Hell has frozen over!

Michael A Barnhart

I am a little confused on what your stance is with regard to the USA. Would you prefer that we act when ever someone is not acting with what we regard as proper morals or beliefs? vs when they impact our nation and or UN authorized actions? ""

Rohit Sinha

OK, I'll admit I'm ignorant. What's the deal with Zimbabwe? I mean, what has been going on there? And how can a small country* like Zimbabwe affect the US democratic institutions? Some countries even refused to go there to play a Cricket match, even if it cost them a place in the Super Six in the Cricket World Cup. What gives? Disclaimer: I am not taking a stance here. I'm not from Zimbabwe, nor do I support/don't support them in any way. Those questions above are not sarcasm or anything. I really want to know. I don't know absolutely anything about this issue so I thought I could ask you guys because it seems you know what's happening. A very brief rundown please, so that my feeble mind can take what you want to tell me without getting confused. Yeah, I know google is there, but... :-D * Small as in small in influence, not geographical area wise. [EDIT]Duh, OK, I finally clicked on the link you provided. :-O I was thinking it was somehow doing something bad to the US. :omg: [/EDIT]
Regards,

Rohit Sinha

Character is like a tree, and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
- Abraham Lincoln

The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going.
- Anonymous

Taka Muraoka

Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I am a little confused on what your stance is with regard to the USA. :-) I don't have "a stance" towards the USA. If the USA or Australia or South Timbuktu does something good, I will applaud it. And if they do something bad, I will criticize it. While the sanctions on Mugabe are a good thing, I find it disappointing that they were put in place because the US feels that he is a threat to them. Not because he was doing some really bad shit. Apartheid in South Africa was hardly a threat to any nation but the international community stood up and said that it was unacceptable and put in place sanctions and eventually brought about change. So yes, I would prefer it that the US, or anybody else acted if you thought that wrong was being done. HOWEVER, there is a difference between putting in place sanctions and bombing the crap out of a country. And this is what worries me - the enormous, *unchecked* power that the US holds right now combined with an apparent willingness to use that power for its own sole benefit.

You should save yourself and your company years of grief by shooting yourself through the head immediately. Believe me, in the long run it'll turn out better for everyone. - Tyto (at arstechnica) Awasu 1.0[^]: A free RSS reader with support for Code Project.

Michael A Barnhart

Thanks for the reply. Taka Muraoka wrote: HOWEVER, there is a difference between putting in place sanctions and bombing the crap out of a country. We do agree on this. Taka Muraoka wrote: And this is what worries me - the enormous, *unchecked* power that the US holds right now combined with an apparent willingness to use that power for its own sole benefit. I agree with your issue of the unchecked power of the US, it puts a large responsibility on the US to be responsible for its actions and currently there is little guarantee. Although in the current form I and a large number of US citizens have a problem with the ICC for an example, I am equally disappointed that negotiations have not been made to come to agreeable terms. I think we do owe something along these lines to the world. I disagree with "the willingness to use that power for its sole benefit." However I also will state that IMO the usage of defending ourselves against terrorism being applied Iraq has been rather poor and has not been justified by what has been released. This does give your feelings justification even if I disagree. I do feel Saddam is evil and the Iraqi people would be better off with out him but that is a different issue and should not be mixed. If it makes any difference to you I have written to Bush and my representatives on both of the above. I am very irritated by those who say they cannot make a difference. Maybe my single letters did not but if all who claim they care did, I think events can be influenced. :rose: ""

Lost User

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: time Mugabe got twatted For those of our friends outside the UK, this is a technical term ;P Elaine The tigress is here :-D

Taka Muraoka

Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I agree with your issue of the unchecked power of the US, it puts a large responsibility on the US to be responsible for its actions and currently there is little guarantee. Perhaps it's naive of me to think it could be any other way. Although how would Sweden or Switzerland conduct themselves if they were the sole superpower? :laugh: I think it was Nixon who said "they gave me all this power and then were surprised when I used it." Michael A. Barnhart wrote: However I also will state that IMO the usage of defending ourselves against terrorism being applied Iraq has been rather poor and has not been justified by what has been released. Yes. The hypocrisy and lack of coherent argument presented by the Bush administration is breath-taking. We're simply enforcing UN resolution N but if the UN refuses to endorse a war, we're just going to go ahead and do it anyway. We're fighting terrorism. No we're not, Saddam is an evil man that has to be deposed. We're doing it for the Iraqi people. How about this: he has WMD. We haven't found any but he does. No, really! And so on :-( Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I am very irritated by those who say they cannot make a difference. I raised this question a few months back when I asked if democracy (actually I should have said the political process) is broken. People have become disenfranchised from the political process and goverment has become beholden to big business and special interests. In this particular case, it's hard to see how the Bush administration could be swayed from their current course of action. They had so clearly made up their minds a long time ago what they were going to do, what would have changed their minds? I read an article the other day that talked about the US squandering decades of international diplomacy for domestic gain. What we have now is a single super-power, in a position to do more or less what it wants, who's international policy is being driven by domestic polls (in a country who's voter turnout is <50%). Worrisome indeed.

You should save yourself and your company years of grief by shooting yourself through the head immediately. Believe me, in the long run it'll turn out better for everyone. - Tyto (at arstechnica) Awasu 1.0[^]: A free RSS reader with support for Code Project.

Lost User

I've disagreed with a lot of GWBs decisions, but this is one I wholeheartedly agree with. Sadly, it seems the OAU (Organisation for African Unity) has refused to condemn Mugabe because white farmers are being evicted. They would rather people starve. Elaine The tigress is here :-D

Paul Watson

Trollslayer wrote: Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: time Mugabe got twatted For those of our friends outside the UK, this is a technical term I bloody well hope so because from the meaning of twat here in SA to "be twatted" would probably land you in jail. Just what does it mean so that I can use the phrase with confidence when in London (and not SA.)

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Macbeth muttered: I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er DavidW wrote: You are totally mad. Nice.

Paul Watson

And you know exactly what the African continent is going to say in response. I wish our government would do something. It is no good the UK, US or any non-African country standing up to Mugabe. It is just labelled as racist, imperialistic, colonial prejudice or something equally dof.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Macbeth muttered: I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er DavidW wrote: You are totally mad. Nice.

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Given a damn good kicking. That man deserves it. :-D Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Hehe I was just waiting to see if anyone asked...;) Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++