http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/15/international/middleeast/15BAGH.html

The Iraq goverment had a election. One person was on the ballot. Either you voted for him or you didn't. Most people votes for him. What would have happened if they didn't?

paxx:

I think I go as far out of my way as I can to find alternative points of view. I know that some people in all these countries love America, but if their government and most-vocal citizens take an anti-american stance, I can't very well show any support for them out of faith.

I know my original shopping comments irked ya, I'm sorry. If, though, it is in my nation's interest to fly warplanes from point a to point b, and a nation in between says 'no', I am probably not gonna buy what they make. If I have heard the same thing from that same country for 20 years, I'm gonna avoid their section in the store completly.

It sucks for the America-friendly producers there, but what else can I do? I can't vote in European elections, so all I have is my small paycheck and my big mouth. This week I'm in the mood for good Strine Shiraz. It'll probably be a while before I spring for a bottle of Bordeaux or Riesling.

Heck, for that matter, I'd much rather be investing my spending money in Iraq's luxury goods than investing my tax money to bomb them, but they aren't cooperating...

I keep forgetting that the New York Times wants you to sign in before you read the story.

In any case it is really strange that they can have a vote on a presidency and have only one person who can be elected. Who voted the other way? What choice is there if there is only one person?

On another note
-----
There is a difference between hating America and loving American people. Usually hating America involves, almost exclusivly, foriegn American policies. But if you talk about an American citizen then it is usually good. I would bet that most poeple from other countries know that is you say "American citizen" it could quite literally be a native from your own land or has a history that can be traced to it. What is a American citizen when so many come from so many other countries?

I must be dropping my marbles, 'cause I've now reached a point where I can read this thread and still smile. I think that I have learned a few things along the way about how opinions on both sides of international issues evolve. paxx has dropped in a few well expressed explanations. Lecrayon has shown again that he has a very great heart. I still believe that it would be a fatal mistake to project our love and reasonableness on the fanatics of the world. As to the jabs that are frequently aimed at America: giving the world a well defined easy target for grousing and griping has always been one of our primary functions in the world. Nothing ever really changes.

The Better Half has hung me on the wall and administered 10 lashes with the cat-o'-nine-tails, for revisiting this thread after I said that I wouldn't.

/me says 'hello' to BKB's better half....how do you put up with him?...

She says "G'day", and that the cat-o'-nine-tails hangs right above the rolling pin.

She further notes with regret that I seem to have become remarkably insensitive to both.

wow.... way too much information...

But you look pretty good in black fishnet stockings we hear??

You win, Wombat. That was funny!

wow.. more information... and yet I keep wanting to here more



Is this because of an Axis of Evil on this thread? Tune in to see.... same bat thread, same bat site....

http://www.msnbc.com/news/822193.asp?pne=msn

now what???

Another totalitarian weapons-of-mass-destruction seeker chimes in.

Should nuke'm till they glow then make a nice parking lot out of the whole da___ area.

N. Korea has a standing 1 million man army, with enough of draft age to pull in about 2 times more. It is supposed that they have two nuclear weapons already built that they got from Pakistan. That said, we would have a shitty war with them *if* we were fighting them alone.

If we fight Iraq, we are fighting Iraq. If we fight N. Korea, we are fighting China. Big difference. I think there are plenty of VeitNam era people around here to give a good perspective on fighting a proxy war against China.

Well, I have to admit that if I had any doubts about going into Iraq they are almost gone now. They can not be allowed to fool the world like N. Korea did. I know right now that is what Bush is telling the rest of them. Iraq will say they got a Nuke and then what? Now evryone is safer knowing that he will never use it? The funny thing is that I don't think N. Korea would even dare to use it. But Iraq is a different story. We know there is more of a possibility that he would use it. On anybody and threaten the whole region.

Its going to be a long weeeek.

There are rumors that we are going to cut off the OIL SUPPLY to Korea in protest... Wonder where they could get oil and what they could swap for it? Medium range ballistic missiles? Maybe something sweet to stick in them? They are starving, and now they have a really good export.

Someone as smart as Saddam wouldn't give such a precious commodity to terrorists, he would let us know he had one, build up lots of conventional military resources, and invade Kuwait again. If we messed with him, he'd make Tel Aviv glow. Then he'd see how much of Saudi Arabia he could get.


*****P.S.*****

And anyone that got all uppity at me about my perceptions of the French government, really, really needs to read what has been going on at the summit of French speaking nations this week. Terrorists (Hezbollah, even) are taking part; they are talking about imposing high tarriffs on non-French language media (to promote their 'culture and language'); kicking out Isreali journalists; refusing to take human rights abuses into consideration for membership; etc.

People need to learn that the government of a nation can be anti-war for bad reasons, not just because of their 'elevated thinking' or utter lack of character...

(note the word 'government'. I don't presume the opinions of the people of these French-speaking nations, though if they don't feel the same they really need to exercise whatever flavor of choice they have, if any...)

Here's an idea....why don't we stop feeding the North Korean mofo's. Their 1 million man army (1 million stick figures) wouldn't get very far...I think.

Another idea....Leave Saddam alone....let him invade and destroy his neighbors...then we take him out...and lower the price of oil worldwide!! -- we would lose Israel as an ally, but considering their contribution to the international community since their inception...I don't think it would be a great loss.


Yeah yeah, I know I'm openning myself up for MAJOR flames...but what is life without a little excitement

Appologies in advance

As much as I'm opposed to attacking Irak, I would be all in favor of a full blown attack on North Korea. North Korea's president, Kim, is as much of a wacko as his father ever was before him for the past 50 years and more. North Korea poses a real threat to the whole world. And it will only be getting worst as years go by. I'm one of those who say "If someone needs to be attacked and put back ion its place, it's North Korea".
Should we attack Irak because it's less dangerous? A strange paradoxal thought. :/ If a country gets to be too dangerous, like North Korea is, its has to be stoped right away.

Peff, when I read in another thread that you were born and raised in North Africa, I had serious doubts. But this last thread of yours sure convinces me now.

Meaning???

paxx..please elaborate...

Peff: I think that he is alluding to the "stop feeding the North Korean mofo's" comment; i.e. a person from North Africa that doesn't have the ability to differentiate between a corrupt government and its suffering population.

I'm getting tired of the suffering population arguement....after all wasn't the pre-revolutionary population of the US oppressed and suffering? Isn't every population suffering today (to some extent). I do know the difference...and I also know what a popular movement can accomplish. After all, with a standing army of one million (and another 2 million in the wings) how many are left to oppose? If we quit feeding them, then they might get off their butts and do something (with common cutlery if need be)