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Jons Journal

This has to be a quickie as the internet cafe closes in an hour. I am alone once again and I don't quite know what to make of it. Lucy had been in my presence for a month now and it feels like a part of me has been cut off. Like an amputation without the pain. Maybe not an arm or leg, more like a middle finger. Definite realtime loss but manageable I hope. Leastways I dont want to spend the next year pining over her. Not that Im pining, I just feel disoriented, like I woke up from a very pleasurable dream not knowing my name let alone where I am.

I may have an opportunity to work at the EAFIT here in Medellin. I should know by the end of next week after I do an interview and possibly a week long training gig. Lucy wants me to get a job in Cali but I'm planning on taking the job should it be offered so I basically chose money over love. Just call me Midas. Decisions, or should I say quandaries, like these come often for me.

I've been very happy the past few weeks but I'm afraid its not going to be a very interesting story because 1) happiness is pretty boring to read about, 2) like a dream, I'm finding myself forgetting large chunks of time, and 3) some of the most memorable moments are of a personal, private nature that can't be shared with 100% of the readers here. So I'm just going to make some quick diary entries.

July 7 I get news about EAFIT and Lucy bids me a teary adeiu. I'm not crying as I'm feeling guilty over the Midas thing. She also has responsibilties to attend to. She says she'll "wait for me" as she turns the knife around a bit which is already embedded in my stomach. I go to the kiwi house which has the same locker room ambience as the hostel that we were kicked out of, the palm tree hostel. I take a walk half way up the ridge bordering Medellin until I hit a super highway and then get a hitch back as I prefer that risk to the certitude of stressed out knees walking downhill.

July 6 Really nothing to write about here but happy, happy, happy.

July 5 That obese "Rule Nazi" of an owner, Sebastian, kicks us, or I should say me, out of the hostel for an infraction of the rules. Keep in mind I'm an honest person as far as these things go and I don't like it when someone assumes otherwise. I had just sat down on the computer, intending to only use it to retrieve a phone number, when Gordo(fatso in Spanish) comes by for an inspection and says in a schoolmarmish tone, with eyebrows raised, "Remember to write your name on the sign in sheet BEFORE you use the computer." Call me small minded but something about this admonishment rubbed me the wrong way and I definitely did not intend to comply. I figured I'd just make a rough estimate of the time after I finished and, besides, he said names not times so it seemed at the time like a petty, purposeless thing he thought of on a whim. Five minutes later he comes by to check on the sign in sheet, which I havent filled in yet, and within 2 or three sentences he tells me leave immediately. It seemed like a pretty serious response for a pretty small non compliance. And to make matters worse, he says later on that the Christina's, with whom I thought I was in good terms with, in Mountain House, a Hostel I had spent a lot of time in in Manizales, had warned him about me saying "I had bad manners". Bad manners? Did they see me using the fork with the wrong hand? Did I fart in the kitchen? Was I anything less than corteous all the time? No, no, no. My reality got fucked with and I was pretty upset. Later we called Christina and she said she never said anything like that. Go figure. Fortunately the day got better after that.

July 4 Pleasant morning and trip on the bus from Armenia to Medellin. Slept in Lucy's arms while the bus waited 3 hours for an accident to clear up.

July 3 More pleasantness.

July 2 Look for work in Armenia. Everything is closed for holidays except centro colombo where I was asked to take the Michigan test on the 7th which is for non native speakers. That, and that she didn't have any idea about the work visa issues made me think that I would be wasting my time waiting for the process to play itself out. As it was Friday and there was a three day weekend, we would have all weekend to play.

July 1 Leave Manizales for Pereia and make a whirlwind tour of universities there. Most are closed for holidays. Get to Armenia late that afternoon. Lucy comes with me after resolving some sort of power struggle with her daughter.

June 30 Bad news from Caldas. It seems the guy I was talking to is on vacation. The person in charge was enthusiastic about hiring me but after talking it over with administration gave me the nix. One possible reason for this mixed message is that some universities are in the process of getting accredited and couldn't do so if there were faculty without proper experience on their resumes. Like me.

June 29 Waiting around Manizales. Sounds boring but no.

June 30 Lucy gets angry for the first time! We're about to get on the bus for Manizales from Cali. I'm in a bad mood, I'm jonesing for a cigarette and just as I'm about to light up one Lucy calls urgently that the bus is leaving. With great speed I make for the bus door but make a pratfall instead, landing on my right palm which now has some missing skin, a patina of Cali's street dirt and a steady buzzing pain. When I get hurt like this, I get mad. I was short with Lucy, who was fussing over me and that got her all upset. She didn't talk to me for like half an hour.

The week before June 29 Hard to remember this part well. I get more rejections from schools in Cali but I only applied to 4 places as I had trouble picturing myself enduring Cali's baking heat. I actually began to enjoy the ice cold showers that I had complained about earlier. I spent the days lazily as if I was in a bowl of honey, surrounded by sweetness yet barely able to move. All this time I am staying with Lucy's sister's family ostensibly waiting to get in contact with the Caldas Director in manizales who is very difficult to get a hold of. That, and the sense that I might be overstaying my welcome got me out of there. Lucy agrees to accompany me to Manizales.

By Jon on Jul 8, 2005, 17:37 in Friendly Talkzone.

Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 17, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who democracy in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Syria,Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan........when? A hundred wars more to cast a vote.......

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 17, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Max Colby)

Surely you are not advocating a return to the era of Saddam Hussein.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 17, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Oh and by the way this has nothing to do with Colombia. Take it elsewhere! Oh I don't know like top a website that gives a shit.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who last entry...couldn't agree more!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

There is a reason why the US used to support Saddam. NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: FREEDOM TO CHOOSE RULE BY PRO-IRANIAN AYATOLLAHS

"Western diplomats and academics have been warning Washington and London for years that the fall of Saddam could be accompanied by a rise in Shia power. Washington opted to take the risk and may yet have to live with the consequences.

An organised alternative power structure already exists in Iraq, whatever coalition of exiles and local politicians emerges from meetings this week.

'The clergy is taking control of what's happening in the streets, especially in this neighbourhood and other parts of Baghdad. We want security. But there's a point we can't deny, that there is an eagerness to establish an Islamic state in this country.'

Mr Muwamadawi felt Iraq's Islamic state should differ from all other models, including Iran's, but Mr Safar was more enthusiastic about Iraq's Shia neighbour to the east.

It is an enthusiasm which will trouble Iraqi Sunnis and the US."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,937029,00.html

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Tell your story walking. Not here!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who puede llorar

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who bla bla bla

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Ever try employment?

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Sorry not cute or clever!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who booooooooooooooo get a life!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Do you actually beleive your own psychogarble? Pathetic!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Z)
Good Lord! God help the world if people like the one with this view of Iraqs freedom ever get control of the US. Game over

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 18, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Uh, like, what if democracy means that the Shiites, sixty percent of Iraq's population, win the elections and democratically install an Iran- friendly islamic fundamentalist government unfriendly to american interests, and then give the colonialist "liberators" a deadline for leaving the country? Sort of throws a wrench into the works, doesn't it? And it certainly doesn't seem to fit into Project for a New American Century's grand plan, does it?

Patriots! We know that you don't like people asking questions, and answering them seems beyond your capacities, but you can still surprise us! Come on, now. More than a one-sentence raspberry fart between the teeth! I know you can't.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 19, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who And this pertains to Colombia how???????

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 19, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Z)
To the post before last. If Iran were to have democratic elections there would be a pro-Amercian regime in Iran tomorrow. Wake up and smell the coffee. I realze that you are one of those few that like to parade down the streets making demands about war and impeachement of our President and then come in here and pretend you know something of Democracy. The people in the US elected this President and the people by voting will decide if he stays or not. If the Iraqi people vote as a whole and want Iran for a partner then so be it. You however want to make the decision of the will of the people of Iraq by a few who gather in the streets and protest. You give yourself away and know nothing of democracy.

Z

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 19, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by MCL)
Third post up: If you don't ignore this moron he will never tire of his endless,repetitive mouthings. He revels in any recognition, and is like flatuence in a whirlwind, incensed because he is unable to lure anyone of substance into a rebuttal of his illogical anti-American pronouncements.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 19, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who "If Iran were to have democratic elections there would be a pro-Amercian regime in Iran tomorrow"

I agree with the above...but Iran is the ONLY country in the Middle East that has a majority pro-American population. The reason: it does not have a US-backed dictatorship like Egypt($2bil), Jordan($1bil), etc...whose populations are as anti-American as Iran's population used to be under the US installed dictatorship of the Shah. A democratic Iraq would be great, just skeptical because US has overthrown democracies - and they might not like who the Iraqies pick.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 19, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by mauri)
well,well.....what does this relate to Colombia?...nothing,but i just wanted to put my two cents and back up the intelligent individual who put the post up. People of this website please dont be so ignorant...sure it has nothing to do with our beautiful country of COlombia. For once please think outside the box....and by the way Iraq can be corralated to Colombia....what do u think will happen if the U.S. ever imposes a direct military attack against the FARC?...aha.....so please give this person a break!....dont be so ignorant....(i have a feeling this person who posted the message is a girl)...i would love to speak to u ....heres my e-mail....eyes4u at colombia.com....viva Colombia!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Mauri,

I guess you are just as much in the dark as the original poster. You probably are the individual poster coming to your own aid in my opinion. I hope so because I would hate to think that there is more than one total idiot visiting this site.

chao

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
The author of this post is not a US citizen. We don't use phrases he used.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who For Z:

For your information, the current president of the USA was chosen by the US Supreme Court,the majority of whose members, coincidentally, were designated by republican presidents Reagan and Bush. A shiite government in Iraq will be hostile to US interests. Iranians hate the ugly american bully like most muslims do.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Crawl back in your hole lefty amid the nothingness from whence you came!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

********* PICTURES OF THE VICTIMS ************* http://www.robert-fisk.com/iraqwarvictims_page1.htm

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
Would you happen to have photos of the estimated 100,000 mostly children, that died as a direct result of the sanctions annualy? This is the number claimed by the Arab world and not disputed by the UN or the US. Arn't you the one that said Sadaam is no threat because he is contained by the sanctions, and as such, a war is unnecessary? How about some photos of the 250,000 murdered in just one of the many prisons in Sadaams control? Perhaps this is to difficult for you, so I'll settle for 200,000 Kurds gassed ... or the several million percieved threats to his regime slaugtered in plain view over thirty years of his regime. Come on now, if you're going to open a gallery, show all the art. Can you say muaahhhh? Thats camel talk for "eat this".

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 20, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who PICTURES OF WHAT THEY WROTE ON THE BOMBS BEFORE THEY DROPPED THEM:

http://www.robert-fisk.com/weapons_of_terrorism.htm

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who The sanctions were initiated not by Saddam but by the US government acting through the UN after the 1991 gulf war--consider the moral implications.

Saddam was a favored US employee during all the 1980s and probably would not have stayed in power if not for american military and technical support during that period. Yet neither of the 1980s republican presidential administrations had a problem supporting their bloody Iraqi dictator until he acted up by invading Kuwait. The US government is complicit in Saddam's crimes, including the gassing of the 200,000 kurds you mentioned.

Saddam used gas against its own as well as Iranian citizens on many occasions, but this fact was never condemned by the republican administrations of the time because Saddam was a US ally.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Dear Mr Patriot:

Are we to take "crawl back into your hole lefty among the nothingness from whence you came" and other such verbal pirouets as rational debate in response to the points made? Why are you so uncomfortable with people asking questions, stating facts, and considering likelyhoods not to your liking? Why is it all "psychogargle" to you? Explain yourself.

Or are you just a stupid bully or bully wannabee coward hiding behind your anonymity on the internet, and your words are just filth?

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Bwess him widdle heart, another juvenile, repetitive tantrum!!!!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who enough with iraq already!! Peter delete all future topics that have nothing to do with Colombia.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who tantrum...Another fart between your teeth....

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
Dear no name,
First of all Mr. Patriot and Patriot are two different people. My posts are always signed, how about you? Second, there you go again putting your words and thoughts into other peoples responses.
You asked for questions and I've delivered, "Where are the other photos?" You have not responded. Why?
For the person who keeps asking " Whats this got to do with Colombia?" Well ... these are discussions of world events, and the last time I looked Colombia was still apart of the world.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
Opps!
For my error above.
The last time I looked Colombia was still a part of the world.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Rational debate?? Points made?? Come on Lefty your psychotic state is surfacing again!!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 21, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Patriot, here is a photo of one of Saddam's victims. The victims know who helped Saddam attack them.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0213-05.htm

"Iraq developed these weapons with the help of the United States and the West. No matter how many times Iranians shouted that Iraq was using chemical weapons, they were ignored. I don't know why the United States has suddenly become kinder than a mother for the suffering of us chemical weapons patients."

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 22, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
Dear no name
I wish you'd make up a name so I wouldn't have to use the above title to address you.
This is more like it. I have viewed the photo and read the acompaning text. I would also urge anyone following this debate to do so as well. Before I respond I have one more request of you. Please give me your thoughts or opinion on this: Do feel that the US and the rest of the world should have delt with Sadaam back when he first used these weapons?
Please don't consider this a trick question, it isn't.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 22, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Uncle Sam)
Who ever wrote this ... Fuck you... Dont hate the player hate the game ... Your a pussy and a fag!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who The US should never have provided Saddam the political and technical support which enabled him to produce his weapons.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Those of us who have been visiting this site for a couple of years now know the difference between the abusive, moronic, irrational and anonymous "Mr Patriot"("Come on, Lefty your psychotic state is surfacing again") and the apparent(sincere)newcomer,"Patriot".

Mr Patriot has never bothered to refute any facts or arguments made here or answer any questions put to him--he only spews hatred and filth, and is the worst sort of uneducated american bigot (and not so unusual),nothing more.

It's best to avoid using even a tag name at this site as it is an invitation to abuse and tends to distract from the rational debate to be found here, rare as it is.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Your thin skin is showing again Lefty - you're in serious need of new liberal talking points and repeating the same old shallow anti-American blather month after boring month. It would be a stretch to imagine you being capable of serious debate or rational discourse above a high school level.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Once again you demonstrate perfectly the points I have been making.

On what premises do you state that "it would be a stretch to imagine you being capable of serious debate or rational discourse above a high school level"? When have you demonstrated the same? On what basis do you posit my (supposed) "psychotic state"? Explain why you wrote, "crawl back into your hole lefty among the nothingness from whence you came". Explain "psychogarble" and how it pertains to anyone who challenges your sensibilities or dares to cite facts uncomfortable to you or ask questions that you don't want to have considered. I don't think you can.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Bantering with you and playing with my little daughter's puppy are are two of my occassional diversions - I take neither seriously.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 23, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by mauricio)
4 the ignoramous who took the time to publicly insult me....please, if you're soooo informed why dont you just enlighten us all with your knowledge of wisdom....haber pues, pienselo como un reto.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who The US provided Sadam the Tech and the power??? HAHAHAHAHHAHAAH what a joke! Check the seal on those missiles being shot at us. A Mig is not made in the USA neither is a T-32 tank or and AK-47, Gazzelle Helicopter (France). Wake up you misinformed dumb ass. I hate to be rude but there is no other way to describe such an assnine statement. Under the UN oil for food program Russia got 17 Billion, France a little over 4 Billion, China 3 Billion, Germany 4 Billion, USA nothing! You are a stupid idiot. It is time that Americans start calling these people exactly what they are when the spill their garbage on this web site or anywhere else.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Oh, please. Which side did the Reagan/Bush administration back in the Iran-Iraq war? Please take a little time to honestly inform yourself about the extent of US-British collaboration--arms technology and arms sales and the political support they provided. Try reading "Shell Game", which is a history of the Banco de Lavoro scandal, for a start, before you start spouting your stupid, misinformed opinions.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Dear Mr Patriot:

Do you think you have won some kind of victory with your moronic insolence? What you call bantering is nothing more than the most puerile sort of vile filth.

Any more sick fantasies that you want to share with us?

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Thank God we live in America where you can say anything you want. To the idiot 2 up. We never supplied Iraq with arms and if we did where are they? We were somewhat friendly with them during the Iran war this is true. How far do you want us to go back? Sadam was once a moderate dictator at the time and was leading a somewhat prosperouse Iraq. Sadam however took a turn downward when he invaded Kuwait. So your suggestion for American policy is to not associate with any countries who could possibly invade their neighbor????? You are probably one of the same lefties who shouts in the streets that the US is isolating themselves from the world...and I imagine you have said "Why don't we have better relations with Syria, Pakistan and a host of other nations who at any time could explode. I guess then you could blame the US for it. You are no doubt the biggest dumb ass I have ever heard of. Like all dumb asses you really think you are so smart. So you hitch your wagon to something you heard on CNN from some lefty wacho you identify with who spouted out a one liner how the US was once friendly with Iraq. If we weren't friendly with Iraq prior to 1991 you would be the first to blame the US for not being friendly! Saying, "If we were friendly the war with Kuwait never would have happened" Grow up and please shut up. I hate to think of Colombians coming to this site, reading your garbage and thinking Americans are as stupid as you.

Poor but snappy

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Liberals are programmed to blame America first!!!!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 24, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Why isn't this so called Patriot upset at Russia, China, France and Germany? THey were much more friendly with Iraq thatn the US in the 80's and a lot more post Kuwait. Where is your outrage. THese countries supplied Iraq Weapons and chemical and nuclear capabilities. Where is your outrage for these nations. You are nothing like a patriot. You are an Anti-American traiter in my book! If you are living in the US enjoying the freedoms of this beautifull country please leave!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 26, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Dumb Americans with stupid, uninformed opinions. Read "Shell Game" and look around the net a bit and you will find that Saddam Hussein was indeed armed by the US and British governments in the 1980s, and Saddam's arms factories were in fact built with technology provided by the US and Britain, among others. The US provided political and intelligence support to Saddam in his war against Iran. The US was well aware of Saddam's gas attacks against Iran and his own citizens. The Reagan/Bush administrations were perfectly aware of Saddam's political killings, torture chambers and other human rights violations, but never denounced any of it because he was considered a valuable US ally against Iran. You can't change the facts.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 26, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who Crawl back into your hole lefty. Envy. Bantering with you and playing with my daughter's dead puppy while choking my chicken are some of my occasional diversions.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Apr 29, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free? And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Patriot)
For the author of this post and all who have contributed,
Unfortunately, there is some truth to the claims made by the anti USA people above. The USA most certainly did give Saddam Hussein much more support than most Americans realise. To state that he was considered a valuable ally is however, a grotesque overstatement.
Both the Reagan and the first Bush administrations had no doubt what Saddam Hussein really was ... a thug, a murderer, and a psychopath. Both administrations veiwed the religeous fundementalist Iran as a much greater threat, and took the position to prevent the spread of this movement into Iraq or any other nation. A story appeared in Newsweek on Sept.23,2002 that gives a fairly accurate accessment of the events as well as the reasoning at the time. You can view this on the internet if you wish.
The US provided financing, intellegence, weaponry, and even went so far as to assist in strategic planning of Saddams war efforts with Iran. All of this is true ... what is not true is any support whatsoever of Saddams manufacture and use of Chemical weapons. Rumsfeld warned Iraqis on his very first visit to Iraq about chemical use, a fact deleted in most leftist republications of this meeting. These warnings continued throuout the time of the USA's involvment in support of Iraq. I have read many news articals with respect to this subject, and found conflicting accounts everywhere. When veiwing the recently declassified documents in the State Departmnt Archives, it became clear that both administrations did all that was humanly possible to prevent direct US involvement in Saddams acquisition of of chemicals for purposes of weaponising. This does not mean that nothing slipped by, what it means is nothing slipped by knowingly. Without doubt, the German companies supplied Iraq the vast majority of Saddams chemicals, and did so knowingly. I am not qualified to state whether the German government knew or did not know, what was being produced and shipped from within the bounderies of their nation.
When Saddam gassed the Kurds, it was the beginning of the end of favorable US relations. It was only then that the first Bush administration knew how uncontrolable Saddam was. While relations didn't end overnight, they certainly deteriorated significantly from that day forward. Why the US didn't take firmer action sooner is something that is beyond my understanding. I can only state that the entire world knew this too, and to my knowledge the only only ones putting direct pressure on Saddam at the time, was the USA.
Realising that I could write much more in rebuttal for the other issues presented by the anti USA folks, this post is already lengthy and I'll save it for another day. There is a little bit more I need to add already, without venturing into another issue.
In an attempt to avoid mis-interpretation, I find it necessary to make my possition clear with respect to what is written above. I stand firmly behind my government. There is no doubt that serious errors occured in the past, and there is reason for significant embarrasment. This however, does not justify allowing the continued policy of doing nothing to put Saddam, and his madness out of business. The USA not only has humanitarian reasoning to do this, it has a resposibility to correct what went wrong with what seemed right at the time.
Finally, I hope that those who read this understand that I have no desire to argue, but rather to debate the issues so that all can come to an understanding of both sides. While I may firmly dissagree with you, it does not mean I'm not listening.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 1, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Dre)
What does this have to do with Colombia???

By the way WE DID supply Iraq (saddam) with military weapons. Check your history. As a matter of fact there was a one hour special last month on Saddam hussien which showed that he was an Ally that ws given alot in Aid. (and we are not talking health aid). You think iraq developed those chemical weapons that were used on the Kurds and Iranians. Once again check your history. They came from American companies and we gave them to Saddam.

And yes Russia is also at fault for supporting Saddam. France, Germany and China supported Iraq with usual commercial trade. Same thing We do with other dicatators in the Middle East. And before you say "no we don't" do some research.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 8, 2003, 21:00:

RE: Iraq, You Are Now Free And Here's What You Have to Do! Who (Written by Dre)
Iraq, you are now free... And now we have your Oil too.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34575-2003May9.html

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Jon says on Jul 9, 2005, 08:20:

Roofus Hows it going? Good to hear from you, but I don't remember any warnings about staying in Colombia too long. Do you mean overstaying my tourist visa - that doesn't run out till August 20.

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kiwi says on Jul 10, 2005, 00:13:

hey jon sounds like you're having a good time and experiencing all the delights colombia has to offer!
Kiwi

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:53:

Roofus and Kiwi.... I think I am missing out on some details here. Either of you guys can PM me to fill in the blanks.. Did you guys ever think of being tour guides??

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kiwi says on Jul 10, 2005, 23:17:

i will show anyone the naughty nightlife.... for a price of course! jeje just call me calipro! ;-)

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Jon says on Jul 11, 2005, 06:39:

my plans If I can get legal work in Colombia, I'll stay here for another year. Otherwise I'll probably work my way south starting with Ecuador.

Where are you these days, Kiwi?

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 11, 2005, 09:51:

Hey Jon Are you an attorney?? What kind of work do you do?

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kiwi says on Jul 11, 2005, 13:54:

hola Jon i'm back in nz mate, did my 6 mths in colombia, now have to give my liver a rest! ;-)

am working on a trip to peru next, am real keen to get out there, hopefully later this year. (the fact that i've met a fantastic girl from peru has nothing to do with that decision of course!) ;-0

enjoy your time in colombia and elsewhere in SA, maybe we'll bump into each other again somewhere down the line.

Kiwi

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Jon says on Jul 11, 2005, 16:56:

Im not an attorney! but I did major in rhetoric when I was in school many moons ago. I wasted that education and worked in the automotive field and now I'm looking for work teaching english.

Why do you ask?

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Jon says on Jul 11, 2005, 17:09:

Kiwi Send me an email, so we can stay in touch. Mine is quejt at earthlink.net

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kiwi says on Jul 12, 2005, 14:05:

ya te he escrito email on its way mate...

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