I have been fascinated by your logic and perspective concerning Iraq war.

I do not have confidence in my understanding of the relationship between the Shia, Sunni, Kurds and their respective relationships with the al Qaeda. If your explanation is helpful, I suspect that it is temporary.

I have traveled in the Middle East and had difficulty sharing my experiences when I returned home. When we describe events to others, we depend upon common understanding of culture, language, experience, education and other shared background. Most of us have very little in common with the Arab culture and vice versa. I found it laborious and sometimes impossible to accurately relate some of my day-to-day experiences because there was no common basis for understanding between our culture and theirs. For this reason, I believe that native Arabs and others will have insurmountable problems understanding us. Education is key. I believe that our policy of allowing Saudi’s and other native middle easterners to attend our universities is a good thing. They are often influential upon their return home and understand that it is not our goal to dominate them. This response is partially addressed to Stefan that made an interesting point except that his response does not recognize downright hatred directed to anyone that is different as has been taught throughout many Muslim countries. My friends and business associates in the Middle East care every bit as much about things that really matter as we do; that is well-being of friends and family.

There are so many consequences to 9/11, the Bush attempt at being a President, the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now possibly Iran that I don’t know where to start.

First my comment to those that think Iraq is a “good” war. Would you send your son or daughter? Iraq is an astounding example of how easy it is to con the US public. Just shake their unreal belief that they live in the greatest most Just, most democratic, most free,most secure, and most of all most right/correct country in the world. Read Gore Vidal’s PERPETUAL WAR FOR PREPETUAL PEACE. And they can be talked into anything.

Now don’t start with the Patriot American Love it or leave it stuff. Patriots are those that speak out in a democracy when they see their country doing, going, or acting wrong.

Walk down the streets of the US inner city to see how America lives. We have no medical care. Many countries do. We have a lower literacy rate than many countries. We have a higher child birth death rate, pay more for needed drugs and medicine, Have too many folks choosing between food and medicine etc., etc.

Afghanistan was I believe justified. However the War on Terror is a con job. First the action by the Bin Lauden group was a crime, not an act of war. Terrorism is a crime war is a state of armed conflict between nations, and should be treated as such. Had we called this a crime, had we done that the whole world would and still would be on our side. We would have interpol and all the other police forces on our side.

Iraq was a distraction because we could not catch B. L. in Afghanistan. And war is good business especially if the prize is oil, and potential fame for the winning instigators. WHAT IF WE WOULD HAVE SPENT THE 500 BILLION ON FOOD, HEALTH, EDUCATION for needy countries as well as ourselves. The home for terrorists would be drastically shrinking in the face of that effort, instead of creating 3500 dead US, 100,000 US injured and uncountable dead ad injured in Iraq.

Iran has about 70 million citizens. about 40 million are under the age of 35. How many soldiers is that? We have not properly equipped our present fighting force with body armor and hardened Humvees. We have refused to buy foreign protection systems against IUDs giving a lush contract to a US manufacturer that will take years to prefect a new system while our men and women die. Obviously we will not win a ground war in Iran. That leaves Air power, which has never won a war short of obliterating all the citizens of a country, Or…nuclear. God forbid. AND we are talking of going to war with IRAN while refusing to talk to them before hand.

In the US the Patriot Act I and II has removed our liberties without any justification, created a KING that can imprison even US citizens by decree indefinitely with no right to council, habeas corpus etc. We have a congress that has hidden from its responsibilities as a check and balance of power because political power and re-electability are more important than saying and doing what is lawful, and Constitutionally required. We have daily new scandals about our government lying, stealing from us, or giving our money to private mercenaries to fight under the radar. There are so many scandals that the news commentators now even say that this one will likely take the peoples mind off the last one. We have negated any recognition of global warming, or international law such as the Geneva Convention which will not only jeopardize our military when they are captured, but puts us in an interesting position with regard to complaining to the world about terrorism. If we act like them how can we condemn them.

You don’t think so… Guantanamo, and all the exporting of prisoners to countries that allow torture. The only difference is we con’t even have the courage or our convictions to put prisoners on TV like the terrorists.

I can go on, but it is so depressing. I was in Viet Nam, I saw the agony, and hurt ad dying. I heard all the domino theory. What in retrospect is the result of our 250000 dead?

I own a Sundeer 60, and I believe that I know your original owners if you have not changed her name. They are lovely boats that sail faster than Haliburton can steal our public money. I am curious about your auto pilot and how you rigged it on the swim step. I have the original WH internal autopilot at it steered from St. Maarten to Panama in occasionally 12-15 foot seas, and then all the way to Honokohau, Hawaii single handed.

AVALON was rigged originally as an Aerorig sloop, but because the original owner could not sell the rig, converted her to a sloop with free standing mast, liesure furl boom and roller jib.

Sorry for the rant. Hope it helps pass some boring night in port.

Scott

Best wishes,
Ken Tappert
Macht Nichts
Highland Park IL

Owen