Hi It’s Karnie with you this morning. Ros has already put up a post and I’m just adding to it. He will be in Dallas on the BBC bus today. WHYS will be live from this restaurant.
Ros says, Pakistan is the only foreign story that has had a look in on the US TV networks while he’s been there.
President Bush has pledged assistance to Pakistan in “confronting this threat and bringing the perpetrators to justice”.
Is this an internal matter which deserves an internal solution? Or should America intervene? Is this latest bomb evidence that direct intervention is needed? Should America step in as the world’s policeman? OR should America continue to be the world’s banker? Washington, has given more than 10 billion dollars to Pakistan in the 7 years since the September 11 attacks. Pakistanis are largely opposed to American policies in the region but welcome their aid.
Ros will be with US voters today, They will be discussing: How far do they want their country to be the world’s policeman? Tell us what you think AND you are also welcome to put your questions to those in the US.
***
Here’s another story you are welcome to comment on:
South Africa’s president Thabo Mbeki has been forced out of government by his party (the African National congress). He handed in his resignation over the weekend and addressed the country in a televised broadcast. It’s been hailed as “a dignified exit.” How will he be judged?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
It is time for the U.S. to take some responsibility for the problems with Islamic militants in Pakistan….
Ros,
i hope you are going to be enjoying your time in texas…
whats happening in the world is something None and will continue whenever Th US interverness exists
sorry for being off the Topic ….
If a government believes that it can fix the world ( before fixing it self ) what do you think others will think about it
I lived in the states for 10 years and as a child i saw many terrible stuff going On ,,,,when i moved to the Middle and Far east and saw the things that hppend (which originally Created by the Gov of the united states ) it made me laugh and i thougt it Ironic !!!
Today i Heared on The BBC Radio channel the commentator saying ( will Peace fall on the Far and Mid east terrorists if Geroge Bush leaves his place !!! ) Love to say to him NOOOo
Because , Now days Every Developed Country in The World tends to show its musles to the Developing and Under-developed Countries !!! and Peace Won’t occur Only after these countries gets cured for this dieases thats affecting them !!
Hi Ros. A dozen oysters then the catfish for me please…and shall we have a look at the wine list?
As for intervention in Pakistan, I’ll hold by what I’ve said many times before. You can’t beat terrorists even with an army numbering in the hundreds of thousands. What you large conventional army CAN do is accidentally kill innocents in the pursuit of terrorists and, rightly or wrongly, generate as much or more resentment as the nasty militants. Unfair, yeah, but fact.
As trite as it sound, if the USA wants to defeat terrorists in Pakistan then work with the government there to eliminate root causes. Don’t flex your muscles and rattle your sabres.
hello guys,
A very good topic to talk about.Well i guess the only way to deal with this problem is to kill Osama Bin Laden- if he is alive. Because it seems difficult to solve this sort of problem.World’s largest and best secret service agency in America has not been able to find a solution,who are we to give a solution to this problem.
So better hope that Mr.Osama is dead and pray to god that no more terrorists are born.
Thank you
Abhinav
Leave. it’s somebody else’s problem. Not the US, not the UK, not the EU. If Pakistani immigrants in the EU return to Pakistan it’s a one-way trip. No visits to bone up on backpack bomb construction or see granny. Not our problem to figure out who’s who.
Leaving Afghan’s to their own devices and not returning their calls would be a good idea also. It did wonders for Vietnam. The Vietnamese refugees next door are very quiet and polite neighbors. Compared to Haiti, Cuba is a wonderland of fat people and privilege.
The best cure for terrorism is to nod sagely from a distance as the locals sort out what sort of fair and equitable government will stop the bombs.
Killing bin Laden will get us nowhere in terms of pacifying religious extremism. With or without him, there are enough leaders and groups to keep the world supplied with fanatical violence for a long time to come unless someone can convince them to lay down their arms and pick up their Qur’ans and tasbih beads. We have to interact with these people and groups, learn what their grievances are, and address those grievances. We do not necessarily have to aquiesce to their demands. However, we can work towards an agreeable solution for everyone using diplomacy. As Bob said, military violence will only breed more terrorism.
What we need to do is look after our own back yard and let the Pakistanis look after theirs. We can’t solve their problems for them because our presence is only resented.
Pakistanis need to decide whether they want Talaban style theocracy or british style democracy. They can then fight their own fight instead of blaming America for all their problems.
I don’t understand the question because I don’t know who these “militants” are. Now if you had asked how to deal with the terrorists…
I don’t think so. Though terrorism is being global problem and it can only solved by global action. But in the name of to control terrorist attack intervening to other country is not acceptable to ordinary people. Example is today’s Afghanistan and Iraq. I strongly believe that war never solve anything. So necessary to peace talk and role of moderators is very useful to tackle any problems.
I have a friend from Karachi, she always tell me that Pakistan is becoming hotspot of terror because of International intervention to our internal problems. She added, “ International communities main interest is not peace building. They just want to intervened to our internal problems”. Today Pakistan’s case is being so much complex. Without farsighted vision and strategy it is likely impossible to control terrorist attack in Pakistan.
I am still in confusion that what is the best solution of this problem.
I believe that President Bush has realized what a disaster his stewardship has been as leader of the free world. Bush’s last hope to salvage his reputation is to get Osama, and he will do his utmost to chase him down over these last four long months of his administration.
There is no way to “win” in Pakistan… or Afghanistan, or Iraq. I believe we should remove all of our troops. They don’t want us there. They must work out their own problems.
@ Pink
I think the major grievance in Pakistan is that there are too many Pakistanis for each one to feel as honored by god s the Koran tells him is his due. Since birth control isn’t an option death control will become more widely practiced. Divide the population by the acreage of arable farmland and you will be left with a fraction. This article written in Pakistan puts that fraction at 0.09 hectares per capita in 2003; just barely survivable.
I’m sure with population growth and fuel price increases the pressure on an individual Pakistani has become quite severe in some cases. Suicide bombing can be sold as an honorable way out in a culture that reviles suicides otherwise. While the source of the problem can be hunger or economic dislocation the expression is religious terrorism.
You cannot quench a flood by attacking the water. It must be diverted to productive use or some reservoir where it can rest. Squeeze the river into a tight channel and it floods all the more.
No, the Western world, EU and US, have to learn that using their military power is not the solution to every problem and face the fact that it often creates more chaos than “good”. The US does not have the right to intervene in how every other counties’ leaders runs their government and how they deal with their problems.
Pakistan needs to deal with this internal problem on it’s own. PERHAPS, if Pakistan asks for aide, then the EU and US can consider the level of aide it can provide, which should NOT included taking military leadership.
PS- Ros, I remember the Shrimp being good.
PSS- Bob in Queensland, Pappadeux is more of a beer kinda place. Also, each “serving” is a small mountain of food.
what i think no policeman required to solve problem of terrorism.now terrorism is simillar problem as polio used to be in past.what we neeed to do is global confrence on terrorism and a definate plan apporoved by all countries.it is problem we can’t ignore now.we need strict anti terrorist laws and global cooperation.
Bob in Queensland September 22, 2008 at 4:07 am,
To eliminate the “root causes” of Islamic terrorism you have to get the terrorists to change their minds about enslaving everyone and forcing them, at the point of the sword, to follow their particular brand of Islam. When the Taleban were in control in Afghanistan, they murdered fellow Afghans for the “crime” of deviating from their brand of Islam. How are you going to eliminate that ideology? And isn’t it up to Muslims themselves, first and foremost, to clean house here?
Of course no one likes American policies, but no one opposes American money… Unless your last name is Castro and lead a place called Cuba that was wrenched by a few hurricanes recently.
I’ll admit my opinion is slightly bias based on our economic problems at home in the US, but I do not think America should continue to be the world’s banker. We can’t afford it. I’m not saying the US should stop all international aide, but I would like for my leaders to worry more about our economic problems at home. It’s like the lesson they teach on on an airplane: In the event of an emergency please put the oxygen mask over your nose first, then help your kids/neighbor. You can’t help your kids if you dead, so first safe guard yourself.
@ Jessica.
700 Billion will be invested to cover the greed and the don’t care attitude of many American financiers. Some one must have sold the mortgages to the prospective home owners, well knowing that they would debunk, and not even checking the basic requirements-are you working, have you other commitments?.What are they?. Germany has a very good system, if you are in debt, if you have a mortgage, if there are any negative reports about your ability to pay, they are recorded by the Shufa, an organization supporting banks, building societies, ETC. If you want to lend money for a mortgage ,or a car, you will be asked to authorize this Shufa search, if OK you get-if not Bad Luck. I bet the brokers have cashed in on the provision, and are now rubbing their hands for a piece of the 700 billion pumpkin pie.
Like all Governments America only gives where there are returns, mainly political, but with a hell of a lot of financial, commodity interest. I wonder how many outstanding pledges there are. Promises made to get the attention, and when all is over, conveniently forgotten.
Don’t worry America can afford it, or do you fear that the freeness is due to the forthcoming election.
John in Germany.
Hey Ros Love Them Dallas Cowboys!!!
The power vacuum after WWII made the US the defacto world cop. In that time as nations recovered we had time to put in the infrastructure to oversee a certain order to the world to try to avoid a WWIII.
Now as nations become stronger economically and militarily we need to have understandings of a basic order to the world and allow nations to control their spheres of influence. Together though we must remain vigilant against the raw, naked aggression of the Russians or the barbaric insanity of the Muslims who again during their “holy” month of Ramadan committed another wanton act of violence kidnapping the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan & killing his driver outright.
If civilization is to progress further then there needs to be some sort of policeman to maintain a certain order.
Should America step in as the world’s policeman?
No. But that doesn’t stop those in charge from doing it daily.
We have more than enough problems here at home. We don’t need to go waste resources showing off and policing the world when we can’t even take care of our own citizens.
@ Bryan~ it’s so handy that you can’t find any example of Christians killing other Christians over religious differences except the Reformatoin, the Irish Troubles, the massacres of Mormons by Protestants and vice versa, and occasional clashes between Catholics and Orthodox in the Ukraine.
And maybe the War of the Roses.
People are people and will engage in the virtues and sins of people despite the local religion whatever that may be. It isn’t Islam; it’s just stupid, the same as everywhere else.
If the US had the capacity to catch and put the task to justice, then why not?
The US is known for good laws and good legal procedures which at the same
time abets a home land the those apprehended.
All criminals want to be tried only in the US and not any other country with
ruthless Guys especially when a suspected Terrorist is caught. Its high time
these Guys face it. Just bombard that area!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think the US or anyone can solve this problem. It’s time for Muslims to admit there is a serious problem with their religion and do something about it. Remember, there were MASS protests as the result of cartoons in a newspaper, but there won’t be any protests for muslims being attacked at a hotel (though the target was westerners). You cannot deal with a problem until you even admit there is a problem. How many m ore people are we going to allow to get blown up before someone finally stops being afraid of offending someone, and removing the PC factor, and say, you’ve got a problem, deal with it or you won’t like how we will.
An alcoholic cannot begin a recovery until they admit they have a problem. It’s time to admit there’s a problem.
@ Pangolin
Can you show me a single case of a Palestinian christian suicide bomber, despiet the fact they live under the same conditions as palestinian muslims?
I don’t think the US should be the world’s policeman. However, we have been acting as the world’s policeman for a while. I don’t think this is going to change. Luckily, most of the conflicts that we “get into” usually affects us in one way or another. The UN should be the world’s policeman but they don’t have the resources or the will.
This could be an interesting show tonight…Pakistan troops have just fired on American helicopters: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7628890.stm
I think the USA should not be the world’s policeman and banker. The USA should even decentralize or devolve some responsibilities to states, cities, counties, and even ethnic groups.
One problem with America being “the world’s policeman” is that, all too often, the USA chooses to police threats that only they perceive.
If we need a policeman, we need it to be one that’s “a good team player”, not the proverbial loner.
I have to say, that I don’t want the United States, being the world’s police bureaux, banker and regulator of everything…
Mbeki has done a good thing by opting to resign in an apparent move to pave the way for a new leadership. His years in power were disappointing as South Africa failed to redress many urgent problems like poverty, violence and unemployment.
South Africa needn’t any severe power struggle leading it to a situation similar in Zimbabwe that has put it far behind.
He will be remembered as being soft with Mugabe or rather supportive of his policy as he didn’t use South Africa’s economic and political influence to force him to conduct fair elections. He’s gone but he left Mugabe in power, who will remain a problem for the new South Africa president if he doesn’t respect the deal he has signed with the opposition.
It remains how the new president, expectedly Jacob Zuma, can turn a new page and put South Africa on the right track. Otherwise there can be no real changes but just change of faces.
I don’t think we should be the world’s policeman. No matter what we do there will be ridicule from other countries. We could have done this better or we should have stayed out of it. We have our own issues to deal with and they should be addressed first.
The US needs to look as a partner with the rest of the world and not as a big brother using sticks and carrots to implement its policies vis-a-vis foes and friends. The world needs states that treat each other on equal footing and not on the basis of domineering.
If the US continues to have too many interventions, it may get political allies around the globe but at the same this will generate into increasing resentment towards its policies. Even in the rest of the West, people are resentful of the US because of its policies to make the world turn according to its agenda.
Its military power now guaranteeing it to be the world’s policeman is just increasing the race for arms among the other emerging powerful countries, particularly China and Russia. This will end by each emerging as a military power seeking to have its own crossroads to police.
The question that remains is whether the US can police all the hot spots of the world without over-stretching its army and budget or it will have selective policing by turning a blind eye to what is going on in areas it considers of less strategic importance.
World’s Police force meet world of Lawyers.
is that mean when ever we ( countries) want to do something go thru them and probably bribe them? you know what ROS! you and i know what police men do in our streets they will get anything they want. ROS i dont get this . Are u suggesting that the “colony” thing to come back? i mean comon guys my family problem is my problem not urs.
hello everyone,
No ofcourse not :why would i want America to be my country’s policeman.And the problem is America is itself in a case a burglary so it better protect itself and later look on to protect us.
Thank you
Abhinav
I don’t know if it fits the topic but I thought this article hit the nail on the head and is funny, to boot.
This country the world’s policeman… Think again!
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1843168,00.html?cnn=yes
Can somebody define what it means to be “a policeman” and apply that criteria to the US or any government for that fact.
Before you can become a police officer they usually do a background check.
We are talking about a country founded upon a genocide of native Americans, promoted a band of “insurgents” that traitorously fought its own government for its independence, promoted and funded the slave trade, fought a bloody civil war to protect the right to own people, retained “Jim Crow” laws until 1965, used fictitious and unfounded fears to inspire people into 4 wars for certain (Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, propped up governments like Saddam Hussein, Supplied weapons and training to fight and defeated the Russians who were trying to destroy the Taliban, has become the single largest contributor to global warming, Created and used the single most heinous weapon of mass destruction to kill men women and children indiscriminately. Then justified it by spreading a falsity about the citizens were going to commit suicide anyway.
RE “”WHYS will be live from this restaurant.””
———————————————————————————————————
———– If Ros wishes to do more than just tip toe across America, he needs to get out and about more.
If he goes to the Flying J truck stop there in Dallas, I promise that he will get his ears chewed off with pithy interviews and get to the heart the way average working class Americans live and see the world.
@ Dwight
“used fictitious and unfounded fears to inspire people into 4 wars for certain (Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, propped up governments like Saddam Hussein, Supplied weapons and training to fight and defeated the Russians who were trying to destroy the Taliban, has become the single largest contributor to global warming, Created and used the single most heinous weapon of mass destruction to kill men women and children indiscriminately. Then justified it by spreading a falsity about the citizens were going to commit suicide anyway.”
Everything the US does as you claim it does, Europe has done 10000x worse, and you know it. Your statement about the Korean war is basically an outright lie. North Korea invaded South Korea, then when the UN forces took all of the Korean Peninsula, China then invaded and pushed UN forces back to the current border.
To be a policeman no. No country should have the right to force thier will on another, and this is the implication of describing America as a policeman.
However America does want to things from other countries. Oil from Iraq, Sercurity from Pakistan and Afghanistan trading partnets in latin America. To get this influnce it does need to take a leading role. Setting an example, providing advice, paying a fair price for resources. If America wants the ability to influnce the world, it should take a role in leading it by example.
@ Bob
“One problem with America being “the world’s policeman” is that, all too often, the USA chooses to police threats that only they perceive.
If we need a policeman, we need it to be one that’s “a good team player”, not the proverbial loner.”
Funny, so you want th eUS to be the only nation on earth that acts in the interest of nations other than itself. That’s the same kind of language that attacks the US for ever engaging in any kind of combat, then complains that the US entered WW1 and WW2 too late for their liking.
@Dwight from Cleveland
C’mon Dwight you really cannot believe all that crap.
You expect perfection where none ever has been. You seek to condemn action of long past generations based upon todays values. You portray the American Indians as peace loving calm people that got along with everyone and that too is sdimply a fantasy as is using pixie dust to fuel America to stop the fantasy of global warming.
You need to take your head out of a politically correct trash can and see the world as it exists in reality.
But if you hate America so very much why do you live in a country that you cannot stand and one that commits evil on an unprecendeted scale? Why are you not living in that perfect country that does everything absolutely perfect and has never made any mistakes and nebver had to make a deal with the devil to acheive a larger goal?
@ Steve
The term “policeman” implies a person acting for the good of the community, in this case the world.
If your contention is that America’s actions are (and should be) purely motivated by self interest this may well be a valid view. However, let’s not dress this up as being a policeman when such behaviour is just that of the greedy local thug.
You can’t have it both ways.
But if you hate America so very much why do you live in a country that you cannot stand and one that commits evil on an unprecendeted scale?
C’mon, why does this argument always come up “if you don’t like it leave”… What ever happened to recognizing shortfalls and wrongs and speaking out to change them instead of running for the border like a coward or crybaby because you don’t like what your country is doing or has done.
I love my country as I’m sure Dwight does (?) and think its sad when people resort to arguments like “Well why don’t you move if you don’t like it”. If we all thought that way, we’d have one pathetic country.
*affixes American flag pin to lapel to show patriotism and love for America*
@Dan
American Indians were/are people the same as any people. But they weren’t the ones who went across the ocean and stole the land.
Why do righties always challenge those who disagree with them to leave the country?
@ Bob:
Lol, good point!
@ Selena:
Why do righties always challenge those who disagree with them to leave the country?
Because they’re the most patriotic, so they deserve to stay and make the decisions while everyone else has to shut up or get out.
@ Bob
We’re all adults and know that all nations act in their own interest, time to hold the US to the same standard the you hold other countries to then.
@Selena
So let us unwind complete history and we can giv everything back to everyone and live like barbarians. Is that what you want to do?
It is time to grow up and be rational.
@Brett
It is not an America Love it or leave it…it is simply recognizing that Dwight hates living here. Where would he like to live?
@Bob
Well said!
It doesn’t trouble me that the US is looking after its own affairs. What troubles me is that they dress their actions in moral superiority.
@ Selena
“American Indians were/are people the same as any people. But they weren’t the ones who went across the ocean and stole the land.
Why do righties always challenge those who disagree with them to leave the country?”
Just so you know, the Native Americans are from Asia, hence they came from some place else. Who knows if they forced out other natives, as the N. American natives are pretty different than S. American natives.
As to your second question, many liberals threatened to move to Canada if Bush won in 2004, so I think it might have something to do with that, and I would have no problem with people who actively hated and worked against the country, to leave. Ie people who want to kill Americans, I would like them to leave.
@ Brett
These people are openly traitors, and wanted islamist fundamentalists to defeat US forces. I would be happy to have idiots like this leave the US. You want these fools here?
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/04/10/16769111.php
@Dan
Where on earth did you get the idea that Dwight hates living in his country? From what I read I see Dwight as loving his country so much he wants it to become the epitome of freedom and equality. Dwight wants his country to live up to the rhetoric, not merely spout the words.
@ Selena
In the US, we have a lot more free speech rights than you have in Canada, just wanted to let you know that.
@Steve
Think back a bit. It was idiots like this who went against Nazi Germany. The patriots went along with Hitler.
@Steve
We are not talking about Canada. When the conversation is about Canada, I will respond.
@ Selena
What are you comparing that to? I’m confused. Er, didn’t the “idiots” defeat nazi germany?
PS: Since I wasn’t allowed to bring up Canada, you cannot bring up Nazi germany, as this is a USA bashing topic only.
@Selena
Dwight hates everything that America is and does, we cannot do anything right…that to me means he cannot stand living here.
He is too eat up with being politically correct.
@ Selena
Way to avoid the question, Selena. Let’s all just bash the US. Maybe tomorrow we can have another American bashing discussion. And then the next day too.
I’ll look up thought crimes and hate crimes in canada that would get laughed out of court in the US. You don’t have half the freedoms we have here, and you try to say this country is some fascistic dictatorship when you aren’t allowed to even speak your mind in canada without being charged with a hate crime.
@Steve
We have had discussions about patriotism before Steve. You have never see my point and I have given up trying.
@ Selena
A “well said” right back at you. Your reply is exactly my answer to Steve’s retort.
@ Steve
By all means it’s time to hold the United States to the same standards as other countries but surely that must be a two way street. The USA should stop dressing up its foreign misadventures as “protecting the poor” or “spreading freedom” and admit that, to use your words, you are “acting in your own interest”. If you invade another country “in your own interest” then admit it–and accept the same censure that any other country would have to for violating a nation’s sovereignty.
The USA needs to learn to mind its own business. This is a large part of why so many “extremists” are angry with us; if we remained neutral on and stayed completely out of things like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we would be giving people far less fuel for their hatred of us.
This doesn’t mean we should completely isolate ourselves, though. As a leading economic superpower, some sort of leadership will naturally be expected of us. Alienating other countries and picking fights in the Middle East is not the way to do it. The USA is gaining a reputation as a bully, and this is not a reputation we want to have.
To those who have brought up the “If you don’t like it, then leave” argument — Recognizing the shortcomings of your country shows that you care. This isn’t North Korea; we’re allowed to critique ourselves here.
@ Bob
Then it’s time for you to stop complaining that the US doesn’t do what you want it to do quickly enough. If invading Iraq was in the US’s interest alone, then other nations wouldn’t have participated. It seems to me, Canada is in some sovereignty disputes, especially with Russia now. Russia might even take up arms of this, with the arctic circle thing. canada is increasing naval presence to limit shipping.
Gotta stop singling out the US when every nation does this stuff.
@ Dan and Steve,
The question is, “Do you want America to be the world’s policeman?” . The question begs to first answer “Does America have the right to be the world’s policeman?” As you two have pointed out, there are many countries guilty of the same thing. two wrongs… There is no perfection, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
The land was the Indians to fight over. The land in the middle east is the Middle easterners to fight over. There are more ways to invade a country then with a military. We have had a “war on drugs” in the country for 30 years.
My father, a carpenter, has a creed, “Get the termites out of the wood in your own house before you go help your neighbor.”
One more analogy, Why don’t we let all the bank robbers run the prisons. they can look over the murderers and rapist. because bank robbing is less harmful.
The question is:
Should America step in as the world’s policeman?
Why is there only one answer that doesn’t seem to usher cries of “America Bashing!!!! OHHH NOOO!!!!”
With a question like this, if you can’t take a differing opinion which doesn’t staunchly support American policy, maybe you should wait it out until another Britney Spears topic comes up so you don’t have to wade through all the America Bashing posts…
Brett,
thanks for the defense. I am used to it though. I am glad things worked out the way they did for the most part. As part Native American, there is a thought that i might not have a car payment, house payment, bills, and a bunch of other annoying things If it had worked out differently. The settlers came here to get away from what we are involved with now. they were tired of the endless wars, and corrupt government. Cut to 300 years later and we are back at it.
I love what this country set out to be. we are just way off course, and ideals such as “being the world’s police” are further eroding that goal of Independence. to those who feel that we should, I say, go back to Europe and pick up where your ancestors left off. Leave this country to people who seek to break the chains of the cycle of violence. It is those people who hate the ideals that spawned this country.
I do not hate everything this country has done. I think it has brought wonderful things to the world.
Let us say there is this really popular musician out there. He has entertained millions, gave hundreds of millions to charity, helped poor and disadvantaged children succeed, and has changed the way people view each other. But lets say he is also known for molesting children. If the question was, “Should Musician ‘X’ be your babysitter?” your answer would hopefully be, “No!” But you are only looking at the bad things he did. Why are you not looking at all those good things?
@ Steve
If you can find where I’ve ever said anything like this I’ll happily apologise and “stop complaining”. I suspect your search will be fruitless though…I’m usually the voice in the corner advocating diplomatic solutions and urging caution at the “but we shoudl do SOMETHING” argument.
With regard to Iraq, as you well know all the other coalition members (with the possible exception of the UK) had their arms firmly twisted by America and probably acted in THEIR perceived self-interest, hoping for re-development contracts later.
As for American’s motives, you may be surprised to hear that I don’t buy the oil argument. However, I’ve spent years puzzling what the real motive was and still don’t know. I sincerely hope the thousands of lives and trillions of dollars weren’t spent on a “yee-haw” cowboy whim.
And regarding Canada and sovereignty, your point is?
@ Dwight
You really seem to focus on the negative. Sure, this country has good and bad aspects, but focusing on the negative all the time is like depressed people. They have constant negative thoughts, don’t see the positive, hence why they are depressed.
I have a feeling what you focus on reflects something about you. I consider myself a happy person, and while I don’t deny there is a negative side, I don’t dwell on it.
No, because the job also means being the world’s judge, jury and executioner and nothing gives us that right.
But I have a comment concerning Pakistan ~
We invaded Afganistan because their government was protecting al-Qaeda.
Today, Pakistan is protecting al-Qaeda by refusing to allow us to pursue them in the border areas and yet Pakistan is considered a friend and an ally in the “war on terror” while they allow Al-Qaeda to get stronger every day.
Friends like this we don’t need.
I have a feeling what you focus on reflects something about you. I consider myself a happy person, and while I don’t deny there is a negative side, I don’t dwell on it.
Maybe Dwight is optimistic and is looking forward to America stiving for perfection and not just settling with the norm. A happy person can be optimistic, right? 🙂
@ Brett
We’re all adults and know there’s no such thing as perfection. You can’t strive for something that is impossible.
@Dwight
What country has the perfection you seek?
Additionally the “wonderfuly enlightened countries of the Middle East” attacked America 9/11. Don’t believe it? Look on youtube to see all the Muslim women of various Islamic countries twirling their tongues and passing out sweet cakes celebrating.
So which one meets your expectation of perfect?
Take it easy, not every answer is bashing America, but you have to take one on the butt when its due. And on top of that ive said it once and here goes again. I had the priveledge to work with American Forces, in Germany. As a soldier myselt i was impressed by the style, friendliness, and comradeship, we recieved. Good we were all at the same game-the cold war, not much shooting, but a hell of a lot of stress.
Look at the President, and see how the American people are taken in this world. And every one of them to date has had his good and bad sides. American like all countries has been caught up in the global finance world——-Greed and dont care about those at the bottom. Different to those that fought with my dad in Europe, and those i served with. But its the same all over our crazy world. Before i am stamped as a communist i will close. With A serious, God Save America, and the rest of us.
Just one thought to close. Throughout world history Woman have been behind most things. which ones are vehind the collpse of the finance world.? Diamonds are a girls best friend.
John in Germany.
@ Steve:
We’re all adults and know there’s no such thing as perfection. You can’t strive for something that is impossible.
Well look who’s playing the role of ‘Negative-Nancy’ now…
Pakistan Proves Easy Prey to Islamic Terrorism
TEHRAN – Pakistan has succumbed to radical Islam and terrorism, why? Islamabad had all the ingredients for success, but over-population, lack of resources and ambitious politicians have brought developments to a halt in their country. In and out of the Commonwealth, lured by the buck, now in the throes of Saudi money, Pakistan has finally fallen prey to fundamentalism and terrorism.
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all part of the same scenario. They haven’t been able to cope with post-colonialism. I look at the situation from a personal point of view since what happens next door has repercussions for Iran.
Pakistan has a well-disciplined army, but what can it do against overwhelming odds! India thought it had overcome all the obstacles to becoming a democracy, but it doesn’t seem so. Bangladesh is simply going from bad to worse.
Is it possible to set population quotas for these countries? Could UN, US and EU coordinate their policies in the region? Unlikely, they have diverging interests. Should Saudi Arabia cease subsidising Islamic radicalism and terror? Yes, otherwise Pakistan will continue into a rut.
@ steve and Brett
You can strive for something impossible. Like Communism. Ask China, they’re doing pretty good these days.
-Anthony, LA, CA
One more analogy, because they just seem to work in this situation to display the irrationality of the far right.
Tiger woods doesn’t look at himself and say, I am the best, there is no room for improvement. I should make sure everybody copies my swing. It is the only way to play the game of golf. People have different sizes, shapes, and mentalities. Nor should America, or Americans accept that we are flawless and the rest of the world should mimic us. Cultures have different sizes, priorities, and ideologies of what a “good life” is. To some, including many in this country, freedom is lower on the priority list then the security an intrusive government can supply.
Got two extra little ones incoming, I will be listening to this one I hope. Should be a good topic.
Perception is a funny thing.
If I were to play at being an arm chair psychologist (like Steve) I would suggest that Bob, Brett and Dwight are basically optimistic people quite able to see and discuss the foibles of their, or any, government. I see Steve, on the other hand, as negative about everything. (But you are not surprised by that, are you Steve?)
It is all in perception, guys. And our perception is only as good as our ability to think / see outside the box. 🙂
Do you want America to be the world’s policeman?
No.
@ America as Police
No. How can we be a Super Power while so much in the red. We gotta stay away from the world, at least until we have our own house in order.
-Anthony, LA, CA
The US should first start to sort out its own problems before they start intervening in other countries. Admittedly, there was a time when the US military forces were needed to bring peace to troubled regions, but little good has come out of it in the last decennia. Neither Central/South America nor the Middle East nor Africa have become a better place because of them, the only successful intervention I can think of was the Nato in the Balkan war. That’s not a lot of plusses on their record…
Can’t remember if I sent this before:
Campaigning…
http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm
@ Brett
There’s a difference between being negative and being realistic. There’s no such thing as perfection given how subjective the word is. Thinking there is perfection only leads to let downs.
I want the Americans to stay at *home* and keep their greedy paws out of the affairs of other countries entirely.
It was the Americans who paid and armed President Saakashvili to attack his own population in a vicious rocket attack on unarmed civilians. American military advisors were present for the attack.
Bush would love to get Bin Laden before he goes. It stands out a mile. He cares not what he leaves behind. Using drone planes against dust bowl people is somewhat tacky? Bin Laden makes no difference. The issue used to be Palestine. Now there are many more and many more orphans in four countries who will give of themselves over the next 20 years in revenge. That is not winning the war on terror. That is expanding it. Palin in Florida yesterday said. “McCain knows how to win a war”. “My son is over there”. “I want that kind if man as my Commander in Chief”. They are war mongers. Her son should be in college not in the Middle East. Only Obama would make a good ‘World Policeman’. Here he is derided for being the popular European choice. That should tell you everything. As a Brit writer in Jax Fl. I get some stick. Google ‘patrick lockyer’ to see my articles and videos. Oh well, Alistaire Cooke never spoke a word against America and lived here for 50 years but they still stole his bones to sell for dental implants. Does no good to ‘suck up’ guys. Might as emulate Nick Robinson and go out with pride. There still is no suit of clothes Emporer. Go Figure.
I’m curious, without the US being the “policeman” who will take the “lead”? I mean, even with the US, we still have the genocide in Darfur going on. If the US became isolationist, how many more events liek that would occur given people would realize nobody would try to stop them if the US stopped intervening? Would europe step in? Is the pope muslim?
There’s no such thing as perfection given how subjective the word is.
Steve,
I believe I said striving for perfection, in which case any bit closer we get will be better than nothing. A let down will be certain to occur if we throw our hands up and say “its hopeless” and do nothing.
@ Neil
“It was the Americans who paid and armed President Saakashvili to attack his own population in a vicious rocket attack on unarmed civilians. American military advisors were present for the attack.”
Thanks for the laugh.
@ Brett
“I believe I said striving for perfection, in which case any bit closer we get will be better than nothing. A let down will be certain to occur if we throw our hands up and say “its hopeless” and do nothing.”
How do you strive for something impossible Brett?
So if I said I was striving to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that will somehow be more realistic than wanting to just find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? It’s just as impossible to strive for something impossible as it is to want the impossible thing.
Pefection doesn’t exist. We’re all adults and need to accept this otherwise your lives will be full of lots of dissapointment.
If the Americans could police themselves and be “benefactor” to their own people, that would be a good start.
It would also be kinda cool if the Americans could keep their greedy fat fingers out of other peoples pies.
I am not alone in feeling sick at the mere mention of the US of A and their corrupt insane administration. There is not ONE redeeming feature about this obese bully in the playground.
Now we, you know, the rest of the world, have to pick up the bill for the fun and games.
Americans, Please go home, lock the door behind you and sort out the mess you have created with your SUV mentality and brutal disregard for the rest of the planet. Don’t forget to throw away the key.
The mere idea of the Americans policing the world is a mind numbing concept, and as for being beneficiaries, go tell it to the Marines huh.
Why should the USA, or any other country for that matter, think it has the role of policing others? The USA should,and must expend its energies onits own problems. Im not sure there is no crime being reported in NY, Washington, Dallas and wherever else. Neither am I sure that all Americans are well clothed, dequately housed and schooled. The USA not only polices the world; It judges the world. It decides who is wrong (in other countries) and who is not. With whose authority and on what grounds, I honestly don’t know.
I think Bush missed the chance to attack Iran and will now do everything within him to justify attacks on Pakistan. Tribal Pakistanis will quickly turn into terrorists who must be crushed because they are a threat to the world (I wonder what the word ‘world’ means to this Bush). The USA must learn to stop peeping into other people’s bathrooms.
@Dwight
The analogies are cute like the cute phrases from the Koran & the Prophet that are used to justify murder but they are wholly irrelevant.
So tell us….which country meets your standard of perfection?
So if I said I was striving to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that will somehow be more realistic than wanting to just find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? It’s just as impossible to strive for something impossible as it is to want the impossible thing.
What a poor analogy. This isn’t an “all or nothing” thing like the analogy you chose to support your argument.
If you missed the point I was trying to get across, lets substitute the word “improvement” for “perfection”. Get it now?
Additionally the “wonderfuly enlightened countries of the Middle East” attacked America 9/11. Don’t believe it?
No.
Malc
@Malc
…..and pixie dust will solve the energy crisis.
@ Brett
You’re the one who chose the use the word perfection. If that’s really how the people on the left feel, that the US can actually become perfect, then no wonder why you’ll never be satisfied, because there’s no such thing as perfection!
@ Steve:
Well I certainly appreciate your concern for the US citizens that they not be let down thinking that the US can strive for perfection. That’s mighty sweet of you.
We’ll strive for improvement from now on.
@ Brett
DO you not realize that the wishing for the impossible is what is wrong with this country? That if you hav eunrealistic expectations, it only leads to let down. look at the entire mortgage industry. People living beyond their means, they had unrealistic expectations. look at all the spending with debt. How the economy is basically built on credit card debt, and the house of cards is collapsing. It’s all interrelated, when you don’t think realistically, the results can be disasterous. Sure, we can hope for improvements, but I’m really worried about the “perfection” language which you originally used.
I don’t think we (as in the US) even *can* be the world’s banker, we are now over 9 trillion in debt. Money we hand out to other countries is in effect being charged off against future generations.
I’m also not really too comfortable with us giving money to countries with the expectation that it is buying cooperation. This is not too hard to predict, since the US government is dominated by companies and special interest groups who give money with expectation that government will decide things their way, but the “lobbyist model” of international relations is one we really don’t have the funds to use…nor should we really be doing it in the first place in my opinion.
The problems we as a country seek to deal with around the world, like al Qaeda, are problems that will face every country on earth, so it is in Pakistan’s own best interest to deal with this problem, even if we don’t offer up bribes. That is in part the illusion of the purported success of the “Surge” for by and large, a lot of these groups like the Awakening are not shooting at us because we are paying them to cooperate.
Tribal and ethnic groups and militias in Iraq, and the government in Pakistan should be realizing that al Qaeda is no friend of theirs either. There are more Muslims dying at their hands than Americans, by far.
The US has completely bungled this adventurous war of regime change. All this sort of thing should be going through the UN. The UN can put it to Pakistan, much better than the US military launching unauthorized attacks into Pakistani sovereign territory.
How is Pakistan supposed to support our requests when we show no respect for them as a country?
I drifted a bit but summing, we are not in a position to be the global banker, and we have no real right to be the global policeman. Lately we are just this big dumb giant tripping across the landscape while everyone hopes they aren’t the spot where the giant falls down.
Hoping we can “change” that come November!
Steve~
Trying to achieve a life without disappointments sounds like striving for perfection to me…
Re: “Perfection”
A man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a heaven for?
Of course you can strive to do the best you can even if you believe perfection is impossible. In any case, I believe this detour onto the quest for perfection was just a diversion from the main topic tonight.
You also ask:
Why do we need a country to act as policeman (with no authority) and take the lead? If we stop assuming that military force is ALWAYS the best answer we might be better off in the long run.
I’ve spent years puzzling what the real motive was and still don’t know.
—————————————————————————————————–
——– Pre 2003 Iraq invasion, America was being widely derided for it’s role in the Nato carpet bombing of Serbia back to a preindustrial state and the enforcement of UN sanctions of Iraq. Usual suspects claimed the US was responsible for the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children.
Given the obvious limits of the current prez intellect, a comprehensive comparative study would have to include the roles of Rovey, Cheney, and Rummy. I’d think this would be at least a decade long process by a group of crackerjack historians.
I say WMD was just the excuse to topple Saddam, plain and simple. He and his sons were the epitome of evil. Sheriff GW to ride his high horse in and clean out the evildoers so the good townfolk could be blessed with democracy while his trio of merry minders make deals behind the scenes, pulling strings, and keeping him propped up in his role.
Unfortunately the Iraqi brand of democracy included tribal and sectarian civil wars salted with newly formed Iraqi Al Qaeda.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the bankhands all got drunk, left the barndoors open, and the horses all escaped.
My modern day allegory with parable to follow when I figure out how to rewrite the famous Arab proverb “be careful what you wish for.”
then how about these quotes. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) or
John 8:7 “When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
then again, “Matt. 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
These relative passages are not from the quran.
@Dwight
Great post!
Wasn’t Jesus’ life all about the fact that we don’t need policemen? If we could simply work his philosophy into our daily lives, we would be home free.
@ Dwight
They’re all fictional books and should be treated as such. I don’t think any hotels have been blow up recently due to quotes from the fictional bible.
@ selena
“Wasn’t Jesus’ life all about the fact that we don’t need policemen? If we could simply work his philosophy into our daily lives, we would be home free.”
Yes, in a perfect world that would be great. But since we don’t live in a perfect way, we need poilce, unless you wanted everyone walking around with guns, constant crime, no law and order, etc..
Now let’s all wish away war and disease and other things that will always exist so long as we exist.
Time to come back to reality people.
@ Dwight
If you look in the Bible enough you can find a quote to substantiate about anything you choose…..just my opinion.
——-
I think Gretchen made a good point: It’s in the best interest of other countries to solve their own problems. We do have our own issues to deal with like the economy but many others.
No country is “perfect”. Saying that religion does nothing to solve any problem. People would still find some way to spread their hate. Religion is not to blame; it’s people. I think in some cases cultures perpetuate beliefs and ways that go against other cultures.
Sat down watching the news broadcasters in the US is an enlightening thing – you can see where Americans come from – and it does seem, although it will be denied, US current (last 8 years) foreign policy has been to look at the world through a trashy wild west novelette.
Do we as a world citizenry want a corrupt sheriff riding roughshod over every one because the local oil baron wants more oil? His view is to redirect the river/well water to force the locals to comply is a good tactic on his part – but nonetheless causes the locals to hate him even more. Using his oil money to get those who he wants in power so he can get his oil – is, it seems, how the US looks at the world.
Will that continue? It could for at least another 4 years – will the American people change it? Dunno – they have had ample opportunity in the past and done nothing about it. Will they do so this election cycle? Again, dunno – from what I have seen and read they (Americans) don’t see much wrong with what is going on as is. Although the US is on the verge of bankruptcy, if not already, it is a matter of “Can we change this?”
So the answer is a resounding no! Neither banker or policeman.
@ Steve
The reality is that many people have religion in their lives and they DO NOT force it on other people. They do not go around blowing people up either. To say that we need to go back to reality is so far off from anything rational. It’s punishing people who DO HAVE beliefs that do not hurt anyone. Maybe those beliefs have got them through some personal bad times.
A friend was recently Bosnia and he talked about the still war-torn area. They were making wonderful strides, but there were still many bullet-pocked walls and war damage visible. He was American and told this true story:
My friend talked with the locals about what the war was like and the horrible things going on. And the local *thanked him* profusely and America by extension – saying he will always be grateful to them. The man said that while all this was going on in Europe’s back yard – not one European country lifted a finger to stop the genocide and war – but the Americans did – and that made all the difference of his being alive today.
I thought that was a poignant and 100% true story. War is never to be the first response, and America has gotten this wrong before, but developed nations do have a responsibility to get involved in conflicts such as this – the stoppable genocide of people. Peace is always to be striven for above all else, but you cannot say that peace is always the only answer. As long as there are those that desire power, wealth, or the death of others above peace (and we can only hope we get there some day), then there will always be a need for armed forces. And those armed forces are for the good of all people and we have a responsibility to stop genocide when we can. Even if it means sticking our noses out a little.
@Selena & Dwight
Maybe you haven’t quite noticed but Jesus ain’t here. It is up to us mere mortals to make the world better for the return of the Messiah. That means we need cops.
America has got to respect the teritorial intergrity of the Palestinians.
There would be no good reason to invade an independent country.
Since when war has solved any thing? How can one country become the world policeman and succeeded? Who is he/she to tell me how to sleep and what to do in my bed? Dialogue even with the enemy works miracle. Can some one take a computer to calculate the cost of the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Can some one tell me what we have achieved so far?
Terrorism is bad news and while NO country is immune, the world community should sit for long hours to find a solution. Let no innocent people die.
This whole drama is being staged to get hold of Pakistani nuclear facilities. There is no Taliban in Pakistan. Indian, afghani and american agents are there to create this situation that there are talibans and all. Pakistani army needs money and their claim to kill so many “Talibans” is just false. All they need is more money from US and all the agencies (indian, afghani and US) blow up people across Pakistan to convince that situation is so bad we need more money to combat it. Okay now there are people whose families have been vanished by US drones and Pakistani shelling and guh ship helicopters, they revenge their families’ death from Pak army too. They do small stuff here and there but the bigger stuff like the this blast in Marriot. Pakistani authorities have been trapped in some big conspiracy and we as a nation has to fight it till the end. Govt is helpless. What ever is done is done by the army. There is no democracy. There has never been a democracy. If someone raises voice for democracy, he/she is eliminated. There is hidden agenda to destroy Pakistan. Thats all.
Earlier comment on the subject came in from Nigeria(Naija). Sorry about that.
I hate that the U.S. has this mentality that we need to be responsible for the world. It goes without saying that we need to offer aid and support in whatever capacity that we can, but we need to back off when it comes to being the police. There are situations, like the Taliban and their presence in Afghanistan that we need to commit to, but we can’t do everything.
No one, especially God himself, appointed the U.S the keeper of the world. We as a country need to get ourselves in order before we tell the rest of the world how to go about their business
@ Katie
“I hate that the U.S. has this mentality that we need to be responsible for the world. It goes without saying that we need to offer aid and support in whatever capacity that we can, but we need to back off when it comes to being the police.”
You contradict yourself. You say you have a problem with us needing to be responsible for the world, then you say we need to be responsible for the world.
@Mary Eboigbe
Palestinians have a territory? Wow…that is news.
For 60 years they have been force fed horse manure that they will drive the Jews from the land. Palestinians are the only people forced to languish in refugee camps while their so called leaders pocketed the aid dollars from the Western nations.
After Arafat having died from AIDS and then being safely buried in a parking lot one would have thought that Palestinians would have reached for the brass ring of becoming a nation but NO….the Islamic organization Hamas would not allow it. Neither would other “enlightened” Muslim nations open their doors to accept Palestinians.
Palestinians have nothing and will continue to have nothing for as we saw in Gaza when they were given a palace they turned it into a toilet.
Is great idea to have USA acting as policeman to apply law and order, but unfortunatly USA does not have just one standards and one law. When USA respect the international law, then I would say yes. But unfortunatly USA’s interest comes first, don’t care about human’s right or democracy … etc, words are used by their polticians to justify the means.
@Schazad
Amazing you alone see this conspiracy. Watch out for the “Black Helicopters”
@Katie
That is what most nations want, anyways. They want money but they don’t want the US to interfere. Many times the aid doesn’t evenget to the people that need it. Instead, the people in power use a lot of it to further their own cause.
@ steve
There’s a difference between providing humanitarian aid and acting as world police. I think that’s what Katie was getting at.
The global ‘cop shop’ and judiciary rolled into one is supposed the the United Nations Organization. The reason it can’t function as a policing forum is because it is hamstrung and stymied by the veto principle, which is completely undemocratic. This means that the world’s policemen are actually the 5 top cops with veto rights, who will always exercise those rights in their own interests rather than in the interests of planetary justice. Besides this point, the UN is famously ineffectual, cumbersone, and tokenist. It’s all gesture and posturing, with no bite.
Restructuring and re-empowering the UN might be the way forward to global policing in this millennium. It is, admittedly, a failure on the grand scale now, but, with the will and determination to make it work (this time round), it might come to something.
The US, if it ever was the world’s policeman, now has forfeited every right to see itself in that role and, especially, to act in that role.
@ Katie
I agree with you.
We should offer assistance but it should be limited to words of encouragement or many something that is less intrusive. Ultimately, if a country has problems there is nothing that another country can do to fix that country’s problems-they have to do that for themselves. It’s a catch 22-help and butt in where we aren’t wanted. Don’t help and we are selfish.
@Roy
What is the point of continuously providing money when the leaders are not doing anything to help alleviate the situation. I understand that some nations really do need the funds but there are steps the leaders need to do also, otherwise we will always be supporting them.
@ Roy,
That was what I was trying to say. I obviously need to work on my wording. 🙂
@ Angela,
I agree with you wholeheartedly, my objection comes in the fact that there is no way for us to monitor, none the less, change. I think part of the aid program should be to see that the aid gets to the average citizens.
I feel like I am opposed to all of the situations where we are trying to impose our ideas and our way of life on everyone else.
We are a country that is currently, excuse my frankness, but we’re going down the toilet. Obviously all of these years of being the world police is catching up to our over stretched government, economy and our general strength as a country.
Unfortunately we have to intervene because if we don’t and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist then we will have another 911 situation. When we try to help people, they say we have selfish reasons, but when we do nothing, people still say we have selfish reasons.
A lot of places in the world are still filled with oppressed ill-informed people who don’t know there is a civilized world going on in other places, peace and harmony is so easy and possible, but too many people want to do things the hard way.
What will it take for people to wake up?
No. I don´t want the U.S. to be the “world police”. Moreover, think there should not be a “world police” at all, unless it is an international democratic, autonomous and representative of all intersts organization. Sadly, we don´t have that.
In the case of Pakistan, I think Pakistanis should be left alone to solve their internal problems, specially since they do not want outside intervention.
If other countries want to help, they can limit themselves to send humanitarian aid (if there is violent conflict) or accept refugees from that country in their own.
The U.S. should focus in their own problems and the same should do all nations. It is time for the U.S. to stop acting as the “father figure” and those nations in conflict as the “children”.
20 James September 22, 2008 at 11:31 am
Its foreign policy being run by Jewish neoconservatives who put Israel interests first and foremost.
Excuse yourself. Not all pro-zionists are Jewish; and not all Jewish people are pro-zionist. In fact, some of the biggest supporters of the peaceful resistance movement in Palestine are Jewish people.
Jennifer,
You said the said the same thing when I quoted the CIA report, the UN report, and the 911 commission report. “you can make anything say anything. How did some one so critical also become religious?
The truth is that you will find no diversion from the ideas i quoted in the new testament. After the coming of the man with the plan, he said, “I bring a new way and a new light.” all of those contradictory passages are at that point debunked.”
@ Angela
Your point is valid. In some places, the aid that comes in just goes to the military and the political elite. This raises a different debate, though, which I won’t get into at the moment.
@ Jennifer
What situations do you feel warrant assistance? There’s a difference between giving words of encouragement to people being butchered (i.e. Darfur) vs selling weapons and providing aid to one country so they can defeat another.
I believe that the world does need “policemen”, but I don’t think that the US has the right to take on that role or even have a greater say in how these “policemen” operate. A single country should not be given the power to police the world. If you want an international watchdog organization, then it needs to be made up of members of the international community with equal say-not just members of wealthy nations acting on behalf of others.
well, quite frankly i’d rather have america play da policeman, than let’s say china or russia. i know we are not the most benovalent policmen, buyt we are just a wee bit better than thouse to nations.
anyway. policing in general should be done by the world community, but that is a distant dream since everything is driven by regional and national directives
@Daniel in US
Thsnk You!!!! You get it!!!
America should not give money and expect the receiving country to listen to America’s wishes.
If the US government does not feel the countries it gives money to are not responding to wishes or protecting American interests properly, they should feel comfortable ceasing non-humanitarian aid at any point.
America cannot curb the border incursions of its own illegal migrants on its southern border, why does it think that the Pro-Taliban ISI can control the militants that swagger on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border?
The USA made a great mistake in supporting a western type democracy for pakistan and abandoning musharraf who supported the fight against terror in an effective way and was a true friend of the west and was treated in an appalling fashion that will have appalling consequences
for world peace
We use to have UN Security Council to do exactly that, who exrecised the veto rights in favour of Israel 37 times, Answer USA.
Who went to illegal war against Iraq without any authorization of the security council, Answer USA.
So, USA should not be allowed to interfere in any shape or form or in any country.
USA is bullying only small countries that they can not defend themselves.
Very similiar to Russia bullying Georgia.
This is the world we are living in the 21st century “the law of the juncle”.
Pink: Why do you say ‘Jewish people’ instead of ‘Jews’? I really am curious because a lot of people do that, as though using the word ‘Jews’ would imply something other than ‘Jewish people’.
i am glad to see we are dealing with sane and rational leaders of the muslim world. it is always a pleasuer to realize who begin and benovalent these guys are…..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/newsarama/20080922/en_newsarama/saudiclericplacesfatwaonmickeymouse
Policeman? Normally a policemen arrests, and then sends the offender for trial. OK? There is a “universal” court in the Hague (well, it could be better, but it exists). But what the US does is Policemen AND court – with no trial.
How many civilians are killed by thermobaric bombs (“Hellfire” missiles) that suck the air from the lungs? How many of those have done nothing at all? So where is the “police” action to be seen?
The US is not “policing” the world but imposing a one-winner situation, where US interests are followed and Bush doctrines are the only ones allowed. Think of georgia. The majority of the US seems to think that it was all caused by Russia. The majority of the rest of the world thinks that NATO and the US were following a path that led inevitably to a showdown. All over oil access. And that Georgia started it.
The neutrality of the police, and “innocent until PROVEN guilty” are not the same as a lynching by the (Controlled?) media, followed by the attacks on sovereign nations such as in Pakistan. Thats not “policing”.
The educated (wealthy) classes in Pakistan have let go of the idea that religion supercedes the state.
Militants gain a strong foothold in these areas where education is shockingly poor.
The militants are viewed as weilding the hand of god.
The power of this argument can be seen in the west where extreme christianity often trumps common sense.
“Do you want America to be the world’s policeman or benefactor?”
It’s the Golden Rule, the people with the Gold make the Rules, and they enforce those rules.
Hello,
If only the world was divided along the simplistic lines proposed by your guest, the fan of the Dallas Cowboys and of the Cowboy mentality., and America were the guy wearing the white hat.Many Americans know that the US governement wishes to be in Iraq and all other oil rich places for many years (McCain- “for 100 years”. ) Let the US regime first heal the many problems in this country. The victims of Katrina are still living in trailors. Enough with the hypocracy!
My condolences to all Pakistanis on the terrible blast this weekend.
I am curious to what extent Pakistanis are willing to do their bit in fighting terrorism especially when it is so strongly liked with islam and pakistan being an islamic state. This is a serious problem with tackling terrorism there.
Pakistan will have to make it clear what they want. They have to realise that terrorists know no boundaries. The ISI needs dismantling along with the army. And the US should force them to do so instead of splurging unjudiciously.
How effective can aid be if security doesn’t exist in the tribal areas?
I get very frustrated at the US government and with many of the other governments around the world to which we provide aid. How many of those countries, including Pakistan, EVER provide aid to the US? Did ANY other country provide aid to the US after the Katrina hurricane disaster?
An Unbiased America could act as a World Police however as I have witness the events unfold in Iraq with Weapon of Mass Destruction & the so call war on Terror with illegal interrogations , overwriting laws & human rights , America has in some way becomes an Evil itself. For the first time in history this New World Order has three crisis unfolding simultaneously; energy, financial & food. The bourgeois (elites, dividend lovers, special interest group) are in a survival mode & will bring the world into chaos if their ways of life cease to exist, today’s conflicts aren’t nations against nations but ideologies again ideologies this is a clash of civilizations.
May God Bless this New World Order,
Great travel show,
Hey Ros, you must have misspoken on the 2 news stories everyone is talking about.
You mentioned Ike and the election, but the financial crisis has been massive with the bailouts, etc.!
Cheers,
Joey, Colorado, US
if countries accept money, aid, or any kind of help from the US it has to be expected that the US will look after their investment. It is no surprise that the US is now deciding to take situations into it’s own hands after the failure of the Pakistani government to do it their selves. The US does not give money out without a price. If you don’t like it, dont accept US aid.
@ Shaun in France
Nice “trial” the Jihadis gave the people at the Marriott in Pakistan.
@ Nofal
If the UN had it’s way, they would vote to kill all Israelis, so I don’t really care about what they want, and am happy the US vetoes the pro-jihadi voices in the UN.
There is no doubt that if the USA government is considered as the policeman of the world — a status that it usurped through the militarism that is best described as breach of trust or a coup against the League of Nations, in violation of democracy, democratic principles, democracy’s modus operandi, ethics and values, it has been the worst policemen than the worst policeman should not be.
Read the accusations by the Colonies against the British government and you would find that the USA government has exceeded its accusation of the British many folds.
If you consider the issue in terms of terrorism, bear it in mind that there is no universal definition of terrorism, that the USA government does not tolerate the articulation or evolution of the universal definition of terrorism, and that the USA government is pushing its political definition of it into the heads and feelings of everyone. If the world would consider what terrorism is, from the logic of first cause or most aggressive state, it is clear that the USA is the terrorist of the world.
If terrorism is considered from the perspective of who is chasing who and which government other governments are afraid to speak against and challenge, the USA is the terrorist. If we consider terrorism from the perspective of which government is above all known laws of states international relations, the USA government is the terrorist. If you consider terrorism from the perspective of which government cannot be made to answer for its war crimes at the ICC, the USA government is the world’s terrorist.
If you consider terrorism from the perspective of which government invades a sovereign, independent and free country and kills her civilians, and invaded the invader without any other government speaking against its action, the USA government is the terrorist. There is no perspective from which you consider the issue terrorism in international politics that the USA government would not be the terrorist. The government, people and persons who cannot or would not accuse the USA government as the terrorist are terrorised by the government of the USA.
The money that the USA government gives is always intended to serve two aims: one, advance its globalism and two clear up its mess, in that order, but in a dialectical or endless progression. As for what to do when civilians are killed, who has killed civilians – no “collateral damages” — more that the USA government? Also, who is the first or ultimate cause of the killing? Who would not dialogue? Who would not sign against the use of cluster bombs? Who would no sign against land mines? Who would not sign against biological weapons?. Who would not sign against unilateralism? Who would not sign for the equality of all the governments of the world before the law? Who would not sign for world peace?
To do away with the USA government is overdue.
Prince Awele Odor
Lagos, Nigeria
The only one point I wanna make is that its a shame that US having so much intelligence and all this updated technology but they are still not able to do anything about the Al Qaida. The American Government has been pumping in so much money as aid to Pakistan and all the money has been going to all the corrupted Generals of the Pakistan Army. It just boils my blood that all this hard earning money from the US taxpayer is ending up in Pakistan to provide for there luxuries. Us should start looking for there own well being instead of pumpling all the money outside of US.
The end of the show was rather said. The “more of the same” vs “change”. Obama has stated that he would step up attacks in Pakistan, so if that’s the change you want, then that’s what he’s said. Change doesn’t always mean “hugs not war”.. This turned into a political Mccain vs. Obama thing when it was totally irrelevant to the discussion.
The bias of America is in America’s bloody hands , North Korea is much more of a concern & has been for years…there is not resources to acquire and divide amoung dividend lovers in North Korea….Pakistan is just a peace of a bigger puzzle…to acquire and hold strategics logistical for energy purposes…
The root of the problem along the afghan border is this. It is populated by tribal people who don’t acknowledge even the Pakistani government as theirs. These roots go back hundreds or thousands of years. Any attempt by any outside agency will be regarded by them as interference in their culture.
Also as an American citizen I am fed up with our government giving away billions of dollars to governments around the world only to find out that the money is being lost in bureaucracy and graft and then as a people and country we are distained around the world.
@ John in Germany
You’re right, all Governments like the US gives money in areas they have a stake in. I respectfully disagree, America cannot afford it. More accurately, maybe we could afford it if our government managed our tax player dollars better. The impending presidential election definitely increases my economic concerns, because of the candidates poller opposite stance on the economy.
PS- Nope, thankfully I’m not one of the folks suffering from the mortgage crisis. Plus, NYC real estate really doesn’t depreciate in value. A friend recently bought a one-bedroom apartment for a little under a quarter of a million dollars (yes, 1 bedroom for 240,000!) in Brooklyn and it was/is a great deal.
@ Katie Davidson
I agree. Humanitarian aide is different from policing governments and telling other world leaders how to run their countries.
@Steve
I agree. I don’t think Obama or McCain have very different views with dealing with Pakistan but the main thing that matters is what each one would do, rather than say.
Steve, these are the reasonable and well educated islamic fascists we are dealing with. the enlightment of these guys is just below anything. placing a fatowa on micky mouse and all house mice…….what do they eat and drink to come-up such stuff.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/newsarama/20080922/en_newsarama/saudiclericplacesfatwaonmickeymouse
i am glad to see we have another well blanced and coherend contribution coming from the price’s plume….
Right now, I wish we, the United States, would decide to spend at least the next
hundred years attempting to solve ALL OUR PROBLEMS HERE AT HOME
before attempting to solve anyone elses!
Pakistan is playing tricks on us. The leaders including Musharaff know where Osama is. That is why they do not want us to go across from Afghanistan to Waziristan. We have wasted billions of our dollars, which should have been given to India. It is India which truly fighting the islamic terrorists.
@ Alexandra All of us who feel that we’ve had quite enough of foreign spending at the expense of our own country’s health need to write/call our congress and say, “ENOUGH!” Let them know we want to take care of our own house now.
@Raj Balasubramanian
@MRINAL, BIHAR, INDIA
It has been said that crushing poverty is the cause of the Muslims destroying everything in sight but India has such crushing poverty and is civilized nation.
I cannot think of any incident in modern history wherein Hindu’s came out of prayers and then went on a rampage of death as do Muslims.
The problem with Pakistan since the intransience of Mr. Jinnah has been Islam. This is a belief system that is incompatable with the modern world.
96 Dan September 22, 2008 at 4:22 pm
@Malc
...and pixie dust will solve the energy crisis.
That is excellent to hear! Where might I buy some? :D
I can’t even understand why you’d ask the question.
Among the first in the long litany of bone-headed mistakes the US has committed in Pakistan was Bush telling Musharraf to “take off his uniform,” which weakened his regime.
The second was Bush’s encouragement of opportunists who paraded under a so-called “pro-democracy banner.” The assertion by Bhutto’s son days after her assassination that “Democracy is the best revenge” is a statement of roiling misunderstanding of what democracy is, or how to preserve it.
Now Pakistan under president Zardari is exhibiting all the military acuity of a beached whale, and all the reliability of a bunch of scam artists.
Why in the world would the world want the US as world policeman? When is the E.U. going to step up to the plate? (Baseball metaphor. Sorry.)
We’ve got our own problems.
PS: I heard Mr. Atkins interviewed from Texas on the BBC this morning. Yes, our cars are HUGE.
–Regards. Louisville, Kentucky, US.
It’s all about the war terror. No end in sight as usual…
The way USA want to fight with his one time friend & Allies ( Terrorists) may not suceed in a century, because of the following reason’s:
(a) No ideological front.
(b) War in Iraq.
(c) Unconditional support to Isriel.
No one can help out USA unless USA understand the nature of war by himself.
Any way USA sound like ungreatfull friend of Talaban & Alquida.
A group of simple people been used & abused by USA & Pakistan,
All used & Abused people are united against USA & Pakistan.
USA & Pakistan are at the edge of fight.
@ Lauren
I feel that the situations that warrant US assistance should be few. I think that we should not be so quick to jump into the middle of situations that do not directly affect us. I know that seems selfish but I think it does nothing but create resentment on the parts of the countries involved in the situation.
I do not criticize the United States for trying, but it seems as though no matter what the intention is, Good or Greed, the Middle east is to great a mess to deal with. Terrorism is not going to be won through conventional war making, instead the world should deal with these easily offended religious extremists in the same fashion a parent deals with a whining child. If this fussy extremist behavior was ignored by the civilized world the extremist would lose interest much like a young child. We empower the terrorists by fearing them.
@ Alex
I don’t think terrorism will ever be won. There will always be religious extremists who will do what they choose. I don’t think it’s appropriate to deal with them like whining children. Obviously, they are not a 3 year old which will scream at the top of their lungs for a few minutes then get sidetracked by something else. These are dangerous people who can and do inflict harm on innocent people.
I think the best way to deal with terrorists is to not only do whatever we can to help stabilize another country if they ask. After that, they have to put their big girl britches on and deal with the problems themselves. We should also raise security here for pretty much all types of travelers….in other words……..always know who is coming in and out of the U.S., for what period of time, what they are doing here, how long they will be here, and when they will be leaving….also maybe a background check. This would lower the number of people who come here and get education which could be used against us. We just need to regulate, regulate, regulate. 😀
A great tragedy with USA is that qualified voter’s are so weak in histry, geography & correct decision makeing.
An average US voter think we are so powerfull, so big, unbeatable, scary, superior, every one bound to listen us & we are super power of the world, on the other side of the world sitution is adverse.
The reality is this we dont have money & we claim we are rich.
We dont have enough money to get education & claim we are educating the world, infact USA is trying to discourage education.
We project Democracy & can’t face public openion.
We dont know how to maintain friendship.
We are scared from wealthy Jewish community & dont have ability to comeout from there controll.
Alquida & Talban were freedom fighter’s or MUJAHDEEN when they were fighting with former USSR for US super power Status now they are terrorist’s why?
we have to clear up our brain, we are demanding isolation this is what our enemies object is.
Do we have ability to maintain our superior status?
Time, histry & Geography are not our friend.
Pangolin-California September 22, 2008 at 11:46 am
@ Bryan~ it’s so handy that you can’t find any example of Christians killing other Christians….
Problem is, you’re going way back into the past with your examples. Nobody who looks at today’s world can doubt that killing in the name of Islam is rife worldwide. Currently, killing in the name of any other religion does not even appear on the radar in comparison.
Pink (Shirley) September 22, 2008 at 5:33 am
…. unless someone can convince them to lay down their arms and pick up their Qur’ans…
Wont picking up their Qur’ans simply lead them to pick up their arms again with renewed vigour?
@Bryan
Can you not see that the west is currently waging war because of its “chosen people” status?
Pray tell, what is the difference?
Dear Righties, and the “God Bless America” brigade, another example of bleeding heart liberal diatribe, but something that I have direct personal experience of.
This is FACT my friends not supposition. Before the invasion UNICEF asked permission to go in and immunise as many Iraqi babies and children possible for tuberculosis, polio, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria and measles, before the attack deadline. Called “Days of Tranquility” it is usually done when both sides agree to a cessation of conflict for a certain period. In this case UNICEF went in before the event. You and I all received the aforementioned inoculation as a matter of course when children. But the first people to suffer in any conflict are the very young because their immune system can’t cope with the inevitable consequences of when the infrastructure of communities and a country fall down so fast and so dramatically. If they don’t have immediate access to these medicines, then they will surely die or become so ill, that the likelihood is that they will die sooner or later in their multitudes. Malnutrition and disease are the inevitable results. So 14,000 volunteers and doctors over 2 weeks managed to inoculate 4.2 million babies and children. Now that size and type of operation had never been undertaken or carried out before, and hopefully never will again. Was it publicised by western media, did it reach any newspaper in the US or UK. The answer is an emphatic NO! Why though would such a good news story not be of interest to news media in general? What a fantastic achievement. What a sense of good will by the West to an Arab nation. Yes, but could Bush and Blair afford for this information to come into the public arena at all. I think the average American or Brit who had that information may begin to ask other questions as to why so many innocents were potentially in the line of fire and would inevitably suffer, come the invasion. I was involved at UNICEF head office in London at the time. Now the press department made efforts to release this to the media, but nobody was taking up the story, again why? Was certain pressure applied by certain individuals as to counter any adverse media interest that might upset the plans for invasion? Coalition troops on the ground and in preparation for weeks and months, military hardware primed and firepower all at the ready. Is it just possible that it was in certain people’s interests for this information never to materialise, for their ulterior motives? Call me a cynic if you like, but can you give me a reasonable answer otherwise as to what may be the reason for something as historic and such momentous good news is not made available for public consumption? This is not hearsay, I was there, and I don’t understand it. All other positive news stories about UNICEF have reached certain correspondents over the years. Why not this particular one? I don’t say for one moment that your country can’t do some good in the world. But in recent decades it has patently failed to do so, and is responsible for much misery and suffering unbeknown to most Americans, who live in “Ivory Towers.”
@ Matthew
Is it the responsibility of the US to vaccinate children from other countries before we “invade” them? I don’t think so. I think it was a “good thing” to do. Perhaps the reason the volunteers gave the vaccinations before we went in was to do what could be done for them. However, it seems by your comments that you are only interested in an explanation if it’s negative! If the children had not been vaccinated for those diseases then they would be at risk for contracting them from anyone they were near who was ill or if they were involved in an accident.
During this election compain neither Republican nor Democrates have any public statement about peace with Alqida & Talaban, under this situation “ALQUIDA’ may not deliver peace to USA like super power status in the past.
We are mad we want to take revange, we know enemy is out of our reach, we want Pakistan to fight our war, we are help less why?
A stratigic planning & understanding is requirement of the time & sitution.
May God bless USA.
Jennifer,
UNICEF operates on the basis that it is entirely reliant upon the funding it receives from all governments. Unlike most people believe, the US, UK, Russia, China, India, etc, etc agree on differing amounts year to year. They don’t receive a huge chunk of money from the United Nations as most people think they do. It is down to the whim of Bush, Putin, as it was with Blair as to how much is contributed at any given time. It varies greatly from one year to the next. The US didn’t do the immunisation in Iraq. It was a collective effort on behalf of the body of UNICEF who receive assistance and support from all nationalities that represent the organisation throughout the world.
Your response seems rather callous to say the least.
Recently as April 2007, 8,000 vaccinators set out to immunise 3.9 million children aged 1-5 years old with the MMR vaccine, so as to prevent a major outbreak of measles in Iraq. Measles is one of the most deadly diseases for children, responsible for more deaths a year than any vaccine preventable-disease. Such is the security situation there, precisely because the infrastructure of Iraq collapsed and has not recovered to any real level to this day, daily hygiene we take for granted is not apparent. Contaminated water supplies, no proper sanitation, electricity ineffective, sewerage treatment centres not operating properly, the list is endless. There was a cholera outbreak in Baghdad in September, 2007. Unreported illness is rife there. All this happened because the US invaded the country for wholly immoral reasons, and on the basis of lies, namely 9/11 and “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” How ironic it is that the American and Coalition Forces have created widespread and mass destruction with their weapons. They have done the exact opposite of what they supposedly set out to achieve in the first place, liberate and free a nation.
The ONLY reason why America is acting as the world’s policeman is to ensure cheap consumer goods and affordable oil in order to finance our consumer economy.
Our so called “War on terror” is one that is intended to “Democratize” those areas of the world that can be used to feed American needs.
We Americans are not used to hearing the word “no” when it comes to satisfying our immediate wants and desires. It is about time that America learns to live within it’s means.
Jennifer and others,
Stephen, a voice of sense at last.
I add to my aforementioned comment the following so as to keep some context here:
Donald Rumsfeld, on record as having said “It’s not our fault that God chose to put our oil underneath other people’s countries.” Sarah Palin – “Iraq is part of God’s plan.” It’s on You tube if you want to see her preaching to the converted, at an Evangelical Christian Mission meeting. These people are seriously deluded and dangerous all at the same time, and you and the Righties want to vote McCain and Palin into office. I question your very sanity in that case.
Saddam Hussein was once a friend and ally of America previously having signed a contract with Rumsfeld as US chemical weapons envoy at the time. All the old political faces came back from the previous engagements in Gulf War Mark 1 to be involved either at the forefront or at the sidelines in 2003.
They all have backgrounds and associations with oil business and oil lobbying representatives in the Senate and Congress including Condi Rice. And there never was an ulterior motive beyond ousting Saddam, and liberating the Iraqi people from his bondage, really? And creating terrorism where previously there was absolutely none, because Saddam had some hand in 9/11. Utterly false! What more do you need to hear?
Osama Bin Laden recruited and trained by the CIA to do America’s bidding in conjunction with the Mujahadeen to interfere with Soviet forces in Afghanistan. He was your man, and then you left him out in the cold. Just in case you think any different to what I’ve said, ask beyond Republican and the partisan clique of Bush supporters. The US seems to pick and choose at will wherever it takes their fancy and damn the consequences! You’re good at that on more than one occasion, and guess what it always comes back to haunt you.
I seriously suggest that you stop taking things at face value, seeing the world in black and white and it’s us against them all the time. It is just not that simple. CNN, Fox TV, CBS, ABC, WEA, Sky, ITV etc, etc and even the BBC are not going to give you the answers, let alone cold hard facts and as for the unexpurgated truth, you’re going to have to do a lot of ground work, if you really want to know what goes on in your name, and still you may not reach the truth, because the world has become so cynical since you lost JFK, Bobby Kennedy, and most importantly Martin Luther King. The media self censors itself like never before as does the military. Lieutenant General Tommy Franks – Commander of the invasion of both Iraq and Afghanistan – “We don’t do body counts” an ignorant response in the effort to distance George Bush from the cataclysmic disaster that was Vietnam, and so as to not draw any parallels at all with the two conflicts. I’m not into flogging America for flogging sake, I would just like put your head above the parapet for once. You might just learn something.
@ Matthew
My response was practical. On one hand, I did say that UNICEF giving the vaccinations was a good thing (and I agree wholeheartedly with that statement) because I would be much more apt to help a child as opposed to an adult who is able to do for themselves. However, on the other hand, isn’t that interfering with the self determination of the people there? Don’t they have the obligation and right to decide if and when their children receive a vaccination?
I have no doubts that people there do not live a life comparable to a fairy tale; however, neither do many, many people who live here. Do I sympathize with people there? Yes I do-very much so. However, I am also intelligent enough to realize that before I start helping other people; shouldn’t my own country be stable first?
Exactly, Jennifer and others.
Your country is not stable for all the reasons I’ve given to you time and time again. The US is in a huge problem of its own making as it is right now in banking and finance, because you have allowed the unregulated financial markets to be a law unto themselves for so long. Similarly your political actions on the world stage for many years has been much open to question. But you’ve constantly allowed yourselves to have a sidewards glance at all the events happening around you in all the so called troubled regions, now better known as “The Axis of Evil”, because you’ve preferred it that way. Paper over the cracks when necessary, remove a head of state here or there whenever it suits you. Instigate political unrest in Central and now South American countries. Follow the oil, like a rabid snarling dog, and if anyone dares to challenge your self-interests, then watch out. You are like a terribly spoilt child who will not take NO for an answer! So much is unseen and so many are caught up in your wake and the constant turmoil you create. But the media is such a friend to you never seriously ever questioning your method and ethics in how you operate in any given situation.
What happened to your brief moral compass that flourished in the 1960’s and 70’s. It has been trampled and spat upon by those who knew how to instigate a pasteurised, bland and sanitised view of the world, that can safely be compartmentalised and put in neat little boxes, labelled – Cuba coming back to us and ripe for the taking, Nicaragua unwitting publicly seen errors, won’t happen again, Yugoslavia & Kosovo, much needed foothold in Eastern Europe, Iraq unfinished business, Afghanistan unfinished business, North Korea unfinished business, Pakistan destabilise and manoeuvre before the elections, Russia to be controlled, Venezuela to be controlled, Africa to work in our interests, Iran still to do, Israel to do our bidding, Saudi Arabia to do our bidding and so and so forth. It’s all so easy my friend – just listen, obey and don’t ask any awkward questions, OK? It’s really so simple buddy, the USA is your friend and don’t ever think any different, otherwise we might come looking for you. Now go to sleep and don’t you worry, because everything is under control, and that’s the way we like it!
Dan September 22, 2008 at 4:22 pm
@Malc
…..and pixie dust will solve the energy crisis.
It might well do.
Can’t make a worse job of it than the hoodlums who run the show at the moment.
btw. What is Pixie Dust?
Malc
@ Malc
Google Pixie Dust and you will get a better explanation that I could give. 😉
Hi Jennifer.
Just to say “nice to have a reply”, our tines are different and other commitments keep me away from the computor. The Stress of being a pensioner, my body is retireing, but the old grey matter needs a lot of excersise.
Some debts can never be repaid, and the care packets, the raisin bombers to Berlin.
The thousands of American Soldiers that died so that Europe could be re-united today, to become a pronounced force in the world, They will always recieve our thanks. It is not easy for the youth today to associate there well being with the costs that were paid by all of the allied troops in the world wars. I do not glory the wars, but they happened, problem is that thousands of politicians have not learnt to date.
Wiil stop now before i go to far. If you go to Arlington, say a quiet thanks for me, and mine.
John in Germany
I would far more prefer it was America,please.
The world’s history may be doctored all we want,but its plain for folks like me to see that America is the most benign and well-meaning superpower since the earth was formed.And kindly leave out that puritanical censuring that people expect of it.No nation or people are perfect. But please compare Macedonia under Alexander the Great,Rome,Ghengis Khan,Peter the Great of Russia,Great Britain,the USSR etc.I hear the Portugese buried vassals alive who wouldnt pay tax.
Since when have we heard of empires that rebuilt former enemies?The US did that to Japan and Germany and both are second and third economies in the world behind them.Iraq simply missed the boat in its unbridled hatred of so-called western influence.
If I had my way,it’d be the nation that gave us Coca Cola,Disney World,Michael Jordan,Hollywood,and Bob Hope that did the policing as well,thenk you.
The US should not attempt to continue as the world policeman which grew out of the Cold War.The founders of the nation warned against foreign entanglements but the new international technology and Soviet threat required US involvement to frustrate their imperial plans.However, the military and political involvement since has drained our resources and resulted in this disaster in the Mid East.The US has no traditonal enemies but has created dangerous adversaries through misguided intrusion in matters in which we have no threat or national interest..9/11 and Iraq was direct result of US policies in the Mid East funding and arming Isreal to subjugate the indigenous Palestinian population .Disregading other nations sensitivities such as China on Taiwan and Russia on its border areas causes dangerous friction .The rapidly deterioration of US finances must in the end force future administration to reduce our global military role and financing actions of others which are not in US interest/..The massive debt building will damage our economy for decades making whats left of the American dream a forlorn hope.
@ John Lagrua.
John The financial demise in America in my opinion has nothing to do with its overseas commitments. But is a result of a World wide greed in the finance world, and the ability to carry on in the grey zone without any efficient control gremium.
Medium has enables the poor to see how the fat cats live, and tolerration is at nil, and rightly so. People are willing to aprove the 700 b or more when the results are spreed to all levels, but not to make the fat cats fatter, and in the end the average man has to carry the can, of bad management, bad organisation, greed and care not attitudes.
John in Germany
There is little difference
between police man and police station
if we admitt America world policemane
then have to admitt United Nations a world police station
because all the activities are started through this institution.
policeman is a permanat part of prosecution side
after recognition America a world policeman
then will have to requirement defence counsel
this character Russia can played with good efficiency
as have seen in goargia conflict
Where would be judiciary
who control the unfettered power of the policeman
due to the lack of administrative chain
this system once gain failed
and would be responsible for that?
The people in the USA or the people of any country very possibly may never see the true face of their own government. A mask is worn, a alter-ego is presented benevolent and authoritative. That is how government survive, the pretence serves to program the citizens their government is the best and their politics are used to present to the people a choice of an acceptable view of it’s undertakings.
All governments are bureaucratic institutions. Elections etc. are only smoke screens to instill a mind set that will promote a will in their people to strive and excel.
The USA is not what it says it is, nor is any government. One government demonetizes the other and their evil is hidden in what they say is good.
I myself don’t have a kind word to say about any government, religion or institution because they do nothing to stop their crimes against their own people much less the world. A police state exist and it is foolish and out of fear to say any other type of government exist. I may have to live among you but I don’t have to lie to my self or tell any government, religion or et cetera’s lies.
You want the USA to run the world? You better think twice. Any government that puts radios in human beings and experiments with their lifetime does not have your best interest at heart.