did you all hear we just spent 70 thousand in pakistan on TV adds?

[BonMallari]

If we don't know who is in charge, then why are we giving them any money? If Libya wants money, then caugh up the murderers. Pakistan has several times proven they are not an alley, pull all the money. And, it Egypt doesn't re-endorse the Camp David Accords, screw them too!

Really Franco you cant be that naiive....

the Pakistan aid also comes under the leases on the bases in Pakistan, you cut that money then you better be prepared to pull the strategic bases out...not very practical

the Camp David accord was signed by whom? maybe Sadat....they will argue that the accord no longer exists

Libya is being controlled by a bunch of thugs


The US has long thought that they could buy foreign policy...Unfortunately a lot of these countries now have assets or strategic locations that the US wants/needs..the US foreign aid no longer has the clout it used to have, as mentioned before by someone else, foreign aid also has ties to defense contractors whose plants are located in key senate districts

There in lies one of the flaws of the Ron/Rand Paul thinking about cutting foreign aid..Idealogically it sounds great and stirs up the supporters but from a pragmatic approach it just doesnt work. There is a reason that Congress attaches many different earmarks to defense appropriations, its because it insures that the bill will pass and never get cut, even though it has little or nothing to do with defense/foreign aid..

If Rand Paul wants to have an impact as a Senator, he will have to rise to the ranks of committee chairman or become a ranking member or some sort of appropriations board, thats where the real clout comes in...otherwise he risks being marginalized like his dad

[Franco]

Really Franco you cant be that naiive....

the Pakistan aid also comes under the leases on the bases in Pakistan, you cut that money then you better be prepared to pull the strategic bases out...not very practical

the Camp David accord was signed by whom? maybe Sadat....they will argue that the accord no longer exists

Libya is being controlled by a bunch of thugs


The US has long thought that they could buy foreign policy...Unfortunately a lot of these countries now have assets or strategic locations that the US wants/needs..the US foreign aid no longer has the clout it used to have, as mentioned before by someone else, foreign aid also has ties to defense contractors whose plants are located in key senate districts

There in lies one of the flaws of the Ron/Rand Paul thinking about cutting foreign aid..Idealogically it sounds great and stirs up the supporters but from a pragmatic approach it just doesnt work. There is a reason that Congress attaches many different earmarks to defense appropriations, its because it insures that the bill will pass and never get cut, even though it has little or nothing to do with defense/foreign aid..

If Rand Paul wants to have an impact as a Senator, he will have to rise to the ranks of committee chairman or become a ranking member or some sort of appropriations board, thats where the real clout comes in...otherwise he risks being marginalized like his dad

The pragmatic approach is to get the hell out! Our policy over the last 50 years has only made the situation worse. I know this will upset the Defense Contractors who own most in DC but the reality is that we don't need mideast oil. Let them have thier 8th Century culture and we keep our money.

Time to start taking care of America first and our interest is NOT in the mideast!

USA oil production is approaching record levels. Areas of the Artic have been opened to drilling in the last two months. Brazil's production will be online shortley from the money we loaned them three years ago. Canada's production is increasing. All of which lessens our dependence of buying oil from terrorist nations. WE NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY THEM CASH TRIBUTE TO BE OUR SUPPOSEDLY FRIENDS!

The only reason gas cost so much at the pump is because of the value of the dollar.

[BonMallari]

The pragmatic approach is to get the hell out! Our policy over the last 50 years has only made the situation worse. I know this will upset the Defense Contractors who own most in DC but the reality is that we don't need mideast oil. Let them have thier 8th Century culture and we keep our money.

Time to start taking care of America first and our interest is NOT in the mideast!

USA oil production is approaching record levels. Areas of the Artic have been opened to drilling in the last two months. Brazil's production will be online shortley from the money we loaned them three years ago. Canada's production is increasing. All of which lessens our dependence of buying oil from terrorist nations. WE NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY THEM CASH TRIBUTE TO BE OUR SUPPOSEDLY FRIENDS!

The only reason gas cost so much at the pump is because of the value of the dollar.

You will get no argument out of me..I want out too...wish it were that simple to just pack up and go, if it were I would volunteer to drive the moving truck and bring them all home...

Nothing would be better justice than to stick it to Karzaid and watch him get the same fate as Kadafy, in the street down and dirty..take that little runt Mushareff while they are at it

[gmhr1]

If we can't just leave I sure wish we could have cut off the money train. Saying I'm sorry didnt seem to work.

[murral stark]

posted by Franco. Just one little snippet. "The only reason gas cost so much at the pump is because of the value of the dollar."
I believe that speculators have something to do with it too. Big Oil companies look for any excuse to gouge us. If somebody in the middle east sneezes, better raise prices because so and so has a cold and will probably cut the production. I'm trying to be funny there. Seriously though, I do believe the speculators have a big influence on prices.

[Franco]

posted by Franco. Just one little snippet. "The only reason gas cost so much at the pump is because of the value of the dollar."
I believe that speculators have something to do with it too. Big Oil companies look for any excuse to gouge us. If somebody in the middle east sneezes, better raise prices because so and so has a cold and will probably cut the production. I'm trying to be funny there. Seriously though, I do believe the speculators have a big influence on prices.

Speculators due determine te price of oil and the oil companies have little to do with the price at the pump. Speculators do not determine the value of the dollar.

Thank Ben Bernake and the Fed Reserve for the continuing devaluation of the dollar with the higher cost of food and gasoline. He is flooding the market with freshly printed dollars causing the value of the dollar internationally to be worth less. Talked with my nephew recently that works in Norway for a US oil company. Cost of a bottle of beer at a pub is $35. US dollars!

[murral stark]

Speculators due determine te price of oil and the oil companies have little to do with the price at the pump. Speculators do not determine the value of the dollar.

Thank Ben Bernake and the Fed Reserve for the continuing devaluation of the dollar with the higher cost of food and gasoline. He is flooding the market with freshly printed dollars causing the value of the dollar internationally to be worth less. Talked with my nephew recently that works in Norway for a US oil company. Cost of a bottle of beer at a pub is $35. US dollars!

WOW!! I wouldn't want to be a beer drinker and live there. I've heard from friends that have gone to canada to hunt and fish, that you'd better bring the legal limit of cigs and booze with you when you cross the border. I hear tell that the cigs and booze are extremely expensive there.