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As you tuck into breakfast, here's what the rich and famous eat every morning

It’s not ALL healthy goodness, but most of it is.

HOW DO THE most successful people start their days?

Whether through getting up early or exercise routines, the mornings are an important time to reflect and get your mind and body ready for the day ahead.

This includes getting the fuel you need to face the world.

From Richard Branson’s morning fruit salad and grains to the Whole Foods CEO’s healthy smoothie, here is what 12 successful people eat for breakfast every day.

Richard Branson eats an old-fashioned, high-fibre morning meal.

Branson's Tilting Train Arrives Nom nom. EMPICS / PA Images EMPICS / PA Images / PA Images

Every morning Branson eats a fruit salad and muesli, a granola-like dish popular in Germany and Switzerland.

On occasion Branson will eat kippers, an oily fish that has been unpopular for decades, reports Christine Lagorio-Chafkin at Inc.

Al Roker makes a mean protein smoothie

PEOPLE ROKER Mmm, delicious smoothie. Associated Press Associated Press

When the “Today” show weather forecaster is in between US television segments — typically between 7:40 and 8:15 am he drinks a protein smoothie, according to Bon Appétit.

It consists of protein powder, fibre powder, almond milk, frozen berries, ginger, and a little agave nectar. Sometimes Roker throws in almond butter.

John Mackey, founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, drinks green smoothies.

PastedImage-18580 ReasonTV ReasonTV

A well-known healthy eater, Mackey makes a smoothie every morning.

It includes almond, oat, rice, or soy milk, fresh fruit, and kale or spinach leaves, he tells The New York Times.

Margaret Thatcher had coffee and half a grapefruit.

PastedImage-8580 Wikimedia Wikimedia

In a 1979 interview with reporter Katherine Hadley at The Sun, Britain’s first female prime minister said she tried to “eat little.” When she did eat, the “Iron Lady” preferred coffee and half a grapefruit.

“I don’t have a big breakfast to give me energy for the rest of the day,” Thatcher said.

Justin Timberlake eats two breakfasts daily. 

Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience World Tour - Sheffield Eggs and more eggs. Jonathan Pow Jonathan Pow

The crooner’s first breakfast includes “waffles with flax and almond butter and a scrambled egg.”

Then he works out. After that, he eats another egg or protein shake.

“I mostly work out so I can eat religiously,” he told Bon Appétit.

‘Dilbert’ creator Scott Adams eats a protein bar every day

DILBERT CARTOONIST Nothin' wrong with a protein bar. Associated Press Associated Press

The first 20 minutes of Adams’ day are exactly the same every day, including weekends and holidays. Putting his physical body on autopilot frees his brain for creativity, he said. He wakes up at 5 a.m., has coffee and a protein bar, and sits at his desk in his home office to read and get ideas.

“I give myself this ‘treat’ knowing I can be trained like any other animal. And I want to train myself to enjoy waking up and being productive,” he writes. “I also want to prevent hunger later because it might interrupt my flow.”

Winston Churchill always ate a hearty morning meal of eggs, meat, and toast

POLITICS Churchill/Filer: NEG. NO. 44515-5A Bit of everything. EMPICS Sports Photo Agency EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Bucking the modern trend of eating light, Britain’s beloved prime minister always ate a big breakfast, which included a poached egg, toast, jam, cold meats, grapefruit — and whiskey soda.

He preferred his meal to be brought on two trays, The Telegraph reported. On the first tray, Churchill wanted the poached egg, toast, jam, butter, coffee, milk, and cold chicken or other meats. On the second tray, he liked his grapefruit, sugar bowl, glass of orange squash, and a whisky soda.

After eating, he would wash his hands and smoke a morning cigar.

American football hall-of-famer Fran Tarkenton eats a variety of berries

Commentator Tarkenton Back in the 1970s his breakfast kept him in shape Associated Press Associated Press

Tarkenton, who is also founder of GoSmallBiz.com and Tarkenton Companies, swears by his consistent breakfast routine. ”I eat berries every morning — blackberries, blueberries, raspberries — and that’s it,” he says. ”Sometimes I’ll switch off with steel-cut oatmeal, but nothing more.”

Tarkenton says his morning nutrition, including lots of hydration, helps him control his thinking, stamina, and weight. At age 75, he weighs the same as he did when he was in the NFL — exactly 87 kg.

Birchbox exec Brad Lande drinks a five-minute smoothie

15011191532_5dd92f8285_k Yea, he certainly looks like he owns an online beauty company. Flickr / cmichel67 Flickr / cmichel67 / cmichel67

Lande, the head of Birchbox Man, wasn’t always a morning person, but he now follows the same routine every day of the year.

He starts each morning by drinking hot water with lemon, saying it “helps fight infection, lowers blood pressure, cleanses the liver, and rejuvenates the skin with Vitamin C.”

For breakfast he has a simple smoothie, which takes five minutes to make. His favourite recipe: coconut water, banana, blueberries, kale, bee pollen, almond butter, and ice.

- Jenna Goudreau

Read: 6 ‘clean eating’ recipes to drool over >

Read: Subway sandwiches are about to get a lot more natural >

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    Mute Mark Vieregge
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:38 AM

    Absolutely! I wish there was a country brave enough to get those two war criminals!

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    Mute Fergus O'Neill
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:09 AM

    Well, there was a Malaysian tribunal last May that found them guilty of war crimes. Unfortunately, and a bit like tribunals here, it didn’t have powers to enforce any sentence. Instead, it referred its findings to the International Criminal Court – I haven’t heard word of it since….

    88
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    Mute Ed Kavanagh
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:16 AM

    This is a good test for everyone out there. If you believe Bush and his poodle Blair were justified then you can consider yourself a victim of media brainwashing and need to seek help. If like the majority of awake people you agree with Mr Tutu then you join the rest of us enlightened people who don’t swallow everything we are told. Now apply this logic to the current crisis in Syria and see if you swallowing that crock excrement hook line and sinker too..

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    Mute Rory Conway
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:44 AM

    Well said Mark. Hurry up with the fair trial and get on with the hanging.

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    Mute stayfrostynatty
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:04 PM

    And most of the leaders from the west..evil cowards so they are,killing people for fun cos they have the power to do so..

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:23 AM

    ……truly….they are guilty of the death o so many ……and it continues…..

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    Mute Pàdraig Nevins
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:43 AM

    They done what nobody else had the bottle to do, take down a fascist lunatic!
    The world is a better place without that madman!
    They should be given an award!

    67
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    Mute Chris Day
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:52 AM

    Pádraig you obviously just posted that for attention. No right minded person could hold that view. Have you thought about X-Factor? Massive exposure there for you.

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    Mute dublinlad72
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:56 AM

    They should have started to the fascist lunatics back on home soil. In March of next year, it will be 10 YEARS since they first invaded. In those 10 years, what has been achieved? Truth is, that war was for the control of the oil fields and nothing else. But yeah, I get what you’re saying. ‘Merica & ‘Yurp kicked some ass. USA USA USA……

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    Mute Cian Doherty
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:56 AM

    Spot on Padraig, people in this country should try rooting for the good guys for a change!

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    Mute Cian Doherty
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:59 AM

    @Dublinlad, in 10 years they’ve managed to take down a brutal dictator renowned for butchering his own people, they’ve liberated the people of Iraq and helped them to hold a democratic election.

    Wise Up.

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    Mute Kevin
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:00 AM

    You think we should award those who are responsible for death of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians? You’re an awful eejit Padraig, I doubt you even understand what fascist means.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:02 AM

    “liberated”! Hahaha, Cian, you crack me up :D would you like some freedom fries with that?

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:04 AM

    I suppose Chris you want Churhill tried as well for defeating Hitler? That war killed millions but Hitler had to be defeated. If Sadam was still there we would be now waiting for his psychopathic son to take over.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:08 AM

    William, comparing Saddam Hussein to Hitler is just a straw man argument. They are not comparable.

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    Mute dublinlad72
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:08 AM

    @Cian – Liberated? Is that the one where they try to use a system that barely works in the Europe & USA on people who have a totally different way of life. Ahh. Carry on so.

    Don’t get me wrong, America has done an awful lot right in the past, but in the last 12 years, all their conflicts have been to serve their own interest. Surely Bashar Al-Assad is committing worst crimes to his people than Saddam? Where is the shining light of ‘Freedom’ and ‘Liberation’? Careful though, Cian. Your sense of right and wrong is horribly misjudged.

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    Mute Apple Core
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:11 AM

    Breathtaking buffoonery Padraig, Cian and William. There’s obviously something wrong with the three of you.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:11 AM

    PS The people of Iraq in polls support the invasion and their liberation. We had a civil war too remember, so does that mean we should still be British?

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:13 AM

    Padraig your correct they did. But in the case of mr Bush these were the actions of a far right christian fundamentalist that said god spoke to him. Based on that statement alone we know that never happened. He is a deluded ignorant clown. He waged war & it took his replacement to do the job that the US could have done a week after 911 & get bin laden. He killed a million people in iraq & broke every convention on warfare & torture. This only serves to put US troops in danger in future conflicts. Everytime a US soldier is tortured or captured in the future he will be refered to. The Arab world is completely amazed at the actions of the US & it will take 50 years to undo this. Look at the rest of the middle east now its a mess & its connected even if thats in a small way. Christian fundamentalists like mr bush preach to arabs about muslim extremists & its a bit ironic. Iran is trying get nuclear weapons & because the US is seen as a militant christian state they tell the world they must protect themselves. So Padraig one lunatic replaced the other one.

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    Mute Ed Kavanagh
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:19 AM

    Oh dear Padraig you need to seek help before someone sells you a job lot of chocolate teapots. And looks like you might have a couple of interested investors backing you up. Its hard to believe you could be that brainwashed. Someday you will too embarrassed to admit you said that.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:37 AM

    I’m sure if you ask any Iraqi suffering because of the wholesale use of depleted uranium, or torture and mistreatment from occupying troops, or had family slaughtered by the US, I’m sure they won’t feel great about being “liberated”!

    To the person referencing our war of independence – the US make the Black & Tans look like boy scouts.

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    Mute stayfrostynatty
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:10 PM

    Mr nevin,look at all those countries they invaded b4 and after,now bomb going on everyday of the week,no laws,all they archive was control the power of the fuel,which were are paying the price and they western leaders are laughting all the way to the bank…look at libya they had better health and education system than most western countries but all that was destroyed and now they country is run by outlaws

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    Mute Arjun Deepra
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:42 PM

    Yeah but he was their fascist lunatic. Armed and backed by them during his worst atrocities, and they didn’t bat an eyelid. Let rampage all over the Shia after the 1sty gulf war and they didn’t bat an eye lid.

    If Saddam hadn’t invaded Kuwait but kept on killing and brutalizing his own people, there would not have been a problem and he would still be in power, backed by London and Washington.

    Realpolitik and all that, no one cared that he was a madman or a killer long as he played by their rules.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:40 PM

    What seems to be scratched from the history books is who funded Hitler to create the greatest army the world had ever seen in the most indebted nation in the world at the time with no natural resource such as oil. I do believe he was the darling of the west for a long time with transnational corporations and banks funding his war mongering ambitions. War is the greatest racket of them all and these forces are even more powerful in todays world as we well know.

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    Mute Réada Cronin
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:32 PM

    Bloody sure Derek. WWI and WWII were nothing more than entertainment for the elite royal families and their bankers in Europe. And don’t get me started on Labour Party in England. Created as an appeaser to the poor souls that returned from the war injured and bruised. Blair knew well what he was doing – the job he was appointed to do – make money for bankers and the arms industry.

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:26 AM

    ……Sorry old son …..afraid will have to let you go….and the further the better……

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 12:03 PM

    …..mr Padreig awful sorry afraid we will have to let. You go the further the bloody better

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 12:05 PM

    …..Padreig that is …..don’t ring us we will ring you J Arthur Ranker!

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 4th 2012, 5:18 PM

    …Padraig…you must not forget to take your medication……

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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:04 AM

    Quite right , the damage done to the planet and the killing in Iraq and afghanistan because of these two warmongering weasels is immense . Lied through their teeth about WMD’s in Iraq and lied about Saddam Hussein’s links to al quaeda ( none ).
    Hundreds of thousands killed in Iraq , most of them civilians. Jobs for the boys a la Halliburton etc. black knight paid killers roaming around Iraq raping and murdering indiscriminately . Wholesale torture in prisons designed specifically for purpose . Depleted uranium ordinance so the next generation of Iraqi children can live and die in an environment of incalculable toxicity.
    You would need countless ” awards ” each more grotesque than the last…..

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:42 AM

    ..and galloping ever onwards..and downwards…WarInc. and its Nato resource wars are gone ‘fullspectrum dominance’ totalitarian globocop…and with nuclear Fort Israel in the oil-sump gunning for Teheran with Operation WMD MkII it aint easy be rose-tinted about the forecast.

    Putting these two ethical prawns on trial could send a signal to Pentagonia that blowback can reach more than just grunts.
    Might slow their gallop. Can’t see it happening though, it would be like seeing our government demanding the church refund the taxpoayer for the billion compo we bailed them out for…or landlords getting a ceiling on the their profits. Oh look, a pig hang-gliding….

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:34 AM

    ….lied about 9 September 11 years ago…..and and and and…….

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:05 AM

    Damn right. But nobody’s gonna do it unfortunately. Tutu is one clergyman who above all deserves respect and should be listened to. A worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, unlike Mr Obama.

    52
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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:37 AM

    …..whoops ….11 September 2001…..actually guilty of saying 7/11 in class …….

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    Mute Suzanne Lowell
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:07 AM

    I didn’t think it was possible to like Archbishop Tutu more.

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    Mute Richard Mason
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    Sep 4th 2012, 1:14 AM

    …..absolutely and your man has a 2.2 soas

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    Mute George Harrington
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:37 AM

    Fair play to him. Yes, both of those people should be indicted for war crimes but it will never happen. The great humanitarians that are the US and the UK have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in Iraq. The UK/US went meddling in Libya and are now meddling in Syria. Uganda has been announced as the current most corrupt country in Africa, yet it’s greatest ally is the US.

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:56 AM

    yeah George..they never mention that a lot of the corruption they like to wag the finger at Africa for stems from western corruptors…just as we hear hear more about CJH and Lowery than Ben Dunne and Denis O’B et al..
    Blair and Bush are just tools as well..but it might slow Cameron and the likes if they were indicted….ye olde deterrent factor.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:56 AM

    Don’t feed the troll!

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    Mute Stadler Waldorf
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:16 AM

    Who? Tutu? :)

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:41 AM

    It’s a pointless argument really. Sadam should have been taken out in the 1991 war. Tony Blair was brainwashed by the Americans, but the chances of them ever being charged with war crimes are about the same as Beetie Ahern ever being brought to book.

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    Mute mcbab
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 4:23 PM

    My goodness Reada you have really gone over the edge! Two world wars were fought for “entertainment” of royal families and bankers? The men in the white costs are on the way!!!

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    Mute mcbab
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 4:24 PM

    Sorry “white coats”.

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    Mute Brend Egan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:21 AM

    Evil Bastards that’s why they rise to the top the way is paved for them by more evil .

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    Mute Enda Story
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:39 PM

    The US is the only country to have used weapons of mass destruction. They have double standards in continuing to horde them while jumping up and down at countries like Iran and North Korea. US military is big business with billions invested anually and an overwhelming home view of military personnel as heroes protecting the liberty of US citizens. Unfortunately, they have a continuing need for an enemy to maintain this status and justify the massive spend. If there is no enemy the hawks will create one. The only war casualties that matter are those of US soldiers.

    Most Americans are lovely people, but many don’t realise how they are manipulated and duped by those with vested political and financial interest. We have had the Roman Empire, British Empire etc. Now is the time of the US empire!

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:55 PM

    Yes Enda, now let’s take the US out of this world for a moment. What are you left with? You tell me? Do you think everybody is going to settle down nice and cosy and the world will be a wonderful place with no fighting, no dictatorships, no invasions of other countries by other countries. It would be like taking the police out of a city and saying that the criminals will go away by themselves.

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    Mute Brend Egan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:19 PM

    Their was a world before America was discovered and are we only civilized now as a species because of the great U.S .U.S lost its claim to world peacekeepers when Wall street had JFK killed for refusing to go to war in Vietnam.Bye bye United States Hello military industrial complex .

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:23 PM

    Yes Brend, let’s start with the conspiracy theories now. Btw it was Kennedy who first starting sending troops over to Vietnam. Read up on your history.

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    Mute Brend Egan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:29 PM

    HE was’nt trying to get the hell out of there..anyway ya conspiracy yada yada yada

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    Mute Mark Duwe
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 1:47 AM

    Most Americans are too busy honoring veterans and making war romantic to pay attention to any details. You could stop 100 Americans between the ages of 20 and 60 in a mall and I got $100 that says 95 of them would be surprised that Nazi Germany had sunk one British shipping vessel before japan attacked Pearl Harbor, let alone, thousands.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:46 AM

    Dude speaks the truth.

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:17 PM

    By the way…should not Bertie the Brave be up on charges as well??….not that our ‘new’ government has withdrawn the services of Eirebase Shannon to the Nato resource-war crusades.

    We too are implicated in these ILLEGAL and profit-driven wars.

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    Mute Mark Duwe
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:55 PM

    There are more than 300,000 American Corporations that have contracts with the Department of Defense, US. War is big business and there are truck-loads of money to be made, which is exactly what happened.

    19 of the terrorists were from Saudi Arabia, where the average worker makes less than 4one-forth of the Average American worker. The King has his own army which is there to protect him from his own subjects. He drives expensive cars, lives in luxury and people see this every day and wonder,…how is it this guy gets ALL the money? They can feel their future or any chance of happiness for their children being drained out from under their feet and pumped into Lincolns and Chevys.

    A great opportunity is what the Vice President called it. There is a great book called “The One Percent Solution” where it is explained that Dick Cheney’s theory is that if he can get even the smallest amount of evidence he can get the American people to go for war, which is what he did. Also, there was no draft, not that one wasn’t needed, soldiers are still doing multiple tours of duty to this day.

    A draft would present two problems, 1. Mothers crying for their sons, (& some daughters), who died in battle and are now against the war…and, 2. With a draft, you pretty much have to take whoever signs up, which means this group would be much harder to train, and much more costly as well.

    Yes, life in prison, solitary confinement for all of them. But, I would also indict the American and British people for not being more outspoken at the onset. Romney will absolutely invade Iran and will be looking for the British government and people to stand with them. We just can’t do it anymore.

    “When the Rich Wage War, it’s the Poor that Die.”

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    Mute Pàdraig Nevins
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:54 AM

    The people who agreed with me I salute you! The rest of you are weak mind sit on the fence dopes, one reason this country is in the state it’s in!
    I worked on the clean up of the world trade towers after they were blown to bits, too see body parts scattered around is surreal, the attacks may have been planned in Afghanistan but to take out someone that butchers his own people is Fantastic i was overjoyed by his demise! Good luck and good rid to him!

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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:03 PM

    Try some research next time …

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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:07 PM

    Oh dear paidraig are you giving yourself green thumbs?

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:08 PM

    Way to go, Padraig..uno voce, uno duce…you forgot it was Rumsfeld delivered the precursor chemicals to Saddam when he was ‘our sonofabitch’ and prosecuting the war against Iran(bastards took back our oil, eh?).

    Go clean up Fallujah, Kabul, Libya…oh and all them chemicals still poisoning people in Viet Nam.

    And the source of the attack plan is America’s close ‘democratic’ paragon buddy, Saudi Arabia and its fundamentalist Sunni sectarians..now moving on to Shia Syria and Iran…

    Inform yourself…the material is accessable.

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    Mute George Harrington
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:28 PM

    They only went after Saddam because he wanted to ditch the Petrodollar. Padraig, re the 9/11 thing and body parts. You can believe want you want to believe and your entitled to do so, however what 9/11 was reported as being urged clearly was not. You don’t need to go down the road coffee conspiracy theories or any if that. You just need to look at two inexplainable facts. One: Tower 7 came down and was in explain able. Two: the planes were going too fast for the type of plane they were meant to be. Good man for voicing your opinion but the word ‘delusional’ comes to mind.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:39 PM

    If you truly were working on the cleanup of the twin towers then I suggest you get your gp to check out your respiratory system as your friends in new York lied to you when they said it was safe….

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    Mute Arjun Deepra
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:52 PM

    What had 9/11 to do with Iraq. Hussein deserved to die, no one doubts that, he was a very aggressive opponent of militant Islam, indeed of even secular Islam but no one, outside of the conspiracy junkies or the pub political analyst believes that he was involved in that. There is plenty of proof that the funding came from prominent Saudi’s, most of AlQaeda is Saudi. Saudi Arabia is the centre tumour of militant Islam today. Its vast wealth spreading its toxic brand of Islam across the world, that does not exclude Ireland and Europe.

    It was for selfish reasons they took him out, they couldn’t give a toss if he killed every one in his country. There are many others that they back, have backed that are just as brutal and murderous.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:41 PM

    Big deal Padraig.. Some of us lost friends.. Is that your only excuse for being an idiot??

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:48 PM

    Padraig, if you did indeed pick up body parts from WTC, did you ever ask yourself how so much distraction yet such a neat implosion could occur from the petrol from one aeroplane? Think about it. The realisation is the real terror here.

    May God rest the workers in WTC that weren’t warranted a call telling them not to go to work that day and the hundreds of thousands that have died since to keep arms factories and bankers rich.

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    Mute Shanti Om
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:04 PM

    What I don’t get is they (US / UK) were fighting Al Queda when it was the war on terror, then they were supporting them in Libya??
    They kissed and made up?

    http://tarpley.net/2011/03/24/the-cia’s-libya-rebels-the-same-terrorists-who-killed-us-nato-troops-in-iraq/

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    Sep 7th 2012, 5:22 AM

    ….you say the WTC was….”Blown to bits”…..clearly you know it was not two aeroplanes that brought the towers down then!?…..tell us more please do…..

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:52 AM

    Ain’t no difference between the forces that were behind that debacle and the one that Ireland and Europe is facing. Not a iota between them.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:53 AM

    Desmond Tutu is a buffoon who is so desperate for publicity that he would go to the opening of an envelope if it got him on tv. Every time I see his grinning mug talking about peace and reconciliation or see him prancing around the pulpits, I want to throw up. The fact that he is a Nobel Peace Prizewinner means nothing. What did he do for peace in South Africa? The Nobel institute is so desperate for someone to award its prize to, so that it can hold its pompous and grandiose ceremonies, that it even gave the prize to President Obama for no other reason than, apparently, being the first Afro American to be elected President. Of course Saddam Hussein had to be overthrown! Was he to be allowed to gas the Kurds and exterminate the Marsh Arabs with impunity?

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:47 PM

    Were do you think he got the gas from in the first place.

    It’s a big country and the like hotdogs. I’ll let you figure it out from there on.

    He was allowed gas the Kurds, he was allowed exterminate the Marsh Arabs. American politicians and Govt. and military officials worked with him very closely at that stage, when he was Iran’s main opponent.

    They turned a blind eye to the killing of the kurds, they didn’t give a toss really.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:29 PM

    Declan, all the US is doing is looking after themselves. Oil should not be the price it is. It is kept at such highs by the people who run the world, people with lots of money. There have been lots of zero point energy systems developed over check years but they have been suppressed by corporate conglomerates. Nikola Tesla was a man who devised a way to provide free energy for everyone but wealthy elites bought his patents and the US government classified all his research and papers above top secret.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:59 PM

    If the US had access to that kind of technology, don’t you think they’d use it to free themselves from dependance on foreign energy, if they’d bought the patents, wouldn’t a copy of them have to remain with the patent office.
    We live in an age were if its out there, its pirated, so isn’t it amazing that all these people who claim that free energy is being supressed have never been able to produce a set of blueprints, or even a rough outline of how those systems would work, which leads to the natural conclusion that they are not whistleblowers who are privy to such information but conspiracy theorists just repeating an old, anti-American meme without evidence, much like yourself George.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:26 PM

    Zero point energy was delivered by Tesla. The Wardenclyffe tower was knocked down because they could not figure out a way to meter the free energy that was being produced. Fact. Big conglomerates and a couple of families rule the world David but you seem to naively think that money has no part to play.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:33 PM

    George, the price of oil is what it is! You people complain when it’s cheap. That it’s all a war to keep it cheap and flowing!!!! Kop on to yourself. You pay more for oil in Ireland, if that’s where you are because the Irish government taxes it more. The price of a ” barrel of oil” is the same in america as it is in Ireland. It’s subsidized in places like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. But hey it’s cheap there where they produce it but you people accuse the US of stealing it from them. The elites are not stopping you and I from using oil as a resource. Remember the more expensive it gets and if it was in short reply the rich will always be able to afford it. Oil allows the middle class, low income and everyone else to get around. Think about what would happen if oil was to stop flowing. Every economy in the world would grind to a halt. Massive chaos in the world. Say goodbye to most everything you do. It will be back to the horse and cart.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:37 PM

    Also George your talking shite about tesla. There’s no such thing as free energy! How are you supposed to give something to everyone for free.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:10 PM

    Well the Wardenclyffe Tower was actually blown up during the second world war as it was feared that the wireless facilities there were being used by German spies and that its large tower could be used as a landmark by German submariners and of course it was actually an experiment in wireless energy transmission but don’t let that stop you George because you’re clearly though the looking glass and adding the word “fact” in a sentence on its own and then making an ad hominem attack on anyone you’re debating with represent proof positive of any wild allegation you’ve just made without evidence.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 5:30 PM

    @Declan- what?????

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:42 PM

    Declan, what’s wrong with you? Are you ill? It appears you need urgent help for your obvious delusions.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:34 PM

    The biggest difference here is that IMHO Afghanistan was a just war Iraq totally opposite. America is not all sweetness and light and moms apple pie, neither is is the great Satan imperialist monster. The truth lays somewhere in the middle. Oh and defiantly agree with Desmond.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:01 PM

    If Iraq did not have one of the largest, and only partially tapped oil provinces in the world, then there would have be no war.

    It was about energy security, 9/11 just provided a handy justification in people’s minds to do that. Either way they were planning this from day one in power.

    If the war was to stop killing and genocide then they would have been in the Congo years ago. There is believed to be 6 million dead in that conflict and its aftermath. 8 countries fighting it out in a savagery and brutal fashion that shocks the hardiest of war reporters. Where rape is carried out on industrial levels. A psychotic hell hole.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:57 AM

    Well I for one feel a lot safer now that saddam and Osama bin boogeyman are gone

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:05 PM

    That’s more likely down to the fact that you are an idiot and believe everything you see on the tele, rather than any real chance that Sadam or Usama were ever a threat to you, or anybody else for that matter?

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:25 PM

    The fact I say Osama bin boogeyman should tell you I’m being sarcastic you ape

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    Sep 4th 2012, 1:15 AM

    …..which planet are you from!?…….

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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:29 PM

    Now theres a question to ask Bono,how he feels that one of his friends is accusing two of his other friends,as war criminals???Awkward!!!!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:02 PM

    I argued the same case on the Amnesty International website. I was informed that there was no chance of facing the International Criminal court. Why not? Off course Bush and Blair should be held accountable as should ANYONE whose abuse of power leads to breaches of the convention on human rights. We all as human beings have a duty to see that this is done. Fair play to Tutu, the list of those who choose to look the other way is endless.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:55 PM

    A lot of people missing the point that it’s wealthy European families with royal links that own the Financial sector in America. It’s not just the American elite are pulling the strings. This is global.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:21 PM

    Of course if Bush and Blair were to go on trial people above would ignore the evidence against saddam Hussein, bashar Assad, the Taliban, al Qaeda, who else am I forgetting?
    I think bishop tutu is going off the deep end. I believe that the majority of deaths in Iraq were caused by Iraqis taking revenge on each other. Remember that a civil war is when people in a country go killing each other.
    The ignorance in some comments above by the usual people is sickening. You have deluded yourselves!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:35 PM

    Shock and Awe …we all remember the pictures Declan.Fox that’s the shite on the box..

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:49 PM

    Brend, remember that “shock and awe” never happened! People afterwards were saying ” well were was the shock and awe” ?
    That was said just to get Hussein thinking that maybe he should step down.
    As for fox news I don’t watch it. It’s not my news source.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:09 PM

    Shock and Awe never happened ok if you say so .Me and this is only my personal opinion saw for myself on TV the devastation in Iraq due to extensive bombing from way up in the sky from the bullyboys that they are im sorry and dont be offended but im going to take Archbishop Tutu’s stance on this one.The stars and stripes have been washed out and wiped .Them brown people have the black gold and theirs no god damn way were going to pay them for it anywhere there’s resources the U.S are fighting for liberty and freedom their like the catholic church berating people for living in sin while they rape themselves.Take your country back man.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:19 PM

    Brend, do you have a car? What do you fill it up with? I heard somewhere that Europe gets 60% of its oil from the middle east. So it could be well argued that the US is protecting the worlds oil supplies from nutcases do that you and I and everyone else can get around. If you have a problem with that I suggest you stop going to the oil pump when you go to fill up. Remember also that the worlds oil supply is controlled by OPEC of which the US is not a member but yes the US does protect the worlds oil supply by having its navy in the middle east. With regards to Iraq I see that the Kurds in the north have control of their oil fields thanks to the Americans. Go ask then what they think! Btw I’m from Dublin. I’ve lived over here for 24 years. I used to think like you but then I copped on the the real world!!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:27 PM

    The real world in the U.S is the justification of killing everything that gets in their way..Some world you want to live in .I Drive a micra so consumption level is low and if i had to murder a child to fill my car id walk..American people are sound their government has been hijacked by heartless lunatics that cant see no other way than the destructive path the lucrative destructive path.take it easy Declan guna watch your native county in the football .

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:00 PM

    Ah Declan, I was wondering how long it would be before you pop in here to attempt to defend war criminals. You are the deluded one, slurping up the spoon-fed propaganda you are subjected to. The fact is Bush and Blair are directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people from a war justified with (proven) lies. It’s amazing that people actually try to justify it!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:20 PM

    Brend, good for you that you drive a micra but it still runs on oil! The bus you get on runs on oil also a plane and trains. The food you buy in the shops gets delivered by trucks that run on oil. The goods and services you buy and avail of are here because of oil. I would suggest that you would have to do more then walk to avoid the use of oil.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:22 PM

    Barry your not as smart as you think you are.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:47 PM

    Plenty oil around if i was used in an efficient way and im sure that the U.S with all their technology could come up with another bio-fuel if they had the will but they would rather spend billions& billions every year to enhance their weaponary so they can just kill and take it. I.. thought humans were suppose to progress not regress back into the dark ages where old monarchs and empires wanted something they would invade and slaughter and take their loot we even had that same thing done to us throughout history .Think its time for alternative thinking than the old military might tactics too many innocent people dying including young kids handed a gun and told go kill that guy so i can make another billion dollars to add to my other billions of dollars.Backwards under these nutters.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:43 PM

    Derek, long link but I refer to your first comment. You did forget someone on your list, CIA

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 3:50 PM

    And the Qods Force

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:33 PM

    At Barry obrien, you say that there is no comparison between hitler and saddam Hussein which is true but you go on to make a BS comparison between US troops and the Black and Tans!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:06 PM

    Declan, I know you have a habit of not fully reading posts but of you go back and re-read my comment you’ll see that my analogy was is response to another analogy put forward by someone comparing our Irish Civil War to the war and aftermath in Iraq!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:14 PM

    Regardless Barry, you made the comparison.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 9:59 PM

    I do hate having to repeat myself to you Declan but, again, it was an analogy in response to an analogy. As for your comment earlier about my ‘smartness’ it’s just typical of you (as I’ve mentioned many times before) that you go for ad-hominem attacks rather than counter someone’s point. That is the sign of a weak debater or someone who can’t justify their point. Either way, it seems when we come head to head on here I usually get many greens while you get many reds. Does that mean something? Maybe not… Or maybe it means that there’s plenty of level-headed Irish people on here who don’t have the same patriotic zeal for the USA that you do. By the way I know plenty of Americans (some are family) from New England all the way down to Florida and across to California that have viewpoints similar or the same as me. They hate what’s happened to their country and are angry. They recognise the difficulty in changing the system when the most powerful propaganda machine ever known is against them. That doesn’t stop them from speaking out. Try thinking for yourself and not what the media tells you to think. You might think you’re being patriotic but in reality you are part of the problem that is afflicting the once great nation of the USA.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 1:23 PM

    Number one complaint against the UN; they can’t police the world.
    Number one complaint against the US; they try to police the world.

    I wonder if the archbishop will call for Vladimir Putin to face a war crimes tribunal for Russia’s invasion of Georgia or would that not serve the Anglicans’ incressingly anti-western agenda?

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 7:25 PM

    To be fair David, I don’t think the South Ossetian conflict can be compared to Iraq. Russia went to war against Georgia in resposnse to Tbilisi’s efforts to crush the sepratist movements in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia’s aim once war began was doubtlessly to weaken it’s pro-American neighbour to the south, but it is important to remember that the conflict was initiated by the actions of Saakashvili.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 7:33 PM

    So its alright to commit a war crime, as long as its a small war crime? Russia’s goal was to over throw the legitamate government of Georgia and install a puppet regime friendly to Moscow.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 8:38 PM

    I’m afraid I must disagree David. If Russia’s intention had indeed been a change of government, that would doubtlessly have happened. Georgian forces were brushed aside by the Russians during the war and their tanks could have easily rolled down Tbilisi’s streets had the Kremlin wanted such an outcome.

    Furthermore, there are as many doubts about the legitimacy of Saakasvili’s government as there are about that of Putin’s. For example Georgia’s opposition parties have frequently accused the ruling party of electoral fruad. Indeed several Western political scientists such as Steven Levetski have labelled Georgia as a democracy only in name.

    Let us not also forget that the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia had asserted their desire for self rule long before the conflict. By denying the right of those peoples to self determination and by actively trying to crush separatist sentiment in those regions, Georgia’s provided Russia with a convenient pre-text and a degree of legitimacy for its cause. After all, going to war to save an oppressed people has often been a rallying cry in history.

    I am not here to support the actions of Russia or its quasi-democratic government simply to assert that the 2008 South Ossetian War was not a clear cut case of “good” Georgia being subjected to an unprovoked assault by “evil” Russia. It was a complex geopolitical clash brought about by. dozens of factors and decades of history.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:11 PM

    “But to repeat the old canard that we lied about the intelligence is completely wrong as every single independent analysis of the evidence has shown,” he said. “And to say that the fact that Saddam massacred hundreds of thousands of his citizens is irrelevant to the morality of removing him is bizarre.

    “We have just had the memorials both of the Halabja massacre where thousands of people were murdered in one day by Saddam’s use of chemical weapons; and that of the Iran-Iraq war where casualties numbered up to a million including many

    killed by chemical weapons.

    “In addition his slaughter of his political opponents, the treatment of the Marsh Arabs and the systematic torture of his people make the case for removing him morally strong. But the basis of action was as stated at the time.

    “In short, this is the same argument we have had many times with nothing new to say. But surely in a healthy democracy people can agree to disagree. I would also point out that despite the problems, Iraq today has an economy three times or more in size with child mortality rate cut by a third of what it was. And with investment hugely increased in places like Basra.”

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 2:29 PM

    I hope you are not trying to suggest that the people of Iraq are better off today than before the US invaded.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:57 PM

    I notice quotation marks but there’s no identification.. Who said it, when did they say it and to whom was it addressed?
    Links maybe??

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 12:30 AM

    Don’t hope for much Shanti. Declan is the resident USA apologist here on the journal. Most of the time he comments on other people’s posts with personal attacks and doesn’t provide any useful input to a debate. I’ve had many disagreements with many regulars here (while disagreeing with some on one story I’d agree with on the next) I’ve never encountered someone who utilises personal attacks to the degree that Declan does. Declan makes outlandish claims an then tries to make the person he’s replying to feel like a fool without even having verification for the claims he’s making (I’ve called him out on this many times).

    tl;dr
    Declan is a troll

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 11:48 AM

    If they are tried and found guilty all that would happen is future leaders would find other ways of lying to us to justify going to war!

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 5:38 PM

    Load of Jim Corr fans on today. Free energy supprestionists, NWO, 9/11 truthers, I was expecting some birthers but they must have been abducted by the aliens from Area 51 that escaped in a prototype black helicopter while they were filming the moon landing.
    Here’s a hint, if you make wild, baseless allegations it makes you harder to believe when real crimes actually happen.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:46 PM

    What an amazing point. Thankfully the tide is starting to turn against blinkered condescending idiots such as you.

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 10:55 PM

    Circumstantial ad hominems, poisoning the well, guilt by association, appeal to ridicule, false dilemma…
    Care to add any more logical fallacies to your statement?

    By all means, counter anything that anyone has said, as you are entitled to do, but to make this comment on its own is rather revealing..

    Take a step back, breathe… It’s only the internet, making this comment in isolation merely shows that you have let the other commenters get to you way more than would ever be necessary. No one seems to be providing references – so you can take it all as opinions, and everyone is entitled to theirs if you expect to be entitled to yours.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 12:34 AM

    Couldn’t have said it any better, Shanti.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:45 AM

    In David’s defence the reality of the situation is so horrific that most people go through this denial stage before realization takes its place. I think we all had a “surely not” moment when it was first said to us. Ask yourself David why they bother with controlled explosions to implode a skyscraper when all it takes is fuel on fire.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 5:43 PM

    Shanti, People who spread this conspiracy theory nonsense make me angry, they make me angry because they spread nonsense that can hurt people, look at Operation INFEKTION or that nonsense about the MMR vaccine, ridicule is the least they deserve.
    Conspiracy theories are like religion, little bases in fact but people chose to believe them more because they wish them to be true rather then because there likely to be true. Look at any real life conspiracy, all of them are less complex then the grand schemes descriped here manly because its imposible to keep something like that under wraps.
    I might as well brake out the logical fallacies when dealing with with people who believe such tautologies.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 9:10 PM

    Right, so it’s exactly as I thought and rather than rise above it you have decided to throw your toys out of the pram and whack in some red herrings and straw men for good measure..
    Fantastic debate tactic, reminiscent of our own dear leader, Enda Kenny..

    Again I repeat – its only the Internet.. People can and do believe what they like – its THEIR choice and there is precisely sweet f.a. you can do about it. You can sling a load of insults but what exactly is that supposed to achieve? Will it make them see things the way you do? Or will it make them (and anyone else reading this) think, “wow – that guys a tosser”.. Personally I would read it as insecurity manifesting with control issues, but that’s only based upon your words and means nothing..

    Feel free to shoot the messenger, but I’m merely being honest with you, deep down I’m sure you are well aware of this yourself, you shouldn’t let randomers on the Internet get to you so much.. It really isn’t worth it..

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 12:26 PM

    The fact I say Osama bin boogeyman should tell you I’m being sarcastic

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    Mute Lex Long
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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:12 AM

    I do believe that Sadam and bin Laden had to be removed. However there are easier ways than a full scale invasion.

    I’m no arm chair general but surely a special ops kill team could be in pop them off from distance and be home in time for breakfast.

    If the west is serious about policing world atrocities and fighting terrorism why do they not help places like The Congo or the Ivory Coast to name but 2 countries that have been torn asunder. Don’t even get me started on Israel.

    The fact is it was only ever about oil. The big boys have what they want, a strangle hold on supply. Petrol prices have never been so high. Bush went to war to protect and build on his families oil interests. Blair lied and went to war because he sold his soul to America for a cut of the spoils.

    Both will answer for their crimes one day.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 10:01 AM

    If Saddam(‘…I came to power on an American tank..’)and Usama(original spelling, but we had to spin the Usa-ma into Osama)whose al CIAda units were US sponsored and drew their ideology from Wahhabi Saudi Arabia(and still do in their sectarian jihad against Shia Islam and multi-sect Syria/Iran), ‘had to be removed’..how much more so then did Cheyney&Co and BAe-bi Face Blair(his Middle-East envoy retirement-plan is cover for his British arms dealing in the region) need removing, for the safety of civilian colateral damage still expanding towards all horizons.
    And back at that ‘shock and awe’..its basically a translation of ‘blitzkreig’ into the PNAC full-spectrum-dominance for renewal of the sunsetless WASP Anglo-US imperial Great Game interrrupted by the 20th century’s Germany rising and then Cold War.
    We’re back to business as usual, and if Israel has its way, Declan’s oil bath will be delivering mushroom soup pretty soon. Bibi is eager to ‘settle’ the whole region.

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    Sep 4th 2012, 1:18 AM

    ….how casually you embrace assassination……..sick!…..

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    Sep 4th 2012, 1:20 AM

    ….assassination comment….

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    Sep 4th 2012, 1:21 AM

    ….Lex Long…

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    Sep 2nd 2012, 7:15 PM

    business is business people oil=money that was their interest an so what?? more oil and no homicidal tyrant win win bring on the red thumbs all you bleed hearts and nannies you know where you can stick em Bush and Blair good leaders that showed some boll*x

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 2:47 AM

    At least you got one word right. They are a pair of bollixes or is that bolli.

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    Mute Damien Flinter
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    Sep 7th 2012, 9:27 AM

    Of course they can. Its been done already in Malaysia. Guilty, as charged.
    But they’ll get Nobel Peace prizes before it happens in the imperial west.

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    Sep 3rd 2012, 3:15 PM

    The Bush and Blair defence would be that UN Security Council Resolution 1441 demanded that Sadam comply with earlier resolutions or “serious consequences” would follow. That phrase was a compromise between those who wanted expressly to threaten war, and those who only wanted economic sanctions etc falling short of war. However, war is undoubtedly a serious consequence, and it could be argued that the phrase therefore included war. That of course leaves aside any issues that war crimes or crimes against humanity were committed after the war began.

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    Sep 4th 2012, 7:49 AM

    ‘..sanctions etc. falling short of war..’.
    The sanction Madelene Albright justified as being ‘worth it’ despite their causing the deaths of an estimated million children, and over which several UN representatives, including Denis Halliday, resigned in disgust.

    As they say, economics is war ‘by other means’. Which is central to all that is wrong with ‘western’ economic fundamentals. Our growth is carcinogenic, based as it is on centuries of war, slavery and robbery.The sorry history of this island illustrates it in microcosm.
    ‘Fascism is not in itself a new order of society. It is the future refusing to be born.’ Aneurin Bevan, 1897-1960.

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    Sep 4th 2012, 8:56 AM

    I was merely addressing the legal issue raised, as to whether Bush and Blair could be successfully prosecuted.

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