[whelan costen]

Shheeesh, thanks for the info NSAY, it's nice to get a better rounded picture of Clarke! I have been listening to the inquiry, very interesting the way some of the rep ask questions to get the answer they want and don't ask the questions that will reveal. They keep discussing the present situation and the future but are not really getting to 911, prior to and the events of the day...maybe they will yet, but so far it's a lot of political spin. In my opinion.

[Reverend Blair]

So how can this be made clear to the American people? Clark is doing what he can, and so have others, and while it is eroding Bush's popularity it is not having as much effect as one would expect.

[Kory Yamashita]

It's having as much effect as I'd expect, but not as much as I'd hope for!!! -KY

[Reverend Blair]

I really expected more. There was a huge outcry when Clinton lied about his little pecadillo. That was a pretty minor fib compared to the things the Bush administration has been lying about, yet there is not really much open criticism in comparison.

[Kory Yamashita]

Yeah, but it's easier for people to relate. They can say "what if MY husband/wife is getting down with the secretary/anyone else at work" and suddenly they become enraged and demand "justice". But when it's a war, well "then it becomes political"... ie: can't relate to it, it's only theoretical in the mind of the masses. Everyone understands why people cheat. But most people don't understand why we bomb every countries. And that's because if you TELL these people, they won't believe you. "Yeah, sure... I REALLY believe we're going to go kill hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians just for cheaper oil".

I don't have great expectations for a dying empire in its last throws. The US is just lashing out at the world because it's dying from the inside. These cancers are of the "war on drugs" (not the drugs themselves; the war is the cancer), the NRA, the complete selling out to Corporate America, the sensationalist media (gotta boost them ratings), the failing economy, the government's ignorant and short term solutions to the failing economy (more military spending), America's longterm tradition of living with the majority in fear (->see Bowling for Columbine), widespread ignorance towards the political system and political responsibility, and the tendency to watch television instead of actually meeting people and interacting.

I don't have much faith in the American people to demand justice. The country is simply too far gone, both as a cause and effect of a complete lack of will to improve society in the hearts of the people. I see a failing country with no collective will to improve. "We have the means but we lack the will".. I think I misquoted that, but you get the picture!

-KY

[whelan costen]

Kory I agree but also, there is the fact that many soldiers would have a hard time realizing and accepting they were part of the mass murder for oil. That is too hard to accept, they participated, also many supported bush and co in going to war, so now what will they say? The people would have to accept their own 'bad' judgement in believing the lies and many don't want to do that!

[Kory Yamashita]

Well if they had heard the millions of people in the streets PRIOR to the invasion, they might have thought it out for themselves. But by then they were already signed up. So they ran into a war they were guaranteed to win, and then came trudging home (oh wait.. they're still over there) and are unwilling to face the truth about it? Sounds cowardly to me. Part of the responsibility of yielding a weapon is to use it properly. Part of the responsibility when signing up for the army is to have faith in the people who direct you. And ultimately that means the President and Rumsfeld. Some of the best civil engineering education available is provided free from the Canadian Armed Forces if you sign up and serve for a couple years. The reason I didn't go that route, the reason I'm spending tens of thousands of dollars that I can't really afford is that I don't believe in Martin to use the military (or what's left of it) to support my beliefs. Actually I don't really believe in violence as a solution to any problem. Anyways, Whelan. I agree with you that it IS a problem that soldiers aren't willing to accept their own poor judgement. I just think it's a pretty weak excuse for hurting the world further by voting for someone like Bush.

[Jakob]

Well Kory, I cannot argue that the U.S. is not in it's death throws and is lashing out at whomever, whatever they can. In so doing, for instance as in Haiti, they only further corporate interests. The thing is, we as a country, will be going along for the ride and that is the real travesty that one set of neocon lunatics will take us and probably most of the civilized west down the tubes with them. Not that I want to give bush et al credit for anything, this has been in the works for many years. They are simply pushing, knowingly or otherwise, the whole macro scale situation over the brink.

[whelan costen]

Jakob, haven't seen you here before, so welcome and I look forward to you sharing more thoughts!

[Kory Yamashita]

Jakob... we don't HAVE to get dragged down with them. It's just a matter of will. Unfortunately, we almost certainly WILL go along with our flailing southern neighbors. But from revolution comes change, so I'm still optimistic. Oh, and welcome!!

[Jakob]

Kory, Maybe we don't have to go down with them, but for that to happen we have to get our military into shape and re think this whole nafta mess and I do not think the political will is there to do it. Martin seems to be taking a pretty conciliatory tone when it comes to our dealings with the U.S., unfortunately, we are not in much of a position now to do anything but unless we start implementing big changes, fast.

[Milton]

Yes, we need to elect a government that is not Liberal and not conservative. That would be a big change. Jakob, I did not go to school with Richard Clarke but I did spend time at some Universities in the US and I don't think Richard Clarke is telling the whole truth. I think he is being used to distract the US public from listening to the 9-11 families questions. I think he is being used to hype the commission, to boost ratings, to get people to think that the shit is hitting the fan when it is just more of the same old crap. It is more preferable that a few people in the administration lose or quit their jobs than that the entire US intelligence apparatus along with the Bush administration and selected congressman and senators be under suspicion of or actually indicted for mass murder and treason against the citizens of the United States. He is a weapon of mass distraction.