A lunch break conversation from today.

[Lobo27]

Usually eight of us gather at our lunch table. Usually the same people. Today's conversation was about sports, and swiftly went the way of politics. Eventually we got to Iran and nuclear weapons. Most of the conversation was as to why Iran shouldn't be allowed to have weapons.

Towards the end, Geoff, one of our oldest coworkers said who are we to determine who gets to have what. He was met with questionable looks to say the least. Followed by multiple, we're the good guys. One guy got a bit flustered, and insinuated that Geoff's words were treasonous.

Most of the people at work are in their late 20s or early 30s and geoff is in his late 50s and a vet for perspective. It was an interesting conversation just thought I'd share.

[riderinthestorm]

1. I just had a convo this am with the husband of one of my clients

he responded that if he were younger he'd strap on a rifle and go kill some Iranians. That they are eeeeeevvvvviiiillll and that since monitoring didn't work in North Korea, it won't work in Iran.

I felt physically ill.

There's no way you can even counter that string of nonsense (the guys in his 50's and an obvious ass but I adore his wife who is a great client so I just walked away as she told him to shut up).

[Fumesucker]

5. Gish Gallop, deal with it a lot myself..

They unload a string of crap in about thirty seconds that takes hours to unravel thread by tedious thread and all you've done in the end is make them believe it more.

Ever wonder why women stay with guys that stupid or ignorant? Love the bit about her telling him to shut up.

[obxhead]

6. What does age have to do with it?

If he's a manly man he can just march into Iran right now! Hell, its just a skip away from Iraq or Afghanistan. What's holding him up?

Oh yeah. He's really big on words, short on action.

[onecaliberal]

8. 50 shmifty he should go to Iran today with his lil gun.

[Kalidurga]

2. I am starting to wonder who we are as well

We have troops in nearly every nation on earth. Some could say that is an aggressive stance. I believe we would solve a lot of problems if we would just stop occupying most of these nations. We have to stop subsidizing corporate security.

[RKP5637]

4. We spend half our budget on the military and wars. Many people get very wealthy from this, and

many are in positions of great power and control, so the crap continues.

[Kalidurga]

7. Yes far to much of our budget goes to the military

I don't want to get rid of our military some people think I do. I just want our troops stationed stateside rather than in other countries. We can probably get rid of all but 10% of our nukes as well. I doubt we will be attacked from closing down a base in Germany or Japan. Most small bases with less than 100 troops they can go too.

[RKP5637]

14. I think much the same, especially with today's technology. n/t

[raccoon]

19. This is a keeper. Succinct and true. nt

[RKP5637]

20. When we were kids, I thought war was a temporary condition. I thought WWII was the end, then came

Korea, then Vietnam ... I thought that was the end. It wasn't. Now, we've become the warring nation. I often wonder what would happen if the US just stayed home and set an example of a better way. What really disturbs me is all of the $$$$$'s being made by perpetuating this paradigm. Lots of people/groups/companies on the receiving end of $$$$$ sure don't want to give up the gravy train, so it perpetuates and perpetuates, not only in the US, but across earth and likely into space. Really, when you stand back and look at it all, it is really really F'ed up! One little spinning ball of dirt, and we (all nations) spend enormous resources trying to kill each other off.

[underpants]

3. As a Jeff I agree with Geoff

[surrealAmerican]

9. How do they know ...

... that we're "the good guys"? Would it feel different to be the "bad guys"?

Being "good" or "bad" is a function of what you do, not who you are. Sometimes, I think children's entertainment has ruined a few generations of Americans - mine included.

[Lobo27]

11. Its the concept of everyone being against America

That is bombarded to the people on a daily basis, imo.

[peace13]

10. As the middle class rapidly disappears...

We head closer and closer to being a third world nation ......with nuclear weapons. When Cheney was is charge some of warheads were unaccounted for at times. Our service people in charge of keeping our warheads safe and secure have come under severe scrutiny over the recent years. At times they have not passed the test! I stand with Geoff!

[Thinkingabout]

13. In all seriousness, we have used nuclear bombs, it isnt pretty, yes they have

The ability to kill lots if folks but the damage does not stop after the smoke clears. This is why they need to be on very limited basis, it harms our world, it isn't needed.

[RKP5637]

15. Geoff has wisdom with age, the others seem young and reactionary IMO. n/t

[greytdemocrat]

16. He's not treasonous.

I don't agree with him but hey, that's his right.

[Tsiyu]

17. ...

You can't deny
The other side
Don't want to die
Any more than we do
What I'm trying to say,
Is don't they pray
To the same God that we do?
Tell me, how does God choose?
Whose prayers does he refuse?
Who turns the wheel?
And who throws the dice
On the day after tomorrow?

Mmmmmmm...
I'm not fighting
For justice
I am not fighting
For freedom
I am fighting
For my life
And another day
In the world here
I just do what I've been told
You're just the gravel on the road
And the one's that are lucky
One's come home
On the day after tomorrow

[anotojefiremnesuka]

18. The way I see things

If Israel can have nukes so can it neighbors, if Israel does not want its neighbors to have nukes, then they have to get rid of theirs. It is only fair.

But that is just the way I see things as a vet over 50.