rhetoric.

The US is still officially at war with North Korea as well. Having lived there (in South Korea) a few times, including with the military, I'm more aware than many just how serious the situation is. Every day, we had units on ready standby in case the North launched a surprise attack. Instances where North Korean commandos infiltrated the South via submarines or tunnels dug under the DMZ were many... including some where South Koreans (usually military) were killed or assassinated. Incidents on the DMZ were fairly common. North Korea blowing up a South Korean military vessel isn't especially surprising. All of these things, though, are acts of war. I'm amazed at the restraint the South has shown. Though the fact that Seoul is within artillery range of the North may have something to do with it.

Anyway, regarding pulling out, successfully completing the war means that the new government of Afghanistan be capable of running itself and keeping from being overthrown by Taliban. Unfortunately, from everything I've heard/read, the current government is practically worthless. Any government is preferable to no government (a la Somalia) so we're in there propping them up, but at this rate, that'll go on forever. We either need to make some serious inroads on getting their government to give a damn, or we need to figure out when to say we're through and let Allah sort em out. At least, that's my opinion on the subject. I'm sure there'll be a dissenting opinion.

The point remains that the vast majority of people in Afghanistan (or Iraq for that matter) never asked for an invasion no matter how much they hated the Taliban or Saddam. If we/the US then decide (on basis of virtually no evidence) to ovethrow those regimes we can't just pull out when shit doesn't get solved immediately and leave people to their lot. No matter how much anyone hates a repressive regime, it is still 10 times better than a complete lawlessness, no running water and electrity and rampant disease. No wonder people are almost getting nostalgic for the old regimes.

The problem with the leaders in place now is that they are either (considered?) American puppets or corrupt self-promotors. It's gonna be years before anyone can establish themselves as a credible leader and in the short term the only ones who can lay claim to such a position are - ironically - the fundamentalists since they're 'fighting against the occupier' and have total street cred. It's all a big mess.

Btw, I can't find my yearly tax overview. Suffice to say that I pay around 40-45% of taxes on my monthly gross income (that's not counting VAT of course, which is also higher than in many countries. Like for electronics. ).

Ah well, I presume your income is, on average, higher than American income to compensate. Plus you get all the crazy vacation time... though if you don't have much money, I'm not sure what the point of taking vacations is.

Sitting at home eating stale cheese on a cracker still beats working!

(and I do have a good wage, I'm just a cheap fucker so I tend to be selective when it comes to holidays )

yea, you're right, I certainly do enjoy sitting at home, not doing shit. Or at least not working. Beats busting my ass for "the man".

It's Monday.

You and your crappy music.

Heh we have a schooltrip each year to the (now abandoned) mines (in Beringen) where they built a museum. They always play that song in a movie on the history of coal mining in belgium. I just love it when that song starts.

hehe, yea, it's a great song. I even like the original version by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Just to clarify and preserve my image of extreme manhood It was more about the song's title than the actual music.

hah, lies!

I wish i could tell people to take their jobs and shove it. Not that I hate my job, but y'know. Would be nice to indulge in a leisurely life of travelling and doing what I feel like.

Here's something more to give you more to bitch me off about

haha, Dolly Parton. aka hugeboobs. I think I'm going to stop the music wars before it gets any worse.