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Great points, Liketysplit. It seems as though everyone is focused only on the events of today and completely ignore how we got here. This issue goes way back. For instance, the Iran hostage crisis happened over 25 years ago. In 1983 the US Embassy was bombed in Beirut, killing 63. A few months later the Marine barracks in Beirut were bombed killing 241 Marines. Areas heavy with Islamic extremists have been very unsafe for Americans for a very long time now.

HS, Lostkitty said, “Every thinking person got out.” Perhaps you missed it.

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I thought that was interesting too.

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Lickitysplit, thank you for your kind words. J

Farls, I will agree that diplomacy is better than war — the vast majority of the time. Sometimes diplomacy no longer works. Many countries have become adept at making threats about nuclear programs, taking our money or some other thing (like airplanes) in exchange for worthless promises, pretending for a short while that they have done as they promised, then they start rattling their saber again, we pay them off again… All the while they lie to us and continue doing exactly as they please. This is bribery and it seems to be quite effective – for them. It enriches places like North Korea and Iran while doing nothing to actually stop their march toward gaining nuclear weapons.

Lostkitty, while the US did use nuclear weapons sixty years ago, we are extremely unlikely to use them again, unless someone uses one against us first. There are plenty of other countries that are much, much more likely to use them first and start a nuclear war. Iran, with their extreme element, qualifies. Contrary to what you may be about to argue, President Bush would never, ever employ a preemptive nuclear strike.

Police wear weapons are their hip. Should every person, regardless of their criminal record be allowed to wear a gun on their hip? Would you be safe? Iran has a history of instability. Do you really think allowing them to have nuclear weapons is good for their neighbors, good for us, good for the world? Does anybody really believe that a nation rich in cheap energy (oil) would desire nuclear energy? Oil may be expensive for us to buy, but for a big oil producing country, it is cheap for them.

Does anyone really believe the Russia and China are not getting something out of the deal? PS points to Russia and China as “proof” that nothing untoward is going on. This is proof of nothing except, perhaps, collusion.

Lostkitty, I have been associated with the military for 20 years. In general, I have found an enormous amount of talented, good people. Like any organization, there will be people who should not have been promoted or should not have their current job. If your husband had to work for one of those people, that is unfortunate. It will probably happen again in the civilian world. It is true, however, that the military is hamstrung, to a certain degree, by an inability to immediately fire a person who is not performing.

As for all thinking people getting out, I am amazed at that statement. My husband has three masters degrees with honors. I think he qualifies as a “thinking person.” Perhaps you meant that people who disagree with our war in Iraq are getting out. I will agree with that statement. We live in a free country. Our military service is voluntary. There are some people who must wait, like your husband, because they knowingly and willingly agreed to stay in for a certain period of time in exchange for some other benefit. But when their time is up, they are allowed to get out (except during limited periods of stop loss).

As for foreigners going home, so what? I am sure there were a lot of Americans in France and Germany who have come home in the last few years.

Farls, what are the tax requirements of expatriates? Are you required to pay taxes but refuse? I really do not know the answer to this question and am interested in your response.

Farls, I also agree that Americans should travel the world more. Americans are very insular. I travel abroad whenever I can make it work. With small children and a husband with a very demanding job, it is very difficult to schedule.

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I know a number of RE investors in Phoenix (they are pros, have been in commercial RE for a decade) and I keep hearing about New Mexico and Texas from them. There are still a lot of people chasing the RE dollar and they are going to cities that look cheap.

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I want to buy too. It is hard to wait but necessary. It seems clear we have turned the corner. Some people are already in trouble, forcing a few below comp sales. PS is right, I do not think sentiment has changed that much. It is going to take hearing bad RE stories from your hairdresser, cousin or neighbor down the street before it really sinks in. Plus, I do not think the newspapers are really going to print the unvarnished, ugly truth until it can no longer be sugarcoated. Just about every article has some realtor or seller saying, “It is just a soft spot, we expect things to firm up in a couple of months. Nothing to worry about.”

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Nope. I thought maybe I was skimming too fast and got my threads mixed up. What did the ad say?

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Did I get my people mixed up? 🙂

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I liked the fact that she is looking for the right words to describe housing. She must be unable to think of anything that sounds happy enough.

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I have never said that we should invade and/or use weapons against Iran. Please do not put words in my mouth. I have said numerous times that war should be avoided, if possible. Just because I think a strong military is important, does not mean that I think it should be used for every problem. If I were married to man who was an oncologist, I would not run around suggesting that every person with a strange lump should immediately get radical surgery or chemo.

I am very proud of being a military wife. I am proud of my husband and his service to this great country. I have no wish to send him off to war. In fact, my wishes are for the exact opposite. But if it happens, I will send him off with smile on my face and my tears saved for later.

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Imperial Beach (91932) 425,000
Coronado, (92118) 1,040,000

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80k and 6 months alimony is pretty good for a marriage of only one year.

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We have also not discussed what will happen when we get a new president. What if there are significant military cuts? This would prolong and significantly worsen the economic and housing situation in SD. Lets say the bottom would normally be 2009 or 2010. What if a big cut in military spending hits in 2011? Just the talk of that happening would have a dampening effect in 2009 and 2010. We may reach a plateau at the bottom and then drop off a new cliff.

Further, what if one or more than one of our bases ends up on BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure)?

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Lostkitty, it is certainly true that politics plays a part in the state of our economy. How can it not? Our situation with Iran is having big implications, for example. I do have strong beliefs on a number of issues, as does Powayseller (along with others), and they have a tendency to come out, now and again. Many people come to this site wanting cold, unemotional fact that is focused solely on real estate and are distressed by any divergence from the original thread. It is hard to always to keep a conversation on a predetermined track.

As for my link, thank you for taking the time to read it. I read that article long ago (from a different source) and searched for it on the web so that I could provide a link. I did not know that it was on a pro-gun website. Even so, I do not think that is really relevant as the point, in my opinion is good. It is not a statement about “bullying” or a justification for any PARTICULAR war (Iraq, The Civil War, WWII, Korea, etc). Rather, it is a statement of human nature, which includes people who are peaceful, people who are violent, people who are sociopaths, people who are protectors. Those who denigrate it today may have felt different had they read on it on December 7, 1941 or September 11, 2001. For any of you who are bristling, I did say, “may.”
The link: http://www.pgpft.com/On_Sheep_Wolves_and_Sheepdogs-Grossman.htm

9/11 brought about a great deal of thankfulness among the American people for the dedication of firefighters, policemen and the military. Alas, it seems as though the admiration for firefighters and policemen has largely sunk into indifference or a mild thankfulness. The admiration for our military has been tarred by a disagreement with the Iraq war. The same thing happened during Vietnam. People who disagreed spit on returning soldiers. Did this make sense? Did the soldier set the policy? Any anger over the war should not be directed at the tool, rather at how it has been used.

Now that statement will lead some to scream, “Get rid of the tool, then it can’t be used!” This also makes no sense. I’ve read stories of a number of people getting killed by a frying pan applied to the head. Should we ban the frying pan? Okay, now someone is going to jump in and say that is a stupid analogy for this reason, that reason, etc. Please don’t, we are all aware of the holes.

I believe that we need a strong military as deterrence. Further, there are times when war must be used as a last resort. I point to the entire history of the world as evidence. This is NOT a statement either for or against any current or past war or conflict.

I have no ill feelings toward any person who disagrees with me and appreciate all efforts on behalf of others to extend the same courtesy. Powayseller has expressed an interest in meeting me. I would be very pleased to meet her, as well as anyone else on this board, regardless of whether they agree with me.

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I would not call alimony for 6 months, pretty good.

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This is a great article:
http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/224/5267/2006-06-12.asp?wid=224&nid=5267

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