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talk about friendly fire aye!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2847929.stm
To charge ahead as B & B have done simply because they could not tolerate the slower route of containment and verification is a precedent which will undoubtedly lead to greater chaos on the world stage.
Its hardly surprising that those legal counsels which argue for legality are by and large representive of the governments who have already committed themselves to invading. Those against reflect the much broader internationalist view centering upon the UN's sole jurisdiction in this matter.
Hardly surprising that those who have contravened the UN's mechanisms and collective will should scramble to justify themselves.
If it were even remotely possible I would be delighted to see these leaders dragged to the Hague for life sentences.
You sounded pretty definitive when you stated that the US was already in breach of international law. :dunno:
Personally I can see that its a very hard subject and until the UN gives its own opinion then I wont be convinced either way as I am not a lawyer specialising in international law.
I should think though that the UN stands by its charter and judging by the tone adopted by the Sec Gen I suspect their view falls on the side of illegality. Not that the US/UK leadership will pay it any more notice than they did these past months.
The line in Washington is fairly clear, give the public the charade they need and then go ahead with whatever we plan to do anyways.
Al Qaeda is giving advise via the Internet to Iraqis on fighting Americans and the threat level is up in America regarding Al Qaeda because we're at war with Iraq. Now why would America think there's a connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda?
The truth is, to be competitive, some countries in Europe want to stack the deck regarding environmental issues, sanctions against Iraq and even allowing Al Qaeda to attack America...because the attack would make us weaker. And that's Old Europe's goal.
Old europe?
Is that a new soundbyte or something? I keep hearing that.
MR, I share your sentiments. If i were pnj's father id disown him as seriously disturbed. How said for a man who is probably a decent father to have to listen to such utter misconceptions of the world on a daily basis.
But perhaps life will shake him out of his delusions if he ever manages to venture outside his safe little beachfront world and bothers to educate himself.
It is because some European countries (towards the east mainly) such as Bulgaria and the Czech Republic support the US, whereas Germany and France are against the US stance.
Rumsfeld labelled them new and old to give the US public a convenient enemy (iraq ain't good enough)
I'll tell you Balddog, you were extremely lucky to have been away and blissfully unaware of all this. We've had to hear things from the US in the last few weeks that were more reminiscent of an evil fascist dictatorship than a supposedly democratic and fair country. Very nasty indeed.
"It is not helpful for France to maintain a line of abuse. It is time to stop exchanging insults and to get on with the business of defeating Saddam Hussein and ensuring Europe speaks with one voice in future on the great issues of terror and tyranny."
Dennis McShane - Minister for Europe
Like you say Toadborg, the British government accusing France of starting the war is utter madness. A bit like Jack the Ripper blaming the police for the murders he carried out.
Hell, I'm changing my avatar again!
But to be fair, the french, and other euro countries, including elements in the UK, are calling for boycotts of US products and companies....the insults are also as much a weapon of the anti-war as the pro-war.
I didnt miss all the coverage, i had access to quite a few news channels over in Aus...Unfortunately I had the misfortune to tune into Foxnews a few times.....and quite frankly, it scared the shit out of me. Some of their contributors and their editorial discussion sections were insane.....Now im right wing and pro-war but some of the stuff they were saying was ridiculous..
Ive gotta say that the whole situation with france and germany is really making the US look bad..I mean freedom fries...oh god.
So after being called (amongst other things) Nazis, cowards or surrender monkeys and being made the target of boycotts and measures destined to hurt their economies, I can't blame the French, the Germans and anyone else who is sickened by this disgusting fascist behaviour for starting a boycott of their own.
If the french can boycott, the US has the right to boycott..Although personally I think they are both being bloody stupid and childish.
The sentence should the other way round since it was the Americans who started it- and without any reason other than breathtaking ignorance and stupidity (of those participating in the boycotts, not America as a whole). But I agree that descending into boycott wars is rather stupid and people everywhere should refrain from doing it.
But you can't blame American tourists from staying away from countries where people are telling them to go home...as has been reported in France and Germany.
Regarding the bases, Aladdin I think loyalty should be rewarded. Also, if Germany wants to be like Switzerland, it isn't right for the US to have troops there. Keeping our troops there might please right wing groups/politicians, but it doesn't seem like the majority of Germans want it. It's only right to listen to them.
(guess where this article is from?) Interesting comment on the botcott business and why the focus may be on France and not the others........
Yes, sadly the most vociferously xenophobic in my country are also the least cultured in any sense of the word. What makes it worse is that with Bush being the symbolic champion of the non-thinking knee jerk faction of the population, this is what the media shows the nation. Any critical and rational questioning of the administration's lies and deceit is ominously absent, but when people wake up to the reality of snowballing domestic decline and the administration which exacerbated it with its restoration of runaway budget deficits, the backlash will stun such neanderthals with its revelations.
At that point don't be surprised if we see all the flag wavers doing an abrupt about face, at least those who don't bury their heads in the sand out of shame for there ignorant and arrogant behaviour.
Let us pray that the revelations come quickly though so as to preempt any further domestic and international damage this corrupt and shortsighted administration has planned.
It has to be asked: by virtue of this fact, is Germany equally expected to start bombing America & Co since it was attacked by them?
Yes Toadborg. Most people say I'm a (country name) American. And, German Americans make up the largest group in America. After that it's Irish Americans. There's German festivals...especially around Octoberfest.