www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yeah, the area may not be totally hopeless for mongering. Dubai is supposed to be really hot for it if you have the money to spend (not even so much for local muslim hookers but for women that are brought in from all over the world). I know Mighty1 could tell you more about it. The problem is, like so many places I suppose, while they may tolerate you as long as you're spending lots of money, the hatred of the west is always at least under the surface (if not above). It is not an area that is high on my list of places to visit.

And even if you assume Obama is going to in some way "roll over" like the conservative fear mongers are predicting, the level of hatred towards us is so severe that I seriously doubt any "friendly overtures" by the US would change their attitudes to us that radically any time soon.

YO Pro:

You're taking my comment of "naive" too seriously and perhaps out of context. Review your post and you will find that it is initially you making a political reference.....I'm just responding to your text. Besides, unlike several others on this forum, I enjoy your insight / intellect and have no animosity toward you....only respect.

As for the initials or middle name of Osama.....do you recollect how many pundits in the liberal press have used both Bush president's full name. Ann Richards of Texas was notorious for this practice.

And yes, I am a conservative a la libertarian. I did not vote for either one of the front runners due to the fact that I don't trust them.

I stand by my statement that Muslims do not respect weakness and yes....I admire that so called "cowboy" attributed to Bush. A lot of things I am disappointed in him about but his affording the military to do their thing and get tough attitude I respect. Perhaps that comes from an ex-combat veteran who had to fight a war when the politicians went AWOL on us.

What is this about we are not being loved by the Muslim world or the rest of the wannabe countries....bullshit, they didn't love us for the last century and I don't give a damn if they do in the future. I would rather the bad guys out there fear us. This country has done more (humanitarian / economically) for this globe than any other country.....bar none.

And JOise: Where have you been for the last 40 years? Read up on the terrorism that the Muslim world has launched against Jews, Europe and the western culture. You might be surprised as to how many wars and conflicts going on are Muslim related. The Munich massacre was a milestone of things to come.

Geezzz....and here we are worried about pronouncing someones middle name.

Circus, the respect is completely mutual even if we stand on different sides of the political spectrum.

And I realize I kinda of opened it up when I disparaged your guy, but you have to admit it is kinda hard not to talk about our new president and his potential effect for US travelers without referencing it to the prior administration. While you may not think it matters what they think of of overseas, that is essentially the subject of this thread. And, while you may think they've always hated us, that is not completely true as reputable non-partisan international polling has shown. After 9/11 (as a result of the terrorist's acts, not our policies) we were at the apex of world sympathy and support. Whether YOU think the Iraq war was the right thing to do or not, in terms of world opinion it has had a devestating effect on the US image abroad to the point that all that post-9/11 support has all but vanished. Numerous studies back this up including:
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=247
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/views_on_countriesregions_bt/463.php?lb=btvoc&pnt=463&nid=&id=.

Of COURSE, the arab countries have always had a big problem with us. But look at our favorability ratings among our key allies. Britain went from 83% having a favorable view of us in 2000 to just 59% in 2006. France went from 62% to 39%, Germany from 78% to 39%, Spain 50% to 23% and Japan from 77% "only" dropped to 63% (those figures all came from the US State Dept.) Favorable ratings of America are lower in 26 of 33 countries for which trends are available. Other surveys have shown a high correlation between how a country feels for us and how they feel about Bush. Throughout Europe, those who say the problem is "mostly" Bush out-number those who say it is "a more general problem with America" by margins of about two-to-one. This ratio is especially lopsided in Spain, where 76% of those with a negative view of the U.S. blame Bush while just 14% blame America in general.

The electrifying response overseas to Obama's election is arguably as much a response to the unpopularity of the Bush administration and its policies and relief that it is over as it is a reflection of Obamas personal message. I think if they read all the research even Bush/McCain supporters would recognize that.

Anyway, it is hard with a thread subject like this not to step over the line into partisan remarks. I'd like to apologize for doing so but before I do I'll add this one closing remark.

The use of Bush's middle name or initial is NOT the same thing as the way it has been used with Obama. Bush's own admirers affectionately often refer to him as Dubya. And I'd bet half the people here couldn't tell you for certain what the W was for (or what Bill Clinton's middle name was) without looking it up. In contrast, the ONLY people I ever hear referring to Barack as Barack HUSSEIN Obama are conservatives trying to make some sort of political mielage out of it. You're absolutely right that a guy's middle name is a meaningless issue, but then why do you and other conservatives keep bringing it up. To claim that you don't really mean anything by it is really being disingenuous.

WRONG:

You are treating the use of Obama'sfull name as one that cannot be discussed in full text. You speak of all the worldwide approval of this President elect yet you forget that most of them are socialist or leaning that way and welcome a U.S. President whose past and affiliations are reflective to a socialist agenda and welcoming Europe's acceptance.

That is all I have to say on this topic and will refrain from anymore political talk. Case closed as far as I am concerned.

I respect your views as I do with certain others on this forum. I do think it is probably time for me to leave. It's been a long time and my presence has grown stale.

Circus,
I could counter argue your latest reply. Hell, everybody here knows I'm never short for words . But just for you, I'll consider the case closed as well and leave you the last words.

BTW, I'm sure NO ONE here wants you to leave. We just need to get back to discussing CCI, Shitass your cat and that ingrateful jerk of son of yours Circus the Younger. Those topics are a lot safer for all of us.