bumper234 wrote: » 4 Americans killed in drone strikeshttp://abcnews.go.com/Politics/eric-holder-americans-killed-drones/story?id=19236300 Plenty of drone strikes here. Suspected militants but no proof. That seems like bombing with impunity to me.
esteve wrote: » Im afraid its not a bad arguement. I already gave one example, i.e. their implicit involvement in the genocide of nearly one million East Timorese. America has a huge list of such atrocities, as does Russia, but to say that the US has a better foeign policy than Russia in this regard is based on nothing except your own desire for it to be so.
The Commission estimates that the minimum-bound for the number of conflict-related deaths during the Commission's reference period, 1974 to 1999, is 102,800 (+/- 12,000). This estimate is derived from (i) an estimate of 18,600 total killings (+/- 1000) using multiple systems estimation (MSE) techniques and (ii) an estimate of 84,200 (+/- 11,000) deaths due to hunger and illness which exceed the total that would be expected if the death rate due to hunger and illness had continued as it was in the pre-invasion peacetime period.
Godge wrote: » This is another bad argument. America has foreign policy weaknesses, much less than before but the scale of it is much less than Russias. To say that it is "just as much as Russia" is false.
Godge wrote: » This is another bad argument. America has foreign policy weaknesses, much less than before but the scale of it is much less than Russias. To say that it is "just as much as Russia" is false. I do not agree with the death penalty, you have picked on one of the faults of the Americans that I would accept they have. However, they are not alone. The Chinese execute much more. In their puppet regime in North Korea you can be executed because the President's wife is jealous of your past relationships. At least the Americans have some sort of trial. The Russians have a moratorium on executions - you go to Siberia instead to die slowly, have a read of some of the information on Russian prisons.As for the statement that "America regularly bombs innocent men, women and children with impunity", that is simply not true. And it certainly does not do it to its own people like in Chechnya. The lengths people go and the regimes they defend in order to pursue their anti-american jingoistic positions never fails to amuse me.
esteve wrote: » America does this also, just as much as Russia. With me saying this, it is not anti-american, it is a fact.
bumper234 wrote: » The same can EASILY be said of the United States! Oh please America KILLS it's own people! There have been 1,264 prisoners executed in American prisons since 1976. Up to 7000 prisoners a year die in US prisons where gangs are allowed to rule and murder and rape is an everyday occurrence. America regularly bombs innocent men, women and children with impunity and this is in a country who it is not at war with!. Save the morals lecture.
Godge wrote: » America was all of that too, but it has grown significantly as a nation and despite many problems remaining is probably a better place and has a higher moral standing than a country which allowed an Indian woman to die in a rural hospital because we don't do abortions and has refused the moral obligation to share in the defence of its neighbours.
Seaneh wrote: » The war only happened so that Chaney and the boys could make money hand over fist at the taxpayers expense.
bumper234 wrote: » What he means is the average American taxpayer lost trillions. The rich folk in power lost feck all and in fact made billions.
Godge wrote: » My view of America and Russia isn't solely based on my time there. In fact I had a great time in Russia. How my time was spent and whether I had enough beer doesn't stop me from reflecting on what I saw there and adding to what I read. There is no doubt that Russia is an oppressive state, homophobic, misogynist and racist with a policy of supporting other oppressive regimes.
Godge wrote: » America was all of that too, but it has grown significantly as a nation and despite many problems remaining is probably a better place and has a higher moral standing than a country which allowed an Indian woman to die in a rural hospital because we don't do abortions and has refused the moral obligation to share in the defence of its neighbours. The hypocritical knee-jerk anti-americanism rife in Ireland is unbelieveable.
Godge wrote: » My view of America and Russia isn't solely based on my time there. In fact I had a great time in Russia. How my time was spent and whether I had enough beer doesn't stop me from reflecting on what I saw there and adding to what I read. There is no doubt that Russia is an oppressive state, homophobic, misogynist and racist with a policy of supporting other oppressive regimes. America was all of that too, but it has grown significantly as a nation and despite many problems remaining is probably a better place and has a higher moral standing than a country which allowed an Indian woman to die in a rural hospital because we don't do abortions and has refused the moral obligation to share in the defence of its neighbours. The hypocritical knee-jerk anti-americanism rife in Ireland is unbelieveable.
esteve wrote: » That is entirely besides the point. While I am happy you had a good time there, better so in the US than Russia, it really doesnt matter in the context of the discussion. For one it is entirely subjective, ignoring facts but based on your opinion of both places. Others may in fact prefer Russia to the US after visiting both, but it doesnt really matter. When the UK controlled India, London was a centre for innovation, development, art, culture and civilization, while at the same time it was crushing human rights abroad and taking part in some horrendous acts of oppression, terror and murder. Its foreign policy was barbaric and uncivilised, a complete paradox to London itself.
Seaneh wrote: » But the former VP's company made (and is still making) billions per year on contracts to "rebuild". Funny that.
Jonny7 wrote: » The last time they apparently invaded a country "'for oil" it ended up costing them rather a lot (trillions) and they didn't get any oil contracts.
bumper234 wrote: » Unlike Obama and Kerry who tend to throw the word TERRORIST'S into every second sentence to scare the American people into thinking that they want to bomb Syria for reasons other than oil.
realweirdo wrote: » As Dwight Eisenhower said, "the buck stops here".
karma_ wrote: » How could a country that had been independent for less than 20 years at that point enter into a World war? And why would Ireland want to get involved over the Falklands? Are the Swiss monsters too?
Godge wrote: » What about Ireland? We stood idly by while the Second World War waged on, we stood idly by while we allowed Argentine aggression to take the Falklands and we continually refuse to take sides against evil regimes and take our part in the defence of our European neighbours. We are the kettle to the American's pot.
Jonny7 wrote: » He's playing the home-crowd very well over this - he has to, they have an unsurprisingly different take on the conflict, fueled by Kremlin controlled press. The consummate politician. Perhaps Hollande or Obama should suggest if the Russians are so committed to the well-being of Syria, perhaps they donate a sizeable portion of the 1.5 billion they are making on arms sales to Assad - to the UNHCR instead of the pittance they are currently donating.
Rascasse wrote: » Putin has written an opinion piece in tomorrows NY Times. Not really surprised at it's contents. Playing to the well known fears of the American people. Expressing doubt about the perpetrators of the chemical attack. That intelligence base at Latakia and the port at Tartus must be really important to him. Ends with a bit of zinger:
K-9 wrote: » Mod: You've been warned about glib replies before, if something isn't worth replying to then don't reply, don't side track and derail a thread. Don't post in this thread again, thank you.
The UN has tried to include White Phosphorus (and many other chemical agents, including CS gas) into the list of chemical weapons a number of times, as its effects are just as damaging as others on the list. Guess who continually gets in the way of that though... ...there are no prizes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_p...us_use_in_Iraq Take from it what you will...
Godge wrote: » I have been to both countries. My views are not based on long-distance viewing. I did not say that America was an angel, I did not say that I agreed with all aspects of their foreign policy, however, I will repeat myself and say that the facts of the matter are that America is a much better, freer, equal country to live in than Russia. It has many things that it can be proud of. If you cannot see the difference between the two, then I am sorry for you. That does not mean that America can escape criticism.
We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.
Tony EH wrote: » Nothing in this post is actually worth a reply.
Tony EH wrote: » No, a perfectly valid response to a rather silly post that didn't contain anything worth replying to.
Tony EH wrote: » No. You posted some silly remarks and a quote from a general who operates in a military unit that used/uses WP in its arsenal. There was nothing worth replying to. If you want a discussion, make some sensible points for someone to counter.
esteve wrote: » Yawn, whats your point? Still no conclusive proof that Assad ordered the use of chemical weapons, it may have been a rogue general. I dont want to make this about Israel, but there are countless human rights violations that the US ignore. Same goes for numerous US allies in the middle east, and the US ignore these. As do Russia etc, but we all know how they really are, but some people watch too many American movies and are absolutely blinded by some ridiculous rhetoric.
Godge wrote: » The last refuge of those with nothing to say
Mr.Micro wrote: » That is true what you say, compared to Russia. The US has many faults, but I am not sure that it extends the same equalities abroad. At home it is all as you say, but away from home it's a bit of a devil and unpredictable. It certainly has lost it's always the good guy image and is not seen as altruistic anymore but as a superpower with imperialist intentions, or just self serving.
