Well Richard, it's probably lucky for the rest of the world that we're not politicians (or Prime Ministers or Presidents)! My friends down in our local pub used to call me "Fowlie of the F.O." (The Foreign Office). This was possibly meant ironically, probably due to my occasional(?) lack of tact or sense of diplomacy.

There is another interesting aspect of this whole thing. As a kid I LOVED America (I still think it's a fantastic country). Living in the forties and fifties in drab old England, it was the dream place to go. I used to cut adverts out of American magazines and stick them on the bedroom wall. Anything American was great, The Marlboro Man, white walled tires, you name it. We used to follow the American GI's around and try to get invited to the PX (I think it was). A wonderful, colorful world full of Zippo lighters, multi colored plastic transistor radios and other such unattainable goodies. How sad that America has lost so much respect and is now so reviled over large parts of the world. So sad. This isn't an attack on America, it's an attack on the present administration. I'm disappointed. America DOES need a change!

But we shouldn't turn this into an "argument" now should we! (We are on Pet Talk after all). I'd prefer to see it as "jousting" as Gini so aptly put it. At least she didn't say we were "scrapping" or "bickering" or "brawling". Jousting is much more civilized isn't it, almost chivalrous!

So here we go again, though I must admit it's a little bit like trying to have a discussion with a brick wall:

"I have a problem when a person adjusts the truth to fit their own agenda".
My goodness! … you must have a massive problem with George and Dick and all the others in the White House! Not to mention the overwhelming evidence of their obsessive secrecy.
"Subscribing to someone's twisted truth?" You want that, subscribe to the White House.

"By the way, YOU seem so adamant about us kicking Saddam's Arse to a hole in the ground you seem to be a little glum about it. What's the problem??"
You just don't understand do you. Or perhaps you don't WANT to understand. The problem is about lies and deceit and manipulation of the truth, not to mention gigantic doses of hypocrisy.

"DUDE...we had about 3,000 people turned to little pieces on 9/11.. what is the number you need in order to take action??
I get the idea that some people snickered a little bit when we took it on the chin."
You've got no idea what you're talking about or who you're talking to. I've got all the live news on that and the fantastic documentary made by the two French brothers on tape. We must NEVER forget what those primitive savages did, I think these programs should be repeated regularly, so no one can ever forget the horror and injustice of it. Of course it was an act of war, and HAD to lead to retaliation.

"Well, You tread on us, we tread back"
I don't tread on anyone. That wasn't a threat again was it?

“If my chest thumping-God Bless America attitude is a problem, remember, It's my guaranteed right under the First Amendment.
And that is my truth, not some edited, watered down waste of celluloid that masquerades as the truth …"
Then how come Michael Moore is (quote from your link): "abusing the First Amendment and is hurting us worse than the enemy has" for doing exactly the same thing as you are? Perhaps your "chest thumping-God Bless America attitude" is hurting YOUR credibility too. The comment sounds a bit too much like hypocrisy to me.

"can that sticking the tongue out icon at the end of your missive be perceived as infantile????"
Ha, great! I just thought a smiley might lighten up the message a bit, I hadn't even noticed that he stuck his tongue out! I'd do it again though!

… and finaly, I still can't understand your sarcasm concerning the Danish submarine. The US used them too didn't they? Here's an even better one for you. They sent a snow plow to Saudi Arabia (by mistake they said), but apparently it came in extremely useful. Pushing sand around or something. Bit embarrassing though. You should be able to get a cheap laugh out of that. Tell all your friends how stupid the Danes are. Isn't that how you usually get your laughs, making fun of people who are trying to help you? It's not a very good idea in the long run though.


By the way, sorry we've hijacked your thread Soledad, hope you have found it entertaining at least!