Posted the story over at hiptop.com:

Looky


.ernie - aim: ryptide - http://ryptide.com

So I'm standing in the 3 hour line at the DMV "Express" in Springfield Mall. The Taco Laredo is offering a special: Steak and Cheese w/ Freedom Fries.

I knew people were doing this, but I hadn't seen it in person before. How completely xenophobic and corny.

.ernie - aim: ryptide - http://ryptide.com

Tax season ended yesterday, so today is Mandy's day off. I'm recently unemployed, so everyday is my day off.

Here we are on the Mall, just left the National Gallery of Art.

I always feel like such a tourist taking pictures here, even though I've lived here all my life.

.ernie - aim: ryptide - http://ryptide.com

An accident has 66 stopped at rt. 28 (right where I'm trying to go.)

Helicopters circling about and whatnot.

The truck in front of me has an interesting array of antennae.

I've been here about 10 minutes already.

.ernie - aim: ryptide - http://ryptide.com

National guardman changed his name to a toy [wkyc.com]


This guy is my hero.

.ernie - aim: ryptide

For some reason, the staunch Bush supporters only see this in black and white. Either we invade Iraq to remove Hussein from power and destroy the weapons, or we do nothing.

The problem with that logic, is that nobody is saying we should just let Hussein remain in power, or that he should be able to keep the weapons. Nobody is saying we should wait and see if he attacks. Everyone agrees that something has to be done.

Most of the folks I've spoken with regarding this issue, who don't support a war with Iraq, want inspectors to be increased, and want the UN to step up and handle it's business...

Like pretty much everyone else on the planet, I think that Hussein is an evil tryant who needs to be removed from power, and weakened to the point where he can't cause any harm. I just don't think this is the way to do it. I am in support of increasing inspections, flyovers, inserting peacekeepers, whatever else it takes to get the job done, but not simply going into Iraq without the support of the UN and the global community.

You could argue that we gave him 12 years of chances, and I'll agree with you. But that wasn't 12 years of constant inspections, because Hussein kicked the inspectors out. They were just allowed back in recently. Is a handful of months enough time to disarm an entire country?





.ernie - aim: ryptide

Brody - You are correct in that it's not about a need in the US for Iraqi oil.

If its about oil, which I'm sure is part of it, then it is about having control over where the oil goes, and who is in charge of developing the oil fields, etc. Not so much making sure the US gets it.

.ernie - aim: ryptide

Only time will tell if this is the right way to go about solving the Iraq problem.

I don't see how attacking Iraq is protecting the country. It's only going to increase hatred the world over for the US. What we're really protecting is our alliance with Israel, which is the reason we are in this mess to begin with. If American-made tanks weren't rolling through the streets of Palestinian neighborhoods, perhaps Muslim sentiment would be different.

Perhaps ashamed is the wrong word. I'm proud of our service men and women who are putting themselves in harms way. I'm proud of the many protests nationwide over this situation. I'm proud to live in a place where it's okay to speak out againts the leadership.

On the other hand, it's sad to watch as our individual rights are stripped away in the interest of "national security". It's sad to see people support this war without thinking about the repercussions for US citizens and the rest of the world. That's what I'm ashamed of. I'm ashamed of the US further undermining UN authority. This war will render the UN basically useless. If a member country doesn't have to follow UN guidelines, what is the point in having a UN?

Of course, I agree that Hussein is a bad seed and that he needs to be removed, but the UN is the proper channel for this. We need to be patient, now that the world spotlight is on this issue, increase the number of inspectors, insert UN peacekeepers, and let the inspectors do their jobs.

Don't get me twisted. I support our troops overseas. My dad is a Vietnam Veteran. I've heard the stories of our boys being spit on when they got back to the world. You won't find me doing anything like that, but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't speak out about this issue. Too many people are blindly following Dubya and Co.'s rhetoric and fearmongering.

Don't think for one minute that this is purely selfless. There is oodles of oil under Iraqi soil. There is an election to be won next year. Public support for the President tends to increase in times of strife. Until bodies start being shipped home. If this is a prolonged campaign (I don't see why it would be.), public support will certainly change.

.ernie - aim: ryptide

Inspectors Urged to Leave Iraq [BBC]

We're going to war. With or without the UN.

This is disgusting and stupid. It's times like these when I am ashamed to be an American. How can "they" really think that this war is good for Americans. How can it possibly be assumed that ridding the world of Saddam Hussein will decrease terror? Isn't our aggressive nature, and the way we enforce our will on the rest of the world the biggest reason we are a target?

I better get gas this evening. Prices are sure to increase dramatically, even more than they have in the last couple of months.

.ernie - aim: ryptide

Just appeared on my MSNBC News Ticker.

Hiptop maker gets $35M injection.


Go get 'em Danger!

.ernie - aim: ryptide