I continue to be amazed by the fact that the Republican Party has done such an amazing job in convincing working and middle class people that they are best served by trickle down economics and small government, when it has been shown today with no uncertainty to only work for the benefit of the rich.

I think the true measure of a country is not it’s wealth, it’s power, it’s resources or reputation, but in how it takes care of it’s poorest and weakest. I understand the self reliant pioneer spirit that Americans have and I understand how important it has been to their history and psyche. But when millions go bankrupt due to the flawed health care system you have, when millions lose their homes due to a de-regulated/trickle down economic system geared towards serving the rich, I ask what kind of American Dream really exists anymore? Your nation now sees the largest gap between the wealth of the rich and the poor than at any time in it’s history.

Is that what you want for your children?

In general terms mercantile standards have been gradually creeping their way into naval use for a long time now.

The issue I have with this concept is that the benefits in cost and maintenance are outweighed by the fact that you are sacrificing damage control and the safety of your valuable crews by potentially putting them in harms way in a craft that does not have adequate ability to protect them from unecessary risk.

James Bond is a bit like Doctor Who – the one you grow up knowing is the one you like most. For me, Sean Connery was the best, with Daniel Craig a close second, followed by Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. George Lazenby looked the part but wasn’t charismatic enough and poor Roger Moore was wasted on the scripts he was given.

+ 1

Agree fully Jetflap. Looking forward to the new 007 flick to be released here in Canada and remember fondly the opening action sequence in Casino Royale, arguably the best bit of filmmaking in the eitire series.

Without a doubt, the first half (first half only!) of Full Metal Jacket.

Das Boot is also a favorite of mine as well.

A moderator, a moderator…my Kingdom for a moderator.:confused:

Star 49, with all due respect to him as an individual, needs to be put on some sort of short chain. He adds little to serious discussions and always tries to take the conversations ongoing back to his delusional fanboy “…Holy Mother Russia is better than everybody else in every way…” opinions. He is entitled to his wackiness but there has to be a time and place for it. If he wishes to start threads of this ilk I certainly would agree that he be allowed to do so. They should be under the general thread and kept out of this part of the boards.

How do phantom Russian simulators, alleged Russian purchases of Western technology, the upgrade capabilities of Sukhoi as a company, or for that matter Russian oil production have anything at all to do with the perceptions of an American Eagle driver had coming up against a Su-30MKI?

Am I missing something here?

POSTSCRIPT

Apologies to the moderator. I posted this without seeing your original

Arguably, next to the B-58 Hustler, the most beautiful bombers ever built.

With all due respect I find it a real flaw in logic when assumptions about why there have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11 are due to the Bush Administration.

That is like saying that your new padlock on your front door works to prevent burglaries because none have taken place. How do you even know if anybody tried to break in? It is simply flawed logic to make that kind of assumption.

Perhaps I am wrong. I do not know. Maybe the Bushies did break up some attacks. Maybe Jack Bauer from “24” is real. With due respect to others in this thread you do not know either. In the absense of information to prove either argument I think we should wait for the historians to decide in future years.

…Obama wants to cut the USA defense budget by 25%. He wants to cut and run from Iraq as soon as possible.

With due respect perhaps you could enlighten us as to what “Victory in Iraq” actually means? I thought it means a functioning government that could take care of its own interests. They have had a prime minister now for over two years. They have had multiple elections since 2003 and, granted with American assistance, been improving the security situation.

Terrorist jihadists and attacks could increase at least until 2012.

Again, with due respect, what is this claim based upon? The assumption that Bush/Cheney prevented attacks in the USA over the past 7 years cannot be accurately verified. You seem to imply here that Bush/Cheney actually prevented other 9/11 type attacks upon American soil. Prove it. Al Qaeda still made multiple attacks overseas during the Bush years. Perhaps they have decided to not attack America directly during that time. I do not know and i submit neither do you sir.

Expect to see cuts in new military aircraft. He will try to stretch the F-16, F/A-18 for extended service. F-22 could see dozens cut during this period. If the F-35 is cut, and/or foreign partners bolt it could see major cuts, or program be halted until 2012, or 2016 when Republicans may take back the federal government.

Again, with due respect, you make it seem like these are choices. To me they are a list of bad options thrust upon a new President by the fact that the current administration has been such poor stewards of both the military and the economy.

Give the guy a chance.