Billygoat

I am just so glad our troops are over there killing and dying in the name of contol, obsfucation and profits. I feel warm all over.

You guys are actually still reading this thread?! That's the last time I post before I have my morning tea and hit Google....

By Marshall Plan, I assume you are referring to the WWII era program for the reconstruction of Europe. You are quite the historian. Better not argue with the likes of you anymore. Now tell me that we entered WWII because of the Monroe Doctrine. Or maybe the Treaty of Tordesilla. Oil and mining contracts in Somalia? Are you joking? With what legal entity would an oil company negotiate a binding legal agreement? The dudes motoring around Mogadishu on their Technicals? Here's a concise summary of what actually happened: Somalia is indeed an interesting case. After the coup in 1969 that put Siad Barre in power, the revolutionaries attempted to administer the Somali economy with "Scientific Socialism." In an utterly unsurprising development, the country soon began to have trouble feeding itself and began the long descent into chaos that we observe at the present. This situation was actually exacerbated by foreign aid, as the various warring factions obtained significant funding for their efforts through contracting their services to the UN and NGOs and embezzling money from them. Perhaps most significant was the disruptive effect of food aid, which the warring parties promptly stole and distributed amongst their loyalists. They sold the food in local markets, and in the process continously undercut the local farmers until they themselves became dependent on the food aid, and effectively under control of whichever faction controlled it. The situation ultimately became so chaotic and hopeless that the UN and the NGOs began to talk openly of pulling out, which would have effectively meant disaster for the factions, as they would be deprived of most of their funding. At this point they began to deliberately starve the population, and provide false information concerning the number of people that would perish without an immediate surge in international aid. As the humanitarian situation deteriorated, the images of the Somalis suffering under these conditions saturated the airwaves, and the world looked to America to do something. In the process of doing something the American millitary began to undermine both the economic lifeline, and the political control of the various factions, and the debacle commenced. There's a full account of this calamity in the Road to Hell" by Michael Maren. Somalia did have a modest refining capacity at one time, and may have petroleum reserves, but they have never been developed to any degree. There are plenty of other places with both proven reserves, a minimally viable infrastructure, and a functioning state with which to do business elsewhere in the world. Any oil or mining concern which is actually out to make money, which is all of them, will invest anywhere where the political risk is such that they risk losing their entire investment before turning a net profit on the operation. Strategic geopolitical considerations, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, provide the rationale for most wars. To pretend otherwise is silly, but to pretend that every single US intervention can be explained in purely economic terms shows a positive disinclination to aquaint oneself with history, and a staggering disregard for the facts. For those that do read try "I Am Writing to Inform You that Tomorrow we Shall Be Killed Along with Our Families." By Phillip Gourevitch for the authoritative account of the slaughter in Rwanda. Made you look! didn't have any time to google anything this morn. Was the Monroe doctrine the one that established our dominance of this hemisphere o learned one?

I'll have a crack at it. Let's see... Haiti was because of the Marshall plan; Grenada the same; Panama offshore banking, money laundering (and cover-up) for Iran Contra, as well as the Marshall plan; Kosovo oil pipeline; Somalia was because of huge oil and mining leases recently obtained by American interests...See, even Clinton services the rich. I think that it is simply disingenuous for our government to claim that we do these things purely out of the goodness of our hearts, for the suffering masses of the world. If so, why did we not "help out" in Rwanda, surely no more compelling case could be made there, what with some six million dead in the period of a year from tribal genocide.... Worldwide, this behavior just makes us look like assholes who can't be up front. Actually, looking at our short but colourful history, we are assholes who are not forthcoming, break treaties and participate in genocide if it serves our "national interests". Ha Ha! There you go fuck face

liberia doesn't have oil... But it does have offshore banking where many rich Americans and corporations hide money and avoid paying taxes...

My wife, son and I will be there for the 5th and the 6th. We will have to leave Saturday night for home. Relatives are coming Sunday. Looking forward to it!

6th and 7th sound good. What campground? What do we need in the way of passes andor permits for the 11-worth area?

You are stupid beyond belief. Read up on Saddam. The guy was a MAJOR risk to everyone. Remember the Gulf War? What, cause it took us a whole week to crush his army?!? Man, you are easily spooked Our dependence on oil IS a major risk to everyone. Remember why the fuck we give a shit about that region The suffering royal families of the house of Saud and Kuwait my ass

My seven year old son and I are in! Any weekend in Sept or Oct works for us

How many American soldiers have to die so we can be entertained as they search for "goodies"? Iraq never was and never will be a threat to us. The conflict is a waste. Now, the military govener says they will be ready for general elections in a year, so that means we will have to stay there in force for the next two at least and likely post a garrison for longer at the minimum. BTW, have they found Osama, the guy (Saudi Arabian) who actually attacked us September 11th?

Humility. Tastes good with fear.

Tits!

Looks like shit to me I'll be sure to stay well clear of that heap! Thanks for the cautionary beta brother....

Harry is definitely in book writing form Dru. Your contributions here and at Bivouac are quite the body of work as well, albeit over time....

First The Great Adventure, then BCO, now this. Sucks ass I bought at least 40% of my gear there. The service was the best. This totally diminishes the community. An era is passing before our eyes.

"Sauntered" would be more like it.

Show it to your kids, give it a kiss and then let it go...

Shut your fucking cake hole before I wire your eyeballs to a defibrillator; set the voltage to Kill, and smile as you go flying around the flashing coop like a beheaded multicolored, fire-farting chicken before collapsing conveniently at my feet so I can piss-out the flames and feed the remains of your fried gimp carcass to the pigs. Nice one choadeboy

Yeah buttplug.

Lighten up

That's hilarious! It reflects the mentality of the present administration accurately.

Holy sheepshit!!!!!

There are so many handsome lads out there. Go and explore your world girl....

Your turn Miss Normandy