RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,179517,00.html

Kudos to Mr. Huber. The Bush Administration made a lot of promises to the Polish Tweedledum and Tweedledee in order to get them to join the "Coalition of the Willing" <sic>. They reneged on every one of them. This was a last attempt to get some cash into Poland and at the same time help the fantasy Star Wars program stagger on a bit longer. I suspect that with only Tweedledee left in power, our reputation in Poland shot, and a new administration in power here, Poland will see NO missiles.

...Alex

quote:

Originally posted by jaluck:
RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,179517,00.html

Kudos to Mr. Huber. The Bush Administration made a lot of promises to the Polish Tweedledum and Tweedledee in order to get them to join the "Coalition of the Willing" <sic>. They reneged on every one of them. This was a last attempt to get some cash into Poland and at the same time help the fantasy Star Wars program stagger on a bit longer. I suspect that with only Tweedledee left in power, our reputation in Poland shot, and a new administration in power here, Poland will see NO missiles.

...Alex

who is tweedledee? does that make the next tweedledum?

Both Polish & Czech Tweedledum and Tweedledee are counting on that missile shield……it’s their retirement fund.

quote:

Originally posted by Anbar7:
who is tweedledee? does that make the next tweedledum?

I know Polish news doesn't get a lot of play here, so maybe I was a bit obscure. I was talking about the Kaczynski twins.

...Alex

quote:

Originally posted by jaluck:

quote:

Originally posted by Anbar7:
who is tweedledee? does that make the next tweedledum?

I know Polish news doesn't get a lot of play here, so maybe I was a bit obscure. I was talking about the Kaczynski twins.

...Alex

Very well thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Anbar7:
Very well thanks

You're welcome.

...Alex

On young Mr. Bush's watch alone, we'll have tinkled away $63 billion on missile defense. That kind of money could have bought 30 B-2 stealth bombers, or eight Gerald R. Ford class nuclear aircraft carriers, or six more months of our woebegone war in Iraq, or an end to world hunger.

quote:

Originally posted by NSNN:
On young Mr. Bush's watch alone, we'll have tinkled away $63 billion on missile defense. That kind of money could have bought 30 B-2 stealth bombers, or eight Gerald R. Ford class nuclear aircraft carriers, or six more months of our woebegone war in Iraq, or an end to world hunger.

Since the article that number came from was dated April 30, 2003, has anyone actually verified it?

It is noce that someone who retired a commander can pass judgement on, and have better insught than, those with 3 stars.

quote:

Philip Coyle, who used to oversee weapons testing at the Pentagon and is now a specialist with the Center for Defense Information, told a congressional panel earlier this year that national missile defense "has become a theology in the United States, not a technology."

I don't find this surprising - after all - thats how they ran the Iraq war, the economy, foreign policy, and everything else that requires a grasp of reality. Hence, it hasn't worked out all that well (nor has anyting else with these people).

It do find it amusing (is a black humor kind of way) that those who are incapable of seeing reality are locked up somewhere in a nice padded room where they can't cause themselves (or anyone else) any harm.

Unless they are elected, or otherwise put into power by the uber-activist judges on the supreme court.

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:
It is noce that someone who retired a commander can pass judgement on, and have better insught than, those with 3 stars.

And what did you say when Rumsfeld disregarded and overruled GEN Shinseki and LTG Newbold?

...Alex

It will be interesting to see if Obama lives up to the promises made by the US.

quote:

Originally posted by sw614:

quote:

Originally posted by NSNN:
On young Mr. Bush's watch alone, we'll have tinkled away $63 billion on missile defense. That kind of money could have bought 30 B-2 stealth bombers, or eight Gerald R. Ford class nuclear aircraft carriers, or six more months of our woebegone war in Iraq, or an end to world hunger.

Since the article that number came from was dated April 30, 2003, has anyone actually verified it?

It is noce that someone who retired a commander can pass judgement on, and have better insught than, those with 3 stars.

It doesn't take much more than horse sense to realize there's a disconnect somewhere in a nation that can put 68 billion into trying to hit a dust mite with a dart, or three more months of getting Asians killed, and Huber's last point.

For a nation of 'Christians' - and many of those triple-starred claim to be - such abuse of the gifts of Providence is in the same qualification of 'godliness' as those who seek after 72 virgins by killing the innocent.

quote:

Originally posted by mattkay4:
It will be interesting to see if Obama lives up to the promises made by the US.

What promises did the US make, and to whom?

quote:

Originally posted by mattkay4:
It will be interesting to see if Obama lives up to the promises made by the US.

They've never been made public, other than the promise to help with NATO standardization. Since they were made by a Bush administration desperate to get countries to sign on for the Iraq War they might have promised almost anything. In Poland itself, you can hear everything from "All the American troops in Germany will be here, now" to "Build new farms and America will buy all our produce". None of the rumors have proven out, and our economic whirlpool is now dragging the Zloty down the drain, too. The Poles feel they were badly used by Bush and the 'Terrible Twins' over Iraq. While most Poles would like to see American investment, they're leery about a large foreign troop presence, and nobody except the anti-Russian far right gives a damn about the missile defense. Everyone I talk to just wants things "the way they were", meaning 2000.

What can Obama do? Given our own troubles, probably not much. I think the most important thing will be honesty and openness with the Polish people. If the Bush administration promised things, tell the Poles what they were, tell them whether or not we're still going to do them, and tell them why or why not.

...Alex

Mr. Huber is another John Kerry, betraying the theocratic underpinnings that make America great.

He should go back to Cuba.

I think he is just a bad person and maybe even a socialist, communist or liberal.

quote:

Originally posted by gpduf:
Mr. Huber is another John Kerry, betraying the theocratic underpinnings that make America great.

He should go back to Cuba.

I think he is just a bad person and maybe even a socialist, communist or liberal.

"Theocratic underpinnings"? WTF?

Go back to Iran.

...Alex

Once again, Huber hits a bullseye with a trick shot. As to Obama "honoring promises" made by the Bush Administration, I believe Obama's election was based on the hope that Obama would countermand some of the "promises" made by the now very-lame-duck Bush Administration. Much of what has occured during the last eight years occured without much "advice and consent" of Congress and especially the American people. The oligarchy of neoconservatives, that "cabal" Col. Lawrence Wilkerson referred to in Oct. '05, dug a deep hole for America and this MDS in Poland thing is another shovel-full of dirt, so-to-speak.

quote:

Originally posted by NSNN:

quote:

Originally posted by mattkay4:
It will be interesting to see if Obama lives up to the promises made by the US.

What promises did the US make, and to whom?

Oh, I'm sure that promises were made, just as it was for every administration. You ask what are the promises? Heck if I know, since I don't proclaim to know everything (well, my wife says I act like I do). But I'm sure that unfulfilled promises will have some type of ramification. Some will probably be obvious, others not so obvious.

But to think things were not promised? That's foolish.

quote:

Originally posted by bwf27:
Much of what has occured during the last eight years occured without much "advice and consent" of Congress and especially the American people.

I always knew Congress was worthless. Now I see that you agree.

Just remember one thing though when it comes to making a commitment or promise, "A man is only as good as his word."

quote:

Originally posted by mattkay4:
I always knew Congress was worthless. Now I see that you agree.

Just remember one thing though when it comes to making a commitment or promise, "A man is only as good as his word."

Actually, I don't think Congress is "worthless" but I agree it's cumbersome, inefficient, frustrating, etc etc. and wouldn't argue with the sentiment that it's "worthless." I do agree with the concept that "A man is only as good as his word" but I also understand it can be taken too literally. If by "word" we mean "the best interests of all concerned and consistent with one's moral principles" then definitely. I might promise to buy you a drink but when I show up you're three sheets to the wind. I'll buy you that drink, but not today.