Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Dskowera

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

”The solutions to protect children are achievable ... ”

In the jungles of Congo or Uganda?

In Afganistan?

In occupied territories of Israel?

Proof please.

Dianna Skowera

Dianna Skowera — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Me,

I was recapping a statement that I had made earlier in the essay, regarding your comment.

”Notably, international laws are in place to prevent the use of child combatants. These laws place responsibility on governments to prevent the use of child combatants.”

I touched on several solutions, but the one I believe is key would be for the governments of these nations to be held accountable and to be more proactive.

Israel, however, I will say is more of a fight for survival on the part of the Palestinians. However, I do not feel that it is acceptable to ask children to fight in any situation; leave it to the adults. I do feel that Israel needs to stop attacking Palestine and allow the existence of their territories. There are established Palestinian cities within Israel that are not even on maps, and each day children are gassed as they try to walk to schools in other Palestinian towns.

Fadl Abu Hein, a psychology lecturer in Gaza said, “Martyrdom has become an ambition for our children. If they had a proper education in a normal environment, they won’t have looked for a value in death.” (Singer, 2005)

Andre Walker

Andre Walker — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

This will be an interesting challenge for the Obama administration. The pressure must b immense...

http://www.yourobamaupdate.com

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Obama administration has no intention of ending world poverty or child abuse. Where did you get this idea? At least he has not said anything to this effect.

I would be very surprised if either the war in Iraq or Afghanistan are resolved in 4 years.

Actually, the biggest problem for the Obama Administration is the enormous pressure to expand the war into Iran, which would be an enormous mistake.

Dianna Skowera

Dianna Skowera — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I also do not agree with a war with Iran. While I was in Iraq, I saw many photographs that came in with detainees from the locations of attacks that they had made on other Iraqis or Coalition Forces. Numerous times, the rounds, launchers, etc very clearly read, ”Made in Iran” on them. They support the shiite of Iraq.

I think the Iranian and US deaths would be more catastrophic than either nation is prepared for.

Andre Walker

Andre Walker — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Let’s just say a little birdie told me that many of the international
directives that would have come out of the Obama administration are n the
back burner as the economy sinks deeper into disrepair Me Enki. Both world
poverty and child abuse are natural extensions of the new administrations
philosophies and direction...

I believe America will be out of Iraq and back in Afgahnistan in force in
the next 4 years (assuming we dont find bin laden... if he is even still
alive).

The Obama administration will not go to war w/Iran... pressure or not.

Cheers, Andre’
http://www.yourobamaupdate.com

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We all have great hopes for the Obama presidency. But I wouldn’t project issues on the guy that he has not mentioned. He’s got his plate full with the few things the guy has actually mentioned.

RobbieNZ

RobbieNZ — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

What is Terrorism?

Dianna Skowera

Dianna Skowera — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Ha, what a question... I think it is a vague explanation of many different ideas, to be honest.

I would say that it is people who do not belong to an official army of a government and do not abide by the Geneva Conventions. If it was strictly people who do not belong to a government, then you would have to consider people who cause uprisings in Bosnia or Darfur, terrorists. I would also say that people who fight not to change government policy but to exploit riches, resources, or impose their religious beliefs can fall in the category of terrorists.

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Noam Chomsky’s definition or George Bush’s?

Andre Walker

Andre Walker — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I do not believe a war with Iran will happen barring some catastrophic
incident which both nations would be wise to avoid Dianna. In what capacity
were you in Iraq?

Andre’
http://www.yourobamaupdate.com

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

@Dianna Skowera

”I touched on several solutions, but the one I believe is key would be for the governments of these nations to be held accountable and to be more proactive.”

I agree but are we really going to cut off aid to Israel? I don’t think so. Are we going to invade African states to punish them? Again I don’t think so.

The entire system of US predatory imperialism would have to change and I don’t see that happening in our political climate. Have you read any Chomsky?

”very clearly read, ”Made in Iran” on them”. Did you see any ’Made in USA’ weapons on US Army personnel?

Dianna Skowera

Dianna Skowera — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t see us cutting off aid to Israel. I do not suggest that we invade African states. I suggest the UN be more proactive. I suggest the government’s of these countries be more proactive. Is that going to happen any time soon? No. Will some public awareness help? Yes, but in mass numbers.

I would only consider the US’s system to be that of ”predatory imperialism” if they did something like ”invade African states to punish them”, which you say you believe will not happen.

I don’t believe I have read any Chomsky, but of course will take a look, as I am always eager to learn.

Of course I saw US personnel with weapons made in the US, I would hope that they were all made in the US and not such places as Israel or anywhere else. I should have added with that comment that Ahmedinijad visited Baghdad and very publicly claimed that his country was not supporting Iraq with weapons. I believe that Iran is providing assistance to gain support of a shiite backed government.

Haider Bilgrami

Haider Bilgrami — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

man is a social ANIMAL, what happens when you corner say a cat or a dog, will we term it as Animal terrorism ?

Whenever some one is exploited and he/she has no way to respond, they act voilently, add a mixture of politics and mass hysteria, thereu have it Terrorism, it was always there but got recognised as a subject recently

Dianna Skowera

Dianna Skowera — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Haider,

I think you’ve put this better than any of us have so far. I do not like the term terrorist/terrorism; it is too broad of a term. In a way I think that the Bush administration used it to dub something as evil, so that the US looked more justified in going after certain groups.

However, how do you think that the Taliban were exploited, or do you? I am just curious as to your description. Although, I do agree with the mass hysteria.

I would also like to add that it seems so fruitless at times for different cultures to try and solve each others’ problems. I am from America, there will be things I will never completely grasp about Pakistan, and likely vice versa for you.

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Your temperament is incredibly reasonable, level headed and well meaning. But I take issue with something you write:

”I would only consider the US’s system to be that of ”predatory imperialism” if they did something like ”invade African states to punish them””

If we prop up dictatorship’s like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or as Pakistan has been until last year or discriminatory states like Israel or any number of little client states that stamp out democracy and labor unions so that we can have cheap goods or make lots of money on oil or munitions sales that’s not predatory? I guess not. We’re just making wise decisions for bargain prices.

http://www.chomsky.info/index.htm

Love him or hate him, he’s required reading for international politics.

Andre Walker

Andre Walker — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I would say that there are many more than a ”few” issues his team is
tackling at once.

Cheers!

Me Enki

Me Enki — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

As regard Iranian weapons. Have you ever considered that the French paid for the American Revolution and there were just as many French soldiers at the Battle of Yorktown as American? (Look it up on Wikipedia).

What’s the point? Without legitimate grievances among Americans the Revolution would have never succeeded no matter how much men, material, and money the French poured into North America.

I would suggest the same for Iraq. If the Iraqis had no legitimate grievances no amount of Iranian support would do a damn thing.

If Iraqis came here and patrolled our streets, accidentally shot our people, locked us up and ”humanely” interrogated us do you really feel that we would just lay down and surrender to them?

I actually used to have a job where we ’interrogated’ people (actually I didn’t but I saw it). I was working for welfare in New York City. Part of the process was asking people applying for welfare to admit their drug histories. The counselors were very nice about it. The people would spill their guts, they were so happy or relieved to tell someone with authority. But if they had done anything in the last 90 days they had to go to rehab in order to get their public support money. You could see they all felt like suckers in the end. Some got angry. All I could do was think ”suckers”, that’s why you people are so poor. I know a journalist for the Wall Street Journal who’s a coke head. I know she’s got the brains to keep that kind of stuff a complete secret.

Hassan Rizvi

Hassan Rizvi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

So long as the USA does not realise that terrorism in the Muslim world is a direct product of it’s policies,nothing will decrease or go away.

Arn’t two years of Bush adminstration good enough to drive the lessons home.The Taliban and Al Qaieda are stronger then ever ,while the US economy is in a mess.Face it or not,the USSR economy also collapsed because of the prolonged war in Afghanistan.

And poor Obama has inherited an economy which is in too much of a shambles to allow him to do even one tenth of what Bush did in military terms.Plus Afghanistan and Pakistan’s north are more rugged terrain,more dogged fighters and much more population then Iraq.

Do you really want to take them on?or should you try other means???

Time to really re-think the options,including whom you want to make your friends or enemies.

Hassan Rizvi

Hassan Rizvi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

sorry for two years above read two terms