Printable View
In Bush's trip to Latvia, he stated "We will not repeat the mistakes of other generations appeasing or excusing tyranny, and sacrificing freedom in the vain pursuit of stability." What the hell is he talking about? There are numerous brutal dictatorial governments who we directly or indirectly support. Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan. We also didn't have a problem supporting the Taliban before 9/11.
He's a bipolar dumbass. Just let him babble on. Only three more years to go...
He's a knob end. And isn't he just stirring up trouble between the Baltics and Russia?
It is called "realpolitik".Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoduck
You got to admit though that overall he wants the western world to use this guideline? America has made errors, but most certainly most of us sees that it is a mistake to "appease or excuse tyranny, and sacrifice freedom in the vain pursuit of stability". Right?
I would advocate to handle all the aforementioned regimes, but you can't change things as with a magic wand. It is already difficult enough in Iraq...
I don't understand what really upsets you? Oh well maybe you are just "anti bush" and blinding yourself from the complexities of the real world.
Mordan
I heard George Bush has really bad B.O
American President in Rank Hypocrisy Shocker!
More at 11..
I'm surprised the looney bastard knows where Latvia is.
Geoduck, could you tell me about the government in Turkmenistan. I was talking to my friend from Turkmenistan on the phone and when I asked about the government there she said she'd rather not talk about it on the phone, but she avoids the topic in person too. :?
Of course. It is a brutal dictatorship under a man named Niyazov. He has a compulsion with erecting golden statues of him and his mother throughout the country. He has re-named January after himself and April after his mother. All clocks and watches must have his picture on the face. These are kind of funny, but it is actually a really oppressive regime that some compare to Stalin. There is zero toleration of opposition in the country. They are a large producer of natural gas, though, so western nations are going to be reluctant to do anything about the government.Quote:
Originally Posted by TriggerHappyJack
Yes, my boy, we all learned the word realpolitik in 7th grade history. When you figure out all the complexities of the world, you should write a book about it and make millions. Lots of others have tried. I will not take an insult from you because I refuse to be anesthetised to the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordan
Exactly, how are people supposed take him seriously when they know that only a month ago he had Latvia pointed out on his "My First Atlas". I want to see Putin do some Judo on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by TriggerHappyJack
Yeah, I guess I don't exactly doubt it. I'll move past Bush though. Americans (and I would actually bet most Western Europeans) would have untill 1990 had difficulty finding Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus - not to mention the Centeral Asian and Caucas states - on a map. It's also just one of those areas of the world that never comes up in history class. I don't know. Is this a problem? It is difficult to decide what a society should know to be considered educated, when there is only so much you can teach people in school.Quote:
Originally Posted by TATY
It's so *yuck* that he even got the highest Latvian order.
Quite a few Latvians served in the SS, so that it's no wonder that they had suffered during the Soviet times; I even heard that former members of the SS get a higher pension, today. :roll:
Well, I don't think that their wrongs justify the abuse they got in the Soviet union. It is sad, though, the history of complacency that the Baltics had to the Jewish Holocaust in their own countries. My professor said that when he asked people about it there, they would usually respond something like "well we had it bad too," as if to downplay the significance of the genocide.Quote:
Originally Posted by Antono
That's because they were part of the Soviet Union and individual borders weren't usually shown. But, the borders of the Baltic states were still often shown because they were seen as being occupied.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoduck
It's sad to know that my friend is going back to such a sad place in June. :(
I did some reading on it myself, the crazy bastard is closing most of the hospitals, and schools and libraries in the rural areas. :o He says that if people are sick they should go to Ashgabat. :evil:
I have just read an article saying that Europe is establishing a "Saudi-style relationship" with Russia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoduck
Now take a flash back and try to imagine the geopolitical complexities and mindsets that were prevalent when America started its relation with Saudi Arabia after WWII. What happened makes a lot of sense.
However now today with the experience I think Bush made a strong point IMO. Europe should not do the same mistake with Russia as the US with Saudi Arabia.
Just a comment
I think he was trying to focus attentetion on Belarus. It's a no no-brainer to Bush. The have a dictatorship, and have no resources or military bases which we need. We might as well make a strong statement where there is no risk involved to our comfortable life.
I don't know how someone from such an unassuming country like Belgium turned out to be such a massive tool. The Harry Potter avatar doesn't really help anyone take you seriously either. Why don't you just do us all a favor and write George Bush an e-mail requesting a special visit to the Hague where you can spread his ass cheeks personally and plant a big wet one on his speech-giving orifice? "Mmm, your words taste so good, Mr. President! I wish you'd liberate Brussels so I can feel your hot-yet-wise breath on my face 24/7!" I'm kind of sick of reading these naive apologetics every time I come to the board. I don't really remember, but I think you were that guy I used to make fun of for talking about free market economics as if they were the Gospels like a year ago. I'd go look in the post history to make sure before I make such an accusation, but I want some coffee and don't really feel like doing all that work. God, sometimes it's like I'm moderating a forum on Ari Fleischer's "Kewl Ppl Only Klub" LiveJournal or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordan
We aren't just talking about the US' relationship with Saudi Arabia. We're talking about every single dictatorship they've tried to prop up, from half the Middle East to most of South America, parts of Africa, parts of Asia, I mean Jesus Fucking Christ the only place our neocolonialism hasn't played a role in the pointless slaughter of thousands of people in the sake of securing some oil or bauxite mines or something is the God damn Antarctic. And believe you me, if they ever discover a precious plankton mother lode in the Weddell Sea you'd better get ready to lock and load, son.
The first thing Bush said when 9/11 occured was "People need to be willing to sacrifice a bit of freedom for security" (something along those lines).Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoduck
Just because he's in Latvia, doesn't mean he knows where it is. :wink: He probably has an indoor taxi service to take him to the White House bathroom six times a night. He'd never find his own way out of his room.Quote:
Originally Posted by TriggerHappyJack
"We will not repeat the mistakes of other generations appeasing or excusing tyranny, and sacrificing freedom in the vain pursuit of stability (unless they're repressing Muslims and/or letting us build military bases in their country)"
Because you need a big dick to be intelligent? Well obviously not and anyway I have both!Quote:
Originally Posted by mike
I might come from Belgium, but I'm not a backward mud footed peasant to feel belonging to any country at all. I'm European and feel more a like a citizen of the world. Just happen to live in Brussels.
Would you like me to show an avatar with my whole body, so you could see how manly I am? :P
Mordan, I'm sure a magnified image of your pukka marriage tackle in that tiny little pic under your nickname would impress everyone.