The breakdown of Iraqi society leading to segregation of towns and neighborhoods into Shia and Sunni strongholds through coercion and literally unspeakable acts of violence happened because we didn't have enough troops in Iraq to keep the peace. That was horrible tactical mistake by the Bush Administration, and McCain, if you remember, repeatedly said in the beginning of the war that we'd be greeted as liberators and the war would be short and easy. At the same time, Obama was of the opinion that we never should have invaded Iraq to begin with; it was the wrong war, in the wrong place, at the wrong time for the wrong reasons, and it was distracting us from the real front of the war on terror, Afghanistan. I wholeheartedly agree with Obama.
Proponents of the surge seem to give it credit for all of the reduction in violence when it reality the reduction was a result of a number of factors, which I outlined. Of course I don't think the ethnic cleansing was a good thing. I didn't mention that outright because I thought it would be obvious.
As for your interpretation of Obama's strategies on other issues such as crime, health care and education, that's just stuff you made up. You can read the truth about his stance on various issues either here on his website or by downloading this PDF file.
]]>Oh no I don't believe at all there were ties between Saddam and AlQida. I'm saying how BinLadin considered Saddam an enemy because Saddam wasn't a radical Muslim. Saddam didn't tolerate that.
On the little fair that's cool it was done on such a low budget. Maybe that's why they didn't have anything for the adults since they might've been afraid of running out of items for the kids. But a good idea to bring your own drink if you can. 
Seems like it was a nice little event for the little kids.
Oh and to Steve McCain has never been a maverick if you check his voting record. You can do that at http://www.ontheissues.org
Oh and to Mr Pav are you able to get American books? You might be interested in a book by Vincent Bugliosi called "The Prosecution of George W Bush for Murder." Mr Bugliosi is well known for putting Charles Manson in prison for murder. He recently did a CSPAN BookTV event you can see it here-
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=9611&SectionName=&PlayMedia=No
I haven't yet watched the whole thing since I've heard him interviewed a few times so I'm not sure how long it is. I'm guessing at least an hour since it's a BookTV thing.
In that case, I can see what Obama's future policies would be. No 'surge' in police to tackle crime, just let people kill each other until there is no one left. No 'surge' in healthcare for those who need it… after all, they will die soon and no longer need healthcare. No 'surge' in US education since, hey, if crime doesn't kill them then the health system will.
These are the policies of a limp, passive speechifier, like the eager-to-please Barack Hussein Obama. I would prefer the manliness, strength, and virility of the war hero and maverick John Sidney McCain III. ]]>
I didn't take any video last weekend because I didn't expect the event to be interesting enough. It was put together with a lot of hard work on the part of the parents who volunteered and a budget of next to nothing, hence the recycled toys as prizes. I guess no one thought the parents might want something to drink on a sweltering hot day, even if we would have had to pay for it. Next year I'll know to bring my own.
]]> Did you get any video?
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]]>Nice to see you still keep up with politics here in the States even though you haven't lived here for many years.
I guess you do since you obviously still have family here. I believe it was last night on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central he pointed out the fact McCain also got wrong where Iraq and Pakistan are. He said they were next to each other but all the while forgetting that a country called Iran is in the middle. I personally am not a huge Obama supporter but he would be a lot better than Bush and McCain. Heck he'd be better than the two of them put together. Personally with my politics I'm way more to the left than Obama (I'm a communist) but I think Obama is at least on the right track to fixing things whether it's with the economy or Iraq. I'm so glad you made the post talking about why there isn't much violence in Iraq. So much ethic cleansing has happened. I've studied Islam briefly and it's also about who is really the connection to the Prophet Muhammad. Whomever is the true connection to the Prophet Muhammad has the true say over religion. Of course my solution would be to just read through the Quran itself but my opinion on that doesn't really hold up much since I'm not a Muslim. On another note there is a video I saw on Youtube of Obama leading the pledge in the Senate and *gasps* his hand is over his heart. The whole thing people are talking about Mr Pav is when he didn't place his hand over his heart during the national anthem at some Democratic party event like a dinner or something. I think it could've been the Jefferson-Jackson dinner but I'm not for sure. It was in the days of the primary season (thank all things holy that one is over!). Even if Obama was a Muslim it wouldn't be a bad thing in of itself. Oh and on a radio show I listen to someone brought up the point about Obama being secretly a Muslim. The point they said is it might help if he would change his name to like Bob Michael or something like that. More of an English name instead of an African-Arabic name. Oh and keep in mind Mr Pav you aren't going to hear Mr Obama talking about ethnic cleansing in Iraq. I also remember that at one point the Bush administration was whining about Iran sending in troops supposedly but yet at the same time our best buddies Saudi Arabia was doing the same thing and as you've pointed out we've paid people to kill too. Don't forget a lot of Iraqi's are now refugees in countries like Jordan and Egypt. The U.S. has only taken so many as well. We should be taking more in my opinion since Bush caused the mess. But what do you expect when you get a situation like what was happening at Walter Reed and VA hospitals across the country closing. 
Don't forget too Mr Pav they also think AlQida was in Iraq and Saddam dealt with terrorist's even though BinLadin considered Hussein an enemy to radical jihad Islam because Hussein was a leader (heh) of this Muslim country but yet he (Hussein) was a secular Muslim and didn't have to strict rules and women could work and go to university, drive cars and basically be out in public without a related man and there were other beliefs there too who worshiped. Before the invasion there were at least 3% who were Christian and they had churches and mosques across the street and they would pray for each other. I thought that was very sweet. Now I wonder if they would go back since they have a government now aligned with Iran. If Bush does attack Iran guess who Iraq will align with? Not us that's for sure and I don't blame them.
]]>99% of Republicans are Democrats who have no idea what is going on.
]]>"The thing is, I get the feeling that a lot of Americans aren't paying that close attention. I don't remember who said it originally, but Americans do more research when picking a new TV than they do when picking the next president."
Yes, I agree with that totally. It is pretty sad especially with all the huge domestic and global issues going on.
The biggest problem is that this election started almost 2 years ago and every American is just numb to it all. I don't research a TV for 2 years. By then something new & better comes out, but we are stuck with 2 old/aging models. Also, every presidential election gives you only 2 choices, where you have the choice between the lesser of 2 evils or the better of 2 fools. Either way we get stuck with crap. But, to cover my ass… I would never run for office and we do need people willing too. It's easy for people like me to complain. At least these 2 guys are willing to give it shot with everyone expecting them to eff-up. I think I'm more excited just saying goodbye to Bush.
Anyways, everyone be sure to vote!
I hope this post makes more sense then the rambling going on in my head.
]]>What worries me about McCain is he doesn't seem to understand the fundamentals of important issues, for instance when he said that Iran was training al Qaeda members, and an aide had to whisper in his ear that Iranians are Shi'ite and al Qaeda are Sunni. (The average Joe is allowed to get that wrong, not someone running for president.) His gas tax holiday is a crock of shit, drilling domestically for oil has gotten the thumbs down from the US Dept. of Energy, saying it won't lower gas prices nor anytime soon (1-2 cents/gal less in 2030), his misunderstanding of the current troop levels in Iraq (saying there were fewer troops in Iraq that before the surge when actually there were 20,000 more)…it's like almost every time he opens his mouth he says something that really, in all seriousness, should convince people he's the wrong person for the job if they've learned anything over the past eight years. Obama has made some gaffes, but so far he seems like he understands the issues, and I agree with his positions most of the time. (Excluding his vote for retroactive immunity for telcos.)
The thing is, I get the feeling that a lot of Americans aren't paying that close attention. I don't remember who said it originally, but Americans do more research when picking a new TV than they do when picking the next president.
]]>I find that many Americans living on U.S. soil believe Mr. Foreign Policy Master will magically keep the terrorists out. Do you believe in magic?
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