cannabisnews.com: Securing Freedom's Triumph Securing Freedom's Triumph Posted by CN Staff on September 11, 2002 at 08:48:53 PT By George W. Bush Source: New York Times The Sept. 11 attacks moved Americans to grief and horror — and moved our nation to war. They revealed the cruelty of our enemies, clarified grave threats to our country and demonstrated the character and decency of our people. At a moment of great testing, the spirit of men and women in New York City, at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93 became the spirit of our country. Tonight in New York, I will be speaking of what our nation has lost, what we have discovered about ourselves and what lies ahead. The terrible illumination of these events has also brought new clarity to America's role in the world. In great tragedy, we have also seen great opportunities. We must have the wisdom and courage to seize these opportunities.America's greatest opportunity is to create a balance of world power that favors human freedom. We will use our position of unparalleled strength and influence to build an atmosphere of international order and openness in which progress and liberty can flourish in many nations. A peaceful world of growing freedom serves American long-term interests, reflects enduring American ideals and unites America's allies. We defend this peace by opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes. We preserve this peace by building good relations among the world's great powers and we extend this peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent.The defense of peace is a difficult struggle of uncertain duration. America, along with our allies, is relentlessly pursuing terrorist networks in every part of the world to disrupt their planning, training and financing. With our allies, we must also confront the growing threat of regimes that support terror, seek chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and build ballistic missiles. On this issue, the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic. We must deny terrorists and their allies the destructive means to match their hatred.At the same time, we have the best opportunity in generations to build a world where great powers cooperate in peace instead of continually prepare for war. The 20th century, in particular, was dominated by a series of destructive national rivalries that left battlefields and graveyards across the earth. Competition between great nations is inevitable, but armed conflict in our world is not. Sept. 11 revealed more clearly than ever that the world's great powers stand on the same side of a divide — united by common dangers of terrorist violence and chaos, and moving toward common values.The United States, Japan and our Pacific friends, our NATO allies and now all of Europe share a deep commitment to human freedom. Russia is now a nation in hopeful transition, a country reaching for a better future based on democracy and the free market and an important partner in the war on terror. Chinese leaders are discovering that economic freedom is the only source of national wealth. In time, they will find that social and political freedom is the only source of national greatness. America will continue to encourage the advancement of democracy and economic openness in both Russia and China because these shared commitments bring true friendship and peace.Common interests and values among the great powers are also the basis for promoting peace and security around the globe. In the past, great-power rivals took sides in difficult regional problems, making divisions deeper and solutions more complicated and elusive. Today, from the Middle East to South Asia, we are gathering broad international coalitions to increase the pressure for peace. America needs partners to preserve the peace, and we will work with every nation that shares this noble goal.As we preserve the peace, America also has an opportunity to extend the benefits of freedom and progress to nations that lack them. We seek a just peace where repression, resentment and poverty are replaced with the hope of democracy, development, free markets and free trade.More than ever, we know that weak states, like Afghanistan, can pose a great danger to the peace of the world. Poverty does not transform poor people into terrorists and murderers. Yet poverty, corruption and repression are a toxic combination in many societies, leading to weak governments that are unable to enforce order or patrol their borders and are vulnerable to terrorist networks and drug cartels.America is confronting global poverty. Free trade and free markets have proved their ability to lift whole societies out of poverty — so the United States is working with the entire global trading community to build a world that trades in freedom and therefore grows in prosperity. Through the Millennium Challenge Account, the United States will deliver greater development assistance to poor nations that govern justly, invest in their people and encourage economic freedom. And we will continue to lead the world in efforts to reduce the terrible toll of AIDS and other infectious diseases.America will also take the side of brave men and women who advocate human rights and democratic values, from Africa to Latin America, Asia and the Islamic world. In our diplomatic efforts, development aid, international broadcasting and educational assistance, the United States will promote moderation, tolerance and the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity — the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, and respect for women, private property, free speech and equal justice.Terrorism has not only challenged the world, it has clarified some fundamental values. Every nation now faces a choice between lawful change and chaotic violence; between joyless conformity and an open, creative society; and between the celebration of death in suicide and murder and the defense of life and its dignity.Many governments are being forced to reexamine their own tolerance for fanaticism and their sponsorship of hateful propaganda. Even free nations have been forced to reexamine the nature of their commitment to freedom — to determine if this commitment is a reflection of convention and culture or the universal demand of conscience and morality.America's people and its government are responding decisively to the challenges of our changed world. We are committed to defending our society against current and emerging threats. And we are determined to stand for the values that gave our nation its birth. We believe that freedom and respect for human rights are owed to every human being, in every culture. We believe that the deliberate murder of innocent civilians and the oppression of women are everywhere and always wrong. And we refuse to ignore or appease the aggression and brutality of evil men.Throughout history, freedom has been threatened by war and terror; it has been challenged by the clashing wills of powerful states and the designs of tyrants; and it has been tested by widespread poverty and disease. What has changed since Sept. 11 is our nation's appreciation of the urgency of these issues — and the new opportunities we have for progress. Today, humanity holds in its hands the opportunity to further freedom's triumph over all its age-old foes. The United States welcomes its responsibility to lead in this great mission.George W. Bush is the 43rd president.Source: New York Times (NY)Author: George W. BushPublished: September 11, 2002Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company Contact: letters nytimes.com Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Related Articles:Illicit Drug Sales Support Terrorism http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13970.shtmlDrug Czar Says Drug-Smuggling Funds Terroristshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13930.shtml DEA Launches Exhibit: Drugs -Terrorism http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13918.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #44 posted by BGreen on September 11, 2002 at 17:29:21 PT This is from the book of Isaiah but it's on topic and relevant to today and to the Bush family:ISA 10:1 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,ISA 10:2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.ISA 10:3 What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?ISA 10:4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by firedog on September 11, 2002 at 16:46:39 PT Oct 15 Our current administration is in trouble on all fronts. Bad economy, sour foreign relations, no real domestic policy, return of federal budget deficits, corporate corruption, etc. Hell, even illegal drug use is up under the Shrub! Of course, none of the above should surprise anyone.Their only way to keep the House, and possibly take the Senate, is to play the Iraq card. If they start a war, they can distract the public for a little while longer. Six months from now, people will realize they've been had, but by then the elephants will have trampled even more of our freedom away.I heard today that the Shrub is going to start the war on Oct. 15. I have no confirmation of this, but if that is truly the date, it's perfect for the administration. Three weeks before the election. In any case, I'd be surprised (pleasantly, but still surprised) if we aren't at war with Iraq by Nov. 1. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Industrial Strength on September 11, 2002 at 16:10:20 PT Ooo, Kapt You beat me to mentioning Malthus. Not suprising, really, but I thought I was going to sound oh so clever.The thing that really made me laugh (if you don't laugh you'll cry) about this nauseating concoction of words was when he talks about how free enterprise is the only way to assume national wealth. He's talking as if there are no poor people in America or other capitalist countries. All the time he mentions preserving peace. Attacking a country is a great way to accomplish that!Off topic, according to Mr. Chong, none of the cast actually smokes. I find the show a bit lame and the fact that they insinuate pot smoking doesn't change that. That's just me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 15:52:35 PT It Has Come True kapt and everyone. It's a year later and now where are we going? I am not sure. Maybe I don't want to think about it. That could be. I know that there is serious tension in the air. I feel it in my bones. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by BGreen on September 11, 2002 at 15:44:07 PT At the risk of being flamed for talking off topic The cast of "That 70's Show" has done a video with KISS of "Rock and Roll All Night." That's a slam in the face of bassist Gene Simmons, who we all saw on "Politically Incorrect" saying cannabis users should be locked up.Put that in your pipe, Gene. Maybe we should see you in that scene in every show where the camera goes around the circle showing the squinty eyes and smoke-filled room. Hey, none of the cast smokes tobacco, so where does that smoke supposedly come from? [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 15:44:04 PT: Scary, isn't it? I went to FoM's link and looked back on that day and had to ruefully shake my head; how so much of what was written that day...actually took place.There are presently two - that we know of - American citizens being incarcerated without a trial, lawyers, or hope of release. In short, the suspension of habeas corpus. It's martial law in everything but name and uniforms...but you can bet that comes later. Another prediction come true.The anti-Constitutional 'PATRIOT Act' was implemented...with not a single Congresscritter or Sin-a-tor having read the bloody thing. Children, can you say, 'railroaded'? Sure you can!. There was only a single voice of dissent, which was drowned out by the drum beating. It allows for searches and seizures granted by a secret court...which has shown little hesitatncy in utilizing all manner of unConstitutional measures all during the DrugWar. But now, the eavesdropping has been expanded to such matters as home invasion while you are not present, the rifling of your hard drive, and theft of data...all without notifying you. The Posse Comitatus laws, which prevented the military from being used as police, has been weakened. Exactly as predicted.In short, nearly everything predicted by CNEWS readers and commentators 1 year ago has happened.Seems that the stoners of the world have a much better grasp of reality than our supposedly much clearer-headed antis are capable of possessing.But it's cold comfort; the attacks on the Compassion Clubs would not have taken place if the Administration didn't think it could sloppily weld the failed DrugWar to their now-failing War on Terror and stampede the confused and fearful sheeple. In calmer times the idea would have been rejected as unworkable. But in a stampede, even the 'leaders' are not always sure where they are going. And in this case, the precipice awaits. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 14:30:07 PT Last Years Comments On 9-11-2001 Powell Flies Home After Terrible, Terrible Tragedy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10896.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 14:15:37 PT: Perhaps a pointless analogy But it's one I like to think has some relevence.Not too long ago, there was a sci-fi series on commercial TV called Babylon 5. In many respects, we are facing much the same kind of serious problem the heroes of that fictitious universe faced. What do you do when you learn your own government is engaged in evil acts against it's own people? When it is in connivance with an even more monstrous evil capable of widespread destruction? An evil that uses people and races as pawns in a vast game so huge the pieces on the board can't see the length and breadth of it? A game literally as old as time, for the players were around when Humans were supposeedly nothing but protozoa? But the pawns can feel the immediate effects of it in diminished rights, lost freedoms, and tyranny encroaching everywhere under the guise of 'patriotism'?The main characters, military officers, enlisted personnel, policemen and judges and other civilian heads of government, as well as the Average Joe of that series had to face that...and their answer was secession from the corrupt Earth government and the formation of a new one. But at a terrible price. But it was the new government that, with the help of allies, returned to Earth in the nick of time to save it from a nuclear and particle beam-fomented Gotterdammerung that was about to unleashed by the tyrannical President, who would destroy Earth rather than let the forces of freedom recover it.I know, it's a stretch...but Art has been imitating Life so much lately, who knows? I keep saying that it is the very people that society currently despises - cannabis users - who seem to understand the most just how dear freedom is... if only because we are the target of forces that constantly bray about how 'free' we are while they do everything in their power to remove the last vestiges of that freedom.It's people like those who come here and read and comment who represent the real forces of freedom, not just in America but throughout the world. Any wonder why antis hate us so much? We remind them of what they they should be doing, and are not...while we are. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 13:38:01 PT Hope and Kapt and Everyone Peace in the midst of the storm. We can have peace in all situations. I remember a lady named Corrie Ten Boom who harbored people doing the Nazi occupation. She said she never lost that feeling of peace. If we know we are doing the right thing no matter what, we also will have that special peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by darwin on September 11, 2002 at 13:33:13 PT Gloomy? Kap- If you're too gloomy, I must be a doomsday theorist with the sign that says the end is near.I really don't think it is though. It may be 30 to 50 years away. Unlike my parents generation, I hope to make things better, not worse. And to fully prepare my children for the realities of life, rather than sugar coat everything and deceive them into passivity. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by Hope on September 11, 2002 at 13:31:49 PT FoM...Peace that passes understanding I've spoken to several people, and now you, that have had the exact same experience. I was a believer for years and years and had that bedrock of peace with God, but never before had anything quite like that ever happened to me, and as soon as it happened...I was astounded and realized what it was...and in relating the experience have found that many others have experienced the exact same phenomenon. He's so quiet, and still, and patient, and merciful, even to our enemies...but he is, without doubt, quite powerful and loving and very able to do amazing things. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by darwin on September 11, 2002 at 13:28:05 PT game/life, same thing. Unfortunatley, the game is not whether or not people suffer, sufferring is unavoidable when a population exceeds its resources. The game is: who suffers and who lives to suffer another day. The game for those of us who have the ability to look forward is to say "watch out for the cliff!" and try to put the brakes on. If we as a people take the power away from those who abuse it, we can steer us towards a slope less steep, and minimize the suffering that will occur when the black liquid drug runs dry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 13:25:41 PT: WE thank YOU, FoM I think I can safely say that, lurkers and commentators alike, you have our deepest gratitude.I know, I sound gloomy, too. I know too damn' much...and too little of that is hopeful. But there is hope. I do believe that at the eleventh hour sanity might prevail. I do hope that at the last moment, the sheeple will finally 'look up', quit chewing their cuds, and realize that the knife is at their throats. And, most importantly, remember that they are not descended from sheep but from a long line of eagles. Eagles that were tricked into sheathing their talons when they should have been using them on the jackals intent on caging them.It can still happen, and, Oh God, do I ever pray it happens soon! [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 13:23:02 PT Hope 22 windows Oh my goodness! LOL! I do 2 at a time but not 22! You're good! [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 13:20:59 PT Hope I totally understand what you just said. I know because I too have experienced the same thing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Hope on September 11, 2002 at 13:20:09 PT OOPS!!! I have 22 windows open at the moment and obviously I posted the previous message in the wrong window! Forgive me. Now I've got to find the window I was supposed to post it in! [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by darwin on September 11, 2002 at 13:18:27 PT Lemmings Our country is a bunch of lemmings. The leaders are running us full speed off a cliff, but no one sees it coming. Except with lemmings, the leaders aren't hiding parachutes. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on September 11, 2002 at 13:16:06 PT herbdoc215 When I speak of the peace of God, that passes all understanding, I'm not just using a religious term or cliché. I remember when it happened to me in a time of bizarre emotional trauma. I was sobbing breathlessly as I stood, holding to the post on my front porch late one summer afternoon. If you were smoking when it happened you might mistake it for some sort of rush...but it's more. It started at the top of my head and moved over my entire being until it reached the bottom of my feet. It was mystical and beyond understanding, but it was a peace like no other. It didn't come from my state of mind...which was horrifically defeated...it came from somewhere, something else and it was "bestowed" on me. I was still crying, but I fully knew that God cared about my stupid little situation and I mattered to Him. I don't know why we have to do all this stupid suffering. It seems like it's some sort of game sometimes and we are the playing pieces. But it's THE game...and a very serious game it is...literally life and death. Children suffer and die in this horrible "game". There is a powerful "force" or "spirit" that despises all of us and life itself. It hates us and would destroy us, but, there are rules to this huge "game". Rules set down in some mystical place by beings beyond my imagination. The main player...the One who will ultimately win... loves us, but He, too is bound by a bunch of agreed upon rules. This is what I think anyway. The main rule is love and staying in a "protected" zone, which is with the Almighty.I pray that you experience the peculiar peace I spoke of. I pray that our Lord keeps you safe and gives you more power and peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 12:52:03 PT Just a Note Thank you all for making this day more tolerable. I love you all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by Hope on September 11, 2002 at 12:47:53 PT Is the Drug War a racket? Obviously, Major General Butler's insight applies, quite aptly, to the so called Drug War [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 12:45:17 PT: Thank you, Hope And I am proud to claim the man as a distant relative, as he fearlessly told the truth to anyone who'd listen.Pity too few did; we might have been spared the horror of World War Two and every war afterwards. But it's still not too late to stop the one that could put Humanity on the Endangered Species List... [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on September 11, 2002 at 12:41:43 PT "War is a racket." Smedley Darlington Butler"It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes." [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 12:25:02 PT: Darwin, I fully agree In Lewin's book, he makes it clear about the idea of economies eventually grinding to a halt because they did not grow to meet the needs of swelling populations. And what might happen shortly afterwards. Namely, economic meltdown and world-wide, socially destabilizing depression, followed shortly by massive population die-off because Western societies have become so dependent upon regular food shipments to grocery stores; what happens if they stop? During Hurricane Mitch, we saw in Cental America what happens when the infrastructure breaks down. The old Y2K scenario of people freezing and starving in the dark comes to mind. Nothing he says in that regard is new. Go read Thomas Malthus; this dates back from the 1700's.But what's diferent is that now we have an entire economy geared towards war. Lewin said that the military/industrial complex would do anything to sustain itself, even create wars, to keep the overheated and high-flying economy from crashing and burning as it should have done at the end of World War Two. The pattern of deficit spending in the US was proof of that. So was every war we've been involved in during the last century and this one. It may interest many of you to know that the Soviet military machine (which we thought for the longest time was 10 feet tall and poised to destroy the world) wouldn't have existed without Western banks extending trade credits and loans to the Soviets...approved by the US government's Export/Import Bank! Don't believe me? Go read Anthony Sutton's shocker Suicide of the West and see how so many of the Oligarchy (like the late Soviet KGB mole Armand Hammer) that runs this country, being capitalists, should have been mortally terrified of Communism, actually aided and abetted it.What's new in this equation is that major corporations are buying up what amounts to the life support systems (water, sewer, power and light) of cities, and then allowing those facilities to break down after they have sucked every last bit of currency from those operations and absconded, as ENRON did, with the funds. They've done this all around the world; now it's America's turn. This can only hasten the deterioration of economic systems worldwide...and prepare desperate people to accept tyrants who promise to clean things up.Tyrants who think of terms of human beings as fungibles, easily replaced.Tyrants whose control, due to the advantages made possible by technology, will mean almost total domination of entire continents. Technology which would require the 'cashless society'...which would in turn require national ID's...which would be rigorously enforced through twin appeals to 'patriotism'...and a camp for those inclined to protest on the basis of previously existant rights being violated.I've said it before: this is a race between freedom and tyranny. It's neck and neck. We can either continue the course we are on, and plunge the planet into a war and an accompanying Dark Age that is sure to decimate vast swaths of the global population...or we can step back from the abyss and say "Whoa, jack! Not this time you won't!"Some crazy people want that war. Some believe that it will herald the return of Yeshua the Carpenter and usher in a thousand year era of peace...so it would somehow be 'worth it'. Others just want the money and power it will afford them...while someobody else dies of some horrid plague virus, palsies to death from nerve agent poisoning, or is vaporized in a 'nuclear incident'. So the game can be continued.We stand at a crossraods...and America is haltingly trying to turn down the road paved with 'good intentions'...where the only thing that awaits is The Pit.War is the cattle prod used to achieve these aims. And this old ex-soldier is telling you...we must not go to war in the Middle East! [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by darwin on September 11, 2002 at 11:56:49 PT Nuevo- I like your view of the Universe as "All That Is". Its not that man is flawed: All life is experimental by nature and no life is "static", but rather, fluid in by design. The earth and other life forms will survive long past humankind. Or at least long past the current form of humankind, the "petro-hominid". [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Nuevo Mexican on September 11, 2002 at 11:47:37 PT How fast things change! I remember E.J.s' constant harping on Gore, and soft on Bush stance, and I couldn't let such an informed, intelligent poster at C-News go on and on without detailing the huge crimes of the bush cartel, and I know I ruffled many feathers. But judging from todays' posts' I notice the landscape has shifted towards kap, dddd and mayans views that Cannabis prohibition is a tool for global terrorism, ala the bush/cheney corporate war crimes in the U.S. Just look at the Florida Primary fiasco, Janet Reno couldn't even vote! This country is a sham, lost in materialism, jingoism, and false patriotism. I will never forget the stolen election of 2000! See 'Never forget' by R.B. Ham: 'Never forget'http://smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=8126&mode=nested&order=0&thold=0 It looks like the stealing of legal medical marijuana patients medicine in Santa Cruz has made it clear to Americans everywhere what extent our government will to to deny us our health, the pursuit of happiness, and our civil liberties. All conditions nesesary for a revolution. Now for a little Astrological insight! Fortunately, the conjunction of the U.S. progressed Sun at 28 degrees Aquarius, (the sign of revolution and humanitarianism) to our natal (7/4/1776) moon at...28 degrees Aquarius! And for the icing on the cake, Uranus, the planet that rules Aquarius is currently in the sign of Aquarius, its' home, is also at 28 degrees Aquarius! Wow, talk about serendipity!Bush is the just the unaware catalyst for the rebuilding of democracy, in the form that the peoples of the world see fit, as oppossed to the corporate plutocracy currently peaking in its influence and waning rapidly as this day passes! The Universe is genius-like (God is too small of a term to describe the All-that-Is) and will see to it that our future is bright as opposed to the fear based reality currently being shoved down our throats! So celebrate this reality, the one that is really real, not the one foisted upon you through the mass programming we call TV. The Uni-verse is already perfect, humans are the only glitch, as we are an experiment God considers a failure, until we embrace our holiness, spirituality and one-ness. Until then, all is confusion, doubt, despair, anxiety and manipulation. It's our call! I'm a believer, but not one of those 'true believers' like Asscroft, Smirk and Snarl, Rove, Ridge, and all the rest of the dinosaurs that hold reign over every detail of our lives currently. It is time to throw the bums out, but let's not forget the next trial of the century will be the trial of these treasonous, poisonous, devil-like monstrosities! Remember when Cannabis legalization was discussed primarialy amongst our here and other like-minded websites, and now the wall is falling faster than you can say, bush will be history the minute we declare war on Iraq! Like I said, things sure have changed! Peace! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 11:45:59 PT darwin It's fine to post a gloomy post. Today is a gloomy day.TM thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by TroutMask on September 11, 2002 at 11:40:50 PT FoM - 70's show Well, I got super-smart and tried www.that70sshow.com and sure enough it says they'll be on 5 nights a week soon. so much for productivity at home :)-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by darwin on September 11, 2002 at 11:32:28 PT War War has been around since man first sharpened a stick to a point. It will always be around, as life IS a struggle for limited resources.Modern war, is still a struggle for resources. Leaders used to use religion as the rallying cry, and now use it as a shield. I beleive that war will not go away as we are nearing the end of our oil resources. The oil companies will not share their information of how much we have left. When the oil is gone, how do we farm? How do we transport the food? How do we heat homes? Ecofriendly farming and lifestyle will help, but we already have way to many people on this planet to be sustained by those farming methods. Solar power, wind power, and bio fuels can't fuel a 747, or a giant tractor.This is why we have war. It will only get worse over the next 30 years until a new path is layed out (By new leaders). Or until an apoclyptic dye off occurs due to overpopulation without the aid of oil to mass produce and transport life sustaining food, water, medicines, etc.This is why I get very angry to hear world leaders discuss how we can achieve an economy of "sustainable growth". There is no such thing as sustainable growth with limited resources! We need to kill consumerism, and rapidly develop new energy soultions. This will lessen the population crash that is destined to occur. (All populations of animals crash after rapid increases) Sorry for the gloomy post, but I just can't accept that populations will go down without a fight."VOAI and be thrifty" -P4ME [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 11:28:40 PT kapt I said on another thread I have a knot in my stomach ans I still do. War is a racket. TroutMask, I looked but I couldn't find a schedule today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by kaptinemo on September 11, 2002 at 11:16:35 PT: FoM, Doc Russo, and any others interested I would, in the strongest possible way, encourage all who read these words and wonder at why we have this interminable series of wars, to read this book:REPORT FROM IRON MOUNTAIN by Leonard LewinLewin penned this slim little volume in 1967...and the stink it has raised ever since has become legendary. Lewin swears up and down that he wrote a satire on think tanks and some of the absolutely horrible ideas they have come up with (the RAND study where the Reagan Regime had said that with enough time and shovels, we could survive a nuclear war comes to mind)...but the points that he brings up are exactly the same points that FoM, Sr. Lehder, Mayan, and many others have brought up.Or, as a distant relative of mine, a distinguished and highly decorated US Marine said so very clearly and bluntly just before WW2 began:War is a racket. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by TroutMask on September 11, 2002 at 11:12:00 PT 70's Show Every day next week???? I thought it was just the season premiere on Tuesday...sorry for the off-topic, but I really like that show.-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 10:47:17 PT Dr. Russo I agree. The only thing hate begets is more hate. Someone with influence must say no this isn't the way to solve the world's problems. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Ethan Russo MD on September 11, 2002 at 10:42:29 PT: FoM, Your #3 Whether leaders intend to squander our youth or not does not even matter, because that is the inevitable result. If a few more leaders cared, we would have less conflict. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 10:39:16 PT War and Why We Have It Since today is a day unlike any other we've ever experienced I want to comment on something I usually wouldn't consider. This is why we have war in my opinion.1. War makes a good cover for those who don't want to have attention drawn to them.2. Implements of destruction create jobs.3. We eliminate young men so we can thin down the population explosion. That one is really hard for to write but I believe it will all my heart. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by krutch on September 11, 2002 at 10:32:23 PT: He has No Business Lecturing Anyone About Freedom I find it ironic that a president who has used last year's tragedy to whittle away the constitutional freedom of the American people has the nerve to espouse the benefits of freedom on the anniversary.Bush tells us about the opportunity to create a balance of power in the world. Then in the next breath he tells us about how he will accomplish this by wiping out any regime that seeks weapons of mass destruction. The United States already has these weapons. Lets be honest. We are not interested in a balance of power. We want to stay on top. The United States wants all of the power. I am not saying this wrong. I am just pointing out that Bush is hypocrite.If there was a balance of power nations could resolve their differences with diplomacy, and perhaps with warfare. Unfortunately, we are not at war with a nation. We are at war with an ideology. The end of this war will happen when we come to terms with the other side. We will not bomb, or invade our way out of this war. For every one of the enemy we destroy, a thousand new enemies will appear to avenge the perceived atrocity of our attack.I don't have the answers, and don't believe that George W. Bush even understands the question.I think we are in rat's alley, where the dead men lose their bones. -T.S. Eliot [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 10:31:27 PT Nicholas Next week the 70s Show will be on 5 nights a week. Had a really cool preview on tv last night. Red said to Eric: Isn't it too early for you to be hopped up! Showed lots of smoke too! Maybe we will have some good comedy shows this fall. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on September 11, 2002 at 10:26:41 PT: At least the Cartoon Network... ....is just running cartoons today: at least someone has some taste. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 09:57:56 PT Morgan I only have music on. I can't stand to see the war drums pounding. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Morgan on September 11, 2002 at 09:46:41 PT Speech I've been purposely avoiding most of the major media lately, knowing all too well what the'news' will be. 9-11/24-7.But I turned the radio on in my car on the way to work this morning and they had Dubya giving a speech. I don't think it was the same speech as the one above, as I remember him saying things like 'God commands us' and ' smiting our enemies'. (blech) I usually tune out whatever he has to say, knowing it's just him trying to make it through a prepared speech written by his handlers without stumbling too bad. He seemed to be having some trouble with this one and I felt a little pity for him, as I had a speech impediment as a child and could relate.But what struck me as kind of strange, and scary, was that his voice had a little reverb added to it, so it sounded like he was speaking from on high, and inside a great hall. And subtlely behind his voice was some soft, dramatic music. (think Aaron Copeland) Like one would hear in a campaign commercial...or in a movie.Am I the only one bothered by this? Are we living in a movie that's been rehearsed,coreagraphed,edited and given a sound track (soon to be available in your local record store.)?Or am I just being paranoid? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by p4me on September 11, 2002 at 09:44:19 PT Shouldn't that be the "lies that are ahead"? Tonight in New York, I will be speaking of what our nation has lost, what we have discovered about ourselves and what lies ahead.The one thing I am sure of is that Busch is not going to tell us all that we have lost and will not even mention the freedoms lost in the Patriot Act. It makes me think he should have said the will speak about what lies are ahead"of us.The illegitimate president is enough to make me gag.1,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on September 11, 2002 at 09:37:22 PT: That's Reagan Ronald Reagan was known as the "Great Communicator." [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 09:25:03 PT Oh My Who is the Great Communicator? I think I know. Oh boy! Love ya Nicholas! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on September 11, 2002 at 09:23:49 PT: Great Communicator- Not! Speaking of Great Communicators, has anyone found those Reagan quotes from his '70's radio show espousing cannabis to be an individual choice? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on September 11, 2002 at 08:57:42 PT: Bring back the Great Communicator.... ...who at least spoke from the heart:Pure Gearson, Bush's speechwriter, and a bevy of writers. Probably took twenty re-writes, pouring over every word or phrase....what a waste of taxpayer dollars. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment