Yet, if he were son, you'd do the same - if you had the balls.

Foolish or not, that's a dad who loves his son, that's a dad to make a son proud.

We are just recently releasing Taliban fighters in exchange for peace in provinces. But Romney says we do not negotiate with terrorist? How clueless he is, this is unacceptable for a presidential candidate to be this ignorant. I say use these prisoners to get our guy back, or do not negotiate at all. The father is correct in trying himself, seems our government is not doing much for him, and more for the provinces of Afganistan.

What a joke, good luck in your sons return, Im sure everyday is torture not knowing what will happen to your child, but hey it is not Romney,or presidents son.

The United States has for several years been secretly releasing high-level detainees from a military prison in Afghanistan as part of negotiations with insurgent groups, a bold effort to quell violence but one that U.S. officials acknowledge poses substantial risks, Washington Post reported Monday.

What about releasing our captured soldier, for these prisoners,if they catch a high value target, a prisoner swap should not be a problem, we did with Russia, and Germany, why not now?

You must not have children, and if you do...I believe very strongly that you would act similar..ya know?

I get that it's his son so he's worried but:

"Bob Bergdahl told the newspaper that swapping Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo for his son represents a "win-win" for the United States. He said in addition to his son's safe return, the United States could foster good will with the Afghan people."

is just ridiculous. If they're in Guantanamo then there's probably a good reason; I don't see how releasing known terrorists (and I'm guessing they want dozens for this one soldier - they always do) is a win for us. I commend him for trying, but appealing to the Taliban's humanitarian side? Really? They've decapitated fathers, sons, you name it, on TV. I wish him the best of luck, but I really doubt the Taliban are going to waver - doing so will take the credibility out of their future threats.

Admirable stance and you can feel his frustration. But gettting involved directly will get him killed. Leave it be for now and they will get him out, hopefully using a Seal Team 6 slaughter squad with a quick reunion. Thoughts are with you my man.....

brenda - "nuke 'em" the post for people with neither to time nor the intellect to post.

I hate to say this, but...sir, your son began to die the day he was captured. The Taliban have no interest in preserving his life beyond the day it provides them leverage or cover. The do not respect the sanctity of life, not even their own. The best description I can come up with for them is heathen. Both he and the elderly gentleman that they kidnapped in Pakistan will be counted among the casualties of this ill-fated war. George Bush and Dick Cheney created this mess when they failed to prosecute the war to its ultimate conclusion rather than chasing after their own misbegotten neo-onservative nation-building, democracy spreading agenda. Not only is Afghanistan a hopeless mess, but Iraq will decend into a state of constant sectarian civil war. Pray for his soul and a merciful death.

Funny how they can use a Seal Team to get the most protected man in the Taliban. But not to rescue one Soldier after all this time. Jessicsa Lynch didn't even spend this much time in captivity.

I say trade this enemy of the United States for this hero of the United States, before during this put a time release cyanide capsul in the scumbag, bring our soldier home. Or bomb that area until nothing is left standing! BUT BY ALL MEANS BRING THIS SOLDIER HOME!!!!!!

Coral Taxi

We are just recently releasing Taliban fighters in exchange for peace in provinces. But Romney says we do not negotiate with terrorist? How clueless he is, this is unacceptable for a presidential candidate to be this ignorant. I say use these prisoners to get our guy back, or do not negotiate at all. The father is correct in trying himself, seems our government is not doing much for him, and more for the provinces of Afganistan.

You use a story like this to take a shot at Romney? Really sad. The US has always had a policy not to negotiate with terrorists, it's not just Romney.

Reasonable Sanity

Bin Laden was not well protected. He thought he was hiding in an unknown place.

@jdm;

I am attacking his ignorance, and talking of things he obviously knows nothing about. He says we do not negotiate with terrorist, I give you facts that we do. So how much is this policy enforced? We ARE negotiating with the Taliban, exchanging prisoners in return for them being good boys, and not attacking in the outlands where we are pulling out of.

The US has always had a policy not to negotiate with terrorists, it's not just Romney.

No really?!! That is not the point, the point is our possible future president is speaking out his arse, he is thinking of himself and his personna not the soldier who is being held captive,he is saying we do not negotiate with terrorist,while it has been going on for years!lol get it now Mcfly?

Romney commented on this situation so he is relevant, or did you not read the article? You are the sad one for missing the point, please read the article next time before you comment, and you would know my comment on Romney is very relevant, and spot on.

Please read before you rant.

"pull the troops out and H bomb the middle east"

I agree with the first half of your statement, Brenda. As for the other half: what does the middle east have to do with this? Afghanistan is part of Asia.

AASpades, THANK YOU for your service.

Barack Obama took great offense to the notion that he would negotiate with terrorists

I guess Obama takes less offense now than he did. So how relevant is that Coral Taxi? Or was he just......

speaking out his arse

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are on world map due to US, British and allies.

They are fountainheads of most of the Islamic radicals and terrorist belonging to Taliban, al-Qaida, Muslim brotherhood and others.

If they don’t deliver, just dump them into seas.

We had enough garbage as allies and backstabbing from these most ungrateful allies.

For world peace, time has come to remove these two inventors of world problems from the world map

@ gtouch; ?? I would say very relevant. You assume because I called a politician out on his ignorance that I am for the other party, well wrong. This could have been a candidate I liked and I would still be disturbed that they stated things as facts that are not, so do not go all red and blue on me I vote for the man not the party, and I call both sides out when they err to the detriment of our fighting men and women.

This would be an attack on Romney

"I'm not concerned about the very poor."

Or this poor prisoner of war Mr Romney. We will negotiate and trade prisoners to the Taliban for peace but not a life. that voluntarily is ready to sacrifice all for you and me? Thinking of his politics not the life of this young man. I have made this crystal clear.

@ jonathon...This is actually a very good point. I have talked about this alot to other people and I guess my questoin is, What are the back-lashes from "removing" from the "world map"

How entangled is this web and what would happen if these places in particular were not around.

I personally believe that the outcome would be worst than we think, but Im not a diplomat or anything so its just my thought

What do you think?

Marvin Young

I say trade this enemy of the United States for this hero of the United States, before during this put a time release cyanide capsul in the scumbag, bring our soldier home. Or bomb that area until nothing is left standing! BUT BY ALL MEANS BRING THIS SOLDIER HOME!!!!!!

I agree, Obama has made it his policy to end our Constitutional rights, which makes him an enemy of the United States, we should trade him for any and all American citizens being held hostage!

And we need to bring ALL the soldiers home, they aren't fighting for us, they're only breeding more terrorism by being there. Case in point, yesterday's newstory, which of course the Mainstream Media won't carry:

http://www.salon.com/2012/05/08/us_attack_kills_5_afghan_kids/singleton/

5 children killed in a drone strike! This is the reason they hate us, it has nothing to do with our freedom. Obama and his drone strikes MUST BE STOPPED!

Coral Taxi you made the assumption not me.........I did not "assume" you to be of either party or independant. I just noticed your line about Romney and remembered that Obama had said he also would never negotiate with terrorist. You don't have to apologize for your assumption as it did no harm and good luck with your future postings.

@ gtouch; I offer facts not assumptions, and your post came off as very defensive. Seems we are clear that I am not derailing against another party. Where do you get an apology out of my post, your just being a smart arse because you got handled, typical reaction.

I also included the President in my first post if you bother to read it again, here I will show and not just tell.

but hey it is not Romney,or presidents son.

You see no need to tell me how the other is just as guilty.

Coral Taxi sorry to hurt your poor little feelings your seem a little thin skinned. You did make an assumption that I was placing you in a political party (so that wasn't a "fact"). And a "smart arse" is better than being a dumb arse.

The father will probably be thrown in jail for interfering with the State Departments "efforts" to get the son back. The govt. doesn't give a crap about the troops, just that the soldiers plight doesn't interfere with the flow of the champagne and caviar at the parties.

"Our message to them is: We are working hard to obtain Sgt. Bergdahl's release, to bring him back into U.S. hands," Lapan said.

We've heard this before: Vietnam. What about the 600 plus the US wrote off after the prisoners came back at the first prisoner release. Read "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" - all about how CBS was pressured by the White House to drop the whole subject. CBS still won't talk about it , even after Don Hewitts death.

Good luck to the dad, but remember, it's "political" , so he's screwed.

It's always been our policy not to deal with terrorist and yet our President was secretly releasing prisoners to the Taliban, where's the Liberal outrage oh that's right he's not Bush. My other point since they were going to release these prisoners why didn't they do the trade then? This administration sure has a lot of baggage. TSA, GSA,Fast And Furious,Solyndra DC Cop, Trayvon, Fluke. Not that I care for Romney, but Coral Taxi your Romney quote about the poor was taken out of context

Bad things happen when you go sauntering off-base in Taliban infested areas.

@gtouch;

Coral Taxi sorry to hurt your poor little feelings your seem a little thin skinned

Now come the insults,instead of a rational come back(another typical reaction of being handled). Let me tell you I get into many heated debates over cosmology, and the Mid East, I am hardly thin skinned, and at least you admit you were being a smart arse, because you have nothing else to offer.

You were making sure Obama got his lick in also, in the vane that I was for Obama and totally against Romney(that is a fact!), so do not try to play it off different. And it was a fail because I already included Obama in it.

@ritdog; Exactly my point goes back to politics, not a true caring for a life.

if that was Obama's son he wouldn't have spent a day in captivity.

@ Coral Taxi

and you would know my comment on Romney is very relevant, and spot on.

No I don't.

Please read before you rant.

I didn't know I was ranting. The bottom line is you mentioned Romney in regards to a story about a father and his POW son. How low can you go?

The idea that prisoners at Guantanamo ate "there for a good reason" is pretty stupid. The main reason that most of the prisoners got to Gitmo was that they were "foreign fighters" who did not speak fluent Urdu or Pashto. The local Taliban did not trust them and "sold" them to the CIA, mostly for $5,000 a pop. These people had been sent from countries like Egypt and Libya mostly by fathers or imams who were proxy jihadists --- similar to the wimpy men who exhort their kids on top play sports in which they are not interested. Often these people went there under the belief that they would be studying in a religious school. One contingent were Chinese Muslims who only wanted weapons training so they could oppose the Chinese government's repression of their people. When it was determined at Gitmo that they had no value, the CIA was perfectly happy to send them home. But there were two problems: a) torture and harsh interrogation methods had radicalized these people from being essentially no threat at all to being a potential threat, and b) no country would take them. The Chinese Uighurs were finally resettled in Bermuda because otherwise they would be turned over to the Chinese government and executed.

The Republicans donot want terrorists at Guantanamo tried in US courts (as were the first WTC bombers and many others) because they know that about 80-90% of them would simply walk free because there is no case against them except that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This would be a huge embarrassment for the GOP and its private Cuban Elba. The remainder of the terrorists that were tortured would be extremely difficult to try because the government would have to essentially prove that not a single shred of evidence used was obtained by torture or the threat of torture --- it is actually called the Oliver North Rule after the overturning of North's convictions in the Iran-Contra Affair because the government coiuld not prove that evbery shred of evidence was obtained outside of immunized testimony. The idea of the government trying to prove something like this is virtually impossible.

I am an old intelligence analyst and a Vietnam vet. I knew lots of CIA "field officers" in my time. In Vietnam we called them "cowboys" because of their propensity to wear cowboy hats, aviator sun glasses, long-sleeved white shirts, khakis, and cowboy boots. It was kinda like a CIA uniform. They tortured prisoners there as well, usually using ARVN proxies to do the dirty work. Usually they killed (terminated with extreme prejudice) the prisoners after they were tortured. Over 140 GI's were convicted of torturing Vietnamese, but no CIA personnel were ever actually charged. I remember one intelligence report, obviously obtained by torture, that claimed that the North Vietnamese were building a base on the moon so thy could shoot down Spookie gunships at night. It was classified Top Secret codeword and was addressed to everyone from God on down. The closing sentence was the most telling and said words to the effect that "Subject is no longer available for interview." The most common torture method used was called the "Chinese water torture" and consisted of laying a tied prisoner on a tilted bench and jamming a coke bottle of water into his mouth, breaking teeth if necessary. This would be repeated with the victim receiving bottle after bottle of water until they talked. After their "confession" was recorded, they would usually be killed, either by jumping onto their abdomen, rupturing their stomach, distended by huge amounts of water, or by simply letinbg them die of the inevitable pneumonia. Every intelligence analyst is trained that there is no way to use torture in a productive way. Any person will tell you anything, true or not, just to make the torture stop. Without confirming information, this makes it impossible to tell what is true and what is not. With confirming evidence, the torture wasn't necessary in the first place.

The trouble in intelligence is very seldom that there is too little information. It is that there are huge amounts of intelligence and it is difficult to determine what is meaningful and what is useful. The CIA's mission means that its primary skills lie in handling ideological turncoats and paying people for information. They have only rudimentary analysis capability and no military capabilities except what they have assumed themselves. CIA cowboys always seemed to believe that they should have access to all compartmentalized intelligence, but with their mission, they actually had access to only about 5% of the intelligence load.

The way that intelligence people actually interrogate someone is to simply start immediately and make them tell their story over and over and over --- hundreds of times --- to different interrogators and in different settings. Any made up story will "drift" as details are made up to flesh it out. True stories tend to lose details with time but always hover around the same set of firsthand experiences. Cover stories are the easiest to spot because they never change an inch or add any details with time. This is the way that the FBI intended to interrogate the Gitmo prisoners, but walked away from interrogating them at all when they saw the mothods being used.

As an intelligence analyst, I was taught that many of the "torture is wonderful" people who post on here would make the best subjects for interrogation. Bragarts and bullies and other archetypes are the ones looked for to interrogate because they are the easiest and quickest to give up valuable information. The classic example is "Songbird" John McCain when he was a POW. He traded everything he knew in return for medical treatment within four hours of being turned over to The Plantation. Within eight hours of his capture he was receiving treatment at the best hospital in Vietnam (Gia Lam Military Hospital.) That is a more normal way of getting intelligence. And some of McCain's information turned up as lately as with the pilot shot down in Bosnia (Walker???) and the authentication methods used to identify him. The bad guys were actually using information from McCain in order to spoof potential rescuers.

@jdm; WOW!! how low will I go?? Romney is relevant and has commented on this, you act as if I drug him in just to knock him down, here let me show you in its rawest form what Romney said about this situation, then makes the ignorant statement that we do not negotiate with terrorist when we have been doing it for years.

Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, also has rejected the proposed transfer. "We do not negotiate with terrorists," he said in December.

If this was his son, I gaurantee you it would be a different story.

You see now, I am not the low one here, and Romney is relevant, I will respect the COH, but you are pushing me by calling me low, you are the one that is not functioning properly if I have to go these lengths for you to understand my point.

I didn't know I was ranting. The bottom line is you mentioned Romney in regards to a story about a father and his POW son. How low can you go?

Yes because he is part of the story.WOW!

He put himself in it not me!! Hello Mcfly!!! Face Palm, shakes head. unreal

Coral Taxi

The whole point of your original post was to knock Romney. Yes, Romney said we don't negotiate with terrorists because that is what all politicians say.

Thank you for respecting COH since I am pushing you. You seem to be high strung Mcfly.

@ jdm;

The whole point of your original post was to knock Romney

Not true at all, the point of my post was to point out the hypocricy of all politicians, Romney put himself in the line of fire here. I am no Romney hater, I am a hater of politics trumping soldiers lives, this is just a prime example at this time. You not getting the point is more of an irritant than your name calling.

You seem to be high strung Mcfly

Actually much more laid back than I used to be, these back and forths are more enjoyable than bothersome. I am never the one to insult, I might throw a wise crack in, but never truly insultive, as you and gtouch are the ones calling me low and thin skinned, both are untrue statements.

God bless you sir.... You're in my prayers nightly along with your beautiful family. I have never witnessed such a love of a father for his son.

i wonder what is the president doing or saying about this? haven't heard a word, has anyone? looks like the father of this soldier is asking for the presidents help.....

The president will make up his mind after he finds out what 50.1% of people polled say.

Chris 749391: Thank you for your post; it is most informative. I, too, believe there are a lot of innocent people in Gitmo & it is a shame upon this nation as is the torture.

JohnnyAASpades: US, British and allies options are getting limited and hands are being tied from all sides.

A stage is coming, when the US and allies will not able to decide that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are always winners.

Look at Iraq wars.

If the US and allies inervene Iran, Syria and so on as directed by Saudis, they will get battered more.

So those to international trouble creators are going to be out of the map.

US armed forces journal in 2002 or so had a redrawn map of ME and Pakistan.

jdmb03

Coral Taxi

The whole point of your original post was to knock Romney. Yes, Romney said we don't negotiate with terrorists because that is what all politicians say.

Thank you for respecting COH since I am pushing you. You seem to be high strung Mcfly

jdm by now you have noticed that coral taxi has a high opinion of his postings and his image of himself is highly inflated for whatever reason. He hasn't admitted any of the mistakes that he has made just turns to insults and misdirection to cover his errors. He may just need a friend or he may be as you said "high strung".

@ gtouch; Show me one insult.

jdm by now you have noticed that coral taxi has a high opinion of his postings and his image of himself is highly inflated for whatever reason. He hasn't admitted any of the mistakes that he has made just turns to insults and misdirection to cover his errors.

What are you kidding yourself? Mistakes? You talk but do not provide one example. This is not that big a deal anyway.lol

You are the one insulting saying I am thin skinned. Now show me my insult to you. You will not. Unless you are phsycic you have no idea about me. I do not come to the vine to boost my ego.lol I come here to debate and learn, not get inflated.lol You know nothing of me.

You guys were both handled with facts end of story. I will come back in a day and you will not of shown me one insult to you.

Let's see what Coral Taxi says...........Yada, Yada, Yada.........Yawn.

Well its been 7 days and not one example of an insult. Fail.

If the US military does not know where this fellow is, what makes this guy think that he can do anything? But I guess he is is dad and I probably would have done the same thing...

Yep, that's him. As a parent, you will do anything and everything to get your kids out of harm's way. I wish him the best and hope for a "good outcome".

Yep, thats him allright, and if anyone did'nt notice he's missing his NIGHTVISION GOGGLE, so you see the Tallaban do have HIGHTECH devices, thanks to the soldier...

sorry, but the Taliban had nightvision that we gave them when they were fighting the Soviets. That, and you can buy that crap just about anywhere. So the kid pulled a bonehead move. Anybody who has ever been in the Army has had a dumbass troop. You still look out for their best interests and go try and find them before they get hurt.

@Public....You are a moron, "and if anyone did'nt notice he's missing his NIGHTVISION GOGGLE, so you see the Tallaban do have HIGHTECH devices, thanks to the soldier..."

Do you know anything...

I just bought my nephew night vision goggles from Toys R' Us......I also believe the Taliban can find night vision goggles at the bottom of their cereal box too. This technology is not breaking news.

I suppose this soldier was either not properly trained or was foolhardy in the extreme. How can you people advocate "nuking them" when there are dozens of hostages (not prisoners of war, these Taliban or just cimply criminals), and create worst-case scenarios for the rest of the world, including the U.s.? I'm sorry for the man and uderstand he's fighting for his son's life, but for heaven's sake. From there, you have to consider the consequences. I suspec t the son willl be very publicly decapitated if this gets to be any more of a high profile issue. And then of course the righties will atack Obama fornot magically getting him out, and so on and so on ad nauseum. Signing up to be a vvolunteer soldier (some would call them mercenaries) you sign up for possible consequencees in war and battle. Buy the ticket, take the ride., unfortunate thought it may be for misguided kids.

Bad things happen when you go sauntering off-base in Taliban infested areas.

Lil' Debbie- I totally disagree with your statement that these youth are misguided.

They are doing what they believed was the right thing to do. Serving their country.

You may not agree with the political agenda that has put these guys/gals in harms way but don't you dare question their honor or try to invalidate their lives.

As for calling them mercenaries ; It's because of people like this soldier that you continue to have the right to speak your mind .

If you ask me your the one who is misguided. When was the last time you or your family served this nation in any capacity.

I'd bet you or your family sure take full advantage of any government assistance that's available ie: student loans, medicare, Social security,etc.

Lil Deb, may I suggest you do a little research on the difference between a Mercenary and a member of the US Military. No one has to attack Obama, his own words speak volume.

The general opinion in the military seems to be that a civilian worker at the base "arranged" for him to meet with a underage female prostitute and that he went with the person and was captured by the Taliban instead. I often wondered if his home schooling might not have been partially responsible for his awesome lack of common sense.

@wlee: If a soldier joins the military as a "job", that is, as a primary source of income, but is not cadre, he is technically a mercenary (someone who fights for money.) Because he is a sworn uniformed member of a standing military he is not the type of mercenary that is forbidden by the Geneva Conventions. The Blackwater-type security people, however, are illegal mercenaries. It is a shame that we eliminated the cadre system and the draft. It puts GI's in the position of being "professional" soldiers and keeps the public from having any skin in the game. It would take an esrimated 7-10 years to revive the draft and re-establish the cadre peacetime military system.

Chris, sorry but I don't buy it. A Mercenary joins to fight and the money, a person enlist as I did for an education as well as a step into a civilian job, I can assure you it wasn't for the money, nor was I eager to go into combat.

@wlee,

You made my point perfectly. Thank you! Doing it "for an education" is just another way of saying that you did it for the money. And I don't really care if you buy it or not --- the definitions I spoke of come from the dictionary and from the Geneva Conventions where you apparently have no say-so.

Chris, I joined and have served for love of country 19+ years. I have seen combat and when I fought it was for the guys to my right and left. I don't need someone like you who has never served to call me a Mercenary, because God knows I would be making more money on the outside.

We shouldn't spend a cent to save him. He decided to act dumb in a war zone so now let him deal with the consequences. Let his dad do all the work if he wants, more power to him.

Sorry. guys! The definition is not of my doing. I, too, am a vet and this was roundly discussed when the "volunteer" professional military was created. When it was conceived, many opponents of the all-volunteer approach as well as the ending of the cadre system, used the argument (unsuccesfully) that it would put us outside of the Geneva Conventions. The government's answer was to be the only industrialized country not to ratify the current Geneva Conventions --- and the reason given was that they wanted to be free to use an all-professional military and to employ contractors and sub-contractors to fill traditional military roles. None of that changed the dictionary definition of a mercenary, which is: "mer·ce·nar·y (mûr s -n ry ). adj. 1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain."

Every bit of research done on the volunteer military (most of it by the Pentagon) has indicated that the primary reason for enlistment is the pay and the opportunity to have future education paid for. Even with re-ups, the major reason cited is the re-up bonus. This is why military recruiting emphasizes it so much. And that also is the explanation why so many people who join currently are rural youths from areas where unemployment is extremely high.

I served for ten years, including Vietnam 67-68. I have one PH, and a Bronze Star with one "V" and two clusters as well as a Joint Services intelligence medal. So, son, you obviously do not know what you are talking about. Your assumptions are wrong across the board. And I decided to quit the military when I was briefing pilots to bomb in Laos while watching Tricky Dick swear on his "mother's name" on AFTV that we were not bombing in Laos. I really didn't need that kind of "leadership" in my life.

Thank you Chris for the facts. More please!

Bonehead idea, Lady Jag. Glad you aren't in Congress.

Lil' Debbie, I wish we had more people like LADY JAG in Congress and hope we don't have many like you in there!

@ Lil Debbie...whats your beef with Lady JaG's comment?

Actually "Lil' Debbie", after reading some of your posts, I am worried that you may be one of our 'bonehead' politicians!

What's so bonehead about what Lil Deb said? It's actually what the Father said. BTW I'm not so sure I would want to send my son to rescue someone who voluntarily walked into the enemy's hand, being captured in combat is another matter

It's hard to "send in the SEALS" when you ave absolutely no idea where to send them. My guess is that this kid hasn't slept in the same place two consecutive nights in the whole time in captivity. The chances of him beiong killed by a drone or bombing are much higher than the chances of his rescue by SEALs. The invincibility is the SEALs is prety much a myth. Yes, they are well-equipped and well-trained and mostly exceptional people. But rescue operations are notorious for their unpredictability. Within the last year, one attempt to free hostages in Afghanistan resulted in the death of one of the hostages by a SEAL-thrown grenade. Another hostage rescue situation in Somalia was very successful, killing 9 pirates and rescuing both hostages unharmed. Even the bin Laden incident was not without issues since the SEALs had to be rescued themselves after they crashed one of their choppers in the attempt.

You don't just "send in the SEALs" unless you have no idea what you are talking about. They work best in situaions where they are lightly opposed and especially by poorly organized and tranied people such as the Somali pirates. The keys to successful use of SEALs is good intelligence, good equipment, good tactics, and above all extreme levels of training. But small SEAL units against any kind of organized defense is not as good an idea. (In case you want the math: The conventional wisdom is that groups like the SEALs have a 2x "force multiplier" because of superior training and equipment, but that defenders have at least a 4x force multiplier because that is the nature of defense.) The SEALs are not supermen and are most useful when properly employed.

Earthie - we are in this situation because Terrorist killed thousands of U.S. Citizens. It's deadbeat individuals, like yourself, that want to blame everything on this so-called 1%. Get off your butt, take a bath, get rid of the drugs, put on "clean clothes" and get a job (the Military is looking for people that have completed High School). Stop blaming your trouble on everyone else and take responsibility for yourself. I am part of the 99% and you and your group does NOT represent me, never had and never will.

Hey Earthie, It seems that you forgot that Americans have been putting their lives on the line and supporting this country for generations, so you can have the freedom to write what you just wrote. Instead of saying why you would never join the military, you should look at yourself and see what you are doing to contribute to keeping this country great rather than acting as a drain on it. It's your kind of "Me first attitude" that causes problems. Get off your iPhone and do something positive for someone else! Better yet, join the military. You might just like it! I certainly did!

I agree with LADY JAG's comments. Just Bring this young man home.

As a vet...I dont want you in my military. We only want people who feel called to do something different. To protect something that is theirs. Their family and friends, co-works and neighbors...these are the reasons so many brave men and women put their life on the line so you can have what you have.

As the wife and mother of active service military I feel the pain and frustration this father is feeling. I must caution him to not do anything stupid that could not only get his son killed, but also cause other damage as well.

If being a military spouse/parent has taught me anything, it's patience.

Our thoughts and prayers are with this soldier and his family. Keep them all safe.

@ Janine...Thank you for your comment, its hard to explain to civilians what its like to be military or military family member, which is not their fault...Its like trying to explain what it feels like to be in space to someone who has never gone ya know?

The rules are different, the attitudes, mind-sets, and actions are differnt. They are team and goal driven. Patience is something you become very good at in the service. I agree, I hope that someone in the know, would help this Father get his son back ,like so many other people will never get to do, by helping him not make the situation worst for himself or his son.

Lets just say (hopefully I wont get in trouble for this) but this is not like negotiating a price for your new ford focus..the players in this situation are high ranking, dangerous, and powerful people. There are people, items, land, treaties, and a whole host of things to take into consideration for the people making decisions.

We have it easy, we are only concerned with this young mans safe return at any cost. Thats not a bad thing...someone has to keep some sort of emotional element alive in this situation but the reality is that its not a emotional situation, its a political, economic, and religious situation.

The suggestions of "nuke em" and "obama wants votes" and all of these other comments do nothing but show ignorance. Children in other countries are more versed in these matters than grown American adults..

Does anyone agree, or am I just having one of those days! lol

@ Vegains, you need to study a bit more on narcissistic personality disorder before you open you mouth and make a fool of yourself. It's not the hard working get off your butt type people that are usually narcissitic. It's you lazy liberals who think everyone owes you something cause your "special". NPD makes people think they are "entitled" and they have no conscience about using other people to gain what they want. Sounds like a socialistic, selfish liberal to me because they think the rest of us should work our butts off to support them and "re-distribute" the wealth so they benefit from other peoples' labors. That is Not right in any world. The only thing you're right about is that NPD is not treatable, therefore our nation is in big trouble when we have sooooo many narcissitic liberals out there voting and wanting what the rest of us earned.

JoeB, Kippie, JohnnyAASpade & Coyotehunter, I feel sorry for you guys! 9/11 was an INSIDE JOB! The People of Iraq, especially Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with 9/11! If any country should have been invade, it should have been SAUDI ARABIA! (15 of the 19 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia) Yet your Top 1% chose Iraq to invade; Why, to gain control of the Worlds 3rd Largest Oil Fields! You guys are NOT sacrificing your lives for our Freedom, you are sacrificing your STUCK ON STUPID lives, for BIG OIL and BIG BUSINESS!

Fact is, we have LOST MORE of our Freedoms, since you invaded Iraq with the Patriot Act! So PLEASE, you're not protecting my way of life, you're controlling it, as youve done with the Innocent People you are killing and maiming in these countries you are currently OCCUPYING!

Heck, the Protester's, against Wall Street, are being locked up left and right, PREVENTING Americans from Speaking up against the 1% whose taken their jobs and shipped them to 3rd World Countries! So tell me, where are their FREEDOM OF SPEECH against this Capitalist Government that's been established since the Invasion of Iraq? Americans are being treated just as poorly as the people of Iraq and Afghanistan! For if an American Citizen PROTEST too Loud and too Often, they will find themselves behind bars!

So get your story straight, you are NOT PROTECTING MY WAY OF LIFE, you have RUINED it by your Aggressiveness in these other countries, which has made America VUNERABLE, because of your invasion and Occupations ... TRYING TO STEAL and CONTROL the Vast, Rich Natural Resources of these Countries!

Let another country invade America, I won't need to join the Military, for I will be fighting for MY COUNTRY as the Freedom Fighters, you have LABELED Terrorists, al-Qaeda, etc., JUST AS THEY ARE DOING! PROTECTING MY COUNTRY and my FELLOW CITIZENS!

Get the hell out of their country, and we would not have 1/10TH of the so called Terrorist concerns we have today! If you have a BRAIN, PLEASE try to USE IT!

For the Record, because your Government treats our Vets so poorly, I CONTRIBUTE to HELP take care of them, despite the fact, I hate that you are in these countries, doing the damage you do. Yet, your Tea Bagger, Republican Majority Congress are trying to TAKE AWAY the BENEFITS they've EARNED, and PROVIDING the MEDICAL attention they so badly need! YOU GUYS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES, feeling PROUD killing and Maiming, yet when you come home, you can't get the attention and support you need; yet, depend on non-military Americans to take up the slack!

ummm earthie it is because of people who join the military that you are allowed to make a comment like you did with out the worry of someone busting down your door in the middle of the night and draging your sorry ass to some unknown prison where you would rot..for the rest of your life.... god bless or troops

@ earthie...I hear what your saying, I really do but I think me and you are on different pages.

You sound like you are coming from a place of bitterness towards the government and a outward destain for American troops.

If you really believe your statement of "Get the hell out of their country, and we would not have 1/10TH of the so called Terrorist concerns we have today! If you have a BRAIN, PLEASE try to USE IT!" Then your brain is not being used today. Regardless of wether or not we are in these countries (and i personally dont believe we should be) terriorist exist. They always have and always will.

I will never feel ashamed of what I have done for my families, friends, co-workers, neighbors and other Americans. I do not let people like yourselves to sway my integrity or what I know in my heart to be right.

I feel like you operate under the same guidelines. YOu have your feelings on the governement and everything and you sound very strong in those opinions and thats great...thats what we need more of. Strong, independent adult male role models with a good set of morals.

I do take great offense to you believing that you can commit on war conditions that you know nothing of. You call OUR COUNTRY's heros stuck on stupid?

Why would you make such statements on a article that is about a human being, kidnapped and a heart broken father trying to reclaim him? Because a few of use disagree on your statement? How about I apoligize, maybe I went a little overboard with my reply from what you said.

Your feelings on our military, governent, and ultiametly life is your own to have and live in..but dont you dare call my family (both blood and non) killers of the innocent.

You are weak minded and soft bodied, your not better than anyone. Your comments make you sound very full of yourself and superior to the people who, wether you want to believe it or not...continue to safe guard what "little" freedoms you believe you have like using the internet to say your peace.

You should be ashamed of youself! Let me explaine something to you...my story is striaght, I have seen things and I know things that would make you puke in your starbucks coffee, while you blog about how the governement sucks and life is so unfair...

Please join the military, one less person that the governement has to screw over right? lol

Hope that you dont have to deal with this un-fair world for much longer...Bless

Earthie, you are one deluded individual! I am a retired disabled combat vet with 20 years of honorable service to my country that includes service in Vietnam and the 1st Gulf War. I am extremely proud of my service and that is something you and your kind can never take away. I"ll bet and hope that thought eats at you. You have no clue of what being in the military is like and the sacrifices we and our families make and you never will. But you can damn people in the military with one breath and then try to brag about how you contribute to helping vets? That's disgusting and you are the one who should be ashamed, however incapable of such you may be. I for one do not need or want any help you could possibly offer. You are absolutely right to stay out of the military for two major reasons. 1.) You could never hack it and would probably be crying for your mommy after two days. You would probably be kicked out in less than a week! 2.) Your own people in your unit would probably do something mean and nasty to you because they know they could not trust you to watch their backs when things hit the fan! You hate it here so much, please feel free to move elsewhere. Try Iran. I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms. That is before they threw you in prison foe being a suspected American spy. By then you'd be screaming your head off for SEAL Team 6 and the rest of the cavalry to come save your sorry butt! I'm sure there are enough people here besides myself who would be glad to help donate towards a one way airfare for you.

I feel SORRY for you guys, you drink the toxic Kool-aid and call it Patriotism, when its nothing but GREED, GREED, GREED! Those people are not in our country trying to take what we have, you guys are over there, taking their natural resources.

I don't have to leave America to see the detriment that happens to people, I see it, and read about it, AND ITS HAPPENING, RIGHT here, IN AMERICA!

I don't feel like I'm Above anything, all I know is that, if another country INVADED America, as we're done to Iraq, Afghanistan, tell me, HOW WOULD YOU BEHAVE .... JUST WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

and YES, depending on what State you live in, its what's taking place, like the Protest Against Wall Street, SOME Americans ARE getting their doors kicked in, arrested, if not SHOT if you don't act according to their whims! Have you guys bother to read how Police murdered a Homeless man, for all we know, it could have been a homeless Vet, for there ARE many of them Homeless!

You get you heads out your butts, roam the Streets of America to learn just how many of our Homeless Vets are Homeless, with Mental Issues.

Let's take it a step further, many blacks are afraid to drive or roam some streets of America, for fear of Racists, believing THEY have NO BUSINESS in certain neighborhoods.

I conclude, you guys are either Racist's, have connections to the 1%, or just have not suffered what MILLIONS of Americans are suffering today because of our Economy, Outsourcing Jobs, the looting and raiding of Savings and Investments accounts, on top of Home lost behind Foreclosures.

You're not Protecting America, where were you guys when Katrina Struck, the Tornadoes that's been running rampant throughout some states. You are in Foreign Countries, Protecting and Guarding the Top 1% Interests, not the Homes and Well Being of Families throughout the Damage regions.

Our Air and National Guards was established to take care of America, yet your Party, screwed all that up, to send them to Iraq. So please don't tell me how you're protecting our country, all you're doing is protecting the Top 1% INTERESTS in Foreign Countries!

Stupidity is just plain STUPID! It's all out there, but you just REFUSED to see or comprehend it, all because, it's not happening to YOU!

EdVacDoc, I would NOT want to be a part of today's Military! You have EVERY RIGHT to be Proud of your Service, fact still remains, you did NOT go to Viet Nam, nor 1st Gulf Invasion for my Freedom! You HAD TO join the Military back in the day, and was FORCED to go to Viet Nam, when those People did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to America! You went there to make GINNIE PIGS out of the Viet Nam People with the Agent Orange!

I have a son, who spent TWENTY-THREE (23) YEARS in the Air Force! He's very PROUD of his Service too. His time in the Air Force, left him with Mental and Physical issues as well, and like you, HANDLING IT! I know the son I had, before he enlisted, and I see the son I have, now that he's retired, and I don't like the MENTAL issues he's carrying. So please, I know and suffer the AFTER effects of Military and Occupations, even though I did not Enlist!

I DONT DRINK KOOL-AID!

I probably shouldnt even continue this conversation, becuase all you are doing is attacking people ona article about

"You're not Protecting America, where were you guys when Katrina Struck"

Are you speaking to the military as a whole with statements like this?

"I conclude, you guys are either Racist's, have connections to the 1%, or just have not suffered what MILLIONS of Americans are suffering today because of our Economy, Outsourcing Jobs, the looting and raiding of Savings and Investments accounts, on top of Home lost behind Foreclosures."

Based on what information do you conclude this?

I agree with several of your statements, as I have since the beginning..

and I have already expressed my opinion on your thoughts about our military... which you have yet to explain, so I do not feel like we need to continue

You have brought facts to light which I would love to discuss on a different forum.

Why are you so angry and attacking people you dont even know because they do not agree with you.

You know, you use alot of "My" and "Mine" and "Your" in your statements and I just wonder why you dont say "Our" at all. Do you believe you are seperate from the rest of the world..This is where I came up with my opinon that you think your better than other people.

You have no idea what kind of life I have or what my struggles are. I am no different then the rest of America, trying to keep up with bills and raise a family the best way I know how.

So, why the beef with me?

Why do people still keep bringing up 9/11 as any justification for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The hijackers were all Saudis except for one. The money to support them and buy their airline tickets and pilot training came from Saudi Arabia. Even their copies of Microsoft Flight Simulator has a Saudi country code. Bin Laden was a Saudi.

The only WMD's that were found in Iraq were two trailers that were built by Bechtel and given to Sadaam by Reagan with Rumsfeld as the actual delivery boy. One trailer was used to make mustard gas and the other to make a binary form of sarin. But the trailers were made on the cheap and the corrosive nature of the chemicals used had long since rendered them unusable. One was converted to make hydrogen gas for weather balloons and the other was being used to store old personnel records and empty carboys. The two trailers were given to Sadaam, along with a pair of solid gold spurs, as a "birthday present" to our ally, Sadaam Hussein. The Taliban were our allies then as well.

If there was any conspiracy to do with 9/11. It was the closeness of the Bush family with the Saudi royal family. The Saudis had been patrons of the Bush family since the Reagan days and had actually bailed W out of failure as a buinessman, not once, but on two occasions. Yet, despite the facts that showed that it was Saudis who recruited, organized, financed, and executed 9/11, there was no outcry to bomb Saudi Arabia. And when bin Laden was cornered at Tora Bora, all US forces were ordered to abandon the chase and withdraw by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld.

We had the battle won in Afghanistan and with virtually no loss of American lives. But then W refocused all attention on Iraq and allowed the Taliban to reestablish control and the Northern Alliance to be cut off from all military and economic aid. And Iraq was lost for exactly the same reasons that GHW Bush was adviced of by his State Department and Colin Powell. The end result in Iraq will be excatly what Powell predicted if GHW Bush had continued to prosecute the First Gulf War: Aboiut half of Iraq and most of the oil would be handed to the only other Shiite counbtry in the world --- Iran. The Kurds would form a breakaway state with some oil that would seek to use Iraq as a base to seen reunification of a Kurdish homeland (mostly by taking back about 40% of Turkey) and that the remaining Sunnis would be excluded from power and oil and would eventually become de facto parts of Syria and/or Jordan.

I was in Mississippi when Katrina struck. The National Guard was there handing out food and water. Army Engineers helped with the flooding last year. The Military does help out with natural disasters in the US and abroad. You never hear about the humanitarian aid our men and women in uniform provide. They build schools and other public services in many different countries. Unfortunately this doesn't sell papers or airtime so it is not covered by media.

JohnnyAA my beef is NOT with YOU, its truly with the American Federal Government, and 75% of our elected Officials!

Yes, I am VERY ANGRY when I observe on a DAILY BASIS, how the People are suffering! Can't find a job that pays enough to keep a roof over their heads, nor feed their families! All I know is that a lot of good people are becoming criminals, trying to take care of their families! Most States are in the Deficit, ALL Social Programs has been cut back, or cut completely out of the Budgets.

Our Crime rates have risen dramatically, because people are out of work, or are not earning enough to pay day to day living expenses.

I'll never forget this one story whereby a father was stealing TOOTHPASTE for his children; they arrested him, beat the crap out of him, and he served time for that. If I had been in that store, I would have GLADLY paid for it, for him! This is how INSENSITIVE the country has become, and it bothers me deeply!

It bothers me MORE, when I read stories like this, whereby Bowe Bergdahl is being held captive, and there's not a dang thing we can do about it, Unless its the President, some other high official or Billionaire! You know, they are NOT going to do a dang thing to get this man released! Hell, TRADE one of the so called Terrorists, we are holding, and let Berghahl come home! If you're part of the 1%, YOU'RE SPECIAL, the Middle Class and Poor, we are considered nothing but COLLATERAL DAMAGE!

You are Correct, in that I have not own this country since GW Bush was elected, I see all the mess he left behind, and I'm not that Proud of President Obama, because it seems he's continuing Bush's Policies.

If I could, I would leave America, but go WHERE? ANY country that has any vast rich source of Natural Resources, the Top 1% wants, they will think NOTHING of invading that country too! At least here in America, there is nothing worthwhile other Nations would invade our country for, if they do, it will be an attack of REVENGE!

As the Supreme Court has deemed, CORPORATIONS are PEOPLE too, therefore, they literally own, run and CONTROL our Country, our Military is at their Beck and Call, just as the President and most of our elected Officials, for we are nothing but their PUPPETS!

When the American People, and our Troops are doing better, my attitude WILL improve along with them!

I am one of the lucky few, I own my home outright, and my son's are grown. My heart aches for the families with small children and mother's and fathers who has died, or left in pieces from the invasion/occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Earthie, once again you're being clueless shines through. FYI, I enlisted on my own. I was not drafted. I enlisted because I loved my country, faults and all, and I wanted to give something back. No one forced me to do anything. I volunteered to go to the 1st Gulf War when I could have stayed stateside. Chew on that one genius. You do not know me or anything about me, but yet you try to put me and others like me into your own personal hate filled pigeonhole just to justify the anger you say you feel. I salute and thank your your son for his service and his sacrifice but you don't rate that. Your hatred of today's military and all vets is shallow and demeaning to them and to your son as well. I also strongly suggest you read some decent history books about the Vietnam War and after because again, you really have very little, if any clue!

HM1/FMF USN/RET 1972 - 1993

Ed-NawDoc, you're nothing but a hateful Racist! You joined the Military because you LOVE KILLING and HURTING People, and more than likely, head a KKK Hate Group! In 1972, you had NO CHOICE but to SIGN up for the Military, despite the fact that you say you joined!

Ed-NavDoc, you are one sick puppy, in need of SERIOUS mental health care!

If you can READ, YOU go back an re-read what I wrote!

Nice try, but once again genius you still have no clue. I spent my career as a U.S.Navy Hospital Corpsman ( roughly analogous to an Army medic). thus the reason for my screen name = Ed-Navy Doc. I flew as medical aircrew in the back of medical evacuation helicopters trying to keep the shattered remains of humanity in my care alive long enough to reach proper medical facilities, sometimes with little more than my bare hands! FYI, I took an oath to preserve and defend the lives of those placed in my care. I take that oath as seriously today as I did back then! I still have the nightmares to go with it. KKK? That's a joke as those whackos are not too fond of those of Mexican American heritage such as myself attending their little soirees. . Excuse me as I am reading what you just wrote above and trying to keep from laughing hysterically! Sorry mister, but you would be best served to quit while you are behind as you seem to be the one with the anger problems you need to deal with. You make yourself look more foolish each time you post.

Earthie, by the way. What is it that you think I said you felt the need to call me racist and hateful other than the fact that I disagreed with your views. Please explain. I will await your answer. (If you have one that is.)

Just as I expected. No answer!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......still waiting.

First of all, he's not Irish so your intentional use of "O'Bama" shows us immediately that you are a troll. Secondly, your idiotic repetition of the nonsense that President Obama is Muslim, just reiterates your credentials as a troll. Please, crawl back under your rock and leave the conversation to the adults.

Obama is no more a Muslim than you. So if you're praying five times a day then maybe the president is too. Turn the channel from FOX, it's melting your brain.

Hey JoeB.....TROLL FAIL!!! I hope your troll friends see how much of FAIL you are.

Obama is not a muslim, not practicing anyways. He did release insurgents that went right back to fighting. I don't really think he is very religious one way or the other, so the muslim thing is kinda stupid to keep throwing at him.

President Obama is not a Muslim - but, if he was, what difference would it make? Isn't that part of what this nation was founded on - freedom to practice your chosen religion?
Have you checked out the religion of the contender for the office, Mitt Romney's Mormanism? That one has some really strange stuff in it...planets inhabited with gods, magic underpants, etc., etc. - but he is free to worship as he sees fit, as is the President, who claims to be of Christian faith.

Read Jon Meacham's book: American Gospel - treat your brain to some intelligent input.

Joe

Since you must be sitting in on the Administration's strategy sessions, what else can you share with us?

If you do not have direct access to POTUS, how do you know what he is thinking?

Once an idiot, always an idiot. Incurable.

Earthie, your believe that 9/11 was an inside job is the same as the Obama birthers, you choose to ignore the facts and as far as OWS breaking windows starting fires rapes drug dealings how dare the cops arrest them. As far as your son goes, he did what he wanted to do and could have suffered his condition from many other jobs, but you choose to blame the military. He obviously enjoyed the military as he retired from there. You're just a bitter old man pointing his finger wallowing in self pity.

And this has exactly what to do with the story above? "Notice MSNBC ignoring the Capitals victory over the Rangers in the above story, it proves MSNBC is biased!" See how silly that looks?

Blacks cannot commit hate crimes against whites.

You're on the wrong page buddy.

@Rick in Va

Please explain how "blacks cannot commit hate crimes against whites."

I really want to hear this one...

Please, not here...You are just going to start a race debate

When a white attacks a black, it's hate. When a black attacks a white, it's deserved for all of the oppression the black race has endured.

@thestuffmaker25....are you sure you really want to hear it? lol I am curious myself..haha

@Rick in Va...just the fact that you keep saying things like "when a white attacks a black" "when a black attacks a white" makes you suspect.

Why do you refer to people as "A BLACK, or A WHITE"?

Second, this story has nothing to do with race, but there are plenty of other articles that do, you may have to put up with some of the most vile and ignorant things you have ever heard, stuff that makes you dissapointed to have to share air witht the same people, but judging by your comment only...you should feel right at home

TY spades.

I'm curious everyone jumped on JoeB.'s comment about Obama being a Muslim, but gave a free pass to Earhie's inside job what gives?

If he's been with them that long, he may have Stockholm syndrome and not want to leave.

I was about to say something about your comment but then I stopped and thought. It is true about Stockholm syndrome...hopefully this Soldier is keeping his wits about him, I wont even say that I know what he is going through but I can empathize...STAY FROSTY SGT!!

I think if you turn off Fox News and actually go do some research, you will find incidents such as this have been going on since the beginning of both wars. Please try not to blatantly flaunt your ignorance for all of us to marvel at.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all
doubt."

-- Abraham Lincoln

Johnny, very true but I thought that was MarkTwain that said that!

LOLOLOL!!!!!

Fellow retired submariner here.

All good points but I would NEVER deny a family member the opportunity to search for their loved one.

Thank you

Roger, you are quite correct. Does anyone remember the story of BAT-21 in Vietnam in 1972? We lost numerous (close to a dozen killed or wounded I believe) people trying to save just one or two downed aircrew in North Vietnam. There was a movie made about it with Gene Hackman portraying the part of Lt Col Iceal Hambleton, call sign BAT-21 Bravo, a 53 year old navigator on a RB-66 electronic warfare aircraft shot down by a surface to air missile, of which he was the only survivor. LtCol Hambleton amazingly survived on the ground for almost 10 days until finally rescued by a U.S. Navy SEAL LT and a South Vietnamese Marine Ranger. The SEAL was later awarded the Medal of Honor and the Vietnamese Ranger was awarded, I believe the Navy Cross. This was the only such award ever presented to non American foreign national and is this country's secong highest award for valor.

stonepipe , actually I think we should do what Obama has done ,you know secretly release Taliban fighters to return to the battlefield. Lets hear Obama excuse.. what number are we on 97

Shhhhhhh- it's a secret! I actually don't know what to think any more-have a good one.

Larry: Where is your brain in all this????.....OOPS.. How silly of Me. I'd realize that you don't have one......

You are whats wrong with this country...

Agree with AASpades... yes... Larry... YOU!

td49, I'm no fan of Obama, but what exactly do you think Obama can do? If memory serves me correct under Bush some people were decapitated

You really need to stop watching FOX news, the opinions they are giving you are incorrect. President Obama has apologized for nothing, nothing.

OBAMA 2012/ DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS 2012

Snappa, other then Hannity you don't know what you are talking about, open your mind , you know be liberal in thought, think for yourself just once.

You know what Johnny? Everyone has the right to their opinion whether YOU like it or not...It's obvious you like to hear yourself talk.....and tell other people what's wrong with them..do you think once you could read something and not criticize it or press YOUR opinion again and again.

You are absolutely correct @ lancepilot in both respects. I do like to hear myself talk, sucks that this is typing and I can not hear myself say anything...well sometimes I talk to myself but I dont think thats what you mean lol..

My opinion is what I stated earlier and yes it is MY OPINION..

Are you asking me if it is possible to read something and not criticize it? You mean I should only say happy thoughts that make people smile insted of think? Sorry but I personally do not agree with that.

It sounds like you just wanted someone to attack to maybe get some little check marks on your comment. If you read the forum you will notice that my replys reflect the comment that was made.

Any-how thanks for thinking about me, but how about sticking to the story.

Thanks!

Go through and read the posts, you will like them...In my opinion alot (not all) of them are people with no real input saying things that either dont make any sence or are statements that (even thou they may not have been inteded to) will only cause things like "online race wars" which in my short time here on MSNBC.com forums happens very easily....

p.s. Does anyone else hear like to hear themselves talk? Just curious if its just me...