Other - Politics & Government - June 2007

While there are about 150,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, there are more than 120,000 other men and women serving alongside the military, but drawing their paychecks through such Pentagon contractors as Halliburton, Blackwater, DynCorp, and Custer Battles.

These are hired hands, not soldiers, and mostly they lack the training, discipline, and equipment of the regular forces – yet they're thrown into the same deadly environment, getting shot, bombed, maimed, and killed. Yet, the Bush administration does not even count them. A spokesman coldly says: "There is no requirement for the U.S. government to track these numbers."

The Labor Department, which receivess workers compensation claims, has quietly recorded that at least 917 of these people have died in Bush's war. Another 12,000 have been wounded in battle or injured on the job. That's about one-third more causalities than the Bush administration has told us about – a hidden toll of this immoral war and occupation.

2007-06-20 07:00:34 · 11 answers · asked by Richard V 6

would you submit, or become an insurgent?

2007-06-20 06:54:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

I've noticed many gas stations are posting signs that say their gas is 100% gasoline, no ethanol. I guess I really don’t mind as long as I can get from Point A to Point B without any issues. I’ve never really thought about it before. But the other day I overheard someone talking with an attendant at a station that sells 100% gas and he said that doing so increases our dependency on foreign oil and helps to keep prices higher. He then proclaimed this particular station wasn't going to get his business anymore because it was "un-American" and bad for our Nation’s wellbeing. I know that the attendant can't do anything about the prices or if their gas or the purity of it but do you think its "un-American" to buy 100% pure gasoline? I guess I agree that it takes money away from local farmers who produce corn for the ethanol and it does probably affect how much oil we purchase and may very well serve to keep prices high, but to call it "un-American"? I don't know. What do you think?

2007-06-20 06:52:40 · 12 answers · asked by BJ 1

there are insurgents? I'm only stating an opinion to the quote and I think no war has,nor could ever be won, with the constant flow of insurgents.

2007-06-20 06:49:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

we have to bring in 12 million mexicans to fill jobs.....
and a ANY job gives a person selfworth

2007-06-20 06:17:04 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

jesse jackson or al sharpton? i cant decide!!!!!!

2007-06-20 06:14:39 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

Then please answer the following:

in the Pledge of Alleigance, why is the phrase "one nation under God" still there?

why is there the phrase "In God We Trust" on the dollar bills?

why do we swear over a Bible in court?

2007-06-20 05:32:56 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-06-20 05:14:03 · 4 answers · asked by David K 4

His inability to speak with correct grammar is ridiculous.

2007-06-20 05:10:24 · 18 answers · asked by David K 4

I mean there used to be a time when Osama Bin Laden/Mullah Omar/Zawahiri was Al Qaeda. They were the ones responsible for Sept. 11 and none of them were even in Iraq in their entire lifetimes. Certainly Moqtada Al Sadrs militants which number in the 10's of thousands cant be considered Al Qaeda can they?

Why is the world being brainwashed?
This world is a joke

2007-06-20 05:08:19 · 6 answers · asked by David K 4

Depending upon your leanings: (fill in the rest)

Andy: Bill or George Sr.
Barney: George w. or Al
Otis: Cheney, Dick Morris
Bea: Barbara (who else?)
Goober: Tony Snow or ?
Opie? Obama?
Howard?

2007-06-20 04:46:29 · 2 answers · asked by farmer 4

Work in progress is not a finished job folks

2007-06-20 04:41:19 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

I do.

2007-06-20 04:34:52 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

When I say Bomb I mean Bomb them back to the Dark Ages.

2007-06-20 04:32:53 · 8 answers · asked by john 2

What went wrong?
Seems many aspects were visionary?
Just before their time or economically misguided?
Point to specifics please.

2007-06-20 04:14:11 · 10 answers · asked by farmer 4

Should the Republicans get fairness (equal time) in the schools and colleges?

2007-06-20 04:04:50 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Then they cry when the Democrats have to take care of them. I dont understand this country sometimes.

2007-06-20 04:01:46 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-06-20 03:34:18 · 12 answers · asked by Dirk von Pelvis 1

2007-06-20 03:33:36 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

has it hindered or helped the situation?

2007-06-20 02:42:32 · 1 answers · asked by sunshine_mel 7

Saw on NBC last night that Hilliary is putting out a video spoof of "The Sopranos" with herself playing Tony Soprano. Will Obama counter this move by putting out a video spoof of "The Little Rascals" ("Hi! I's Buckwheat")?

2007-06-20 01:14:14 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-06-20 01:05:57 · 10 answers · asked by urvija a 1

Some are ideological (the infiltration of radical Islamist ideologies, for example), some physical (Iran's intentions toward Israel). Can we ever combat these threats in a way which does not entail us departing from our democratic values? Does resorting to non-diplomatic tactics damage our own democratic framework?

2007-06-20 00:40:52 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

Deprived from public support of the Paletinians, and relying on the backing of Israel, the USA, and some European countries, will Fatah succeed, and will this mean democracy?

2007-06-20 00:34:10 · 7 answers · asked by Nader Ali 4

...an attempt to turn slave on slave and devert anger away from the government itself.

2007-06-19 23:27:13 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

After the war in Iraq, wasteful use of public funds, lies, and the award of a Knighthood to Salmon Rushdie........

Is it not clearly obvious that politicians all need brain transplants. They are so inept and bad at their job it is no wonder I decided not to follow a political career....

Perhaps you have a solution?
Attaturk wanted to put all the Mullahs in boats and sink them. In the French Revolution they did it to Aristrocrats. What special treatment do you recomend.

2007-06-19 22:57:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-06-19 22:21:49 · 10 answers · asked by Questinaire 1

He has broken with the Republican Party.

I'm a lifelong Republican who went independent for a while after the 1964 elections. I agree with most of the stated principles of the GOP. But I am totally disappointed in many of the elected officials in the party. (I am okay with the President, however, even though I don't agree with him on everything.)

Seems about all the Republican Party can do these days is hit me up for donations. I would like to see them deliver on such key issues as national security, immigration, Social Security reform, and a long-overdue overhaul of the income tax system.

Bloomberg may be serving himself above the public, but I just might agree that the GOP just hit the iceberg and is going down fast.

What do you all think?

(I would not align with the Democrats on a bet.)

2007-06-19 21:16:05 · 6 answers · asked by Warren D 7

Senate and the House. Is this information public or posted anywhere? I am interested at the power these guys have to influence world affairs and the link to whether they are well-traveled or not.

I'd also be interested if there was any other passport info on different branches or agencies. But this question was the initial bet: he says less than 10% don't have a passport , I say more than 10% don't have them (I wouldn't be surprised if it was as high as 25%).

Thanks.

2007-06-19 20:42:31 · 4 answers · asked by A bit confused... 1

so why is he backing the hamas group from gaza--they promote death to jews and are supported by iran--is he nuts--pardon the pun

2007-06-19 18:45:59 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous