Cantousent

I won't argue that point. The fact is, we won't know what was worse or better. If you think current policy is bad, seek to change it. Railing about past policy doesn't make much sense to me. Our policy regarding Iraq hasn't been effective for the better part of two decades. The war in Iraq is much more costly in terms of material and resources than it is in terms of deaths. I hate the loss of life, but folks act as if you're the anti-Christ if you observe that it has not been been a particularly costly conflict in terms of deaths, but it is an extremely costly conflict in terms of national resources. By the way, I don't try to spin. If I give an opinion, that's my opinion at the time. My opinion right now is that the Iraq war was clearly a political mistake, but it might not be a long term policy mistake. Since I doubt the issue will be clear for another decade or so, there's no real telling. However, I seriously doubt we can have a reasonable discussion on the issue because most folks are firmly set in their opinions.

Give the kid a break. The shirt didn't look that bad and I don't recall thinking he looked like a knuckle dragger also. Damn it, Chekcpoint, post a picture of yourself if you dare! :Cant's evil grin and laugh icon:

No, this is true, however he also urged rebellion and then didn't provide any substantial assistance. He dropped the ball in his policy across the board.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn -- Poison

As bad as Hussein was at least he brought stability to his country and the region. Now we have chaos and terrorist cells running rampant. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That argument really only works if you contend that Saddam Hussein didn't work against our interests. Frankly, I can understand and agree with the position that the war in Iraq brought chaos to the region. However, I balk when folks suggest that our interests were served by the status quo. The fact is, Bush the elder really dropped the ball by leaving the situation as it was after the first gulf war. Stability of Hussein's variety is what got us in this mess in the first place. You might not like how Bush the younger handled the mess, but we had a mess. Let's be honest enough to recognize that the situation in Iraq was bad for a long, long time before W took office.

Pancho and Lefty -- Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard

F*** All That -- Pink Floyd

You might change after you graduate from junior high. :Cant's poking fun at Weiser icon:

There are tyrannies in Africa aplenty. Which one should be blamed for so many deaths? Maybe we should start with hunger, although we have to ask who will foot the bill.

That's because, at the end of the day, the benefits to national security must outweigh the risks of any venture. That's always the test. The real question about Iraq isn't whether we were right or just to do it, but whether it furthered our interests. As ugly as it is, that's the nature of foreign policy. EDIT: And that's why we let millions die in Africa without a word while we decry the thousands, hundreds, or even individuals who die in the middle east. It's not right. I don't like it. ...But there it is.

The philosophy of "not sticking our nose in" was ditched after the last world war. Of course, the internet provides a place for every Latin spouting, pretentious crazy to voice the things they think would improve our world. Please, don't take offense. I probably didn't mean you. :D

Private Universe -- Crowded House Followed by I'm Gonna Be -- The Proclaimers

Don't worry, I'd just come back again. They'll use me as a model for the combat fidget. I'm really not nearly as interested in the combat graphics as I am the gameplay mechanics and story, however. That's where the game will make or break for me. The combat fidgetting and other such is fluff. Sure, I'll like it if it works properly, but it won't be the final word on the game.

Please refrain from hilarious speculation on the murder of our fellow members. You may, however, murder me with both glee and humor.

Good Lord, the spam-meisters have taken control! Can lockdown be far away? I wouldn't murder anyone on the board, even in jest. Well, maybe Nick_i_am when I go to England. BTW: Bok, the rig goes with me. Where I go, it goes. The death I die, so dies my rig. It is my rig and I. AM. ITS. MASTER!

I was hoping he'd say when he froze over.

Hey, I love tea, you swine! I love coffee, but I also like Starbucks, so go figure. I guess I lose at the internet. So, when are you headed out to Sunny Southern California, Hades?

Awesome, you truly are the man, meta. Metaman! BTW: I'll be in Livermore visiting my buddy who works for AMD on the 25th of this month. Any of you forum monkeys want to take a swing at me, that's your chance!

Now, julian is someone I could actually visit for coffee. ...But I've seen his picture and he's definitely a minor! hahahahaha Anyhow, folks, I won't leave my wife for another woman. I don't care how much I might love someone else, I simply won't humiliate my wife in such a manner. Some time down the line, if we're mutually attracted to each other, then we can date. As far as the topic at hand, I can't see any reason I don't stop by and see some of the northern California folks the next time I'm in the area. I'm heading up to Livermore to see friends. Maybe we can arrange something then. Both of them, regardless of how they act, are over 18.

Tom Fools Now, as to the age, I balk at meeting minors, even at safe public places. Frankly, minors should never, ever arrange to meet folks from the internet. meta and I are adults. That's one thing. We are in a position to take a variety of risks associated with meeting strangers. On the other hand, in terms of the so called "strangeness" of meeting folks from the internet, would it be strange if we took a class together, hit it off, and then had coffee after class, maybe studied, and talked about computer games? Really, some of you folks are a little uptight. :Cant's poking fun at his fellow internet geeks icon: EDIT: No. I live about five hours of hard driving from them. Listen, I would rather have seen Jim and Calax than spend an entire week with my God forsaken in-laws anyhow! Grrrr.

Even worse would be Gorth. Anyhow, back to the topic, I don't think it's all that strange to meet folks with whom you associate online. Hell, I wish I could have stopped by to see Child and Calax while I was up in Northern California.

Well, meta isn't the only one who doesn't like American coffee. Well... not that they don't like the coffee here. It's that they think the coffee drinks here pale next to Italian coffee. Oops: I was speaking of going to England with my wife. meta is not my wife. meta is my concubine. Please note the difference. Also, it's not like it took long to find one another. Yes, there are pictures here, but they simply don't do justice to anyone. I always assume folks will look at least a little different than their picture and usually I'm right.

As strange as having 3,230 posts at Obsidian, not counting the ones in WoT? ...Or as strange and funny as meeting people online to play a game. If you had the chance to meet Jags, Kor, or Alan for a game on the lan, would you think it was strange? Face it, most of the folks I know in "real life" don't spend much time at message boards anyhow. So, if we're going to be strange and funny anyhow, we might as well meet. Hell, I plan on meeting KQD in Vegas some time next year. I look forward to it.

The problem with adding combat moves inbetween actual attacks is that it doesn't represent what's happening in the game. I'd rather have the clunkiness and know when my attacks actually fall than to have cosmetics muddy the waters.

The freeways are never quiet, even at 4am, but you don