Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

[joecct]

It's the BIGGEST STORY that could ever happen to our world!

But...
I've checked under the bed, and I am safe.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

I've checked under the bed, and I am safe.

The call is coming from inside the house.

 

[joecct]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

The call is coming from inside the house.

Happens 10x a day. Invalid in-laws live in the basement. When they need us, they use their cell phone to call my wife or I.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

This news should surprise no one...

WASHINGTON—As U.S. and Iranian diplomats inched toward progress on Tehran’s nuclear program last week, Saudi Arabia quietly signed its own nuclear-cooperation agreement with South Korea.

That agreement, along with recent comments from Saudi officials and royals, is raising concerns on Capitol Hill and among U.S. allies that a deal with Iran, rather than stanching the spread of nuclear technologies, risks fueling it.

Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a member of the royal family, has publicly warned in recent months that Riyadh will seek to match the nuclear capabilities Iran is allowed to maintain as part of any final agreement reached with world powers. This could include the ability to enrich uranium and to harvest the weapons-grade plutonium discharged in a nuclear reactor’s spent fuel.

Several U.S. and Arab officials have voiced concerns about a possible nuclear-arms race erupting in the Middle East, spurred on by Saudi Arabia’s regional rivalry with Iran, which has been playing out in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen in recent months. [emphasis added]

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

There are always finite resources to spend, so choices always have to be made in an area like healthcare, whether it's who gets transplants or whatever. Or the decision to spend most healthcare dollars on seniors, with almost nothing toward kids in their formative years.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

There are always finite resources to spend, so choices always have to be made in an area like healthcare, whether it's who gets transplants or whatever. Or the decision to spend most healthcare dollars on seniors, with almost nothing toward kids in their formative years.

Well, now there's a reasoned answer instead of screaming DEATH PANELS DEATH PANELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[joecct]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

How did the last two posts get in here? WE'RE BEING INFILTRATED! !

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

Well, now there's a reasoned answer instead of screaming DEATH PANELS DEATH PANELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, who the heck do you think makes those decisions? Leprechauns?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

Well, who the heck do you think makes those decisions? Leprechauns?

So, you prefer the spend whatever it takes model, OR the rich get whatever they want and **** the rest of us model? Why don't you just say that in the first place instead of being whiny about it?

 

[Kepler]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

Scarcity always implies some type of rationing. The only question is what the basis of rationing is. Wealth has been the default in our system, but that doesn't make it morally neutral. The fact that we're used to an unjust system where people of means get everything they want and everybody else is screwed doesn't make it any less unjust.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

There are always finite resources to spend, so choices always have to be made in an area like healthcare, whether it's who gets transplants or whatever. Or the decision to spend most healthcare dollars on seniors, with almost nothing toward kids in their formative years.

It's actually more of a bell curve. The youngest and the oldest get the shaft.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

Scarcity always implies some type of rationing. The only question is what the basis of rationing is. Wealth has been the default in our system, but that doesn't make it morally neutral. The fact that we're used to an unjust system where people of means get everything they want and everybody else is screwed doesn't make it any less unjust.

We're not honest enough and mature enough as a country to discuss how to best allocate non-limitless health care, recognizing both that everyone should get at least basic care but also that someone with a lot of means can afford to pay for some increment of better care if they wish to spend their money in such a way. We have to get past the fantasy that this is America, so we inherently can have great health care for everyone, paid for by someone else and there aren't tough choices and calls to be made. But, we as a nation are mostly incapable of tough choices/calls, so I might as well dream of the Vikings winning a decade of Super Bowls in a row!

 

[Priceless]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

The Iranians respond to the 47 traitors

On a serious note, Iran's foreign minister did have a few things to passive-aggressively say about the letter and its authors:

Zarif expressed astonishment that some members of US Congress find it appropriate to write to leaders of another country against their own President and administration. He pointed out that from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Zarif added that "I should bring one important point to the attention of the authors and that is, the world is not the United States, and the conduct of inter-state relations is governed by international law, and not by US domestic law. The authors may not fully understand that in international law, governments represent the entirety of their respective states, are responsible for the conduct of foreign affairs, are required to fulfil the obligations they undertake with other states and may not invoke their internal law as justification for failure to perform their international obligations.

The Iranian Foreign Minister added that "change of administration does not in any way relieve the next administration from international obligations undertaken by its predecessor in a possible agreement about Irans peaceful nuclear program." He continued "I wish to enlighten the authors that if the next administration revokes any agreement with the stroke of a pen, as they boast, it will have simply committed a blatant violation of international law."

He emphasized that if the current negotiation with P5+1 result in a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it will not be a bilateral agreement between Iran and the US, but rather one that will be concluded with the participation of five other countries, including all permanent members of the Security Council, and will also be endorsed by a Security Council resolution.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

It's actually more of a bell curve. The youngest and the oldest get the shaft.

Spending-wise, everything I've ever read says that most health care spending goes to the elderly, and especially in the close run-up to someone passing. Almost nothing goes to young people, that we seem to agree on.

 

[burd]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

Spending-wise, everything I've ever read says that most health care spending goes to the elderly, and especially in the close run-up to someone passing. Almost nothing goes to young people, that we seem to agree on.

As of several years ago, 75% of health costs went to treat chronic diseases--COPD, heart disease, diabetes, etc. WW will know more about that, I suspect.

 

[Rover]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

The Iranians respond to the 47 traitors

On a serious note, Iran's foreign minister did have a few things to passive-aggressively say about the letter and its authors:

Stories like this make me wonder if anybody in the GOP has a functioning brain. Forget about their stated desire to undermine Obama, not only are they siding with the ayatollahs in Iran (the enemy of my enemy is my friend I guess), but they've also crossed our allies the British and the Germans. Two governments currently run by conservatives! Is Andrea Merkel a wuss who will cave to any Iranian demand?

McCain must be senile because he should have nipped this effort by a just seated freshman senator in the bud. Are foreign govts supposed to negotiate with 100 senators from now on? Why not the 435 House members as well? What idiots! If the Republican party didn't exist we'd have to invent them just for laughs.

 

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

As of several years ago, 75% of health costs went to treat chronic diseases--COPD, heart disease, diabetes, etc. WW will know more about that, I suspect.

A difficult and nuanced issue to unpack. Here might be a decent start.

"Eighty-four percent of all health care spending in 2006 was for the 50% of the population who have one or more chronic medical conditions."
http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm

As an aside, proper advanced directives, and early and open access (and removing the stigma) to palliative care do wonders for reducing costs of chronic conditions/end of life care.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

As an aside, proper advanced directives, and early and open access (and removing the stigma) to palliative care do wonders for reducing costs of chronic conditions/end of life care.

Hear, hear.

But I guess that means I'm in favor of death panels or something.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

You know there are other threads to discuss the health care bs...does it needs to spew over in a thread about global war?

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Global War on Terror Version 7 - The Nightmare that Threatens the World!!!

You know there are other threads to discuss the health care bs...does it needs to spew over in a thread about global war?

Well, with Iran and Saudi Arabia it's more of a global nuclear war. Quick, someone start a game of tic-tac-toe and call Matthew Broderick!