The U.S. military has been weakened, ill-equipped, and under-funded for quite sometime. We lack manpower, equipment and resources for any major conflict. We have sat on our laurels and allowed the rest of the world to catch up and in many areas surpass us. Our political leaders have directed this self destruction for sometime. Reagan's vision was lost when he left office. We have set the table for our own destruction.
Baptist would never vote for a Catholic either, they would rather have satan himself, than a Catholic in the whitehouse for anything other than maid service.
Very in-line with the German submarine philosphy, as dictated by budget and political restraints. Quite capable and serves their needs and operating areas.
12/26/2006 1:33:41 PM PST
· 57 of 87 FFIGHTER
to Sir Francis Dashwood
The Japanese have their own constitution, first amendment does not apply. They are a sovereign country, recognized as such by the United States of America. Christmas is not an official Japanese holiday, it is a regular workday, so there "government" workers were working.
Since you are interested in the Japanese Constitution heres a link:
Israel is a secular state. That being said, there are accommodations for religious/observant Jews. There has always been a little unrest between the ultra-orthodox communities and the secular ones. There have been a number of riots, brawls and other incidents between the various parties. Additionally there has always been the debate about military conscription and the ultra-orthodoxes dismissal from it. So while this item has made the paper, it is not the first or last such incident. It is an issue that they have had since the inception of Israel.
12/18/2006 7:20:13 PM PST
· 43 of 53 FFIGHTER
to Clintonfatigued
We need the government to step in, conduct a study, develop a series of laws, set up an enforcement agency which will regulate the high-tech industry, establish a standard minimum wage, a forty hour work week and six weeks vacation with full benefits and all the employees own the stock, and the business's founders are taxed a 100% of their return as it was all gained on the backs of the workers. Workers of the world unite. /e-sarc
They can only implement what the politicos allow them to. They have all the responsibility, but none of the authority to implement change. The politicos all seemed to have gone to the McNamara school of War micromanagement.
Unless the rules of engagement change, nothing will. That is from the politicos, not the military. I hope you are right, but with the politicos micromanaging the war, I do not.
12/16/2006 9:32:11 AM PST
· 53 of 96 FFIGHTER
to MinorityRepublican
The U.S. military has long been ignored, it is underfunded and undermanned and has been since Reagan. Congress has been talking the talk, but sitting down during the walk. Lack of support from congress is demoralizing. Congress is more interested in the pork project back in the district, then the men and women in uniform.