This will draw some heat, but I agree with most of it.

[Wagner]

Article I got in an E-mail:

************************************************** *
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S PRESIDENT,DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?



My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed.

Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now to begin the reckoning.



Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.



The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.



Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.



The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.



Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.



In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt

you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.



Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try FRANCE or maybe China.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.



I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and

crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid Tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.



A special note to our northern neighbors. CANADA is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.



Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep,

border security. So start doing something with your oil.



Oh, by the way, the United State s is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.



We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision,

I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.



It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."



Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate

homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America. To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget.



To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America. Thank you and good night.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

[IFlyX5]

Priceless!

[Mr. D]

I liked it...it would be a cold day in hell, but I liked it.

[powers1]

nice one!

[ChristopherM3]

I kind of enjoyed reading that too.........

[Parker]

Although I can empathize with this guys frustration......it's been a while since I have read anything quite as ignorant or blatantly ethnocentric as that little rant.

First off, to start ragging on other nations because the war in Iraq isn't going well doesn't seem fair when you stop to consider that the American people can't agree amongst themselves whether or not they should be there at all.

Secondly, "It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. " Puh-lease!!! It's exactly because American (as well as most other Western Nation's ) foreign policies focus on their own welfare ,usually to the detriment of others, that people are driven to the position of feeling that Western civilization DESERVES to be a target for their terrorist acts. Clearly nobody deserves to be a victim of terrorism, but you have to ask yourself WHY does this person/group/culture believe that we are the "great Satan"???? Little George dubb-ya's claims of an "Axis of Evil" seem a little weak to me. How can thousands of people in a geographical area have all just been born evil. More over how can we as people of conscience not look at ourselves to at least explore the possibility that we have contributed to this situation?

And finally, "A special note to our northern neighbors. CANADA is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change." I suggest the ignorant individual who wrote that little gem take a little trip to Afghanistan and check out the rather large contigent of Canadian soldiers still hunting for Osama along with the American soldiers. I suggest he read some history books and remember the fact that it was the Canadians who were the first over the fence to jump to the aid of Europe in WWII.
More importantly I suggest he remember that if you claim to be fighting for Democracy around the globe, you are not allowed to have these little hissy fits and start punishing your neighbors when they disagree with you and your policies. A democracy in which you are only allowed to choose the path set before you is called a dictatorship. Was this guy advocating America as dictator of the world???

Sorry, it's been a long week and I am feeling a little pissy. I have nothing against Americans but sometimes I get tired of being flogged by "America" as a cultural ideal.

[DinanX5]

I have to agree with Parker on this one...
The e-mail is kinda funny, but also a little scary that many really feel that way... I think that's the kind of attitude that's giving us a bad name all over the world these days

[B&DCalgary]

You're right on Parker.

Now remember, I'm an American living in Canada (one of about a hundred thousand of us in Calgary) so I have a unique perspective to the U.S./Canada relationship. When you can actually see the complete picture, the reality regarding Canada doing things to piss America off is that 100% percent of the time it's in reaction to something done to them first. Never before in history has a U.S. president done as much in such a short period of time to alienate the rest of the world, and more importantly, alienate America's largest trading partner and ally (Great Britain, Japan and the rest aren't even in the ball game when it comes to trade levels and interconnected economies).

When you poke a stick in your best friend's eye often enough, eventually you sour the relationship, and Canada has been a very very patient and forgiving friend. Most Americans have no idea that the first emergency relief groups into New Orleans, beating the army and FEMA in by days, were Canadian urban rescue teams, and yet Canada continues to get $hit on on a daily basis by ignorant people like the writer of that little article. Thank goodness all the Canadians I feel fortunate to call friends are able to look past that.

[Scottie]

On a more postive note I was please to see on our national news last week George has got himself another Scottish Terrier think she is called Miss Beasley Well done great little dogs I've got two. :p

[Parker]

Come to think of it.........I had a Scottish Terrier when I was growing up. We called him Mr. Tibbs. He was a fantastic dog.

There ye have it .............common ground.
I declare a truce between George W. and Canada