my time. Let it go.... PLEASE!!!!

 

[timschochet]

Yeah but the "they" you refer to hate us anyhow. It's absolutely true that if a man sees his children killed by a drone, he's going to hate the USA no matter what the reason was. Who can blame them? If that's your argument, I agree with it.

Thank you!

But while I can empathize with such an emotion, that's what it is: an emotion. It's not a rational look at what the USA does, and whether or not we're a threat to peace. The issues that I listed above, which you chose to ignore, are much more relevant to most of the world, or should be.

It's a poll of how THOSE PEOPLE feel about us. I understand you have an agenda to change the way people here at FBG think. Go right ahead. Like I said, I'm not going to let you drag me along on that ride. Nothing you do here is going to change the results of the next time they take this poll of how THOSE people feel about us. Your agenda is a waste of my time. Let it go.... PLEASE!!!!

The poll was an impetus for us to discuss the question of whether the United States is a threat to world peace. That's the question that's in the title in this thread, and that's what we're discussing. I don't think that, in this case, I need to change the way anyone thinks. I suspect most people here agree with me at least somewhat. Those that don't, we can have a discussion and argument. Isn't that why we're all here?

 

[Politician Spock]

Yeah but the "they" you refer to hate us anyhow. It's absolutely true that if a man sees his children killed by a drone, he's going to hate the USA no matter what the reason was. Who can blame them? If that's your argument, I agree with it.

Thank you!

But while I can empathize with such an emotion, that's what it is: an emotion. It's not a rational look at what the USA does, and whether or not we're a threat to peace. The issues that I listed above, which you chose to ignore, are much more relevant to most of the world, or should be.

It's a poll of how THOSE PEOPLE feel about us. I understand you have an agenda to change the way people here at FBG think. Go right ahead. Like I said, I'm not going to let you drag me along on that ride. Nothing you do here is going to change the results of the next time they take this poll of how THOSE people feel about us. Your agenda is a waste of my time. Let it go.... PLEASE!!!!

The poll was an impetus for us to discuss the question of whether the United States is a threat to world peace. That's the question that's in the title in this thread, and that's what we're discussing. I don't think that, in this case, I need to change the way anyone thinks. I suspect most people here agree with me at least somewhat. Those that don't, we can have a discussion and argument. Isn't that why we're all here?

The results of the poll disagree with the bolded.

From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/02/greatest-threat-world-peace-country_n_4531824.html

Perhaps not surprisingly, Americans had a slightly different view of the international troublemakers, naming Iran the top threat. Yet while Afghanistan garnered the second-most votes among American respondents, they also voted the U.S. among the most threatening nations -- in an unenviable veritable tie for third place with North Korea.

 

[MaxThreshold]

Yeah but the "they" you refer to hate us anyhow. It's absolutely true that if a man sees his children killed by a drone, he's going to hate the USA no matter what the reason was. Who can blame them? If that's your argument, I agree with it.

Thank you!

But while I can empathize with such an emotion, that's what it is: an emotion. It's not a rational look at what the USA does, and whether or not we're a threat to peace. The issues that I listed above, which you chose to ignore, are much more relevant to most of the world, or should be.

It's a poll of how THOSE PEOPLE feel about us. I understand you have an agenda to change the way people here at FBG think. Go right ahead. Like I said, I'm not going to let you drag me along on that ride. Nothing you do here is going to change the results of the next time they take this poll of how THOSE people feel about us. Your agenda is a waste of my time. Let it go.... PLEASE!!!!

The poll was an impetus for us to discuss the question of whether the United States is a threat to world peace. That's the question that's in the title in this thread, and that's what we're discussing. I don't think that, in this case, I need to change the way anyone thinks. I suspect most people here agree with me at least somewhat. Those that don't, we can have a discussion and argument. Isn't that why we're all here?

The results of the poll disagree with the bolded.

From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/02/greatest-threat-world-peace-country_n_4531824.html

Perhaps not surprisingly, Americans had a slightly different view of the international troublemakers, naming Iran the top threat. Yet while Afghanistan garnered the second-most votes among American respondents, they also voted the U.S. among the most threatening nations -- in an unenviable veritable tie for third place with North Korea.

How about that? Wow. I'm shocked about the American respondents. Makes me really sad.

All under Obama too. Didn't he get a Nobel Peace prize?

 

[fatness]

Obama