Invisable...I wouldn't expect that you would ever take your hat off...it is pretty well nailed on there by the constant hammering of CNN

Well,
since I'm in Ireland and don't have a tv I get my information out of our Irish newspapers and from the net.
So don't accuse me at least of that sin.

Well from one Irish man to an Irish woman..CNN is still broadcast overseas

Well, I'm sure you can show me the miracle then how to watch it without having a television set??????????
I'm looking forward to that.

and i suppose that's my fault too!!!!!!!!

What????? That I have no television?
No, it's not your fault for a change.

But people don't realize that there are other people out there who refuse to be brain washed, people who actually think for themselves. For some it must be really hard to fathom.

Hey, "Serchin" - Refresh my memory - WHAT did Iraq have to do with 911?

Well, Searchin' seems to be of the view that Saddam was to blame for 911..

I think his hat is a little too tight..

..Hopefully not so tight that he won't answer the question..

'searchin',

With all due respect, you missed my point completly. I don't wish to go over the same piece again.

In a nutshell though, my point was the following:

'IMO you wish to reduce the tragic situation of the war in IRAQ, to a futile, insignificant, pointless, infantile and capricious LEFT & RIGHT pissing contest (you called it a 'balancing view').

It would be immoral, as in disconnected from reality, for anyone to enter into a debate with you given the ground rules that you're proposing. This a war we're talking about. Not a 1 500 point crash on the stock market!!!

Don't get me wrong 'search' you have the right to your opinions, biases, political positions, and religious beliefs!!!
And you have the right to invite people to discuss those opinions, biases, political positions, and religious beliefs of yours from whatever angle you chose.

But those you invite (all on the web) have an equal rigth to seriously question the premise you propose, and downright decline to engage in the false debate you seek to trap them into.

The situation of the war in Iraq is way beyond the control of the media; CNN, FOX and all other propaganda machines. It is also way beyond a right & left political pissing contest.

Balanced view?!?!? Objective discussion?!?!??! Let me seriously doubt it given your premise.

Thus the 'emperor has no clothes' analogy !!!

('search', none of this is directed at you personnally. I respect you, and even enjoy the 'wide gap' that separates our view of things in general).

Voil..My dear friend
I totally respect your opinion however it may differ from mine....And I don't want to "beat a dead horse" but in the context of the entire article and specifically mentioned in said post...we could debate the why's, how's and who done it all day...the "purpose" or should I say perspective was to educate or inform people (who may not realize...from watching CNN and ABC news) just how big Iraq is and how little of it is actually "at war". You my learned friend may see this as something else because you already know these facts, however you would be surprised how many people think this is some small middle east country completely engulfed in chaos and war.It was intended to give a perspective that the media rarely portrays.

For your statement:

'IMO you wish to reduce the tragic situation of the war in IRAQ, to a futile, insignificant, pointless, infantile and capricious LEFT & RIGHT pissing contest (you called it a 'balancing view').


On the contrary my friend. I don't see this as pointless, insignificant or futile at all, and certainly not a "right or Left" pissing contest...there is so much more at stake in Iraq that many do not wish to see...they call this a "Bush" war...well if you speak to as many people from the middle east( from Jordan, specifically) as I do...maybe people would have a better understanding of what is really at stake here.

So, no comment on no television, no?
Is it so hard for you to comprehend that people think for themselves?

invisable...Just because you don't have TV..you obviously have a computer with internet...and CNN has a world wide Internet site Having said that invisable...of course you can and will think for yourself how or by what means you are influenced by

I'm influenced by gut feeling and reason, as it should be.

I'll agree with the "reason" part Invisable...but don't have much use for gut feeling...that is what tends to fog the "reason" part.

Not if you have the right gut.

All depends on your general mindset, and I don't think mine is bad, because it's human.

Invisable...yes we are all human and although we may take opposite views on many things...I like your guts

Well, I have a problem with the mindset that you NEED a weapon, for me it's just wrong. If your mindset is right you can connect with almost everyone without having to agree with him/her.

Well Invisable...not sure what you are impling...but I will say this in response...I live in a country that allows me to bear arms(weapons), however I do not own one. But if someone breaks into my home, terrorizes and harms my family...I would probably regret not having one!

would you not regret it more, when, by accident, one of these kids with an addiction breaks into you home and you kill it?
This person just being a kid, addicted by circumstance?
I would, I couldn't live with it.