Posts Made By: Tom Rodstrom

That is actually a bunch of bull. Given the way prices have risen as a result of deregulation, a few percent increase for clean air would hardly be noticed.

I used to have reliable electricity from a public utility. Now there is no incentive to provide stable power. Build minimum capacity and gouge the public whenever there is a failure seems to be the most profitable approach to making money in the energy business.

Take gasoline for instance. It seems that plant shut downs always come just before holidays. WHAT A COINCIDENCE!

A regulated industry would have enough capacity and reserve to keep prices stable during transient problems. We just had a $0.40 per gallon price spike here in California because of a week or two long failure of a pipeline delivering gas to Arizona.

I agree, that was a great post by Jonathon. As a charter member of the bash Jonathon club I'm worried. I'll have to drop out of the club if he keeps that up.

Actually, it seems that Jonathon is spending a lot more time addressing the issues, and doing it well, rather that tossing out every pointless nit picking barb he can find.

Good Afternoon Michael,

We have established that I think that the media is biased toward Israel and that you do not.

I plan to point out some specific examples what I consider to be media bias. If you care to, you can point out where I am wrong if you can. We can do that without viewing any objectionable publications.

You made some references to "Communist Media Bias", "Jewish Media Conspiracy", and "Liberal Media Bias" and seemed to indicate that Jews were unfairly targeted in the past. If you give me some examples of unfair treatment, I might just agree with you.

Respectfully,

Tom R

Good Morning Michael,

I said:

"3. For a few shekels, what country would try to sell this same technology to China, the one major country that opposes democracy? … Israel."

I made a mistake, it should have read:

3. For a few NEW shekels, what country would try to sell this same technology to China, the one major country that opposes democracy? … Israel.

New Shekels are the currency of Israel, if dollars were the currency of Israel, would have said "for a few dollars". Other than that I stand behind the statement.

You said:

> "For a few shekels" is a reference to the claim that Judas Isacariot did betray his master, Yeshua or Jesus. You are making an allegory between Israel and Judas, as presented in the story, in an anti-Semitic (deroggatory to Jews) with religious reference. You are implying that Israel is following the footsteps of Judas, betraying Jesus for a paltry sum. It is tying this current situation to a biblical reference which portrays Jews as being untrustworthy back-stabbers for a pitifully small amount of money (stating they are totally at the mercy of Greed, their true master) which is incredibly offensive (and the heart and soul of anti-Semitism).

It been decades since I have read the Bible and I didn't read it much then. I am not a Christian and I do not use the Bible. I have a direct spiritual connection with God as I understand God. That works for me and is STRICTLY non political.

Good Morning Michael,

Now, I will see if I can digest some of the rest of what you said:

> A. The technology being sold is defense technology, to aid in detecting any air borne attack - nuclear or other.

The technology being sold is Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C). This technology is use to control military aircraft during any conflict, offensive or defensive. Since this technology has been available the United States has used this technology during every attack it has made on hostile forces.

> B. The US did not sell Israel this technology - Israel leads the world in it.

The core of all Israeli weapons systems, including AEWC&C, come from technology that originated in the United States.

> C. You imply that Israel is selling nuclear technology. They are not. Israel possesses one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, the technology is not of American origin, and they have it shrouded in such secrecy that the US has been unsuccessful in even gaining an understanding of it for themselves.

I believe that I have a reasonable command of the English language. Nowhere did I imply that Israel was selling nuclear technology. I even provided a link to a very specific description of the weapons being sold. You are trying to twist my words.

Thanks for reminding me about Israel's huge nuclear arsenal. That IS pretty scary. A huge nuclear arsenal in the hands of a country willing to sell state of the art military technology to Red China, our prime ideological enemy. Even worse, a nuclear arsenal controlled by Ariel Sharon, who asked for the keys to the nuclear trigger in 1982 during his attack on relatively weak forces in Lebanon.

> D. Pakistan is anti-Semitic AND anti-American, don't kid yourself. They refuse to recognize Israel as a nation, and consider Americans as evil. Worst yet, they are a military dictatorship.

Pakistan is may be anti-Semitic, anti-Christian and anti-American. Pakistan is a military dictatorship. So what! Take a look at a map. Pakistan is currently our only path to Afghanistan and they are permitting us to pass through. If we lose that path, we will probably have to abandon Afghanistan. We are already stretched to the limit in Iraq. ANYTHING that endangers our relationship with Pakistan puts our troops in jeopardy.

As for Pakistani recognition of Israel, that is between Israel and Pakistan.

Good Morning Michael,

You said:

> To post garbage like this on 9-11 really comes off as an attempt on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the WTC to place the blame in the war on terrorism upon Israel, and making reference to the alleged behavior of the character Judas to imply that it is their historical nature (I am not even going to bother addressing the whether this person was historical this time), a personality trait of the Jewish race.

To use your own words:

" So be it. Then digest this:"

A. This post was made on 9-10. My last post on 9-10 was for silence (on this forum) out of respect to the 9/11 victims.

http://www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=113650&page=

My only post on 9/11 was non confrontational and IMO constructive.

http://www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=113785&page=

B. I did not blame Israel for the war on terrorism, but at the very least, the war on terrorism would be easier without Israel. I simply stated that Israel's arms sales to Pakistan were against the best interests of the United States. And that Israel tried to sell us out by selling high tech weapons to China. Even without the Phalcon sale, when the US faces the Chinese military, they are looking at Sidewinder missile technology supplied by Israel, and at their J-10 fighter with high tech avionics using technology paid for by the US.

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/3fal90.html
http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/aircraft/fighter/j10.asp

C. You are the one making the reference to Judas and I said nothing about the Jewish race,
I simply pointed out where the COUNTRY, Israel, was acting against the interests of the United States. I would say the same thing if that COUNTRY was populated by Moslems, Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Buddhists, Hindus, Africans, Indians, Chinese, Caucasians, little green men from Mars, or God forbid, Frenchmen!

It appears to me that you may be using Jewish angst as an excuse for bigotry and the anti-Semite label as a tool to suppress free speech.

Bigot - One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

> Thanks a bunch, you made my day nicer (NOT).

My intent is not to make your day better or worse. I am simply trying to state what I believe as clearly and truthfully as I can.

Mike,

Wouldn't you know it. I agree with you for the most part.

Take Care
Tom

I have already decided who will not get my vote.

If a lobotomized chimpanzee was running against Bush, the chimpanzee would win and would probably be better for the country.

I've already told you I don't like the guy's policies. ;-)

Did someone delete a bunch of posts on this thread?

No kidding, what a co-incidence.

If it wasn't for the fact that Bush and friends are above reproach, there would be the appearance of impropriety.