Free Republic

The next country to invade France should have to keep them. I weep for the American blood that purchased their thankless freedom twice in the past century.

Re: "Now what I want to know is: what are the geographical boundaries of the Sweet Tea Zone: that is, where does the sweet tea run out and the funny looks on waitresses faces begin?"

As a native Georgian who loves hot and cold sweet tea, I believe that restaurants should be given every opportunity to destroy themselves in any way that they want to, as long as they cause no public harm in the process. It's none of government's business.

Here in Atlanta I visited Pittypat's Porch in 1998. It had been a popular Antebellum theme Southern restaurant for decades, but was evidently under new (foreign?) management. I ordered sweet tea with dinner. The swishy waiter looked at me as though I were ET, and with a condescending tone in his voice announced "We don't serve that here." Five years have passed and I haven't been back. It's my money to spend, and their business to survive by meeting customer requirements.

Here in Georgia we do have some problems that need legislative attention, but tea isn't one of them. However, if the government gets the idea to legislate milk into our tea, that will certainly cause another revolution, and heads will roll.

"...The buildings were doomed the minute the planes hit them with all that jet fuel."

Could it be that they were doomed the minute the enviro whackos denuded the core metal structure of its fire protecting coatings?

"...My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." -- Neville Chamberlain, September 30, 1938.

It is amazing that we have so many Chamberlains in our time telling us it's okay to sleep.

"Jimmy, like his fellow Georgian Jihad Cindy, is heavily funded by arabs and islamists. "

A lot of Jihad Cindy's fellow Georgians, including this freeper, were absolutely delighted to see Republicans crossing party lines in droves to kick her out at the primary level. Her Islamness was no asset, and drew special, well deserved fire from the Jewish community.

"...That dodo from Georgia gives all peanut farmers a bad name."

Georgia did not create Jimmy Carter's incompetence any more than California created Ronald Reagan's competence. There are many Georgians, including this one, who are profoundly embarrassed at this globalist, socialist, pro-abortion "Neville Chamberlain" of our times.

"...Why would Israel attack a US ship? Maybe the WH didn't want us to know the answer to that question because it would embarass the WH. "

I think you hit the nail on the head, AppyPappy.

My view of the USS Liberty situation has changed in light of information gathered from many pro and con website entries I have read during the past few days. This is what I now think:

The crew of the USS Liberty could not absolutely know what the motives for the attack and its subsequent cover up were. But they do know, and they do speak with a single voice about what they saw and what they picked up on the air waves around them. About all these things, I believe they speak with a single, clear, and truthful voice that could not be easily fabricated.

The Israelis knew exactly what they were doing, and to whom, during the attack. They believed what they were doing was in Israel’s best interest during that moment of war. I believe they lied about this in their report. Israel will not talk about the details because they would lose support from the United States’ if all the facts were known.

The United States government will not talk about the details because they would reveal a profound blunder within Lyndon Johnson’s jurisdiction, and the American public would be enraged. One of the few honorable politicians from that era, Secretary of State Dean Rusk from Georgia, said he did not believe the sustained attack could have possibly been a mistake, and he did not believe the Israeli account of it. And neither do I.

Other interests, such as pro-Arab web sites, appear to be using this event to drive Israel and the USA apart. Neither Israel nor the US government want such a wedge to be driven. Some pro-Israeli interests have misrepresented this event, claiming it was an accident in the fog of war, for the same reason. They may mean well, but they are lying too.

Again, these are just the conclusions that I have come to. I reserve the right to be wrong, given better information.

I said: "Lexus IS a Toyota."....You said: "Yes, but the SC 430 a really, really nice one! And damned fun to drive..... :)"

Toyota is hard to beat. I'm sure you are correct, and that you have a great car. I have read that it was the American military's demand for trucks to use in Korea that got Toyota going again after the war.

"Enjoy that new Toyota!"....and..."I prefer my Lexus SC 430."

A hamburger by any other name costs twice as much. Lexus IS a Toyota.

"The Grahams stiffed my daughter a year of wages...you do your homework first and check the obvious."

It is incumbent upon you, the author and propagator of the above accusation, to provide convincing data to this forum. Otherwise, you can sit there in the frying pan of scrutiny with your unsubstantiated claim and continue to sizzle in your own juices. Think about it. The homework is yours. That is what is obvious.

"The Grahams stiffed my daughter a year of wages..."

Could you put some meat on the dry skeleton of that allegation? What contract was violated? Did you not sue for the value of the contract? Did you win? Why or why not? Was Franklin Graham party to that activity? On the surface, it just looks like you are wanting to put Franklin Graham in a bad light.

I wish I had heard more of this sooner. Seems to me that this is surfacing after a nationwide rejection of Moslems in general, who were largely complacent and silent after nine eleven.

They should have been outraged the same as the rest of us were.

If they really want to help, let them use their Moslemness to help us ferret out the bad guys here and around the world.

"...and be powerless to stop it."

From all I have read, this malady is transmitted when one mammal eats the nerve tissue of another, for example, brain or spinal cord tissue. IMHO, until we know, don't eat those things. Forget about ground meat products unless you grind them yourself. You cannot know what just went through that grinder at the supermarket.

Regards, Hank in Atlanta

"We expect the organization will soon change its name: any group that has ‘Cross’ in its name is clearly being insensitive to religious diversity."

Given that the red cross was derived from Christianity, and that the red crescent was derived from a moon god symbol incorporated with Islam, perhaps they should choose another symbol... perhaps a Red Star. Now there is a better match, given their socialist leanings.

"The current offensive also includes Australian and Canadian forces.

Some on FR have said that England is our only ally in the War on Terrorism. I think we should give some deserved credit to Canada and Australia too.

"it is possible that the Arabic members would not feel loyal to the coalition any more"

Wow! Whenever were they loyal to us anyway?! Their actions and inactions have spoken well enough for their true feelings since 9/11.

"I think he was referring to Arafat discrediting his cause by using terrorism, not us resorting to terrorism. I agree with what he said. Terrorism is only something you resort to when you are too weak and too unprincipaled to use anything else."

I stand by my words. The only principle that matters is that we should use every tool at our disposal to affect the most desireable outcome for the well being of the United States, its people, its security, and its economic interests. We cannot legislate around the hate and jealousy coming from other countries.

Years ago I read about a Russian diplomatic worker who was kidnapped in the mideast. The Soviets responded by kidnapping one of the members of the Islamic radicals who had done the deed. The Russians cut the private parts out of their victim and put them in his mouth. They put his body in a street to be seen and found. The kidnapping of Russians was thereafter greatly attenuated. The Russians understood well what I am telling you. There was nothing weak about Russia at the time. They had clarity of thought and an understanding of human behavior that many of today's "heady" folk plainly lack.

"I wonder if he thought our retribution for 9-11 would be as weak and inconsequential as our response to previous attacks on our embassies and military overseas."

That is precisely what he thought. We have not been clear, resolute, and thorough in dealing with these vermin in the past. I pray that President Bush sees this and will not relent until the job is done right, including tending to the unfinished business in Iraq.

"You cannot win a war using terrorism -- you can only discredit your cause."

That is weenie talk. In war you use whatever methods result in victory, and the long term survival of America's security and economic interests. Whether it's horses, bullets, bribes, deceit, lasers, bombs, rockets, or whatever -- it does not matter as long as the objective is accomplished with dispatch.

We should not wimp out because of fear of what "discredit" may come from those who love to hate us anyway.

FWIW...I read last month that O'Hare just retook the lead as busiest airport.

If you read it, it must be true. At least I hope so. If you want to walk from Hartsfield's ticket counters to its most distant gates, you'd better pack a lunch, or be prepared to pay three prices for junk food.