hell bent on war
I think you've nailed it, Linda....Paula's description backs it up....and I like the respective silence suggested by elazar. Today, seeking the Condensed, two-volume set of the Oxford English Dictionary [complete with case AND magnifying glass], I found it [@ $100 ~ more than this one can afford], sat down on the old, oriental rug on the floor of that narrow-aisled, used bookstore ~ and brought the P-Z volume into my lap, and magnified away until I finally landed on the guess-what, acid-test word, "piffle." Not that I doubted I'd find it. Just wanted to see it in its proper, respectable setting. It even got additional discussion today in the chatroom. So, thoughts of you all were there with me today ~ what a great word.
I'll start with my home varieties, where I did find piffle, of course.
Just checked here. Origin unknown [perhaps OED does know more]; synonyms bosh and twaddle. Don't make me spend that $100! Whoever made up these words sure had a blast doing it. Tosh is definitely cute, but just doesn't have the pizazz of piffle.
P.S. Andrew's never been a piffler.
Just checked here. Origin unknown [perhaps OED does know more]; synonyms bosh and twaddle. Don't make me spend that $100! Whoever made up these words sure had a blast doing it. Tosh is definitely cute, but just doesn't have the pizazz of piffle.
P.S. Andrew's never been a piffler.
Last edited by lizzytysh on Sun Mar 02, 2003 9:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I apologize for not having the source for this, but it was not included, when I received it from an overseas friend, knowing how I feel about the impending war. However, I've heard so many similar statistics from excellent sources [i.e. NPR and PRI radio broadcasts], through the years and recently, that its source doesn't concern me. It rings too true.
*************************************************************
"Do you know enough to justify going to war with Iraq?
1. Q: What percentage of the world's population does the U.S. have?
A: 6%
2. Q: What percentage of the world's wealth does the U.S. have?
A: 50%
3. Q: Which country has the largest oil reserves?
A: Saudi Arabia
4. Q: Which country has the second largest oil reserves?
A: Iraq
5. Q: How much is spent on military budgets a year world wide?
A: $900+ billion
6. Q: How much of this is spent by the U.S.?
A: 50%
7. Q: What percent of US military spending would ensure the essentials of life
to everyone in the world, according the UN?
A: 10% (that's about $40 billion, the amount of funding initially requested to
fund our retaliatory attack on Afghanistan).
8. Q: How many people have died in wars since World War II?
A: 86 million
9. Q: How long has Iraq had chemical and biological weapons?
A: Since the early 1980's.
10. Q: Did Iraq develop these chemical & biological weapons on their own?
A: No, the materials and technology were supplied by the US government,along
with Britain and private corporations.
11. Q: Did the US government condemn the Iraqi use of gas warfare against Iran?
A: No
12. Q: How many people did Saddam Hussein kill using gas in the Kurdish town
of Halabja in 1988?
A: 5,000
13. Q: How many western countries condemned this action at the time?
A: 0
14. Q: How many gallons of agent Orange did America use in Vietnam?
A: 17 million.
15. Q: Are there any proven links between Iraq and September 11th terrorist
attack?
A: No
16. Q: What is the estimated number of civilian casualties in the Gulf War?
A: 35,000
17. Q: How many casualties did the Iraqi military inflict on the western
forces during the Gulf War ?
A: 0
18. Q: How many retreating Iraqi soldiers were buried alive by U.S. tanks with
ploughs mounted on the front?
A: 6,000
19. Q: How many tons of depleted uranium were left in Iraq and Kuwait after
the Gulf War?
A: 40 tons
20. Q: What according to the UN was the increase in cancer rates in Iraq
between 1991 and 1994?
A: 700%
21. Q: How much of Iraq's military capacity did America claim it had destroyed
in 1991?
A: 80%
22. Q: Is there any proof that Iraq plans to use its weapons for anything
other than deterrence and self defence?
A: No
23. Q: Does Iraq present more of a threat to world peace now than 10 years ago?
A: No
24. Q: How many civilian deaths has the Pentagon predicted in the event of an
attack on Iraq in 2002/3?
A: 10,000
25. Q: What percentage of these will be children?
A: Over 50%
26. Q: How many years has the U.S. engaged in air strikes on Iraq?
A: 11 years
27. Q: Was the U.S and the UK at war with Iraq between December 1998 and
September 1999?
A: No
28. Q: How many pounds of explosives were dropped on Iraq between December
1998 and September 1999?
A: 20 million
29. Q: How many years ago was UN Resolution 661 introduced, imposing strict
sanctions on Iraq's imports and exports?
A: 12 years
30. Q: What was the child death rate in Iraq in 1989 (per 1,000 births)?
A: 38
31. Q: What was the estimated child death rate in Iraq in 1999 (per 1,000
births)?
A: 131 (that's an increase of 345%)
32. Q: How many Iraqis are estimated to have died by October 1999 as a result
of UN sanctions?
A: 1.5 million
33. Q: How many Iraqi children are estimated to have died due to sanctions
since 1997?
A: 750,000
34. Q: Did Saddam order the inspectors out of Iraq?
A: No
35. Q: How many inspections were there in November and December 1998?
A: 300
36. Q: How many of these inspections had problems?
A: 5
37. Q: Were the weapons inspectors allowed entry to the Ba'ath Party HQ?
A: Yes
38. Q: Who said that by December 1998, "Iraq had in fact, been disarmed to a
level unprecedented in modern history."
A: Scott Ritter, UNSCOM chief.
39. Q: In 1998 how much of Iraq's post 1991 capacity to develop weapons of
mass destruction did the UN weapons
inspectors claim to have discovered and dismantled?
A: 90%
40. Q: Is Iraq willing to allow the weapons inspectors back in?
A: Yes
41. Q: How many UN resolutions did Israel violate by 1992?
A: Over 65
42. Q: How many UN resolutions on Israel did America veto between 1972 and
1990?
A: 30+
43. Q: How much does the U.S. fund Israel a year?
A: $5 billion
44. Q: How many countries are known to have nuclear weapons?
A: 8
45. Q: How many nuclear warheads has Iraq got?
A: 0
46. Q: How many nuclear warheads has US got?
A: over 10,000
47. Q: Which is the only country to use nuclear weapons?
A: the US
48. Q: How many nuclear warheads does Israel have?
A: Over 400
49. Q: Has Israel ever allowed UN weapons inspections?
A: No
50. Q: What percentage of the Palestinian territories are controlled by
Israeli settlements?
A: 42%
51. Q: Is Israel illegally occupying Palestinian land?
A: Yes
52. Q: Which country do you think poses the greatest threat to global peace:
Iraq or the U.S.?
A: ????
---------------------------------------------
International Herald Tribune, Friday 14-2-03 : A conference to perpare for the humanitarian consequences of war in Iraq to be held at Bern, Switzerland has invited 30 countries. Twenty nine have agreed to attend. The only exception was the U.S.A."
*************************************************************
On CNN the other day, I heard the broadcaster giving the [conservative] estimates for this war as being 95 billion to 1.3 trillion. The higher ones being given were 99 billion to 1.9 trillion. She commented that the authorities aren't giving what they consider the true costs to be, for fear of losing public support. What does it take? At what price, human life?
*************************************************************
"Do you know enough to justify going to war with Iraq?
1. Q: What percentage of the world's population does the U.S. have?
A: 6%
2. Q: What percentage of the world's wealth does the U.S. have?
A: 50%
3. Q: Which country has the largest oil reserves?
A: Saudi Arabia
4. Q: Which country has the second largest oil reserves?
A: Iraq
5. Q: How much is spent on military budgets a year world wide?
A: $900+ billion
6. Q: How much of this is spent by the U.S.?
A: 50%
7. Q: What percent of US military spending would ensure the essentials of life
to everyone in the world, according the UN?
A: 10% (that's about $40 billion, the amount of funding initially requested to
fund our retaliatory attack on Afghanistan).
8. Q: How many people have died in wars since World War II?
A: 86 million
9. Q: How long has Iraq had chemical and biological weapons?
A: Since the early 1980's.
10. Q: Did Iraq develop these chemical & biological weapons on their own?
A: No, the materials and technology were supplied by the US government,along
with Britain and private corporations.
11. Q: Did the US government condemn the Iraqi use of gas warfare against Iran?
A: No
12. Q: How many people did Saddam Hussein kill using gas in the Kurdish town
of Halabja in 1988?
A: 5,000
13. Q: How many western countries condemned this action at the time?
A: 0
14. Q: How many gallons of agent Orange did America use in Vietnam?
A: 17 million.
15. Q: Are there any proven links between Iraq and September 11th terrorist
attack?
A: No
16. Q: What is the estimated number of civilian casualties in the Gulf War?
A: 35,000
17. Q: How many casualties did the Iraqi military inflict on the western
forces during the Gulf War ?
A: 0
18. Q: How many retreating Iraqi soldiers were buried alive by U.S. tanks with
ploughs mounted on the front?
A: 6,000
19. Q: How many tons of depleted uranium were left in Iraq and Kuwait after
the Gulf War?
A: 40 tons
20. Q: What according to the UN was the increase in cancer rates in Iraq
between 1991 and 1994?
A: 700%
21. Q: How much of Iraq's military capacity did America claim it had destroyed
in 1991?
A: 80%
22. Q: Is there any proof that Iraq plans to use its weapons for anything
other than deterrence and self defence?
A: No
23. Q: Does Iraq present more of a threat to world peace now than 10 years ago?
A: No
24. Q: How many civilian deaths has the Pentagon predicted in the event of an
attack on Iraq in 2002/3?
A: 10,000
25. Q: What percentage of these will be children?
A: Over 50%
26. Q: How many years has the U.S. engaged in air strikes on Iraq?
A: 11 years
27. Q: Was the U.S and the UK at war with Iraq between December 1998 and
September 1999?
A: No
28. Q: How many pounds of explosives were dropped on Iraq between December
1998 and September 1999?
A: 20 million
29. Q: How many years ago was UN Resolution 661 introduced, imposing strict
sanctions on Iraq's imports and exports?
A: 12 years
30. Q: What was the child death rate in Iraq in 1989 (per 1,000 births)?
A: 38
31. Q: What was the estimated child death rate in Iraq in 1999 (per 1,000
births)?
A: 131 (that's an increase of 345%)
32. Q: How many Iraqis are estimated to have died by October 1999 as a result
of UN sanctions?
A: 1.5 million
33. Q: How many Iraqi children are estimated to have died due to sanctions
since 1997?
A: 750,000
34. Q: Did Saddam order the inspectors out of Iraq?
A: No
35. Q: How many inspections were there in November and December 1998?
A: 300
36. Q: How many of these inspections had problems?
A: 5
37. Q: Were the weapons inspectors allowed entry to the Ba'ath Party HQ?
A: Yes
38. Q: Who said that by December 1998, "Iraq had in fact, been disarmed to a
level unprecedented in modern history."
A: Scott Ritter, UNSCOM chief.
39. Q: In 1998 how much of Iraq's post 1991 capacity to develop weapons of
mass destruction did the UN weapons
inspectors claim to have discovered and dismantled?
A: 90%
40. Q: Is Iraq willing to allow the weapons inspectors back in?
A: Yes
41. Q: How many UN resolutions did Israel violate by 1992?
A: Over 65
42. Q: How many UN resolutions on Israel did America veto between 1972 and
1990?
A: 30+
43. Q: How much does the U.S. fund Israel a year?
A: $5 billion
44. Q: How many countries are known to have nuclear weapons?
A: 8
45. Q: How many nuclear warheads has Iraq got?
A: 0
46. Q: How many nuclear warheads has US got?
A: over 10,000
47. Q: Which is the only country to use nuclear weapons?
A: the US
48. Q: How many nuclear warheads does Israel have?
A: Over 400
49. Q: Has Israel ever allowed UN weapons inspections?
A: No
50. Q: What percentage of the Palestinian territories are controlled by
Israeli settlements?
A: 42%
51. Q: Is Israel illegally occupying Palestinian land?
A: Yes
52. Q: Which country do you think poses the greatest threat to global peace:
Iraq or the U.S.?
A: ????
---------------------------------------------
International Herald Tribune, Friday 14-2-03 : A conference to perpare for the humanitarian consequences of war in Iraq to be held at Bern, Switzerland has invited 30 countries. Twenty nine have agreed to attend. The only exception was the U.S.A."
*************************************************************
On CNN the other day, I heard the broadcaster giving the [conservative] estimates for this war as being 95 billion to 1.3 trillion. The higher ones being given were 99 billion to 1.9 trillion. She commented that the authorities aren't giving what they consider the true costs to be, for fear of losing public support. What does it take? At what price, human life?
Sometimes it all seems clearer when presented in this way. Even if some of the statistics are only estimates it still puts a whole perspective on it all....encompassed in 52 questions.
There is one particular question though that I would find difficult to believe........Q18. Surely not? ...or am I being a little naive?
Pete
There is one particular question though that I would find difficult to believe........Q18. Surely not? ...or am I being a little naive?
Pete
What you say is true about statistics, Paula.....they can be skewed to suit needs. Even so, as Pete has mentioned, you could cut these in half and still be making the point. Question 44 doesn't concern me so much, as it's "known" to have, and when you consider the U.S., China, Russia, etc. there are still plenty left....how many more countries jump to mind after say 5 or 6, which still leaves you two. There may be "suspected" others that increase the numbers somewhat.
Dear eeey,
No, not Margaret ~ nor anyone else who's ever been to the Forum, and someone who has no idea of our discussion here, sent them to me. I actually went back and forth on whether to put them here, trying to decide first did they fall outside our truce, was the list too long, etc. I struggled with whether a truce means we speak no more of it; or that we don't personally attack, directly or by implication, each other in doing so. I have no intent of personally attacking you for your views. However, during such a real-life, worldwide crisis, I can't be at peace with myself if merely saying no more on it. I decided on the latter definition.
It concerns me that so many other countries have long been subjected to terrorism, yet once it happens on American soil, our citizens [think they] become instant experts on the issue. I don't mean that as an attack on you, eeey. It's a generalized concern. Perhaps you can drive a tank through these. However, many others in "high" places are saying most similar things and coming to the same conclusions. We want to go into Iraq to do the white-glove test, but we need to look closely through the shadowy areas of those gloves, and see the dirt and grime beneath. Our government is not always what it appears to be.
I still don't want a war with you.
~ Lizzytysh
No, not Margaret ~ nor anyone else who's ever been to the Forum, and someone who has no idea of our discussion here, sent them to me. I actually went back and forth on whether to put them here, trying to decide first did they fall outside our truce, was the list too long, etc. I struggled with whether a truce means we speak no more of it; or that we don't personally attack, directly or by implication, each other in doing so. I have no intent of personally attacking you for your views. However, during such a real-life, worldwide crisis, I can't be at peace with myself if merely saying no more on it. I decided on the latter definition.
It concerns me that so many other countries have long been subjected to terrorism, yet once it happens on American soil, our citizens [think they] become instant experts on the issue. I don't mean that as an attack on you, eeey. It's a generalized concern. Perhaps you can drive a tank through these. However, many others in "high" places are saying most similar things and coming to the same conclusions. We want to go into Iraq to do the white-glove test, but we need to look closely through the shadowy areas of those gloves, and see the dirt and grime beneath. Our government is not always what it appears to be.
I still don't want a war with you.
~ Lizzytysh
For my post of March 2, giving the lengthy list re: the U.S., virtually the same list came to me via another person, except this one quoted the source. The following blurb preceded it:
"This is a good summary of basic facts and the case against an attack on Iraq .
You might use these in your deliberations and discussions about the US / Iraq situation.
Charles Sheketoff, Executive Director Oregon Center for Public Policy PO Box 7, Silverton, OR 97381 will vouch for the research that supports the facts contained here. Use and circulate this widely. - Daniel Quinn
A GREAT IQ TEST ON THE IRAQ WAR FROM DANIEL QUINN, THE AUTHOR OF ISHMAEL ETC."
This blurb followed it:
"Charles Sheketoff, Executive Director Oregon Center for Public Policy PO
Box 7, Silverton, OR 97381
********
and
From http://StandDown.net
The United States Government will spend more on the military in fiscal year 2003, than all the rest of the countries on Earth combined. Current expenditures are 437 billion and our past obligations are 339 billion, this equals 776 billion. 46% of our Taxes go to the Military Industrial Complex:
http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm This figure doesn't even begin
to account for all of the off-budget, black projects, homeland security nor the 40+ billion the United States Government will spend on intelligence in 2003."
This question closed the list:
"50. Q: Who said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
things that matter"? A: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
I feel much better now that I have a source, even though I feel worse with the information itself.
"This is a good summary of basic facts and the case against an attack on Iraq .
You might use these in your deliberations and discussions about the US / Iraq situation.
Charles Sheketoff, Executive Director Oregon Center for Public Policy PO Box 7, Silverton, OR 97381 will vouch for the research that supports the facts contained here. Use and circulate this widely. - Daniel Quinn
A GREAT IQ TEST ON THE IRAQ WAR FROM DANIEL QUINN, THE AUTHOR OF ISHMAEL ETC."
This blurb followed it:
"Charles Sheketoff, Executive Director Oregon Center for Public Policy PO
Box 7, Silverton, OR 97381
********
and
From http://StandDown.net
The United States Government will spend more on the military in fiscal year 2003, than all the rest of the countries on Earth combined. Current expenditures are 437 billion and our past obligations are 339 billion, this equals 776 billion. 46% of our Taxes go to the Military Industrial Complex:
http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm This figure doesn't even begin
to account for all of the off-budget, black projects, homeland security nor the 40+ billion the United States Government will spend on intelligence in 2003."
This question closed the list:
"50. Q: Who said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
things that matter"? A: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
I feel much better now that I have a source, even though I feel worse with the information itself.
copied from cnn......
NEW YORK (AP) -- The City Council in the place hit hardest by the September 11 attacks approved a resolution Wednesday opposing war with Iraq except as a last resort.
The 31-17 vote came after months of debate over whether New York should stake out a position.
"We of all cities must uphold the preciousness and sanctity of human life," said Councilman Alan Gerson, a Democrat who voted for the resolution and whose district includes the World Trade Center site, where 2,792 people were killed in the attacks.
Democrat Alan Jennings said that after losing one of his closest friends in the trade center attack, he was in no mood to vote for an anti-war measure.
"Our troops are in the Middle East at this time to fight for our democracy," Jennings said. "I think this resolution sends the wrong message to our men and women in uniform."
The resolution, which carries no legal weight, backed war only if "other options for achieving compliance with United Nations resolutions calling for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their development have failed."
Last month, 100,000 to 350,000 people took part in an anti-war protest near the United Nations. Recent polls show that 75 percent of New Yorkers oppose a war without the support of the United Nations.
Since September, anti-war resolutions have been approved in such cities as Los Angeles; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Chicago; Portland, Maine; and Milwaukee.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The City Council in the place hit hardest by the September 11 attacks approved a resolution Wednesday opposing war with Iraq except as a last resort.
The 31-17 vote came after months of debate over whether New York should stake out a position.
"We of all cities must uphold the preciousness and sanctity of human life," said Councilman Alan Gerson, a Democrat who voted for the resolution and whose district includes the World Trade Center site, where 2,792 people were killed in the attacks.
Democrat Alan Jennings said that after losing one of his closest friends in the trade center attack, he was in no mood to vote for an anti-war measure.
"Our troops are in the Middle East at this time to fight for our democracy," Jennings said. "I think this resolution sends the wrong message to our men and women in uniform."
The resolution, which carries no legal weight, backed war only if "other options for achieving compliance with United Nations resolutions calling for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their development have failed."
Last month, 100,000 to 350,000 people took part in an anti-war protest near the United Nations. Recent polls show that 75 percent of New Yorkers oppose a war without the support of the United Nations.
Since September, anti-war resolutions have been approved in such cities as Los Angeles; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Chicago; Portland, Maine; and Milwaukee.
I was told by a close friend of mine that within the last couple days, on C-SPAN, the news was reporting that 6 construction and 5 oil companies [3 of them linked to Bush] are bidding on who's going to put out the fires; who's going to rebuild the buildings; and who's going to drill new oil wells and build new refineries ~ in Iraq ~ after the war. Oil production is expected to double in 3 years and triple in 10 years.
He also informed me [from his having paid attention at the time] that, prior to the end-game "surprize" of the oil wells being set on fire in Kuwait, that before the war even started, those who would put them out had already been hired.
On NPR this morning, I heard that people living in Baghdad are having to live with rumours that Saddam has already laced the waters surrounding Baghdad with gasoline, with the intent to set them ablaze and shroud Baghdad with smoke, in a desperate attempt to confuse the "smart bombs" of the U.S. And that they are, in fact, being told that if they leave their homes, their homes and belongings will be confiscated and/or destroyed. They are also being told that, at a certain point [apparently not too far off], they will no longer be allowed to leave. In an interview with an Iraqi man, whose relatives are still living in Baghdad/Iraq, he said that when he talks with them, they say, "If it happens, it happens," and that they've lost all hope.
I heard also on the radio that Serbia's Prime Minister was assassinated. I was saddened to hear this.
This morning, some American soldiers were having their last hot meal [with dried rations to follow for an unknown length of time] ~ and a group of them had been due to return home in the next 5 days, but are now remaining there, pending attack, which they're hoping will be soon, so they can go on home. The broadcaster said that they are asking if the people at home are still supporting them in this, or if they are protesting. As many know, during the VietNam conflict, the stateside newspapers [carrying messages of anti-war protest] were kept away from the soldiers, so their return home was a shock on many levels. I feel deep sadness for all the soldiers of all nationalities, and all the men and women [young and old] and children, caught in the crossfire of this fiasco.
It seems to me that this administration is proving how democracy really doesn't work ~ it didn't manage to really elect a president; regardless of the fast and vastly-growing, anti-war sentiment of the citizenry, a deaf ear remains so; and despite worldwide protest and lack of UN support, "the war must go on." There's so much wrong with this picture.
He also informed me [from his having paid attention at the time] that, prior to the end-game "surprize" of the oil wells being set on fire in Kuwait, that before the war even started, those who would put them out had already been hired.
On NPR this morning, I heard that people living in Baghdad are having to live with rumours that Saddam has already laced the waters surrounding Baghdad with gasoline, with the intent to set them ablaze and shroud Baghdad with smoke, in a desperate attempt to confuse the "smart bombs" of the U.S. And that they are, in fact, being told that if they leave their homes, their homes and belongings will be confiscated and/or destroyed. They are also being told that, at a certain point [apparently not too far off], they will no longer be allowed to leave. In an interview with an Iraqi man, whose relatives are still living in Baghdad/Iraq, he said that when he talks with them, they say, "If it happens, it happens," and that they've lost all hope.
I heard also on the radio that Serbia's Prime Minister was assassinated. I was saddened to hear this.
This morning, some American soldiers were having their last hot meal [with dried rations to follow for an unknown length of time] ~ and a group of them had been due to return home in the next 5 days, but are now remaining there, pending attack, which they're hoping will be soon, so they can go on home. The broadcaster said that they are asking if the people at home are still supporting them in this, or if they are protesting. As many know, during the VietNam conflict, the stateside newspapers [carrying messages of anti-war protest] were kept away from the soldiers, so their return home was a shock on many levels. I feel deep sadness for all the soldiers of all nationalities, and all the men and women [young and old] and children, caught in the crossfire of this fiasco.
It seems to me that this administration is proving how democracy really doesn't work ~ it didn't manage to really elect a president; regardless of the fast and vastly-growing, anti-war sentiment of the citizenry, a deaf ear remains so; and despite worldwide protest and lack of UN support, "the war must go on." There's so much wrong with this picture.