[Flipside]

Agreed, so long as he can also make sure that at the same time he reduces the power of mega-corps to exploit that research for profit rather than for healing. Obviously, they can't go without making any money at all, but, like most large corporations, they need some degree of a leash put on them.

[iamzack]

They arguably need to be under more control than some other mega-corps, seeing as they directly impact our standard of living and such.


This made me giggle, though.

[IPAndrews]

Gitmo memorabilia. Authentic jump suits. extraordinary rendition orders, water boards! Available on ebay now.

[Janos]

Well, everyone in the US Special Forces was waterboarded, as part of survival training. Hell, the US even took the methods used in Gitmo from USSF boot camp.

Also- where did you read that the Gitmo inmates were waterboarded for 7 years?

yeeeeeees

there's absolutely no difference between being shown what kind of physical torture you could be subjected to and then torturing other people with it

Ladies and gentlemen, BengalTiger

[Janos]

Well, everyone in the US Special Forces was waterboarded, as part of survival training. Hell, the US even took the methods used in Gitmo from USSF boot camp.

Also- where did you read that the Gitmo inmates were waterboarded for 7 years?

yeeeeeees

there's absolutely no difference between being shown what kind of physical torture you could be subjected to and then torturing other people with it

Ladies and gentlemen, BengalTiger

oh and by the way voluntary service and being held as captive, pretty much the same thing

"i got spanked in my S/M sessions i don't understand how me spanking you every now and then for a few years while you are held captive could be different"

[BengalTiger]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

In other words- if you sign up for an SM session, bear in mind you could get spanked, and if you do, I won't feel really bad about it.

If anyone spanks you for no good reason, I will feel bad for you.
If anyone spanks you for no good reason, I won't feel really bad for them if you spank them back.
If you kill them for spanking you, I will feel bad for them, hence my position on Gitmo being far less evil than mass executions and burying bodies in a roadside ditch (which is truly horrible).

You feel bad for someone getting spanked on an SM session.*
You also feel bad for the spankers when the spankees (is that even a word?) spank them back, no matter if the spankees were spanked for a good reason or not.*
You also want to ban spanking back, no matter what the case, right?*

*-Correct me if I'm wrong, or we'll never reach a consensus.

BTW- why did we go from politics to spanking?

[iamzack]

Uh, seriously, what the hell.

But, uhm. See, we're supposed to be the morally superior ones, right? We're bringing freedom to the poor muzzie dogs in the world, right?

So how does them doing low **** make it okay for us to?

[Flipside]

Not to mention that many of the people in Gitmo were handed over for rewards, many on only the accusation of the person who was collecting the reward (who is, of course, going to be totally non-self motivated and didn't do it for the cash in the slightest).

[karajorma]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

You're kidding me right? Are you even the slightest bit aware that one of the people who was released from Gitmo after more than two years was "captured" from an Afghani jail cell where he was being held on charges of spying for the Americans?

No of course you aren't. You seem to believe the world is divided into the good guys and the bad guys. And you seem to have the delusional belief that you can put America on the good guy list even when they torture people who probably aren't even guilty and simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with a big dollar sign over their head.

[MP-Ryan]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

You're kidding me right? Are you even the slightest bit aware that one of the people who was released from Gitmo after more than two years was "captured" from an Afghani jail cell where he was being held on charges of spying for the Americans?

No of course you aren't. You seem to believe the world is divided into the good guys and the bad guys. And you seem to have the delusional belief that you can put America on the good guy list even when they torture people who probably aren't even guilty and simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with a big dollar sign over their head.

You beat me to it.

[General Battuta]

Seriously, BengalTiger. In a lot of cases other people signed these folks up for their S/M sessions. Or they were grabbed off international flights for no particular reason -- they were wearing a suspicious watch, for instance.

[redsniper]

Also, the fact that they weren't parted of any nation's armed forces and WEREN'T GIVEN TRIALS is kind of significant.

[noodlezombie]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

lol.

I love people who think that Marines are somehow the ultimate in ground troops. Glorified grunts who are stationed on boats is all they are. Get your head out of your ass.

[General Battuta]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

lol.

I love people who think that Marines are somehow the ultimate in ground troops. Glorified grunts who are stationed on boats is all they are. Get you head out of your ass.

Don't troll. This is a very mature forum -- respect and consideration are valued here, even in political debates.

[BloodEagle]

Don't troll. This is a very mature forum -- respect and consideration are valued here, even in political debates.

 

Uh, seriously, what the hell.

But, uhm. See, we're supposed to be the morally superior ones, right? We're bringing freedom to the poor muzzie dogs in the world, right?

So how does them doing low **** make it okay for us to?

Because moral superiority has always been used to justify horrible actions.

[General Battuta]

Believe it or not, our political debates are actually much classier than those at most forums.

[iamzack]

Uh, seriously, what the hell.

But, uhm. See, we're supposed to be the morally superior ones, right? We're bringing freedom to the poor muzzie dogs in the world, right?

So how does them doing low **** make it okay for us to?

Because moral superiority has always been used to justify horrible actions.

No, I get that that's bull****. Just pointing out that if we're going to justify ourselves that way, we can't *also* justify ourselves with "well they're doing it too!!"

[IceFire]

Alright folks...starting to sense the tensions rising. Lets take it down a notch.  Please and thank you.

[Scotty]

The people held captive in Gitmo knew that death or serious injury could occur when you play war with the USMC.

lol.

I love people who think that Marines are somehow the ultimate in ground troops. Glorified grunts who are stationed on boats is all they are. Get you head out of your ass.

Yeah, because volunteering to die for your country makes you a "glorified grunt who is stationed on a boat."  Nor does the original poster say they are "the ultimate in ground troops."  He says that death or serious injury could occur when you tangle with marines, which is pretty much a fair description of any army.

Get your head out of your ass.

EDIT:  Sorry, tough day.

[NGTM-1R]

I love people who think that Marines are somehow the ultimate in ground troops. Glorified grunts who are stationed on boats is all they are. Get you head out of your ass.

I have to take exception with this, despite the trolling, because, well, crap, this a subject I actually have a clue about.

Back in '91, in the first round of the Great Quest To Get Rid of Saddam (you know the one, it had the limited aims), the USMC was assigned to stiffen the Gulf States forces that were going to take the direct route through Iraqi defenses to Kuwait City. This was a classically Marine role, mind you; they are in equippage, training, and mentality assault troops. In this role, they performed well by any objective standard, but they were greatly outshone by the Army. They had a more difficult task, true, but the Marines were not happy with their performance in Gulf One.

They consequently devoted a great deal of time and energy to improving themselves, particularly their training, whereas the Army more or less rested on its laurels. The results of this were demonstrated fairly clearly in Afghanistan. The 10th Mountain dropped the ball at Tora Bora. The Airborne were not up to their performances in Gulf One. The Marines exceeded all expectations. It was not an accident that a Marine was given the leadership of the Joint Chiefs shortly after. The Marines made a similar impressive record in Gulf Two and the continuing efforts to return Iraq to a semi-peaceful state. The only other service that has done nearly so well in terms of accomplishing their missions is the Navy, and this is a direct reflection of the fact they accomplished the primary naval mission, to secure the use of the sea-lanes, during the Second World War and haven't been seriously challenged since.