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December 28, 2007 at 07:48:03

Headlined on 12/28/07:
We need to STOP! EVERYTHING!

by Robert Sargent Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Disastrous foreign policy predates President Bush, but he has refined and elevated the art, taking it to new and even unimaginable levels.

We need to stop everything. We need to stop supporting both Musharraf AND Bhutto (okay, I know that one’s been taken care of, but we need to stop the PRACTICE!). We need to stop supporting the Kurds AND Turkey. We need to stop supporting the Sunnis AND the Shiites.

We need to stop supporting the enemy of our enemy of the moment, because when we support them simply because they are the enemy of our enemy, they inevitably, and invariably, and without exception, become OUR enemy. It’s just a matter of time.

We need to stop having enemies. I’m serious. Iraq didn’t need to be our enemy. Iran doesn’t need to be our enemy. Venezuela doesn’t need to be our enemy.

Why don’t we try this: Why don’t we decide the friend of our friend is our friend. North Korea is a friend of China, and China is the friend of America; the very best kind of friend: the kind of friend that finances imperial wars!

Russia is the friend of Iran. Russia is our friend.

Libya is the friend of every autocratic, dictatorial, rogue regime in the known universe. Libya is our friend.

Can’t we just be friends?

Can’t we all just get along?

What could it hurt?

Everything our President touches turns into a bloody clusterfuckofamess.

Just Stop. Stop everything. Stop supporting the “goodguys”, stop antagonizing the “badguys”.

Maybe Rob Kall was right. Mabye we should support Ron Paul.

Robert Sargent is co-owner of a Washington State commercial printing company with operations in Seattle and Redmond. He has an Economics degree from the University of Washington and occasionally plays alto sax with the Husky alumni band. An amateur economist, investor and photographer, and fiscally conservative moderate at heart, Robert has been a "yellow-dog Democrat" since the Bush administration "began screwing up the world beyond repair". Active in local and national political races, Mr. Sargent ("Sarge") was a delegate for John Kerry and is now supporting Barack Obama. A news and politics junkie and occasional workaholic, his non-work time is spent (not in order) with his wife of 17 years and 2 kids, blogging in front of the TV, reading, cooking, spectator sports (NCAA hoops & football, MLB, NFL) taking pictures, and participating in a famously progressive Presbyterian church.

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15 comments

Just some software developer / real estate investor who is interested in seeing America reach her 300th anniversary intact.
Louis NardoziJust some software developer / real estate investor who is interested in seeing America reach her 300th anniversary intact.

Sooner or Later

Every person of good conscience must support Dr. Paul. I'm sorry to put it that way but you don't really have an alternative. I'm a supporter but I'm not happy Ms. Bhutto is gone - even though it clearly outlines the folly of our current position. We can either let them keep doing this to our country, and the world or we can vote in the one person who will help reverse this trend. I don't think our job ends there, we'll have to put folk in Congress who'll support him.

by Louis Nardozi (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 10:13:19 AM

Hi. I'm 70 and tired of this crap!
joanakellyHi. I'm 70 and tired of this crap!

Stopping and starting...

Yes, you're right! We need to stop thinking we have the right to decide what's best for anyone else. This is not the idea upon which this country was founded. It is not the idea upon which Christianity was founded. Thinking we know best is a sick control issue.

My Mom's Dad had a wonderful saying: "Sugar, if you take care of the weeds in your own garden, you won't be worried about what happens in your neighbor's." Isn't that what Jesus, the Christ, meant when he said: "Love your neighbor as yourself."?

Do we want freedom? Then - why the hell don't we give it?

by joanakelly (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 12:45:47 PM

Robert Sargent is co-owner of a Washington State commercial printing company with operations in Seattle and Redmond. He has an Economics degree from the University of Washington and occasionally plays alto sax with the Husky alumni band. An amateur economist, investor and photographer, and fiscally conservative moderate at heart, Robert has been a "yellow-dog Democrat" since the Bush administration "began screwing up the world beyond repair". Active in local and national political races, Mr. Sar...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Robert SargentRobert Sargent is co-owner of a Washington State commercial printing company with operations in Seattle and Redmond. He has an Economics degree from the University of Washington and occasionally plays alto sax with the Husky alumni band. An amateur economist, investor and photographer, and fiscally conservative moderate at heart, Robert has been a "yellow-dog Democrat" since the Bush administration "began screwing up the world beyond repair". Active in local and national political races, Mr. Sar...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Amen!

We need to stop thinking we have the moral high ground on anything. We invade, we torture, we execute, and we subvert Democracy whenever we think it suits us.

by Robert Sargent (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 301 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 2:03:06 PM

Nobody special.
WatchingNobody special.

No moratorium required

All we need to do is stop interfering in the affairs of other nations and 99% of our foreign policy problems will go away. The only problems we have are the ones we make ourselves. I think maybe a new amendment to the Constitution making the military a purely defensive force not to be deployed outside of US borders for any reason would do the trick.

by Watching (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 314 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 1:29:43 PM

x
Tony Forestx

here ye

Germany installed a similar "rule" after WWII. Look at where German military now is situatued: Afghanistan, off the coast of Lebanon and soon .... ? We The People oppose these war-like or war-machine-supporting activities as best we can. Yet, it helps to have it in writing. Sure nuff.

by Tony Forest (4 articles, 14 quicklinks, 129 diaries, 1209 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 4:26:26 PM

Nobody special.
WatchingNobody special.

I didn't know what happened with Germany

I was trying to hold up the example of the Japanese after WWII. You don't hear anything about Japan stirring up a hornets nest anywhere in the world, and it's because they are allowed only a limited military that serves in a defensive capacity only. I would imagine that Germany as a member of NATO is deploying forces under NATO commanders and not as an act of belligerence on their own.

by Watching (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 314 comments) on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 9:06:56 AM

Michael C. Morris has been involved in racing since the age of twelve (12) when he took a summer job working at Terry’s Speed Shop located in Phoenixville PA.

With the help of his brother John Morris, they teamed up and joined Razzberry Racing. In the 90’s, the team was building their own cars to complete in the Sports Car Club of
America’s National Classes when in 1993 Michael joined Ed Arnold Racing with David
Donahue, son of the legendary Mark Donahue, to run in th...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Michael MorrisMichael C. Morris has been involved in racing since the age of twelve (12) when he took a summer job working at Terry’s Speed Shop located in Phoenixville PA.

With the help of his brother John Morris, they teamed up and joined Razzberry Racing. In the 90’s, the team was building their own cars to complete in the Sports Car Club of
America’s National Classes when in 1993 Michael joined Ed Arnold Racing with David
Donahue, son of the legendary Mark Donahue, to run in th...

to see more of bio, click on member name

AMEN

I would add one change, troops could go outside country in hot pursuit of acts commited here.

by Michael Morris (17 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 297 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 7:48:58 PM

Sandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sandy SandSandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Ike Was Right

Beware the industrial military complex!

When they take the $$$ out of making war, then your plan will work.

I added Cuba to the list of who we can be friends with.

by Sandy Sand (131 articles, 0 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1231 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 2:57:40 PM

Robert Sargent is co-owner of a Washington State commercial printing company with operations in Seattle and Redmond. He has an Economics degree from the University of Washington and occasionally plays alto sax with the Husky alumni band. An amateur economist, investor and photographer, and fiscally conservative moderate at heart, Robert has been a "yellow-dog Democrat" since the Bush administration "began screwing up the world beyond repair". Active in local and national political races, Mr. Sar...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Robert SargentRobert Sargent is co-owner of a Washington State commercial printing company with operations in Seattle and Redmond. He has an Economics degree from the University of Washington and occasionally plays alto sax with the Husky alumni band. An amateur economist, investor and photographer, and fiscally conservative moderate at heart, Robert has been a "yellow-dog Democrat" since the Bush administration "began screwing up the world beyond repair". Active in local and national political races, Mr. Sar...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Of Course!

Should've mentioned Cuba. What a beatutiful country. What great and proud people. Just because they've been stuck with a dictator for decades doesn't mean we shouldn't buy their most excellent cigars, or be allowed to vacation there.

If Montreal and Toronto can have MLB teams, why not Cuba?

by Robert Sargent (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 301 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 9:42:13 PM

Yes, I was intentionally named by my father to honor Patrick Henry, a great American patriot and brilliant orator. Perhaps someday I will follow in his footsteps. For now, I am a full-time widget designer (mechanical engineer) and a part-time artist. Some say a picture is worth 1,000 words. I say a photograph can change lives and I aspire to achieve this level of art someday. If you feel the need to prejudge me: I am 28, male, caucasian, homosexual, libertarian, homeowner, middle-class, 5'1...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Patrick HenryYes, I was intentionally named by my father to honor Patrick Henry, a great American patriot and brilliant orator. Perhaps someday I will follow in his footsteps. For now, I am a full-time widget designer (mechanical engineer) and a part-time artist. Some say a picture is worth 1,000 words. I say a photograph can change lives and I aspire to achieve this level of art someday. If you feel the need to prejudge me: I am 28, male, caucasian, homosexual, libertarian, homeowner, middle-class, 5'1...

to see more of bio, click on member name

right on

the good news is that we already are friends with everyone... we the people i mean. Personally, i have friends and business contacts in Iran, China, Egypt, France, India, Vietnam, etc. I think that 6 billion people have no problems getting along with one another for the most part. But our leaders are a different story.

Ron Paul's policy is great because it takes the power of deciding our friendships away from the few and gives it to the many.

of course, if you believe in terrorists or if you earn a living building killing instruments, then you probably disagree.

by Patrick Henry (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 46 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 3:11:04 PM

x
Tony Forestx

Amen !

Sandy, Patrick, Amen amen !

Spot on, both of you.

And Robert, right on time. Someone please stop this carrousel !

by Tony Forest (4 articles, 14 quicklinks, 129 diaries, 1209 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 4:16:09 PM

57Yo m I'm a "been there, done that! Bought the tee shirt,to hide the scars!" type of person Ive workedï¿½many jobs fromï¿½a chicken slaughterer to managing a branch of a multinational and many jobs in between.Raised in colonial PNG Left School 16,Grad Hi school 22 Night School, University 36ï¿½ BBus (majored in Psyche and Marketing), Dip Comp prog and project Mmnt.at 50 I've been in 48 different community org ,23 on board with 18 prez or deputy prez.First social campaign at 17 for the aborigine...

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Andris57Yo m I'm a "been there, done that! Bought the tee shirt,to hide the scars!" type of person Ive workedï¿½many jobs fromï¿½a chicken slaughterer to managing a branch of a multinational and many jobs in between.Raised in colonial PNG Left School 16,Grad Hi school 22 Night School, University 36ï¿½ BBus (majored in Psyche and Marketing), Dip Comp prog and project Mmnt.at 50 I've been in 48 different community org ,23 on board with 18 prez or deputy prez.First social campaign at 17 for the aborigine...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Close but no cigar......yet

Nice idea, good start Sarge... I think it's worth a promotion to Master Sarge.

Now if only it was that simple. If only we could go back and undo 2 centuries of obscene decisions the US might go some way to mollifying the resentment that has accrued. All those staving peasants in Central America who were suppressed for US profits etc.

Then there were all those blatantly pro Israeli vetoes that allowed them to do what they wanted regardless of the morality. Support for Israel’s nuclear arsenal. What about their dispossession of the Palestinians who had legitimate titles.

Then there’s the 1million dead in Iraq as a consequences of US foreign adventurism. Logic dictates that's there's at least 3million pissed survivors.

And then there’s “galloping toxic corporatism” India is a classic Bopal and the rice patentings effects on the ultra poor.

"Yes Virginia, Father Christmas is real but he’s been classified as a non combatant terrorist and currently on rendition and being given water safety lessons in Croatia no Turkmenistan no Saudi Arabia or Turkey well somewhere anyway. Trust us would we lie" ...CIA.

Life just isn’t that simple. Isolationism is the same as doing nothing. What is needed is a more holistic approach to foreign policy rather than a reactionary one designed for the 6 o’clock News. Comments?

by Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 532 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 5:34:56 PM

set an example

I think the way Ron Paul says it is right on, we need to be friends with everyone and set an example for them to emulate. Peoples around the world can and will solve their own problems if we allow them to.

by Patrick Henry (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 46 comments) on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 7:21:59 PM

Republican when younger. Now more liberal than Democrats. I have become a conspiracy theorist.
Lance L. LandonRepublican when younger. Now more liberal than Democrats. I have become a conspiracy theorist.

We Need To:

I find that I am in agreement. What has been happening for a very long time is something like this: In the first Batman movie, the Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, wanted to shake the hand of a fellow criminal at a meeting that disagreed with supporting him [the joker]. As he grasped the man’s hand and shook the man’s hand, he set off an electrocution device, which did not stop at just killing the man but through the wonders of modern technology, cremated him. That’s our government: The Presidential Administration, most of Congress and they are just the operatives for the shadowed magnates and corporations who pull the world’s strings.

Most wars are designed to destabilize regions of this world, not to do something good. Destabilization provides routes of access for the very powerful to gain more wealth, power and control. All this while we have been suckered into thinking these wars were something like a fight for our very civilization. The wars are a subterfuge used as a distraction so the monsters at the top can further destroy and erode everything that we are.

by Lance L. Landon (3 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 28 comments) on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 1:33:28 AM

Harpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.
PappyHarpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.

I couldn't agree more...

...but I'll go one further. Isn't it time we stopped being Team America, World Police...without the marionettes? Who are we to think we know the best way to make the world spin. One short look at our country, it's political situation, and how we are being perceived by the rest of the world should show we're not as good at the game as we think we are.

Blessed be!
Pappy

by Pappy (61 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 863 comments) on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 2:52:24 PM

15 comments

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