Seems like only yesterday that I was talking about the whole war on terror and how preventable, natural disasters dwarfed the risk, carnage and property damage that could be done by terrorists - not to mention the preventable, man-made disasters.
At the time, those on the right (and left) pretty much scoffed at my thoughts - something about 30,000 attempted murders on 9/11. So I guess that now we're over 50,000 dead (and still climbing) and lord only knows how much more injured and homeless that this line of attack against my thesis is officially over. We have yet to see the fallout from the inevitable disease fallout from just simply having all those dead bodies around - much less all the pollution and biological contamination that happens when that much water flushes through human civilization.
It's truly astounding how the human mind works and how we evaluate risk. 3200 people dead over 2 decades by terrorism. 50,000+ dead in the space of a day for the want of figuring out the obvious fact that a 8.9 earthquake under water is almost certainly going to produce a Tsunami.
Sure glad all those Asian countries have spent billions tracking down terrorists for the US instead of updating their emergency communications and preparedness. Seems like money truly well spent now, doesn't it?
*;)
*-m-*
I would like to share a story from Mensa's earliest days (which makes it around 1949... and no, I wasn't present). Mensa members offered their services to the UK government - the rational and the informed would help out, rather like Mycroft Holmes (Sherlock's brother!!! did you forget???). The UK government (punchline here) declined.
Hey, at least they're winning the battle to give Intelligent Design its rightful place next to the theory of evolution.
Got to count your victories where you can. . .
Eh? Who's "they"?
Our new moral overlords.
Hal,
Are we really supposed to believe that you know for sure that "all those Asian countries" only had enough money to either install Tsunami warning devices OR fight terrorism and that they all chose to fight terrorism? Are we supposed to believe that they all had plans to install these warnings and had all the funding in place but at the last minute decided to spend those earmarked funds on terrorism at the behest of George Bush?
You lefties just can't help blaming America first can you? In must be in your blood or at least nervous system thus the knee jerk anti American reactions you always lead with. Keep up the good work and I'll see you in 08!
Mark
W.......still the PRESIDENT!
Anyone we want/08
(Thanks again Hal)
Uh, the "war" is our baby. Every dollar we dump into it is a dollar we can't spend on something else which will help far more than bullets will. So far, just the bottomless pit we call Iraq has cost us 200+ billion. Hey, I hear another 85 billion is coming after the inauguration of the supreme leader of the revolution.
Hey, what about those approval ratings of the supreme leader? Must feel good to have the lowest approval rating of any reelected president - ever.
Laugh while you can, monkey boy.
Hal,
Try rereading my post. You claim that "all those Asian countries" spent money on chasing terrorists for the United States instead of spending it on Tsunami warning devices. You imply that they had plans and the money to install such devices.Are you going to stand by that ridiculous blame America first claim or not? Are you going to back it up or did you make it up out of whole cloth? Was it just a knee jerk reation to just make something up, anything as long as it was anti American?
My point is that you lefties can't blame anyone but yourselves when you keep getting your asses handed to you at the polls. Don't blame stupid mouth breathing red staters. Don't blame the Florida secretary of state. Don't blame the supreme court. Don't blame talk radio. Blame yourselves you moron. If your first reaction is to blame America and our President everytime something happens then the rest of America will see that and reject you and the other morons like you.
In any case, keep up the good work and I'll see you in 08.
Mark
W.....still the PRESIDENT
I guess whomever we please/08
Well, first off, tsunami warning devices weren't even mentioned in my post - that's your invention. Didn't you read my post? :)
What I questioned was the wisdom of spending all that money on fighting our war when they will do far more for their people by spending that money on improving their emergency preparedness and communication infrastructure.
It's not a criticism of this country. It's a statement of the obvious fact that those country's self interest doesn't always coincide with the USA's self interest. So, I must say that it's your delusion that you're arguing against.
It's my belief that even without tsunami warning, even a rudimentary communications infrastructure combined with rudimentary emergency preparedness would have drastically reduced the lives lost. And these critical services have use beyond tsunamis.
Keep pinching yourself. Hope your airbags are working.