I found this article on CNN.

Putin: Terrorist Aiming to Derail Bush Bid


DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that terrorists are aiming to derail President Bush's chances at re-election through their attacks in Iraq.

Putin noted that his government continued to disagree with Bush on Washington's invasion of Iraq, which Russia strongly opposed as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

``I consider the activities of terrorists in Iraq are not as much aimed at coalition forces but more personally against President Bush,'' Putin said at a news conference after a regional summit in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.

``International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term,'' he said. ``If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power.''


Still, Putin didn't say which candidate he favored in the Nov. 2 election. ``We unconditionally respect any choice of the American people,'' he said.

weird. i'd have thought they'd prefer Bush. the rest of the world has lost a great deal of respect for the US during the Bush term (which can't be denied) and that would make it easier to recruit terrorists and plan attacks.

I think it's because Bush is way more aggressive than Kerry. Bush has been really putting the pressure and the heat on terrorists groups and countries that support terrorists (Iraq).

They know Kerry won't be as aggressive. Plus, Kerry wants to cut homeland defense funds, which will make America a bigger target.

Or maybe they are doing it because they know Bush will just take it out on some other innocent country and not them.

Either way, I thought this was a film website.


Cammo

Am I the only one who finds it annoying that the moderators (or anyone i guess) are trying to push their political views on us like a group of Jahova's Witnesses??

This is a filmmaking wesite, lets keep it that way and leave to politics to every other website.


Cammo

Hey cammo, lighten up.

Chris made the OFF-TOPIC board exactly for this reason. We have the right to talk about anything we want. Not everything has to do with film.

And just because we're moderators doesn't mean we can't speak our minds. I'm not trying to push my political views on anyone. I'm just trying to make people more aware of the information. I can do that. And so can anyone else.

We encourage free discussion here. And there have been no major arguments yet about politics. Everyone's just speaking their mind and that is completely fine. If it gets out of hand, then yes, something may need to be done, but so far everyone has been very mature about talking politics. We're all still friends here. Just because we have different opinions doesn't mean we can't talk about it! How boring would that be?

So, just lighten up man. Have fun.

cammo, no offense, BUT

the mods seem somewhat divided on their beliefs (unlike Jahova's Witnesses)

this is the off-topic area

if you don't like it don't read it

and yes, you are the only one who seems bothered - with the exception of bigmovie who, after some deep internal struggles has become a retard

everyone else either participates or dosn't

anyway - don't take that the wrong way smiles all round.

As a side note - any political views expressed by the forum staff are not in any way representations of the Studentfilms.com website as a whole. They're independent and individual beliefs and should be treated that way. The site administration remains neutral.

I wasn't trying to single out the moderators, that was not my intent. And I also have no problem with some healthy political debate. But it seems like there have been more political posts than film posts over the past few weeks. But since I guess theres no way of stopping this from becoming a political site until after the election try some of these on for size.


1. Former President Bill Clinton briefing President-elect Bush on security issues in December 2000: "I think you will find that by far your biggest threat is Bin Ladin and the al Qaeda. One of the great regrets of my presidency is that I didn't get him [Bin Ladin] for you, because I tried to." Source: Testimony by Clinton, published in the 9/11 Commission Report

2. Upon taking office, Bush proposed cutting more than $500 million in counterterrorism funding from the Justice Department. Source: "Condi gets a reality check," Center for American Progress, April 8, 2004

3. On Sept. 10, 2001, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft rejected an appeal from the FBI for more money to fight terrorism in the 2002 budget. Source: Toronto Star, April 13, 2004

4. An agency of the Treasury Department assigned to blocking the financial resources of terrorists has five times as many agents investigating Cuban embargo violations than it does tracking Osama bin Laden. Source: Associated Press, April 29, 2004

5. The 9/11 Commission reported in June that there is "no credible evidence" linking Al Qaeda to Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Vice President Dick Cheney continues to assert that the two are connected. Source: The New York Times, June 16, 2004

6. According to Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., Gen. Tommy Franks, the man who ran the war in Afghanistan, thinks the war in Iraq has diverted attention from where it should be: Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. Source: Associated Press, Sept. 6, 2004

7. Bush was determined to oust Saddam Hussein from the beginning of his presidency, according to ex-treasury secretary Paul O'Neill. "But I've been around a long time and know the difference between evidence and assertions and illusions or allusions …." Source: The New York Times, Jan. 12, 2004

8. A report by the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College concludes that invading Iraq was a "strategic error of the first order" that has resulted in an "unnecessary preventive war of choice against a deterred Iraq that has created a new front in the Middle East for Islamic terrorism and diverted attention and resources away from securing the American homeland …." Source: "Bounding the global war on terrorism," U.S. Army War College, December 2003

9. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a 20-year military veteran assigned to the Pentagon in 2002: "There was a sort of groupthink, an adopted storyline: We are going to invade Iraq and we are going to eliminate Saddam Hussein and we are going to have bases in Iraq. This was all a given even by the time I joined them, in May of 2002." Source: LA Weekly, Feb. 20, 2004

10. President Clinton took part in numerous ceremonies honoring war dead. Bush has yet to attend a single military funeral for a soldier killed in Iraq. In March 2003, the Pentagon issued a directive banning news coverage of dead soldiers returning to or departing from air bases. Source: The New York Times, June 22, 2004

11. The invasion of Iraq was a "tremendous gift" to Osama bin Laden, according to the author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror. The book was officially written by "Anonymous," but it is widely known that CIA intelligence analyst Michael Scheuer is the author. Source: Agence France-Presse, Aug. 9, 2004


Let the healthy debate begin.


Cammo

"You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." -George W. Bush

cammo flip-flopped!!

one minute he was against political discussion, the next he was for political discussion!

Cammo- uhhh- Iraq...innocent?...sure...lol. It was just playgrounds and happy picnics--a perfect utopia b4 the United States RUINED IT. lol.

If we're on the subject of the United States of Satan- here's an opinion to bring up:

I think (this is me talking) the main problem with a lot of people and this idea of the USA being a collection of EVIL PEOPLE and all that is that they don't realize America has, in fact, leaders that make decisions- a topic at IMDB for Team America is entitled -

"Speaking of Americans - THEY SHOULD ALL DIE."

...wow...yeah its all my fault, my friends fault, my family's fault, everyone in America's fault we're in Iraq, dickweed. Geez- Why let one problematic leader turn u into a complete nationalist *******? Should we hate Germany because of Hitler? Should we hate Russia because of Stalin? No, one must realize we can't let the actions of individuals skew our opionons of a group of people. Oh well...I guess a lot of us Yankees are too into that whole concept of "individual existence."

anwyay- I'm probably wrong- please yell at me now.

I didn't flip flop. I am against this site becoming overrun with politcal debate. But it obviously isn't going to change so I guess I'll go ahead and join in.


Cammo

Sadaam Hussein and his regime are obviously not innocent and the world is a better place for them being out of power. But the people of Iraq are innocent and they are being slaughtered in large numbers. Which is probably the #1 reason they aren't to happy that we are still there.


Cammo

Most of the topics discussed on studentfilms.com ARE about filmmaking. The political discussions are just easier to remember and they're more involving.

Oh boy, oh boy . . .

What a mess I'm gonna have to clean up.

American Soldiers are NOT slaughtering Americans. Who was the last Iraqi dude you talked to? Just so you know, I talked to 2. They are glad we are there. I have a cousin who served in Iraq, People waved at him all the time.

More Iraqi people died under Saddam then when we came in. What will it take for you to realize that? Its the terrorists and their car bombs that are killing Iraqis.

Perhaps the reason we are all talking politics right now is because this election is going to affect how we pursue our film careers. That's my deepest concern. I don't want someone in office that is going to screw up the country and screw my hopeful career. In my opinion, I believe that someone who will screw it up is John Kerry. To me, this has everything to do with film.

What you don't realize is several times under the Clinton admin. we had Osama in our sights. Cross hairs on his head. Clinton got a call, "Do you want me to take him out?"
Clinton said no.

He better be regretting his decision. But we all know he isn't.

And your also missing the point where the actions in Iraq are making the likes of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and N. Korea fall into place. It shows them we aren't playing this game anymore like we did with Clinton.
(Need I remind you his bilateral talks didn't work and he sold Nuke info to China, and several documents happen to be missing because someone in his admin walked out with them stuffed down his pants.)
(also, pray Monica isn't kidnapped by terrorists. She was givin' head while Clinton was on the phone with Syria. She knows so much shee could sell it on the black market.)

And I must take this one cheap shot.

Cammo, you seem to be a go with the flow kind of guy. Why kick against the current right?
Since we don't seem to be making much progress against terrorism now, let's just give in and go with it. That attitude will get you far my friend.

And everyone, don't forget what your beloved JK said: Terrorism is a law enforcement issue much like prostitution and drugs.

Yeah, that guy's going to do a REAL good job protecting America.

Ooh, I've said this before. Has there been one terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11. Nope. Bush must be doing something right! Homeland security is top notch now.

Did you know that Iraq was once upon a time green and lush? I had a 9th grade math teacher who lived there. Her grandfather used to tell her tales of how it was so pretty once upon a time.

I would call most of you a poor, diluded, lost soul, with very little brain, but that would be name calling.



Oh, I would like to add how the links at the top and bottom of the page are balnced. Sometimes there are Kerry ones, and sometimes there are Bush ones. Thanks Chris for making that an awesome feature!

quote:

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Who was the last Iraqi dude you talked to? Just so you know, I talked to 2. They are glad we are there. I have a cousin who served in Iraq, People waved at him all the time.

---

I'm not going to say that I know if you are correct or incorrect with this statement, but talking to 2 Iraqis does not make you some authority on this issue. Neither does the fact that some Iraqis waved at your cousin.

I've talked to 2 people who are voting for Ralph Nader, but that doesn't mean the majority of people would elect him. I'm sure people have waved at him also, but that doesn't mean they like him.

quote:

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What you don't realize is several times under the Clinton admin. we had Osama in our sights. Cross hairs on his head. Clinton got a call, "Do you want me to take him out?"
Clinton said no.

He better be regretting his decision. But we all know he isn't.

---

You don't think Clinton wishes he would have taken out Osama Bin Laden?

Now, I'm no big fan of Bill Clinton, but I don't question his patriotism. Clinton I'm sure was just as emotionally affected by the events of 9/11 as everyone else in this country. I have no doubt, if he had knowledge of things to come, he would have taken out Osama in a minute, just as Bush would do if he was given knowledge of the future and an opportunity to change it. But this is reality, and hindsight is always 20/20.

quote:

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I would call most of you a poor, diluded, lost soul, with very little brain, but that would be name calling.

---

Look, I'm a Bush supporter, but your smug, superior attitude even bothers me. You'll never change anybody's mind by using insults.

Your probably right Gerdals, please accept my apologies. I was in a pretty bad mood when I wrote that, I'm sure that effected it.
Clinton is a patriot, but he didn't have the brains.

There really is no credibility to my previous post. (I feel kind of embarrassed because I just finished reading a book all about fallacies and an example like that was in there )

There is a new movie coming out, its something like The voice of Iraq, or something like that. They gave the Iraqi people video cameras and just had them record their daily lives. Then those people would pass it on to others. Its supposed to come out in November I think, I'll try to find something on it.

Thanks for calling me on that Gerdals. You were right.

quote:

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Originally posted by Forsakenproductions:
Clinton is a patriot, but he didn't have the brains.

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Big words from a Bush supporter. What do I mean by that? Nothing. Nothing at all. Shut up.

-Elliott

Apology accepted, Forsaken.

quote:

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I have no doubt, if he had knowledge of things to come, he would have taken out Osama in a minute, just as Bush would do if he was given knowledge of the future and an opportunity to change it.

---

Wow, This will be my first, and last post on the politics issue, which has sadly flooded the boards..

That quote from above, I regret to announce, is 100% Grade A Bull****.

How so, Jeff? I'll tell you..

One very important person, made it quite clear as day that Bush in FACT did get a report that stated 'Osama Bin Laden determined to attack within the United States' ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ATTACKS.

Now before you bash that statement, pay attention to the 9/11 commission, and Dr. Condoleeza Rice, because thats the exact statement she said when she was swore in for testimony during the 9/11 commission.

Whats even MORE sad? Clinton knew about the great threat as well, and did nothing... So gerdals, please.. If you are going to add a bunch of crap to you statement, make sure it's the truth!