Poll: After Bin Laden: Next Step

[Calbeck]

So it should be hundred of thousand?

If you'd said "there's a hundred thousand US contractors in Afghanistan", I'd've agreed. Because there are (in fact, there's more than that, between the military and civilian contractors).

But hyperbole jerks my knee. "Hundreds of thousands" is 200,000 to any number short of a million. It's like the people who are running around claiming America has killed "millions" of Iraqis --- when the total known figures, even from anti-war groups, are around one hundred thousand violent deaths from all causes. Including the insurgents, who are far and away the biggest confirmed culprit.

Given that Hussein averaged 40,000 Iraqi dead per year (one million dead over the course of 25 years in power), that's literally hundreds of thousands FEWER dead Iraqis because of the invasion. But for political purposes, some people want to make up horrible figures out of thin air to horrify people into supporting their view.

And I never said the USA was in Afghanistan for money.

Specifically, you said one of the reasons we would stay in Afghanistan is because pulling "hundreds of thousands" of contractors out would harm our economy.

And yes, I believe certain influencial figures and bodies within the USA make a lot of money out of it.

So what? Unless you wish to ascribe a legal or moral point to that, why should I care?

 

[Kortney]

So it should be hundred of thousand?

If you'd said "there's a hundred thousand US contractors in Afghanistan", I'd've agreed. Because there are (in fact, there's more than that, between the military and civilian contractors).

But hyperbole jerks my knee. "Hundreds of thousands" is 200,000 to any number short of a million.

Yeah, I didn't know this. Like I said - this is my third most fluent language. It's terrible I know. You don't have to insult me and start ranting at me because I don't know the difference between a plural and a non-plural.

So what? Unless you wish to ascribe a legal or moral point to that, why should I care?

If you don't care about what I have to say, why are you quoting me? This is a message board. People post their opinions. I believe one of the reasons the USA is in Afghanistan is because influential Americans are making large amounts of money due to contracting and private organisations operating within Afghanistan. It's one of the reason - and probably a very small reason - but I see it as a reason. Disagreeing with me does not entitle you to launch a tirade.

 

[Hussmann54]

A bullet to the head says "I am as low as you"

In all fairness, he started shooting first, capturing him was out of the question after that.

And disposing of the body at sea, bad idea. Especially because it makes it sound more like a conspiracy. "Where is the body?"
"Oh about 20,000 feet under and crushed by pressure by now, don't you worry now, he is fish food"

They buried under the ocean to demoralize the enemy and not give them a grave to turn into a shrine.

Besides, you killed a man who (and this is a slim chance, but a chance nonetheless) could have been a tremendous bargaining chip, and didn't even give a trial at all.

There's no way in hell he could've been used as a bargaining chip and he couldn't be given trail due to the fact he was shooting, as in, you know, trying to kill, those sent to get him. That'd be like trying to give someone a speeding ticket after they drove off into the distance at a hundred miles per hour and you're in the middle of pursuit.

Second off, if you did kill him, process him like the POW he is. Like the HIGH VALUE POW that he is. examine the body, run forensics, etc. Don't give into the extremists who say "You better bury him in 24 hours."

They did DNA testing and confirmed it was him, no need to keep it. Besides, his supporters would've killed for his body back, best destroy it before a war breaks out over it.

Also, POW implies he is a prisoner, which he wasn't. He started shooting, thus making him a combatant.

So yea, America made a few crucial mistakes in handling him. Learn from this, and move on (And I'm serious about the retaliation. I'm just trying to be a realist retarded, not a pessimist. They will not take this crap lying down.

1) No one's expecting them to take it lightly.
2) Handling it any other way would've been a terrible idea.
3) Your argument makes no sense.
4) You clearly don't understand the situation that the operation was carried out under.

Also, as a side note, proper grammar helps one not make an idiot of themselves.

OT: I think they should stabilize the region before pulling out, right now all we've got is a power vacuum that's going to be filled with upstart terrorist leaders seeking both revenge and power of their own.

wow.. somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed....

 

[Calbeck]

So what? Unless you wish to ascribe a legal or moral point to that, why should I care?

If you don't care about what I have to say, why are you quoting me?

Why are you quoting me if you're not bothering to read before responding? My caring is based entirely on whether or not you can attach an actual legal or moral point to your complaints.

If you can't, you're just unloading a bunch of non-sequiturs and then wondering why others aren't as outraged as you are.

I believe one of the reasons the USA is in Afghanistan is because influential Americans are making large amounts of money due to contracting and private organisations operating within Afghanistan.

Which brings us right back to my point that your idea of cause and effect is reversed. Influential Americans made large amounts of money in every other war we've ever been in. If you have nothing else to base your logic on, then you must obviously think we were in World War II to make Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt rich off of his contacts in the shipping industries which were then engaged to build warships to defeat the Japanese.

An allegation which WAS made at the time, on the same lack of basis, by people who wanted the US to stay out of the war despite the attack on Pearl Harbor. There will always be those who equate outcome with motive.