kasey simpson wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Kate, for pointing that out. Right after 9/11, one of the first
> thoughts from Cheney was "Great. Now we can finally go after Iraq."
> 
> > I didn't know you could read minds.

The word "thoughts" was incorrect. The comments were reported in several
places. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the comments passed through
as thoughts before being blurted out, but maybe not.

> Yes. People everywhere were in deep mourning, and Cheney and Rumsfeld
> were focused on finally getting what they want.
> 
> > How do you KNOW what their focus was on?

It was reported what their focus was on. And, for all I know, that
focusing on action was their way of coping rather than tearfully
mourning as some people do. I'm not assuming they were happy about the
loss of life here, although my comments may have come across as that. It
does show there was already a plan in place regarding Iraq that they
could latch onto, and that the WTC loss could be fit into that plan, and
people's mourning about that played upon. And it has been.

> Is it any wonder I do not trust their motives?
> 
> > No, I don't wonder since you seem to be able to read minds,
> > and know things that others don't.

Thanks. People who know me best consider me an unusually perceptive
person. How astute of you to notice.

> He releases a tape in which he obliquely refers to Saddam, and the US
> government doesn't try to hold back this tape as it has others (out of a
> concern it's sending coded messages to sleeper cells)
> 
> > This I am interested in, what tapes have been with held?  Where
> > can I read this?  Last I knew of the tapes where released after
> > the government agencies looked for coded messages.

Condoleezza Rice, for one, was always concerned about the tapes and
fought to keep them unreleased. But, you're right, by now we've probably
seen them all. After they've been shown on Al Jazzeera, they're publicly
available and can't be held back. This time there wasn't that kind of
inner-circle struggle. Colin Powell publicized the recent tape before
anyone else in the world did.

> I would much prefer that Osama be sought and brought to justice (not
> murdered outright because then he's a martyr, although I have a feeling
> he'll arrange that somehow anyway), that Afghanistan be made safe and
> rebuilt, and that US citizens be protected.
> 
> > Ok, just for arguments sake, let's say he is in Iraq, then what
> > do we do?  Ask him to come out?  Ask Saddam to send him over?
> > What?

Osama in Iraq? Now that would be convenient! After the mass bombing,
we'll look for whatever bodies are still standing and I'd place a big
bet that Saddam and Osama will be among them. That's assuming they
remain in harm's way as most of the citizens will. Osama and Saddam
probably won't even be there. Osama's already escaped one country's
bombings and Saddam will be taking good care of himself also.

> It's appalling that the frontline protectors in this country (police, firemen,
> healthcare
> workers) have not been given the money yet by Congress to get the
> equipment and training needed to protect US citizens!!! And yet we're
> being set up as targets for retaliation!!!  Something's very very wrong
> with that picture.
> 
> > Now I agree with this.  The problem is that the police aren't
> > trusted or respected.  After 9/11 I called my brother-in-law
> > who was a police man (he's retired now) and ask him how
> > it felt to be a cop, and respected.  He said it felt damn good.

Yes, I would think so. I've always seen firefighters as heroes. Their
work is very clearcut. It's truly unfortunate that it's taken such
horror to change my (and others') view about cops. I'm still a little
uncomfortable being around them for any length of time since there's
still their gun to keep in mind, but my view of them is not nearly as
harsh as it once was.

>  THEN I could tolerate (and possibly
> even trust) the claims being made about Iraq.
> 
> > I doubt it.

Thanks, Kasey. I think it's always a good idea to consider situations
fully rather than accept whatever the "authorities" are saying. Glad to
see you realize I'm consistent in that.

Debra Shea

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