100 Billion Dollars U S

That his the amount America has spent on the war In Iraq so far .I hav,nt got the figure for U K or Ausse.Can you Imagine how much poverty In the World could be eliminated With this kind of money also how many friends we would have In the world.There would be no terrorist,poverty breeds terrorism.

WE would have no refugee problems,the world would be a better place.Sounds simplistic I think .A lot of munition workers would be out of work,who cares

America should be looking towards its huge homeless problem and start paying for poor folk to have medical treatment neer mind going to war, then when its all over in Iraq they will spend another potfull re building it and giving treatment to the Iraquies injured by USA. Look to your own I say

But think of all that precious oil they are going to get for their 100 Billion Dollars?

Got to protect USA and our oil supply at whatevever cost. That's what it is all about isn't it? Can anyone tell me if the situation in Iraq is any better now then when Saddam Hussein was in charge?

The place should be raised to the ground by constant carpet bombing no mercy,accept collaterall damage then move in and take over.It didn't do the Germans any harm look at Berlin today.
P.S. i know it harmed the ones who were killed but that is war, Or live under constant threat like now.

They are not getting any oil ,the pipelines are being blown up all the time.Anyway they did,nt go there for the Oil,so I,m told,just went there to get rid of that naughty man Saddam,they are helping the World get rid of Dictators.They did,nt worry about the one In Zimbabwe,Theres no oil there.You ask Honesty John the workers friend.

All the terrorist that where Involved In the attack on New York came from Saudi Arabia,the great friend of the U S,non came from Iraq.Most the people being killed In Iraq are Innocent people ,Women and children,who have the same feelings of most human beings.Iraq has never been a threat to World Peace,only to It,s own People.

Keno, we are at war with iraq our forces are out there, Or have i been reading the wrong papers and watching the wrong news with pictures of british soldiers being sent home in union flag covered coffins.The people of Britain have not sent them over they have not asked to be sent to war but they are there being killed and the soldiers don't like to see civvies being killed but that is the nature of the beast we call war,Right or wrong they are there.

if its a war in iraq, then lets get the war over quickly by turning the terrorist ghettos into ash trays.at this moment in time the terrorists have the upper hand, they slip in and out at will.our dead will be flowing out of that country daily. cut the pussy footing around and live by the maffia code,....hit us, and we hit you back HARD.

Glad someone else thinks the same billy i am sick of hearing people saying that civilians and innocsents are being killed.there is an owd sowjers saying "better him than me" and thats how it is.

The war In Germany was different war,the Germans where trying to take over the
World they got what was coming to them and rightly deserved It.The war In Iraq his all about OIL,this war was,nt approved by the U N,apart from the war In Kuwait which was approved by the U N,Iraq has never posed any problems to the rest of the World.No Weapons Of Mast Destructions where ever found.NO one likes to see any of our soldiers killed In a war that's all about Oil.When the Labour Party comes to office here our troops will be pulled out.In the war In Vietnam the Conservative Party here went along with the Americans,to fight In a civil to keep the wealthy In power,the Labour Party came to power and took our troops out the Americans followed also,nothing achieved.The same will happen In Iraq

Aren't we so lucky to have the freedom to express our opinions? We just need to remember that our opinions are founded from the information we're given, and considering the Iraq war, you can only judge from the information you've been allowed to hear/see and it's always fabricated. I have lots of friends here who are Active Duty Military and some returned from Iraq last month. They have some really nice stories to tell and nice pictures too. We can only speculate on the real reason for the war from the information we've been given and how we choose to process and react to it. I prefer not to get too stressed over issues that I have no control of and save my energy on things I can control. Right now we're in the middle of a bad snow blizzard so I need my energy reserves to dig us out the front door tomorrow

Thank you for that Information It was most Enlightening.

The war against Germany was different? war is war it does not matter who against and for what political reasons or oil, gas, or mushy peas this does not matter to the guy in the fox hole.And it was the Nazis who tried to rule the world just for one mans lunatic beliefs not much different from Saddams lunatic beliefs.And we are so lucky to have freedom of speech but don't forget how we got it and what it cost.So do we just stand by and let saddam kill other iraqis because they are not the same religion as him,Sounding more like the Nazis to me keno.I bet you would like someone to come to your aid if you was being treated badly or beaten just because you went to a different church than other folk.

The war against Hitler and any other war was different to what we are facing now. A lot due to easier mobility, more people travel internationally on a regular basis than 50 years ago. Advances in technology, remote control devices etc.

This sounds simplistic and with all due respect to any ex-soldiers, but in the second world war at least you knew who your enemy was and where they were (most of the time). It's the unknown terrorists that are wreaking havoc and are the most worrying for me.

You don't know WHO they are, could it be your neighbours? the guy who works next to you? or WHERE they are or where they will strike next. There are no rules - anybody is fair game, anywhere, any time. Hence bombs in London, 9/11 etc.

Not a nice world is it?

Your Right I would like some one to help me so would the people In Zimbabwe or other parts of Africa where People are being massacred every day.It,s very easy to pick out whats suits you ,you really sound like a Politician.
There has to be good reason to go to war,so far you hav,nt told me one.WE had a politician here once named Menzies,If you did,nt agree with his policy you was branded a Communist.He even tried to have It Illegal to belong to It ,but common sense decided that free speech was more Important than only one view.
I do,nt like to see the lives of anyone lost In a war that was,nt Approved by the U N,I,m sorry xrh59 you hav,nt given me reason for this war ,but I would defend your right to have your own view ,without putting a name on your right to free speech.I still think all the money on war would have been better spent helping the poor of the world.Have a Merry Xmas and A Happy New Year and God bless you and all your Family

The World his a beautiful place It,s just the people In It that cause the problems.

Does anyone remember how many people Where Slaughtered IN Rwanda, ONE MILLION,maybe It was,nt In your newspapers over there maybe Im Imagining that It happened,It was In the papers here.No one went to the help of these people,why, can anybody tell me why,even the U N left them for dead.His It because these are African and nobody cares.It his certainly pretty obvious to me why we are concerned about Iraq,If anybody says otherwise they must have their head In the sand.

Yes Keno, the world is beautiful place, it's man who's distroying it. Does anyone know of the how many people are slaughtered currently in Rwanda and Haiti? Nope, guess all we can do is continue to speculate. It's still happening all over the world day in day out. Look at the poor children in South Africa that will be orphans due to HIV/AIDS! They predict over 20 million children will be parentless by the year 2010. How do you stop that? We can't stop the worlds problems but we can work better with each other to help stop it happening.I get pleasure in helping by giving to charitable associations for what I see is necessary and I always remember a statement made by Lewis Hyde, "it is only when the gift has worked in us, only when we have come up to its level, as it were, that we can give it away again... The transformation is not accomplished until we have the power to give the gift on our own terms".

I agree with you wholeheartedly Karvern,my wife and I go to the Philippines every year and see the fruits of our efforts In the people we help.Nothing can give one so much pleasure as the looks these people we help give us.It his better to be able to give than have to receive.It his a pleasure to read your statements and also to be able to read comments from an Intelligent person of your calibere.WE cannot change the World ,but If enough people like us make an effort It,s a start.Good Night and God Bless You.Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year TO you and all your Family.

Karvern,we hope you are handling Blizzards OK, over there, here In Coffs Harbour N S W
Australia,we never get weather like that,mostly warm here .WE where watching It on T V,and hope you are copeing.WE have just got a letter from our friends In Illinois who tell us how cold It his.All the best to you,keep up the good work.

Karvern,we hope you are handling Blizzards OK, over there, here In Coffs Harbour N S W
Australia,we never get weather like that,mostly warm here .WE where watching It on T V,and hope you are copeing.WE have just got a letter from our friends In Illinois who tell us how cold It his.All the best to you,keep up the good work.

Well that just about sums it up for me,It's no wonder the terrorists and murdering country leaders are getting away with what they please with all these mardy arsed liberal dingbats crying human rights all over the place.My point is that a war is a war it is the soldier who pays the price yes things have moved on in 50+ years but the end result for the man in the mud/sand is the same.Keno i thought i gave you several good reasons for this war ethnic cleansing was one or do you just overlook things like that which i have seen first hand and it's not nice,but it doesn't matter to the people in "B" company who will "B" there when the soldier goes to clean up and "B" there when he comes back and then say there is no reason for this war we shouldn't be there.Are these not good enough reasons keno to go to war i think so if not i suggest you move to Disney land and live in a wonerland of happines and fairies while we stay in the real world and send our young men to sort out the bits you don't like.God bless you all and god bless the men and women British and American who put themseves on the line in Iraq and other conflicts.And as they say if you don't like it tell it to the marines.

Wow xrh59 that was somewhat harsh! Shame you feel so bitter to another persons opinions but you have your own personal reasons, and I respect that. However, I'm not sure where God would bless any part of the atrocities we create.
I'll be signing off now till the New Year so Merry Christmas everyone and I hope 2007 is a very prosperous and peaceful year for all!

Thanks Keno! The weather's subsided right now. I had to get my husband dig me and the car out of the snow yesterday - it was an experience! When you see cars completed covered with snow due to the blizzards, it opens your eyes to the fact that no matter what we're able to fight, we can't fight mother nature When she sends us the weather, we just have to deal with it! Definitely brings you back down to earth. As for the comment made about Disneyland by another, i'm sure that your visits to the Phillipines are far from Disneyland and all it's materialistic values. If anything, it'd make you feel humble when you visit places like the Phillipines where you experience people working hard on the land instead of with the convenience that technology has given to us.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Take care.

Thanks Karvern for you comments,I,m very happy to know my own and your thoughts,will give us more happiness than some thoughts of others.We make our own hell on this earth,with our thoughts ,I pity the thoughts of some people.I also thank God that he made me the way I am,fortunately there are more good people than bad,I pray for all good or bad.My wife and I where out shopping today getting goodies for all our relatives In Philippines,we are getting excited as the day gets closer to our departure date 17th Jan.I hope the weather gets better for you and you have a Merry Xmas and a better New Year.Good Night and God Bless To you and Your Family may the Spirit of Xmas be with you forever.

Enjoy your holidays Karvern, u sure know how to do a "White Christmas" although not quite as romantic as the cards in reality? Dead right about mother nature, down here we are experiencing bush fire season, NOTHING can stop that in full force. Just get out of its way.

The Coalition of the Willing seem very Un-willing at the moment, why are we in Iraq? What has it achieved? How come Osama Bin Ladin, a peasant, has made the 'professional armies' look like amateurs? We shouldn't be there - get out, end of story. Let them fight it out themselves.

See what i mean!

Reading the paper today Condoleeza Rice says the billions of dollars spent on executing the two wars has been a worthwhile investment,and the 100 billion is on top of what has already been spent,over 400 billion for Iraq alone.Yes it is good investment if you the business of armaments and construction.And Xrh59 in deference to your experience I suggest you look back in history to find the cause of the many problems that the world faces today,ethnic cleansing is not to this era,our ancestors have a lot to answer for.Now while we are on the subject of war here's a hyperthetical question:- do you think thr Americans would have been so reluctant to help Britain in WW2 if it had been known,for sure,that there was oil under the North Sea?

America only come to the war reluctantly because It was attacked,Blinkers off please,through Lend Lease It came out on top finachely the U S OF A his only concerned In profit at all times.The big business In America runs America,thats why working conditions for workers are very poor compared to U K or Ausse,but do,nt worry we have Government that his trying to Introduce American work conditions here .

Well done H.M. LIZ 11,Congratulting her forces for the job being well done i know they will feel proud to get such praise off their Queen.It makes a change instead of hearing the wishy washy white hearts of the human rights brigade putting them down and telling them they shouldn't be at war or in Afghanistan i know how i would feel if i was there and my country men were sticking the knife in my back.Like i said before they are there to do a job dispite the politics being right or wrong.

i know what its like to have an opinion that goes against someone elses. ive been jumped on from ahigh.
can i stick my neck out again, by proclaiming most of you havent yet seen the big picture. i concur with xrh59, on the grounds that he has some idea of whats going on, and has therefore formed his opinions.in my tiny mind, listening to the voice of the mad imrans, and their declaration that the world WILL be islamic sooner rather than later, i have arrived at the conclusion, that this IS the agenda for the IMRANS justifications to attack or kill anything that embraces western ideas, even amongst their own kind.christian arabs are under attack even as we debate this question??why? like i said, western principles are to be wiped out.
just my way of thinking, nothing personel. i guess at some time in the future ,the nettle will have to be grasped. PS..keep your powder dry x59,your gonna need it agin mate.

have a good xmas x59, i know its safe to say christmas in your presence. like some bishop in the press says, youve got to stand up now for your christian beliefs, or see them dissapear without trace. if your still in doubt, how many cards have anything to do with our traditional christmas???your going to be lucky to find one. something to do with correctness, or not offending others not of your beliefs?????yeah, the clocks ticking.

So the yanks have spent 100 billion dollars on the Iraq war, well their troops are the best equipped in the world today, our government has probably spent an average of 30 quid on each member of our forces considering they have to buy their own gear.
Secondly I totally agree with everything that xrh59 say's,
Someone mentioned God, well all I can say to that is if you believe in such thing's then maybe you should be playing with the bunny rabbit's in cuckoo land

Charger,sabre and spurs at the ready i won't let anyone belittle my country or it's forces and certanly not H.M.Thanks for the Christmas wishes billy the same to you and yours.

Well first of all Happy New Year to everyone and I hope that the year 2007 gives the narrow minded the opportunity to learn how to respect other people's opinions as much as they respect yours instead of slamming them for what they believe!!
Ozzielass, thanks for your best wishes, I hope you manage to get through the bush fires without it directly affecting you. We're out of the house now after 3 days of being snowed in - talk about wanting to escape! Don't want to experience that again.
Also Ozzilass, I admire the way you passed your own personal opinion on Iraq and Osama etc etc. You obviously have respect for others opinions without having the need to pass hurtful comments - unlike others on this message board.
Truckerdave - what's it like playing with bunny rabbits in cuckoo land? I haven't personally experienced it so didn't think such a place existed? But thats the difference between opinions isn't it? You have yours, we have ours, but you don't see us slamming you for believing in rabbits in cuckoo land LOL[:D) Have a great 2007 everyone!

Hi Karvern,glad to hear you,ve survived all the snow and also retained your right to voice your own opinions.There are forces In this World that we live In that only respect their own right to have an opinion.WE have to keep fighting In this World of ours to keep free speach.Evil will flourish when good people do nothing about It .Only Ignorant minorities try to control the thoughts of others.The only thing we can do for these unfortunate people his to prayer for them.
I see the Death toll of American Soldiers
has now passed 3000,In my opinion this war has,nt achieved nothing but death and destruction,and It,s not over yet.
The armchair Generals will tell you It,s all necessary to make the World a safer place,just a bit harder to travel.All the Best For the New Year TO you and your family.

I,m really surprised that the people who go overseas to live have such a difference of opinion to the people who never left Wigan.
Karven can you read anything Into this.?

Well now that Saddam Hussein has been executed everything should be hunky dory now shouldn't it? I am not holding my breath. If it was bad before just sit back and watch.

Yes Saddam Hussein he has been tried and found guilty by a court that was selected
by the U S Government .He should have been tried In the World Court In The Hague,by Independent Judges with no ties to any Country .Justice to be Justice needs no bias to anyone.WE have shown to the World
by the hanging that we In approving this sentence we can be just as Barbaric as Saddam was .Nothing learned,
Happy New Year without Saddam ,we still have Bush.

in the world today, you need to "FIGHT FIRE,WITH FIRE"
there aint any rules,its kill or be killed.note how the mad imrans can make a case for their murderous acts, so we should do the same???after all, we are defending our way of life, that a blind man can see is under threat.

I do,nt see any Arab Countries Invading
the U K or America.I suppose It,s O K for us to Invade theirs.I wonder If they Invaded the U K would we attack them,maybe we would.
The case that was made for attacking Iraq,to get rid of WMDs ,not found .Whats our excuse for staying there now,I wonder If we are after the OIL.We got rid of Saddam what now,only 3000 U S young Soldiers killed so far ,Iraqi casualties maybe 70000.The whole Countries been devastated.Has IT made the World a safer
place?,I don,t thinks so.
Happy New Year Everyone .

keno.....if your looking for "cases"look no further than friday prayers. very little is given over to the teachings of god...but a whole lot of anti western c**p.your way of life, and free speech would dissapear overnight. you wouldnt know what had hit you.i have heard it from the horses mouth, that every pub would be turned into a mosque???i cant help but feel, you are still under the influence of the festive fair???which would be wiped out overnight, no more happy times, just a soul cleansing for the likes of you and me.

none so blind, as those who chose not to see.
amen.

Not a more tue word spoken about the blind Billy,Keno if i am one of the unfortunates you mentioned don't pray for me i speak to my god in my own way and ask for guidence in my way and have not been let down up to know not even when i have been scared shitless with bullet and morter fire directed at me and my men so i don't need you to pray for me unless i ask.
And don't forget God loves a fighter.

I always pray that God will rid the World of all this anger In people.Anger kills more people than any other diseases known to man It eats at our souls and prevents our body the healing we all need.
I never discuss what terrors I,ve been through In life that's between me and my god.
If Iraq was a better place now than before Invasion by Foreign Forces I would be quite happy.
I,ve noticed that people that have stayed
In Wigan are more Inclined to support this
War than Wiganers who went to live overseas.Happy new Year To all In Wigan.

Billy I can,t comment what goes on In mosque
over there.Over here any anti-Western talk
would be be stopped If If It was Found to be
Inflammatory,and so It should be .You must have slack laws over there,we have our fair
of trouble makers here ,most are now where they belong In jail.

Keno, my feedback to your question is that i've broadened my mind somewhat. 13 years ago, I lived within what i'd call, a closed environment and didn't travel much apart from the usual British Holiday favs like, Majorca, Ibiza, Minorca. I very rarely shared my life with different nationalities experiencing their way of life. Having the knowledge to understand and appreciate different ways of life, is a gift I appreciate. Although I don't always agree with what other people believe, I respect their beliefs because that's how they've been taught. My husband has taught me so much about the world in general being that he's travelled so much and been a part of both the Iraq, Bosnia and Sarajavo wars. Sharing his life and his experiences, helps me to better understand. I'm no longer one who sits watching TV soap operas anymore; not one who lives in a oyster shell with very little to absorb apart from gossip and judgement. I'm a lot more open minded because I ventured out and sought a new life elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, some of things I deal with here are unbearable but that's something I deal with and accept because the return i've received overcomes those negatives.How about you?

Karvern, I left home at 16 years of age to join the Merchant Navy,this helped me a lot to understand the wants and needs of other people In other parts of the World,they say that travel broadens the the mind,how true .
It taught me to respect the rights of everyone to rule themselves In anyway they
like.It,s not up to the bigger Countries
with all the power and money to force these little Countries to toe the line to some one Else's views.When Hitler was Invading Countries around Europe we called him a tyrant,now the coalition of the willing his doing the same thing to Iraq
We did,nt Interfere In the Philippines
when Marcos(Allie of U S)was terrorising
the people .We don,t Interfere In Zimbabwe
where there his mass abuse of peoples rights,we are selective where we Interfere
The Filipinos over threw Marcos to get their freedom.
I some time become cynical about our motives In Iraq,maybe Big business has a bearing on It ,It,s just my view.
Joining the Merchant Navy took me out of my cocoon,Hope You Have A Happy New Year
Good Night and God Bless To you and your
Family.

My wife used her login name to answer your questions ,she says that's the correct thing to do when she types It.She also shares my views and knows all about the Philippines,
being a Filipino she would,we will be over there on the 17th January.

keno, wasnt there an iman in australia, recently forced to appologise for anti western inflamatory remarks???whats the beach scene these days?can you use the beaches youve used since we occupied and populated the country.??

cant hear ya bro????

ozzie gal ozzie lass, since australian women were the ones gravely insulted by this... this..this preacher,i think you should advise keno, that its a worldwide thing, and not just in the UK.

Hi Billy I see your point about beaches,yes there was one Instance about a certain beach here,just the one Instance only.That was settled quite well.If you know anything about journalism,such things make good reading also sells papers.This can happen anywhere,when mobs of drunkens louts go on the rampage,all the louts where brought to justice, Aussies as well as other nationalities.You seem to be very lucky over there that all your problems are only caused by non Wiganers,I wished that was the case here,we have Aussies here that can cause as much trouble as any other Nationality.That one Instant we will
hear about for the rest of our lives.
Multiculturalism works quite well here.
Now we have Muslims working on that same beach,you would,nt read about that It
Dos,nt make good reading.Yes we all still frequent our beaches as we normally do.
Got to go now Billy surfs up,time for my dip.Have A Happy New Year and do,nt believe all you read In the papers.

You know Billy If we keep looking for faults
In each other we hav,nt got time to love
each other.If all the wealth In the World was evenly distributed amongst the all the people of the World there would be no poor In the World ,and no wars .No need to kill one another,just a thought.

happy new year everyone just reading and see that people are on about praying and god.?how meny wars have bean caused by or through religion??i rest my case.
P.S I NO I CANNOT SPELL.

Your not wrong about wars caused by religion
It,s the people who actually use religion
as a reason for war,people who try to enforce their own religious views on other
people.WE are all entitled to our own views,
that's what Democracy his all about.
Have a Happy New Year , I was sorry to read
about what happened In your family you,ll
know what I mean,what ever you do,always stick together as a family.

Why does money seem to solve all the problems for you keno,Share the money of the world out to everyone in the world and yes no more poor people, But no need to kill one another? what about crimes of passion or just plain jelousy or murder for murders sake,And will no one want to invade anothers country and take thier money and land.So you see keno it's not all about money and it doesn't solve all the problems it just makes people want more money so they will kill for it and invade for it,Just a thought.

keno my bro.
governments have no money of their own. the money that they have, is collected by way of taxes from hard working brits. we entrust these elected morons to spend our money wisely, and not, repeat not, to dole it out willy nilly to some personal agenda of their own.all brit govs are guilty of this act.because of this act of generosity with OUR money, there isnt enough left in the kitty, to give same hard working brits, a decent wages related cost of living related "pension". i might add keno, the folly of our gov attitude to its own citizens, is most probabley the reason you left the old country in the first place.

admire your gut instincts for that, but seeing as i am now past moving on (cept to the promised land)i shall love and defend this great island that me and all my forebears have populated since records began, and no doubt before that.sports apart, we are the best country to live and die in, on the whole planet. the numbers clambering to get in these isles backs up my argument.

Billy we all love where we come from,If
England was In a war ,I mean where they are being attacked by another power most Australians would be over there to help.The Aussie on the whole love the Country of their ancestors,we think and act differently but we are still British stock and proud of It.My fathers advice to me to stay In Ausse,because he thought I could have a better future,here we seem to have a more lay back kind of life which I like.Billy I feel privileged to know a Gentleman like you ,we may have different opinions on a lot of matters ,but we will always be my Friends.Good Night And God Bless.

opinion-opinions. thats what its all about keno.i hope you reprimand me the first time i go overboard, and make a debateable topic, personal.i was guilty of this early on in this fine site, and one guy and myself made it personal. i regret that, and i swore it wouldnt happen again.its sunny here today,and we are once again exasperated at the poor performance of some of the english team.
i recall years ago(i was in an amateur boxing team)the coach we had was an old pro..he would always remind us, quote.."winners make the rules,
losers follow the rules"it would seem appropiate to the english team right now. they should get down to some serious studying of aussie methods in training and tactics. they are undoubtably the best cricketing side in the world right now.better still, offer a contract to the retiring aussie players to come over and teach us how to play(used to be our game)make them an offer they cant refuse.???just a thought.

Billy crickets not realy one of my Interest I do,nt care who wins,but I would love to see England win.League his more my game,It,s over In 80 minutes.The Aussies have that win at all cost,when all said and done I,ts only a game.
I have that attitude If I can,t say something good about some one do,nt say anything.
My biggest fault his being sarcastic,my wife made me make a promise to change that,I,m working on It.I never hold grudges to anyone.See you later GoodNight
God Bless