Brazil is amazing! I feel there's too much attention and spotlight on her. Which is part of the problem If it's fun now, wait until olympics/wc and then see what happens.

If it's war you want, it's war you'll get!

Mark my words!    

You haven't seen the last of me!

in response to the OP, I'd use the intelligent words of Dr. House: "Nothing ever changes"

Originally posted by Gringo.Floripa Originally posted by Esprit So, other than the actual battlefields, it’s all just a conversation piece. Esprit, you obviously missed a series of legislation passed since 'war' was declared against the phantom called Terror.  But you're not from the US, so yes, it would just be a conversation piece for you...

The new terror laws to which you refer, do they actually impinge on daily life or impinge at an intellectual or principled level?

Incidentally, I’ve seen close up the terrible results of terrorism attacks in London that came from both the IRA and radical Islam so I’m very much aware of terrorism’s reality and the subsequent security measures that have been put in place there; the juxtaposition that is awareness between paranoia and a feeling of security.

We’ve witnessed the evolution in the British government’s attitude to IRA terrorism that started with the brute and futile force of military action all the way through to the negotiating table when a cease-fire was agreed in 1998.

Today the world is still at the military force stage while fighting Islamic terrorism. Perhaps the Western democracies, or rather their innocent populations, instead of flag waving, supporting the troops [cannon fodder] and tying yellow ribbons, ought to address their politicians and suggest that they investigate the reasons why their countries are under constant alert and threat of attack and to seek a resolution beyond the expensive futility of operating overwhelming military force against shadows hiding behind rocks. The war on terror cannot be won in this manner.      

Esprit, you touched a nerve, we witnessed the british governments total and utter capitulation on terrorism by their actions in Northern Ireland. Little Tony sold himself and his cabinet down the river by caving in to the IRA. He stood in Hillsborough and swore that the prisoners would not be released, swore to it! Then he decided he never actually said that and the rest is history. The day the prisoners walked free was the day I decided I needed to leave my country. Its part of the reason that Im in Brazil now, I refuse to be governed by terrorists or be any part of a country that subscribes to double standards. In my world murder is murder no matter what your "cause". And the sentence given should be served! NO exceptions!

And there is no way the war on terror can be won in any manner other than capitulation. You kill 1 terrorist and their cause is enhanced 100 times. (thatcher, hunger strike) Unless you resort to mass murder, its the only way of dealing with it, wiping out 100's, 1000's or more who share a belief. The war on terror will end because its costing too much or that the threat posed against the US/UK by the terrorists outweigh the hassle of chasing them.

Thats exactly what happened in Northern Ireland, London was at too much threat, too many bombs, so they caved in, let them out of jail and gave them all government jobs! Jesus, they are even running for the Irish presidency (not that its a position worth a toss). In the next 5 years the US/UK will be kissing arab butt because its more cost effective than war! My 2 cents!