Ron Cusano

I have attended Protestant churches for over 30+ years and I have NEVER heard a sermon on politics in any way, shape and form. The closest I have ever heard was being advised to vote, and encourage to vote for canidates that express godly and moral principals, although NEVER mentioned by name or party. I don't know where you got your information, but it is very suspect to say the least.

Yes, God created Adam and Eve perfect, and He created Lucifer, an angelic being, not a human, without sin, but He did give them free will. He did not create them to be robots. They choose to sin all by themselves. You don't have to have an example to sin. Consider yound kids barely able to talk, yet then have no problem lieing without anyone teaching them how to. As I have said before, you are free to believe whatever you choose. Would Adam and Eve have chosen to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (it wasn't an apple) probally, but they would have done it slower and chewed it well!!

Sue, we have been having a decent conversation and disagreeing without the insulting. Talking about fundamentalists and saying, "and you know how they are" is going back where we don't need to go! As far as your post, I don't have all the answers. No one apparently does. What I said were the goals that I thought would be acceptable to indicate sucess. I don't have all the answers of how to achieve them. What I am certain about is, walking away and allowing ourselves to be defeated by the Islamic Militants is only going to guarantee more horrible attacks in out homeland. The fundamentalist government that you describe is exactly what will take place if we walk away. The GOAL is a democratic govermnent that will offer individual rights to the people. Again, I don't have all the answers, but that I believe should hbe out goal. i

I don't think the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds had much choice in the matter under Saddam because if any of them stepped out of like they would be shot. If I remember correctly, none of the other countries in the area were receptive to interceding in the Iraq sitution because they didn't want to get involved. But, in the same breath, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, they welcopmed our intervention with open arms. Again, I'm not saying that we did everything right in Iraq, but there is a much bigger picture here to consider.

You are right! Another senior moment! Sorry about that!

Not being in government or politics, I can't define it. I have to leave it to the experts.

I am sure they do! Perhaps I should have said islamic extreamists

When you say "bring our troops home", are you talking about Iraq, Afganisan, other fronts ????! When I think about "winning" I am thinking about a time whan we don't have a serious threat of Islamic extreamists flying planes into our buildings, bombing our embassys and trying to sink our ships. I don't see that happening any time soon. Iraq and Afganistan are only battles in a much bigger war. In terms of Iraq, I think of winning as when a free independant Iraq can govern itself without the internal factions killing each other, and when we can rest comfortable that it won't disrupt the Middle East and it's oil flow. That is a serious answer. PS - I am leaving soon, so if I don't respond for a while, I am not evading any questions or being rude. I will be back later.

Ron, So if we can't will this war, what do we do! Throw our hands up, quit and turn the country over to the Taliban?? Previous wars were fought between army's, in uniform, and you could tell the good guys from the bad guys. This war is different, and we have to fight it differently. I am not saying that we have it right yet, but at least we're trying, and we will get better. If we don't, our grandchildren will be living in a militant Islamic society and killed if they don't embrace their concept of the Qur'an. And so will athiests!! Not only can we win, we will win, because we have to win. Regardless weather you think Iraq was a mistake or I think it was right, the reality is, we are there, and to lose there now could cause a domino effect. If it was not Iraq, it would be Afganistan, and after there, somewhere else. Losing there is not an option for this country, and if nothing else, we need to stand united behind that. By the way, the FDNY Chief hit the nail on the head! He had good incite!

Sue - I don't know anything about the background of the person who tome me about this board. What do you mean that I "am all over the Internet"?? Not for nothing, I am sure I would have found this board soon enough on my one, and talking about Jesus is part of who I am. Sorry about that!

To you and to all those who have served, especially if you came away wounded, we all own a debt of gratitude. I don't know what it's like to go through something like that and can only imagine. I have only the greatest respect! I too am concerned about the internal threat i9n this country, but not from within our political arena, if that is what you were referring to. I believe the enemy we are facing and wants to destroy America and the rest of the world is living in our midst. The problem is, we can't tell the radical extreamists from the Muslims that want to live in peace. I believe, from the enemys viewpoint, this is a religious war, and the rules are much different that past wars. Whatever our views on Iraq, Bush and politics, if we become divided as a nation, we could lose this war. I find that very frightening.

And that is what I have done previously. Just wanted to make sure I was not alone. Thx.

I have severe arthritus in my hands so I make some typo's. I'm sorry if that bothers you.

Just to change the subject, today I went for my 3rd fill. I naw have 3cc in my 9cc band. They always say to do all liquids for a day. I don't feel any inflamation or swelling so I was wondering if it would be asking for trouble to eat something soft tonight. What do you think??

The Long Island Lap Band Support Group meets twice a month in East Northport. The First Thursday and the Second Wednesday at 7PM. If anyone is interested, please eMail me your eMail address and i will add you to our mailing list so you get all the announcements and directions. The meeting is FREE and "bandster" beverages are served. Ron

I tried to enlist in the Army three times when I was 17 and just out of High School. All of my friends were going to Viet Nam and I felt the call myself. Unfortunately, I could not pass the physical because of obesity. I would have gladly served my country had I been allowed. You called Iraq a "mess", and I agree with you! It has become a mess. I believe it was the right thing to go in there, but I think we could have done things differently, or al lease foresaw the possible opposition from the warring faction within Iraq. I think we could have done more to secure the boarders, give more aid to the population, and other things. Well reality is reality, and we are there, and things are what thst are. I still believe that as Americans, we need to stand united behind our President, especially at a time when there are forces out there seeking to destroy out country.

That is true, and the same anology can be applied to our former relations with Iran with the Shar. It apparently served our national interest to do so at the time, which does not necessarily make it right. Nevetheless, it does not make Saddam a "good guy", and us dumping him from power a "bad" thing.

This is one reason why I hate to discuss politics! We can disagree all day long and come up with logic and arguments that sound plausible to us to explain out politics. Instead of complaining, we have two options, as I see it . . . We can change the laws we don't like and elect politicians to replace those we don't like. That works if the majority of the people think as we do. If the majority of the people don't agree with us and we can't change the political landscape and our laws, then we always have the option to move to another country that we might like better. Isn't it great to live in a free country that gives us those choices??

It is not as simplistic as that, and I am sure you know it. He was a major threat to the Middle East and the world oil supply, he committed genocide against the Serbs, he promoted or turned a blind eye to murdering and raping his own people but his sons, and the list goes on. He was evil, and we did the right thing.

And you don't consider aiding and abetting terrorists?? Because they were suicide bombers attacking Israel??

I disagree! The founders of this country came here because they faced persecution because of their Christian beliefs in their homelands, were believers in the Bible and based the legal system upon their biblical proncipals. This is historical fact, but because of it, this is a free country and you are free to believe any way you choose.

That does not sound logical at all! The laws that WERE ESTABLISHED were based upon Biblical principal. Apparently the founders of our country did not consider some things, like "not worshipping idols" something that belonged within the framework of a free and open society as part of the legal system. If you doubt that our laws are based upon Biblical principals, speak to any attorney or law professor.

He is not a murderer. In a war, people die! If you want to talk about innocent people dieing in war, NO country is without blood on it's hands. We were attacked on 911 by brutal factions that want to destroy our country. Unless we destroy the enemy where we find them, we will be fighting them on the streets of our cities. Regarding Iraq, setting aside his aiding and abetting these people, Saddams threat to the Middle East and his genocide against his own people was enough reason to undertake to take him out of power. This is not the first timem our country has used force to stop genocide. Regardless of how much you disapprove of him personally and/or his politics, as a citizen of America, I believe we all have an obligation to be unified behind our President regardless who he is, especially while our nation is being threatened.

I disagree that he was not aiding and abeting terrorists and there is a lot that you are leaving out that points in the other direction, but all that aside, at least we can agree that he was a major threat to the stability of the Middle East that is the life blood of the oil that keeps our country functioning. In my humble opinion, that in itself was good enough reason to take him out of power.

I never said that did I?? All I said was that the legal system that we have was based arounf Biblical principals. You are putting words in my mouth.