If it comes to war...should YOU be held accountable for our world policy?

[Iamme]

Or do we just blame it all on the ineptitude of our leaders... and express that our attackers are wrongly targeting the general population (i.e. 9-11), while instead, they should be singling out our leaders?

How do you feel about this?

Let's say that you are personally questioned by an Al Quada operative on your feelings about the fact that our empire has expanded into the middle and far east (and elsewhere) over the years. How would you answer them. Would you say that you had nothing to do with it? That it has been the doings of our Presidents and our other leaders? That if you had your way...that if we never had enough oil to sustain our lifestyle, or never were able to generate enough income in the United Sates alone, to support the opulent lifestyles we so enjoy here...that YOU would have rather not had us go into their regions of the world to exploit (think Nike and overseas sweat shops?), and would have just as soon lived a lesser lifestyle here, by our minding our own business and remaining on our own soil?

Or would you get in the operative's face and say that we are all powerful and we need their resources and we LOVE to see our corporations grow worldwide, at all costs...and we love having them do our dirty work for super cheap...even if it means our invading their regions of the world...and will continue to do so, regardless of what they think?

Is this a tough question?

[TobiasTheViking]

I don't.. honestly, you are asking the question, why don't you supply the answer for once.. what do YOU think.

[JPK]

Good evening TobiasTheCommie.
do YOU think.
After having read almost all of Iamme's posts, I need to ask if this is a trick question.
JPK

[Dave1001]

Or do we just blame it all on the ineptitude of our leaders... and express that our attackers are wrongly targeting the general population (i.e. 9-11), while instead, they should be singling out our leaders?

How do you feel about this?
Is this a tough question?

Nah, as a little Eichmann, I expect Dubya to take the fall if it comes to that, and for me to retire post war to a lovely latin american country.:p

[JPK]

Good evening Iamme.
I apologize. That was a knee jerk reaction and not at all a fair post. I retract that statement. If there is a way to remove it I will. Perhaps I should think a bit before I post.

JPK

[Mycroft]

War is by definition conflict between nations. There is no easy practical way to sort out which citizens may be personally responsible for any one policy or not.

Nations act collectively.

[schplurg]

Let's say that you are personally questioned by an Al Quada operative on your feelings about the fact that our empire has expanded into the middle and far east (and elsewhere) over the years. How would you answer them.Empire? I'd tell him to take a history lesson and go f*** himself.

Then, after beating the hell out of him, I'd say "The world has become a lot smaller in recent years and if you guys don't mellow out we're gonna take care of the problem, one way or another. We don't have room in our world for your stupid and deadly beliefs anymore. As you can see, our leadership can be quite inept and rather dangerous. So would you rather we handle it, or you?"

That is how I feel about it today, right now.

[Skeptic]

Let's say that you are personally questioned by an Al Quada operative on your feelings about the fact that our empire has expanded into the middle and far east (and elsewhere) over the years.

Well, if it's an Al Quaeda operative, then me being a jew would mean I probably won't be questioned at all, but just killed. After all, I am an infidel son of pigs and monkeys.

that YOU would have rather not had us go into their regions of the world to exploit (think Nike and overseas sweat shops?),

Actually, the more the western world exploits a country in such a manner, the more likely it is to advance. The countries which had sweatshops 50 years ago were Japan, Taiwan, etc.; today their standard of living is very high. It is countries "liberated from the yoke of capitalist opressors" whose standard of living remains low.

Or would you get in the operative's face and say that we are all powerful and we need their resources and we LOVE to see our corporations grow worldwide, at all costs...

I would try not to p**s off the operator too much, since the Al Quaeda operator is not likely to be much concerned with human rights, the Geneva convention, freedom of religion, or any other such matters, especially not for captured infidels.

[King of the Americas]

*CORRECTION*

"It IS War, and you ARE being held responsible for the U.S.'s world policy."

[Skeptic]

...but you can forget about anything like concern for your human rights, following the Geneva convention, dislike of torture and massacres, or anything like that from the other side.

[King of the Americas]

You mean, YOU aren't going to gain sympothy from the other side by ignoring Geneva Convention Standards, and operating secret C.I.A. torture prisons...?

[DaChew]

Well, if it's an Al Quaeda operative, then me being a jew would mean I probably won't be questioned at all, but just killed. After all, I am an infidel son of pigs and monkeys.

That's a very negative attitude. If you play your cards right, there is every reason to believe that you would be allowed the privilege of converting to Islam at gun point.

[Bob Klase]

Is this a tough question?

No, I think it's a simplified question (or loaded question) that that ignores any possibilities between two extremes.

Or do we just blame it all on the ineptitude of our leaders... and express that our attackers are wrongly targeting the general population (i.e. 9-11), while instead, they should be singling out our leaders?

What do you think? Have our attackers been wrongly targeting the general population? If not, then why should we be restricted from targeting the general population of Irag or Afghanistan (or Iran, or North Korea)?

[Brainache]

Al Qaeda áren't really concerned with US foreign policy or British foreign policy or Australian, Spanish Whatever foreign policy.

They are concerned with bringing about the conversion of the west to Islam. Their very own brutal repressive form of radical Islam. If they can't convert you by terror, they will attempt to destroy you with terrorism.

The problem is not foreign policy or oil companies and big multinational corporations keeping the third world in poverty(although it doesn't help).
The problem is that these people are fundamentalists. They see anyone who does not fit within their own narrow definition of righteous as evil.

US(and the west in general) foreign policy since 9/11 has done nothing to stop the spread of radical Islam. No major incentive has been given to the moderate voice of Islam. I see reports of young muslim men being radicalised because it is only the radicals who seem to be doing anything at all.

I personally don't believe there is a military solution to the war on terror. Whether there is any solution at all I don't know.
I just hope.

Oh well that's my two cents.

[Darth Rotor]

Or do we just blame it all on the ineptitude of our leaders... and express that our attackers are wrongly targeting the general population (i.e. 9-11), while instead, they should be singling out our leaders?

How do you feel about this?

Let's say that you are personally questioned by an Al Quada operative on your feelings about the fact that our empire has expanded into the middle and far east (and elsewhere) over the years. How would you answer them. Would you say that you had nothing to do with it? That it has been the doings of our Presidents and our other leaders? That if you had your way...that if we never had enough oil to sustain our lifestyle, or never were able to generate enough income in the United Sates alone, to support the opulent lifestyles we so enjoy here...that YOU would have rather not had us go into their regions of the world to exploit (think Nike and overseas sweat shops?), and would have just as soon lived a lesser lifestyle here, by our minding our own business and remaining on our own soil?

Or would you get in the operative's face and say that we are all powerful and we need their resources and we LOVE to see our corporations grow worldwide, at all costs...and we love having them do our dirty work for super cheap...even if it means our invading their regions of the world...and will continue to do so, regardless of what they think?

Is this a tough question?
If I knew he was an Al Qaeda operative, we would not be having a conversation. He'd either soon be in my gun sites, then soon shot, or he'd have already captured me and it would hardly be a conversation: it would be an interrogation. If given the chance, I'd have to ask why he felt the need to spread Islam beyond its homeland.

So, what do you really mean with your question?

DR

[kalen]

If it comes to war...should YOU be held accountable for our world policy?

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

[Beerina]

Accountable...to whom? This presumes somebody, somewhere on this planet is morally superior to the US. Just who would that be now?