Posted: 2/28/2007 12:52:13 AM EDT
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A new song by Merle Haggard. Got lucky tonight I guess and it happened to be on CMT for the 5 mins I was watching. Video: www.cmt.com/loaded/index.jhtml?vid=68979 America First by Merle Haggard Why don’t we liberate these United States We’re the ones who need it the worst Let the rest of the world help us for a change And let’s rebuild America first Our highways and bridges are falling apart Who’s blessed and who has been cursed There’s things to be done all over the world But let’s rebuild America first Who’s on the hill and who’s watching the valley Who’s in charge of it all? God bless the army and God bless our liberty Dadgum the rest of it all. Yeah, men in position are backin’ away Freedom is stuck in reverse Let’s get out of Iraq, get back on the track And let’s rebuild America first Why don’t we liberate these United States We’re the ones who need it the most You think I’m blowin’ smoke? Boys it ain’t no joke, I make 20 trips a year coast to coast (last image in music video is the graffiti: “God bless Johnny Cash”) I think he's got a point and it's a good song and a great video. I'll be waiting for you all to call me and Merle pinko faggots now. 
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Because America doesn't need rebuilding... There's nothing to 'liberate' - we're allready free... However, our national security depends on a few changes to the present world order... Changes to preserve our preeminence and economic superiority... The reconstruction of Iraq is one of those changes... Isolationism has killed far more American troops than the present interventions ever will... |
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I agree with Merle. God forbid we get back to basics and stop funneling foreign aid. Maybe in August when the power companies are shedding load and shutting down power to rural areas will people have time to reflect on how we can better invest in our own infrastructure. |
We don't need rebuilding? Want me to drive you around a bit? I think we could use our billions we throw at other countries to help ourselves. We're free? If you say so.
What you think is liberal bullshit is common sense around here. Good thing you're "there". 
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How free would we be, And for how long, if we ignore the rest of the world by retreating to our own borders? Do you think no one would step into the vacuum? I'm sure we can save some money by more judicious use of foreign aid, but to end it all would leave us with little influence. Hundreds of thousands of Americans died to get us to this point. What we have, others want to take, it just that simple. We went though and cleaned out many countries before we rolled into Germany. Killing or marginalizing these criminal clerics will take the same willpower, and the same long road. I must ask, would you be ready to cut and run if a family member of yours had burned alive in the towers? Iraq is about 9/11. Any country holding murdering clerics, who inflame the poor population in a bid for power, is about 9/11. This is a long list and will take a long time to win. But it's a job that must be done to avoid the unthinkable. |
There is no national security interest in spending govt money inside the USA on non-defense/intel projects... We don't need government to rebuild the USA with tax dollars - that's socialisim... Using the same money for foreign aid is common sense national security policy - we need a stable international economic market to survive... Who else will manufacture our products, and mine/drill our natural resources? 'Cause it's not economically feasible to do it here (we don't even have some vital resources within our borders).... |
For all you know my wife burned alive in the towers. Iraq isn't about 9/11. We invaded Iraq to rid the world of Saddam Hussein, which was a good idea and I'm glad it's done. This thread doesn't have anything to do with that anyway.
So we should put money into our infrastructure with what exactly, charity donations??? I honestly had no idea there were people in this country (and on ARFCOM of all places!) that would prefer to give their hard earned heavily taxed dollars to foreign countries than to spend them on things we actually need at home. Hell maybe I should call you all libtards since the word is in such free usage here. |
Good thing you're not. |
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See G10, That's short sighted thinking imo. Do you play chess, or even Risk? Iraq was a perfect place to continue after Afghanistan. It was secular and divided. It was at our mercy for not complying with the terms of surrender. Would you rather have started with Saudi Arabia? Iraq -is- about 9/11. So are Iran, Syria, the Philippians, east Africa, Pakistan, South America and finally Saudi Arabia. This will not be a short fight. But you know the consequences if we give up, right? |
 
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WoW, that is a scumbag thing to say. Thank God he and others are brave enough to be there and the country isn't relying on limp wristed types like you to defend her. |
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Merle Haggard should be ashamed of himself… he would have been 30 years ago. Merle Haggard 30 years ago was a champion of the individual, of individual responsibility, and independence from government. Now he is just another advocate for sucking on the government tit. He wants more hogs at the government trough. Woody Guthrie could have written that garbage not the Merle Haggard of yesterday. Merle Haggard should be ashamed of himself. |
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I imagine Merle is worth more than most on here, definitely more than me anyway, why don't he just lead by example instead of wanting my tax dollars to ease his conscience. I think the 3 French hens have been joined by an old rooster. Haggard for Hillary? |
Not that give a damn what some country singer has to say, but that's a pile of crap. I know some shortsighted rednecks too ignorant of global politics that think pulling out (running away, really) from Iraq is the right thing to do. They are the same type of idiots that were responsible for our poor state or preparedness in 1941 as well. You isolationist simpletons really believe that all the world's problems won't have any effect on us at all, we should just bring "the boys" home, shut down the ports, close the airports, phone lines, etc and be self sufficient. Yeah, the world would be a better place if we would just cede all of our influence to the Chinese, or Russians, or better yet, the EU. 
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Putting America first/ Puhlleeze! We put Israel first, then egypt, then Pakistan, then S. Korea, etc. We spend 25 times Russia on defense spending and way way more than the rest of the world combined. Maybe, just maybe we could spend some money we give to these countries back to the citizens or maybe spend it on critical infastructure. If Israel and Egypt (for example) can't make it on their own without our billions of dollars in 'aid', ten they are not viable states they need to sink or swim on their own. America First? Not popular around arfcom. |
Thank God it is not. No “America First” is not popular around arfcom because most know the stupidity and shortsightedness of people that generally use the term “America First” … And know the disastrous road those fools would take us down. |
 I'm limp wristed because I'm physically unable to join the military. If you say so.Thank god my friends and relatives only have a 24 month deployment. I know they're impressed with the war (hoping it lasts as long as possible too ) and think America should come last.
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You and the poster above might want to remember a very brave man once warned of entangling ourselves in foreign alliances. That said, I did not say we should cower inside our borders, and YOU are the fool if you can extrapolate so much from my post. What I said (since you lack reading comprehension skills) is that we should stop sending our money to a bunch of shit hole countries like egypt and Israel. So call names all you want pal. I know enough about the world, having traveled around the world, fought in the ME ad built a successful business that you either stand or fall on your own. Since America is not first, then what country SHOULD come first? If not America, then who? And if it is not America, WTF are YOU doing here? Talk about stupid. |
America not first? What arrant nonsense. In 2006 the US spent less on the War in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all foreign aid combined than it did on just Medicare. Almost 55% of the budget (Well over $1.5 TRILLION) goes to entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Our total spending on foreign aid amounted to 0.55% of the total Federal spending last year. That's right, less than 1%. Get a clue before you make such claims.
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Uh, dude man, uh, I think, uh you need to read the post again. Uh, maybe you should get a clue. BTW- What does 'arrant' mean? Just asking. |
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Maybe Jim Baker is a faggot, commie, head in the sand, dixie chick loving, ass whipe, Pelosi lover too: James Baker: U.S. Can't Be World's Policeman Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 8:23 a.m. EST Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III said Tuesday the United States should be prepared to change course in its foreign policy, and "we are doing just that in Iraq." A consistent foreign policy promotes stability, he said. "But when events change, we must be prepared to change with them." Baker spoke in a lecture series at the Library of Congress just a few hours after the Bush administration, in a reversal, said it would join an Iraq-sponsored "neighbors meeting" with Iran and Syria. Baker went further in his speech and a question-and-answer session, urging the administration to expand Mideast peacemaking efforts beyond Israel and the Palestinians to include Syria. Israel needs peace on both fronts, he said, while Syria may be able to influence the Hamas militia to recognize Israel's right to exist, thereby removing a roadblock to peace talks. |
Arrant mean unmitigated. The point of the song, and your screeds in support of it, is that we need to "put America first." About 95% of all Federal spending is done inside our own borders. Add in state and local spending, and all this crap about Americans somehow not being put first by our government is ARRANT NONSENSE. |
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Well holy shit! Only 5% is spent overseas! We are so stupid! Its only 5% of 100s of trillions of dollars! Oh how stupid could I be!!! I think I got a problem with a policy that sends billions of dollars to shithole countries. And since America is not first with some of you, then tell me which country is FIRST. Really, right now, tell us all, what country is FIRST, if not our own USA. |