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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/16/2011 4:41:49 PM
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Sends 2,500 troops to Australia?!?!? Man, he is serious about protecting America from the Chinese military threat. No doubt a more than adequate force to deal with the 2.5 million Chinese soldiers! I hear they are abandoning all their war games as they now know the gig is up....they are toast. In the meantime we surrender in Iraq.
Oh will November 2012 get here soon enough?
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/17/2011 9:16:32 AM
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The US and Australia have a very close military relationship. It's at least as close as that we have with the UK, and some would say more so.
A "military presence" can take many forms. It's one of the reasons that the US participates in International Air Shows, one of the reasons we do joint military exercises, and one of the reasons we do military exchange programs and military cooperation programs.
It's not that we think we can intimidate China with 2,500 troops, but rather that we are there. It's no secret that the US has been deeply concerned with China's modernization of their military, and those that are supplying China with advanced military technology and know how. Having an increased "presence" in the region allows us to send a message.
Not everything we do is supposed to be an "in your face" aggression. Lots of thing the US does is very subtle.
Additionally, the thought crosses my mind that perhaps we are also going to be providing the Australians additional training in specialized Marine techniques on a long term basis.
This is a positive thing for the U.S.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/17/2011 11:27:02 AM
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Hound, don't get me wrong as I don't oppose sending troops there. I just find it ironic at best the juxtaposition with abandoning Iraq and Afghanistan...... and it defies logic to think that will have any impact on Chinese military aspirations. That line of thinking, considering how many troops we already have in Asia is an absolute joke.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/17/2011 12:47:58 PM
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Leaving Iraq and Afghanistan does not mean that we are withdrawing our troops from around the world. Did you see the other day that Kharzi spoke in front of some UN group demanding the the US remove it's troops? Those conflicts have run their course. The risk/expense/benefit analysis would likely show that continuing there does not justify the benefit we are getting.
You just aren't getting the point. Our presence in Australia strengthens our ties with Australia, as well as showing China that we are expanding, not reducing our presence in the region. It's subtle. It's not intended to send a major message. If we wanted to send them a major message, we would sell Taiwan some of the most advanced weapons they are always wanting.
This may be the piece of a larger strategy for the region. It's likely not just a random action. Or perhaps the Australians have asked for it. We just can't know without seeing the background. But it has likely been in the works for a long time. These kinds of decisions don't just happen when they are reported in the press.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/17/2011 1:11:58 PM
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OK, so we are sending a subtle message to China about our military intent while at the same time we are sending a megaphone message to Iran that the middle east is theirs to do as they please......... and I have trouble with understanding subtlety?!?!?
All I can do is laugh at the suggestion. You want me to celebrate this diplomatic genius of subtlety while a huge disaster is staring you in the face. It's like noticing the sudden wind messing up your hair while missing the less than subtle fact that it is from a train about to run you down....... no wonder liberals cannot be trusted with national security.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Oblamer the warrior leader
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Date:
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11/17/2011 1:17:22 PM
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I don't think we are sending any such message to Iran. Repeat, you do not know what is going on in the background. I would suspect that we are working behind the scenes to try to build a international consensus about what should be done with Iran. Once again, these things take time. You don't just "decide" to bomb Iranian facilities. You have to work other countries, even if they don't join a public coalition.
Really MM.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Really Hound
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Date:
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11/17/2011 2:33:09 PM
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I heard an interview today with Lindsey Graham who does know what is going on behind the scenes and he has the exact same opinion that I do.
But I suppose you having worked in the Pentagon long before Oblamer took office gives you more insight than a member of Congress that sits on the Armed Services Committee. I know, you are going to tell me all about the inside ball and not to believe what I hear, blah, blah , blah. Frankly I will believe what I hear and read from Middle East experts and sitting members of Congress over someone that actually bought the line that Abramoff was donating his book proceeds to charity.
Honestly Hound.......
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You apparently always believe political sound bites from Republicans.
I'll leave you to believe as you wish. And to anyone who knows anything about foreign affairs, national security and diplomacy, you'll just sound ignorant.
This is not unique to this Administration. It's the way these things are done. But don't take my word for it. Maybe you should email Lindsey Graham and ask him.
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And while you are at it, you can ask him about the Marines in Australia too.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
You are predictable if nothing else
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Date:
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11/17/2011 3:43:40 PM
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I already preempted your usual, "I'm from inside the beltway and have secret knowledge" line. As I said in my post I have read a number of pieces by experts in the area and heard Lindsey Graham and they all consistently say the same thing. Iran is poised to make Iraq a satellite once we are gone. Time will tell but we certainly saw what they have done in Lebanon so it seems to me not to even be a stretch. Lots of other problems as well with oil fields in the south, Kurds and Turkey in the north, etc.
I know enough to read and understand.....you know enough to claim your own omniscience on just about every issue related to defense and foreign policy. Considering your swallowing hook, line and sinker the laugher about the newly reformed philanthropist Abramoff I will stick with my experts thank you very much. Stick around on the forum and in a few years I will get the pyrrhic joy of saying I told you so......
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
You are predictable if nothing else
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Date:
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11/17/2011 7:04:39 PM
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I invited you to email Lindsay. I'm sure he'll enlighten you.
It doesn't bother me at all if you disparage my experience. You like to surround yourself with people that agree with you and your small world view and accept your "analysis". Unfortunately, if you were in a position where your analyses counted, you would be laughed out of the room.
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| Name: |
Barneget
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| Subject: |
Hound, You are predictable
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Date:
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11/17/2011 9:29:48 PM
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30 years, doing the same thing, putting a stamp on papers and shuffling them to the next desk, certainly qualifies people as expert on any topic of their choosing, in an alternate universe existing only "inside the beltway". In my humble opinion, that is an OUTSTANDING example of surrounding yourself with people that agree with you and your worldview. See if that all knowing attitude carries any weight in your next conversation with the folks standing in your line at Wal-Mart. Keep me posted.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Hound, You are predictable
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Date:
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11/18/2011 8:04:13 AM
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When I am in Walmart, I generally don't engage other people in conversation.
Gentlemen, your ignorance is showing. I've never seen people so proud of the fact that they have no idea what they are talking about.
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| Name: |
Barneget
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| Subject: |
Hound, You are predictable
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Date:
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11/18/2011 8:06:16 AM
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Hound does, as a number of posts indicate some level of dissatisfaction with Wal-Mart pharmacy wait times, and just last week, a reference to the smelly people in the checkout lines.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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| Subject: |
Don't need to email him
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Date:
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11/18/2011 1:07:45 PM
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I already know what he thinks as I heard a 15-minute interview of him about this one topic. He is both knowledgable and passionate. As for who I surround myself with, have you ever noticed you never seem to quote anyone but yourself on any topic? One would think if you were so well read you too would have looked at other very credible sources that have the exact same opinion that I do. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to listen to the rantings and ravings of Iran's leadership, the fact that they are directly responsible for the killing of our soldiers in Iraq, the fact that they were directly responsible for the the attempted murder of foreign diplomats and U.S. citizens right here in America, that they have hundreds of North Korean nuclear scientists working for them, etc. that they are in fact the danger that Lindsey and many other experts believe.
As I said, time will tell and regardless of opinions today the reality of what happens will dictate who was right. Common sense would tell you to stay in Iraq and see the mission through as requested by the military experts that work for the President. However, politicians will throw a small baby under a bus of it could get them reelected and that is Oblamer's calculation.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Hound, You are predictable
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Date:
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11/18/2011 5:00:45 PM
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I didn't say I don't go there. I just said that I don't talk to people in line. That would also be true if I was shopping at Neiman Marcus or Winn Dixie.
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| Name: |
Talullahhound
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| Subject: |
Don't need to email him
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Date:
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11/18/2011 5:04:41 PM
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Right, whatever....
I have no need to justify my opinions to you. I don't have to quote other people. I read a variety of material, have a variety of experiences, and I make up my own mind. I don't need other people to tell me what to think.
And frankly, I have never heard anything smart come out of Lindsay Graham's mouth. He is negative and smug about it. If he is so smart, he should run for President.
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