Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

Well at least you won`t have to worry too much about being attacked by the enemy, your own forces will provide enough of a threat to your life in that respect.

Seriously though, I think that anyone who voluntarily joins the armed forces these days needs their head examined. When I walk past the Army recruitment office in town and see young men in there I really feel like sticking my head in the door and telling them not to do it.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

And they will most likely pity you.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

Good for them, but at least I won`t be participating in illegal military actions.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

It is so funny how you call it "illegal," as if there is some law regarding war.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

No-one has answered my question yet.....:rolleyes:

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

It doesn't provoke my ire, but it does demonstrate that you're very reluctant to answer the question. You've tried ignoring it and misunderstanding it, and now you're trying to redefine it.

The media's agenda in reporting the 'human angle' of this event is not at issue here. The facts are:

1. The IRA, in pursuit of its aim of a united Ireland, planted a bomb in Warrington town centre.
2. 30 years of experience meant they were fully aware of the serious risk of loss of life to men, women and children.
3. In any court in the civilised world, such reckless action would rightly be enough to prove the charge of murder.
4. Murder is defined as the deliberate (or malicious) and unlawful killing of another human being.
5. Our society (generally) values children highly, as they represent innocence and hope for the future. Not because they make heart-rending news copy.

The question is not flawed. Your silly attempts to avoid answering it are flawed.

I'll ask you again, and I suggest that unless you post otherwise, it is reasonable for me to conclude that you believe blowing up children was the correct course of action for the IRA to take.

So: In your opinion, is deliberately blowing up children the correct way to achieve a united Ireland?

Over to you.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

OK. I stand corrected.

But, do not call me dumb. That is insulting.

You still haven't answered my question: Who financed Saddam?

That's fair enough. Accidents do happen. I don't call the kind of "soldiers" that target civillians, rape & pillage soldiers. I call them thugs. Americans don't do this (rape & pillage I mean).
I have to admit, unless they are using the general public as a human shield, they wouldn't put military facilities in the middle of populated areas. We don't. The US & Canada don't. In fact, I don't think any civilised country does.

Now, just in case this isn't clear from my posts. I am not anti-American, and I do think it was right to remove Saddam (I actually think we should have done it in Gulf War 1). The only stupid thing (IMO) that both George Bush and Tony Blair did was announce that Saddam had WMDs before they had firm evidence. Having said that, I don't think we would have gone to war if they hadn't said that.

I also believe that Saddam did have (and possibly still has) WMDs, although I would be very surprised if they are anywhere near Iraq.

I have also found the few Americans I have met to be charming and extremely friendly.

The only thing I don't like is the "We are better than you attitude", but I don't like that attitude wherever it comes from. As I said in my earlier post, I don't think that attitude is patriotic, just arrogant.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

To be honest, I don`t give a damn what conclusions you come to, but I simply refuse to answer a leading question that I believe is flawed in the first instance. Interpret that how you wish, it is of little concern to me as I do not need my beliefs and opinions validated by others.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

I call it a diabolical act of terriorism perpatrated by people who feel they have been driven to such measures or conditioned to do so.

Oh and add to my list of reasons for opinion:
The us seek immunity from warcrimes. If no crimes are commited why do they need immunity

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

Dr Wadd. The IRA planted a bomb in a shopping centre. They have also planted a bomb in one of the big department stores (Harrods I believe) at Christmas. Are you seriously suggesting they were not trying to kill civillians? And, of course, there are bound to be a few kids around.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

I don't know whether I am saddened or sickened by this. What I am sure of is that your reputation, as far as I'm concerned, should not be green. :(

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

I didn`t say the weren`t trying to target civilians. But I don`t like the way the stories are played to highlight the deaths of children in order to manipulate the sympathies of the public. That amounts to little more than propaganda.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

What !!! .. You don't think the IRA were trying to manipulate the fears of the British public by planting bombs where children were likely to be killed ????????

That amounts to little more than terrorism in the extreme !!

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

Really, I don't think this requires any 'media manipulation' at all in order to make any right-thinking individual feel sick to the core.

Re: anti americanism fashionable
 

True, the Media do tend to play up the death of Children. Children do seem to be more important to this society than adults.

However, if the IRA bombs either a shopping centre or a major department store (especially at Christmas), it is a fair bet they were aiming to hurt some kids, is it not?