73 Reds

What is a fair price for a safer World?

No one with an ounce of intelligence and common sense buys his BS. The discrepancy in value systems between both sides is Worlds apart. One side lies, cheats, steals, pillages, terrorizes, murders and assaults innocent people, propagates hate and tears down its society and citizens in the name of some Fundamentalist cause that is wholly incongruent with Western thinking. The other side promotes democracy, rule of law, prosperity and peace. Any wonder why nearly all Middle East news correspondents for decades have been reporting from Israel? One side is an abject failure while the other side is an incredible success and getting more successful with each passing year. Each side deserves exactly what it is getting.

Don't you think you are making this more difficult than it needs to be? Most of the Free World would probably agree with the following: Good outcome: Iran's nuclear capabilities are set back for as long as possible. Better outcome: The present regime is ousted and the Iranian population chooses a new leader and government. Even better outcome: The new leaders and government are willing to work with both Arab States and the rest of the Free World to improve life for citizens of Iran. Start with the Abraham accords and trade relations outside oil with countries besides Russia and China and go from there.

Yeah, been in the dog house before (usually self-inflicted). Took a while for me to learn that a fine woman is to be appreciated and cherished.

And your intellect and understanding of anything related to the Middle East would have to improve just to be considered retarded. But keep practicing your Sharia law - just do it somewhere else.

John, that's one of the funniest posts I've ever read ("wifey behaves like a solar eclipse"). Can't stop laughing - thanks for making my morning after some rough dental work!

Yep. All in The Family was timely, clever and probably did help to begin to change a lot of long-held negative stereotypes. Plus the show was hilarious. The episode with Sammy Davis, Jr. was perhaps the most memorable TV show ever aired, maybe alongside the last episode of MASH.

We all should be free to voice whatever opinions we have. Your POVs on Northern European matters are always of interest - how else are we supposed to learn? I try to appreciate issues from all sides. There is only one poster here who gets under my skin and because of his blatant antisemitic posts I will continue to call him out whenever his ignorance and hateful nonsense resurfaces here. Silence in response to such hate-speech is nearly as bad as the utterance itself.

John, if I may.... Having not been here that long, the fact is, only a relatively small number of members (out of how many?) feel the need to continually vent about Trump, or whatever on this thread. It is easy enough to just avoid the thread, as I'm sure many (most) members do. And for those who feel the need to be on here, if you're willing to dish it out, you most certainly should be willing to take it. Some of us (me) find this thread a great source of entertainment, particularly when many of my friends and family voice the same cuckoo opinions often bantered around here. So when that happens, I often reply that I've read their thoughts from otherwise "smarter" folks elsewhere!

LOL, you'll have to ask someone who does.

<<One leader is playing tiddlywinks, the other chess.>> You're right about that. Imagine people on an anonymous investment board giving a guy who won two Presidential elections against all odds political advice. Or imagine them calling the most powerful guy in the Free World who didn't ascend there by inheriting a throne or a palace stupid. Or imagine that the same guy legally defeated an entire corrupt government trying to take him down multiple times. And further imagine that this guy is worth billions while his critics are worth ??? Oh wait, we don't have to imagine here, LOL.

I do stand-up comedy in my basement.

We're used to pain - see the gap between Trump presidencies.

So... do you believe the Straight of Hormuz is permanently closed? IMO its actually a good thing temporarily, maybe other countries will feel some pain and act accordingly. And when in the history of mankind has a party to a military conflict ever been better prepared? Only a warped mind would believe that we could possibly prepare for every conceivable variable. Or one that sits in meetings rather than fights necessary battles.

Hey, I think we finally agree on something. Trump is like the Fisherman in a large ocean. He throws out lines everywhere and the same dumb fish keep taking the bait - hook, line and sinker.

They don't even realize they're doing it - that's part of the "illness". Imagine if people did the same to their mother or child. Maybe then they'd grow up. Until then, the joke's on them.

I think increased interest and commitment in the region by your Country is a good thing.

Sadly, the very same attitude by Leftist anti-law enforcement in this Country. They hate them until they need them. Just short-sighted thinking all the way around.

John, he can say anything he likes, but consider if Greenland, or G-d forbid Denmark were under attack by China or Russia, who would be there to help protect and defend?

Cubs, they all want and need US support, especially when they don't have to pay up for it. To me, that's really what most of the belly-aching is all about. Trump has finally called them out on a proper balance more favorable to the US. They don't like it. And the party providing the support usually gets to make the tough decisions. They don't like that either. What bothers me is that most of the tough decisions are morally correct and benefit not only us as a nation but the entire free World. People who oppose the present Administration trying to make the World a safer place on political or ideological grounds are part of the very problem we're trying to address. Ignoring threats never makes them go away. We have one ally that know that full well; perhaps that is why it has become such a strong ally. I'd hate to think that's what it now takes to convince the others.

So where would most of the free World be without US support?

Sure, but as with most issues and events, we'll have to wait and see what, if anything comes of it.

Indeed John, it is always about priorities. And long-term thinking. I don't blame you one bit for thinking the way you do about Greenland. But you have to admit, it's got you to thinking about Greenland.

You are looking at the issue too narrowly. Israel was going to act with or without us. We protected our ally and ourselves (and you) in the process. Try to hold your disdain for the US and Trump in check for just once. What, you think waiting for crazy people to actually carry out crazy acts is the time to act? Maybe in Canada, not here.

Sanjeev, this is one of those issues that has exactly two sides: right vs. wrong. The only question is whether we decided to act now or after Iran inflicted huge damage and loss of life on its enemies. And don't think that just because you are Canadian, or European as the case may be, that Iranian leadership held any special place in their hearts for you all just because your own leaders mostly sat in the background hoping this would all somehow blow over.