Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[jeremyrh]

No, he was intending to win re-election so he would have more time to negotiate.  He shouldn't rush it.  As much as I want American troops out of there, let's not do what Obama did in 2011 by pulling troops out prematurely and creating another ISIS.  On the other hand, we could stay there forever and nothing is going to change.  So at some point, we should just warn the Taliban that if they allow their country to be used as a terrorist base again, we'll be back.  Then we should leave. 

Remind us why American troops are there at all ....

[Alan Klein]

I don't think Thailand is communist either. So that leaves China. I guess it is technically communist.

The CCP Chinese Communist Party control the markets and own a lot of the industry.  But the main point is that it's a one-party dictatorial state.  It has a president for life. They lock people up or kill them if they open their mouths.  Even Hongkongers understand this.  Didn't you see them marching for freedom?   Is that the kind of country you'd want to live in?  Is having a low Covid rate worth it to you?

[faberryman]

It's going to be interesting to see what Biden does.  I don't recall much discussion on this before the election, unfortunately.  Instead of discussing real policy, it was all about "dump Trump" all the time.  What should Biden do?

Well, Biden could hardly fit a word in edgewise with Trump interrupting him all the time during the debates.

I think Biden will listen to the advice of military experts about the optimum timing of a draw down.

[Alan Klein]

Remind us why American troops are there at all ....

To kill ISIS which we've done.  Now we can leave.

[faberryman]

The CCP Chinese Communist Party control the markets and own a lot of the industry.  But the main point is that it's a one-party dictatorial state.  It has a president for life. They lock people up or kill them if they open their mouths.  Even Hongkongers understand this.  Didn't you see them marching for freedom?   Is that the kind of country you'd want to live in?  Is having a low Covid rate worth it to you?

I believe I conceded that China is technically a communist country, so I don't know why you have your hackles up.

[jeremyrh]

To kill ISIS which we've done.  Now we can leave.

In Afghanistan? Really?

[Alan Klein]

Most likely. But what I would like to see is Trump on skates.

That would even be funnier than me on skates. 

[faberryman]

In Afghanistan? Really?

No. Alan has forgotten that we originally went into Afghanistan to get Bin Laden. Remember the bunker bombs and all that? Al Qaeda hiding in caves?  It's been a long time, but I remember watching the bombing on TV and thinking it looked like a video game. If Bin Laden was there he obviously escaped on donkeys or camels or whatever beasts of burden they had. That's when we learned that Bin Laden was on kidney dialysis or whatever.  We had bombers chasing herds of donkeys looking for the one with an IV pole. Anyway, we stayed. Some remnants of ISIS moved in ten or so years later. That's where Alan's memory picks up the story.

[Alan Klein]

So Mexico paid for their own troops on their own side of the border. Yet another "Art of the Deal" success story.

Mexicans are smarter than Americans.  Europeans too. Americans send their troops to Europe to defend Europeans who don't have to spend their money on defense so they can have free healthcare.  At least Trump understood this.  Biden doesn;t.  That's why all the Europeans here like Biden.  They'll save their defense tax money not spent and use it to pay for their own social programs.  Of course the American media, biased as hell against Trump, never explained this to Americans and helped others against their own country.  It's a disgrace.

[jeremyrh]

No. Alan has forgotten that we originally went into Afghanistan to get Bin Laden. Remember the bunker bombs and all that. Al Qaeda hiding in caves.  If Bin Laden was there he obviously escaped. We stayed. Some remnants of ISIS moved in ten or so years later.

And a little bit further back the US were arming the Taliban to help them in their war against schools for girls and all that sort of communist nonsense.

[jeremyrh]

Mexicans are smarter than Americans.  Europeans too. Americans send their troops to Europe to defend Europeans who don't have to spend their money on defense so they can have free healthcare.  At least Trump understood this.  Biden doesn;t.  That's why all the Europeans here like Biden.  They'll save their defense tax money not spent and use it to pay for their own social programs.  Of course the American media, biased as hell against Trump, never explained this to Americans and helped others against their own country.  It's a disgrace.

I think you'll find that isn't in the top 10 reasons why Europeans prefer Biden to Trump.  Probably not in the top 100.

[Alan Klein]

It is hardly butting in to criticize other counties. You do it all the time.

Criticism is one thing.  Telling us to send our sons and daughters to fight and die for their desires is another.  It takes a lot of nerve to tell other people to fight and die in another land when your own people aren't going. What do they think that this is a computer game? We're the ones who'll have to watch body bags being offloaded from planes on TV every night, not them.  Do you think Biden wants to call the families of these dead troops up every night to tell them how sorry he is that they're dead? And for what?

[Alan Klein]

CNN is the network that did the interview.  The Hill just reposted it.

It is shit like this that forces me to not take CNN seriously anymore.  The constant comparing Trump to Hitler just destroys that Network's credibility. 

Here's the good side.  Now that Trump will be out, who will they drum up business about.  Biden's their guy.  So they'll moderate any criticism.  No one's going to watch CNN any more.  Trump made all these guys  millions. 

[chez]

Those ice rinks are very expensive for skating. Weekend rates are $19 for adults, $9 for seniors. They charge $5 just for looking (spectators or non-skating parents). In Canada, the outdoor skating is usually free.

Yep, Vancouver has a beautiful outdoor rink in Robson's Square...it's free.

[jeremyrh]

Criticism is one thing.  Telling us to send our sons and daughters to fight and die for their desires is another.

Proof?  Oh, sorry, I forgot, it's not polite to call you on your fantasies.

And for what?

Ah well, that is indeed the question.  Why not try to figure out the answer on your own. You may find it instructive.

[LesPalenik]

You don't have a dog in the fight and shouldn't butt in. We went through this when it happened.  Turkey is a NATO member and ally of the US for decades.  We have Incirlik Air Base there which used to run spy missions over China and the Soviet Union.  We never promised the Kurds we'd go to war with Turkey so Kurds can have a homeland.  Americans are tired dying for others.  If you want to send Canadians to fight for them, you're welcome to do so.  Do you think Biden is going to change America's policy regarding this and send another son or a grandson to fight and die in the Middle East like Beau Biden?

Separately, why do non-Americans always want us to sacrifice our people to solve the problems of the world?  Then when we butt in, you complain that we butted in and shouldn't push our weight around?   Make up your mind.

Trump should make up his mind. One day he pulls out the troupes, next day he brings them back in.

[jeremyrh]

Here's the good side.  Now that Trump will be out, who will they drum up business about.  Biden's their guy.  So they'll moderate any criticism.  No one's going to watch CNN any more.  Trump made all these guys  millions.

Just to be sure - are you talking about CNN?  Or The Hill?  It gets confusing.

[chez]

So you think communism is good.  That sounds pretty ignorant to me.

The people I've talked with seem OK with their system. I can easily live in Vietnam as the people there give you the shirt off their backs...even if it's their only shirt.

Like I said Alan, maybe you should travel and learn rather than reading your propoganda about how great the US is and how bad other countries are. You just might be surprised that things look a lot different than what the propoganda leads you to believe.

[faberryman]

Criticism is one thing.  Telling us to send our sons and daughters to fight and die for their desires is another.  It takes a lot of nerve to tell other people to fight and die in another land when your own people aren't going. What do they think that this is a computer game? We're the ones who'll have to watch body bags being offloaded from planes on TV every night, not them.  Do you think Biden wants to call the families of these dead troops up every night to tell them how sorry he is that they're dead? And for what?

We could say no. That's an option. Then there wouldn't be any body bags being offloaded from planes. But really, when was the last time another country asked the US to send ours sons and daughters to fight and die for their desires? WWII, 75 years ago?

Anyway, I thought it was the US going around asking other countries to send their sons and daughters to fight and die in these conflicts with us. It was called coalition building. I don't remember Canada being the leader of any of the coalitions. It was always the US.

[chez]

Most likely. But what I would like to see is Trump on skates.

Or even better see Trump trying to get up once he falls flat onto his ass.