Capt.Slog 0 #51 January 25, 2009 QuoteQuoteYou better say world partners! Yeah, except for that whole prisoner transfer thing, right? As a skydiver, you should know that you have to take responsibility for your own fuck-ups. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
434 2 #52 January 25, 2009 I bet Norway will take 10! Just wait and see, they are using the media now to check the temperature on the issue! It is Obama fever now, dont you know? If Bush asked there would be zero! Anyway Bush gave a shit about us when we wanted to hault the invation in Iraq! So what do you expect when you have people like that in front seat? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #53 January 25, 2009 QuoteSo what do you expect when you have people like that in front seat? The car wreck that WAS the Bush Administration. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #54 January 25, 2009 Which part of the world? Like it or not, there are parts of the world that are run by thugs. Do you think these guys have any appreciation whatsoever for tact and/or flexibility? Have you traveled or studied enough to know that plenty of places and leaders have no use for what we call charm or charisma? It's the "society" and "prison" dilemma. There are places where such flexibility is viewed as "weakness." We can talk and be flexible all we want about Israel and Palestine and be flexible in our view, but the fundamental thing will be that Israel wants to stay Israel and the Palentinians want it gone. Period. We can remain flexible with the Iranians and they will continue trying to build a nuke. (My personal opinion? Let em.) We can remain flexible with Putin without taking a fimr stance with a he builds a reacionary regime. Meanwhile, Europe will love us, because the European ethos IS of flexibility and ductile responsiveness. Thus, the question remains: do we want to be liked or respected? By whom is it most important to be liked or respected? Reagan wasn't liked that much by Europe. Eastern Europe definitely respected him because he took a stand. Western European governments and people are, frankly, not a threat to us. Those that are threats to us are, in general, where only firmness is respected, even if not liked. Your question, therefore, is based on the inherently "western-europe is superior" way of thinking. From his first week, I think Obama is doign a fine job of showing initial resistance to this. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
