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Columbia Accident Investigation Board: Final Report
ssclift writes "After nearly 7 months the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
has released its final report into the
February 1st
loss of the Shuttle Columbia and all
7 crew members. This is more than a technical
assessment of the immediate causes of the accident.
Once again, sadly,
the world's flagship space agency
gets a thorough and grim review. Press briefings will begin at 11:00
EDT along with a webcast."
I hazzard a guess that the long-term benefit to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan of the recent US interventions will be much larger than the benefit to them of the Space Shuttle.
Lets all send Darl to Mars, and put him in charge of the intellectual property there.
Did I claim to be a world-renowned organization with a multi-billion dollar budget run by (supposedly) some of the brightest people in the U.S.?
I think not.
Galileo: "The Earth revolves around the Sun!"
Score: -1 100% Flamebait
I hazzard a guess that the long-term benefit to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan of the recent US interventions will be much larger than the benefit to them of the Space Shuttle.
You've been listening to too much propaganda. The U.S. has attacked numerous countries over the years and failed to establish humane democracies in most of them.
In 1953, we helped overthrow Iranian President Mohammad Mossadegh and installed the brutal Shah of Iran -- who was later ousted by Islamic fundamentalists.
In 1954, a CIA-organized coup toppled the nationalist reformist government of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in favor of a military government that suppressed opposition until the return of democracy in 1986. Civil war effectively continued until 1996.
In 1960, Congo African nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba, elected in June 1960 as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was assassinated following a US/Belgian-organized coup designed to remove the Soviet-backed government. Succession by Mobutu Sese Seko ushered in 32 years of dictatorial and corrupt rule.
In 1973, the CIA secretly funded a coup against Chilean Marxist President Salvador Allende which brought Gen. Augusto Pinochet to power for 17 years. General Pinochet later faced charges for human rights abuses committed during his years in power, but the Chilean Supreme Court dismissed the case, ruling the Pinochet unfit to stand trial.
We don't have a great record.
1. Bush tried the inpiring goal bit with his announcement of a "Mission to Mars." Which lasted until he was presented with the price tag on the order of $450 billion dollars. The Mission to Mars did not survive the ongoing crusade of "Tax Freedom", not to mention the expense of the war of Iraq and new military adventures in a "War on Terrorism" which has no forseeable end.
I wasn't one of the minority who put Bush into office, so don't blame me for that. It's easy to say "Mission to Mars" and quite another to inspire a nation to strive for it. Bush couldn't inspire me to wipe ketchup off of my shirt. The tax cuts were grossly irresponsible. The war on Iraq was not justified. The "War on Terror" is just a power grab by right-wing law-and-order types like Ashcroft.
3.What's adequate? The big question is what are you willing to pay for and what do cut?
I'm willing to forego Bush's tax gifts to the rich. There's about a trillion dollars there -- before we start considering the interest on the debt.
The United States is awash in red ink,
Sort of argues against big tax cuts for the rich and spending billions on military agression and "nation building", doesn't it?
trade deficits and social and physical infrastructures which are going to pot, and we have severe energy and economic issues which continue to be deferred.
When Bush took office, we had a budget surplus. Instead of using that to pay down the debt and pay for much-needed infrastructure improvements, he made good on his promise of a tax bribe to be paid if he became President. He went around the country spouting the it's-your-money bull**** throughout the campaign. Well, it's not your money but what he's spending is your debt and will be your children's and their children's too.