Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
But it is a shame that the election results boost al Qaeda's position by handing them (at least the appearance of having) some degree of power over and influence in the internal politics of coalition nations.

If we had focused on terrorism in the places it was manifesting itself after Afghanistan rather than on trying to invade Iraq, we would not have had a tenuous coalition of governments whose policies were opposed by their people. It's much easier to topple a government if we weaken that government first. Strategically, this is one of the things I've been saying all along. By going into Iraq, we weakened our coalition and we weakened the international consensus on waging a war on terror, and weakened it to the point where I am no longer sure it exists.

The Spanish people never wanted in on Iraq, though they were behind us in Afghanistan. We got the government's support, but it was always an unpopular position for the government. So the idea that this already weakened government fell because of terrorism should be an indication that we did not build a coalition that has staying power. The way to solve that problem is not by screaming at the world, ridiculing them, and telling them to fly straight or else, because when it comes to Spain and the UK, we don't have an or else.

[SlaveNoMore]

bilmore
They were "protesting" violence. They were marching to stop violence. They had their hands in the air. How effective! I'm certain the Islamicists will listen and take heed.

And I'm sure these "protests" will encourage a second round of bombing. And my guess is Italy.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

How bad are the Bushies at diplomacy? So bad that they need Kerry to tell them which foreign leaders don't like them.

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone_Slothrop
How bad are the Bushies at diplomacy? So bad that they need Kerry to tell them which foreign leaders don't like them.

Perhaps, but someone should tell Kerry that Terry McAuliffe and Ted Kennedy, despite their respective connections with the Indonesians and the French, are hardly "foreign leaders".

Or perhaps he now considers Bill Clinton to be some King from Africa.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
And I'm sure these "protests" will encourage a second round of bombing. And my guess is Italy.

Oh, come on. Who would notice one more bomb in Italy?

Think of another U.S. ally whose policies are unpopular at home.

The U.K. Second choice: Pakistan.

[SlaveNoMore]

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Oh, come on. Who would notice one more bomb in Italy?

Think of another U.S. ally whose policies are unpopular at home.

The U.K. Second choice: Pakistan.

Nonsense. Brits aren't like the Spanish - a bunch of Socialists at heart. Set off a bomb in London and watch em' call for blood and retribution. Would have exactly the reverse effect.

As for Pakistan, I'm sure which way the arab-on-arab violence would fly. It would probably be blamed on the Indians anyway.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Nonsense. Brits aren't like the Spanish - a bunch of Socialists at heart. Set off a bomb in London and watch em' call for blood and retribution. Would have exactly the reverse effect.

As for Pakistan, I'm sure which way the arab-on-arab violence would fly. It would probably be blamed on the Indians anyway.

Yes, but is Italy even an ally?

And once you get past the UK and Pakistan, where are there allies worth bombing? Poland, perhaps? Canada?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Nonsense. Brits aren't like the Spanish - a bunch of Socialists at heart. Set off a bomb in London and watch em' call for blood and retribution. Would have exactly the reverse effect.

As for Pakistan, I'm sure which way the arab-on-arab violence would fly. It would probably be blamed on the Indians anyway.

Just to avoid letting this one slide, since I know Atticus wouldn't approve, when did Pakistanis become Arab?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
How bad are the Bushies at diplomacy? So bad that they need Kerry to tell them which foreign leaders don't like them.

You do realize that the reason Bush wants Kerry to list them, is because its countries we either hate, or at best could give a fuck about. Kerry listing France. n. korea, Iranistan , etc, will help Bush. See?
22-3.

[Hank Chinaski]

quote:
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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
if you kept your daughter home from school you were appeasing the Islamists
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Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Similar to the argument my GPs made. "If you stay home, the terrorists win!" Fuck, no. If I stay home and call opp counsel in all my cases and get discovery deadline extensions while they're in tears because of their overwhelming grief and "priorities," I win.

fyi, I was simply making, the obviously a little too obtuse, joke that girls can't go to school in Islam countries.

[SlaveNoMore]

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Just to avoid letting this one slide, since I know Atticus wouldn't approve, when did Pakistanis become Arab?

Yes, I used "Arab" when I meant "Muslim". You got me, okay.

Now, fuck off.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
And I'm sure these "protests" will encourage a second round of bombing. And my guess is Italy.

If something in Rome was bombed to disrupt Italian elections, seems that determining "success" would be difficult, no?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Yes, I used "Arab" when I meant "Muslim". You got me, okay.

Now, fuck off.

??? wear different towels?

[Diane_Keaton]

Originally posted by Not Me
Did they get on trains? Now that would have shown they had balls.

This thread is bullshit. I don't care if they "took to the streets" or got on trains the next day. How is this "courageous" considering my grandmother was still looking to board an international flight on 9/12?

Excuse my French, but the Spaniards are total pussies. The men may look like their macho (and generally hot) Latin/South American brothers, but they're hopelessly European. So who cares if they had gotten on trains the same day? If they all took to the streets wearing something like this,



I might reconsider. As it is......pussies.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
fyi, I was simply making, the obviously a little too obtuse, joke that girls can't go to school in Islam countries.

Obtuse indeed, since girls go to schools in most Islam[ic]/[ist] countries. Except Afghanistan 1996-2001, I'm unable to think of one in which the official policy is not to educate girls in schools --- although that may well be the effect of the latest French action.

Towels, Hank? We Americans sure have some hil-AR-i-ous jokes about foreigners.