mikkey

Agree - especially in regard to whats posted on SC However John Simpson is a highly regarded journalist - wnd who has been on the frontline in both "hot spots". Have you personally arrested insurgents who are now in Gitmo or just arrested people who are now detained somewhere else? The article is about Gitmo and according to the Pentagon only 5% of those held in Gitmo were arrested by US forces. The key issue is that people have been held without any trial or proof of guilt for years and are being held indefinately. Key argument from people defending this has been that those must be "bad guys" because they have been captured "on the battlefield". Now this is obviously not true. Another issue is that POW's at least know that when the war is over they wil be released. The so called "war on terror" wil never end (it should be called "fight against terror" instead). It would be naive to think that we ever get to a situation where there is no terror or no threat of terror. So these guys are going to die in detention without being proven guilty of crimes? There are plenty of examples of detainees who either are very small fish or innocent. But it is OK to just hold people without due process? I think you have be quite desperate to start a hunger strike under the circumstances. What is going to happen when some of the detainees die? The cartoon controversy will be nothing against this. The biggest help the US can give Al Qaeda is the way Gitmo is operated. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Everytime Gitmo comes up a lot of people claim that everybody detained is a terrorist and that all were captured red handed. Here is an interesting article that punctures those myth's: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4708946.stm Some extracts: --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

One of the issues is that nobody seems to know the context in which the drawings were published. The whole issue was about self censorship. Can you explain to me why it is OK to publish cartoons about priests, Jesus and the Pope that are deeply offensive (and I have seen these over the years) or very blasphemous films (e.g. Monty Python) but it is not OK to do the same when it offends Muslims? The key issue is - which the newspaper was trying to highlight when publishing - that we in the west treat Muslims differently from the rest in order not to upset them (because they react so violently). This goes all the way back to Salman Rushdie. So the danger is that we obey by Muslim "law" even if it conflicts with our basic principles - and we do it in our own countries. This is wrong. In Holland a film maker was murdered because he was doing a film about violence against Muslim women. There is a pattern here which is disturbing. I am always been in favour of tolerance and against racism - but it cuts both ways. With US and UK putting they economic interest above principle - it is clear that anything that does not suit fundamental Muslims can now be suppressed. This is an issue of principals and democratic, secular societies need to make a stand. This not about offending Muslims - this is about not being dominated. What is the next step? In Denmark it is legal to be at the beach naked. So if Muslims are offended by this, the Danish government has to change the law or else its products are boycotted, it's threatened, it's embassies burned down? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I find it intersting how the ususal suspects here - who always bash anybody (e.g. the French and Germans) who do not support the US on every issue - are gone quiet, now that the US administration has put the tail between its legs. This is very disappointing in a case about freedom of speech and the principles of a free press. How the US and the UK can stand on the sidelines when an allie is bullied, its products boycotted, its flag burned, it embassies burned to the ground. Maybe the Danes should withdraw their troops from Iraq. Being a friend is not a one way street. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Well, also looks like the US administration is taking the soft option and not supporting Denmark, inspite of Denmark being one those allies who always support the US including in Iraq... http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-backs-muslims-in-european-cartoon-dispute/2006/02/04/1138958938632.html So what about this French bashing.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Well, may I suggest you travel to places like this - might be a good learning. Yes rasmacks description was a little "rosy" but nevertheless Copenhagen is a very safe place - especially if you compare it to US cities. Secondly - I did not pay 70% in income tax. My marginal rate reached nearly 70. Also, as there are deductions as everywhere else, I probably paid about 55% of my gross income in tax (and I was a high income earner). So thats a lot but quiet a few countries get to that level if you take all taxes into account. Thirdly - I think I made it quite clear that the price for a very good and free health and eduction system that is "free" for all are very high taxes. No, I did not like it too much - but on the other hand the population - all of the population - has some of the best health care and eduction available - no matter what their income. When thinking of the high taxes it also has to be said that people save a lot on not having to take a lot of insurance (health, income protection etc.) as the state is looking after them and that people do not have to put a hell of money aside for their kids college education. They also get a decent state pension when they retire. So actually - if you take all of the taxes and "cost" into account for an average income earner with family - you will rpobably find that the Dane is not doing so badly compared to an American. Anyway, that said, I think the Danes have gone too far and I like the Australian system which is somewhere in between the Scandinavian welfare model and the US system. Key is to understand that every system has its up and down side. What you prefer often depends on your income level and your attitude towards social issues. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I am actually a Dane who migrated to Australia many years ago. Firstly I would not put much crededence to Trae’s negative posts about Australia – he must have a chip on his shoulder. Australia is a very safe place compared to other countries. Take cities like Sydney and Melbourne with 4.5 and 3.5 million people and compare safety to other city’s around the world of similar size. I feel very safe here. Denmark is a great country and Copenhagen a beautiful city. However, the “grandma at 4 am on any street” is probably a little over the top. You find gang violence in Denmark and especially in later years crime problems have increased, mostly due to integration problems with migrants. So its not quite as rosy as rasmack describes. There are lots of good things about Denmark and I always enjoy it when going back to visit. However there are also bad things: Weather is crap for 6 month of the year*, the taxes are sky high (I used to pay a base of 50% in income tax and a marginal tax of nearly 70%, 25% sales tax. Lots of “luxury taxes” on cars etc.), the public sector is too big (public service and social welfare is good but at the price of a large public sector and taxes). So it is not so much fun if you are a hard working professional with a good income. It’s fine if you are typical middle-income earner with kids as all health and education is free (or close to it). Australia has its good and bad sides too. I like the lifestyle and the weather and it’s cheap in regard to “social activities” like restaurants etc. (except for Sydney). The country is very beutiful and varied - great to explore. Also easy to do business in and the taxes are lower then in Europe and higher then in the US. The whole social system is somewhere in between the European welfare system and the US system – which suits me fine. Actually – I probably rather live in either Denmark or Australia then in the US ;-) (and yes I have spent considerable time in the US). *to be more specific - the weather is good for 1-2 month a year, it's tolerable for 4 month and absolutely terrible for 6 month. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I'm not jealous! I'm not! No reason to be. It's a public holiday tomorrow and I was planning to go to the DZ but the temperature will be up there again and it's just too damn hot. I have jumped when it was minus 10 C on the ground (in Denmark actually) and know how unpleasant that is. But trust me, jumping in extreme heat is bad too and actually can be quite dangerous. Easy to run into thermals low and being smacked into the ground... So I will spend the time i my pool instead. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Before you can be a "guiding light," you have to survive and thrive. Sometimes in order to just manage that, you have to be pretty darned fierce and nasty. - Your reasoning in several posts in this thread is not so distant from the way Al Qaeda justifies its actions. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

It's quite hot down here at the moment. Last Saturday I jumped in 43 C ~ 110 F. Did not notice any difference in opening, but a) the flight to altitude took much more time b) the landing speed much faster c) interesting thermals and d) absolutely exhausted after only 3 jumps and packs.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

A few thoughts: 1) The Nurnberg trials clearly set the precedent that a) following orders does not protect somebody from being persecuted for war crimes b) those who give the orders are guilty and should be held responsible. 2) The US has clearly not followed the Geneva Convention as well as other UN conventions. All are conventions the US is has signed. You can not bypass conventions and laws by getting legal opinions from your own administration. Only a test in front of an independent court would be an excuse. Thus the current administration IMO is breaking US law. 3) Americans (e.g. on this board) are up in arms that people around the world are being more and more “anti-American”. Well, think of it this way: a) The current administration has made it absolutely clear that there is one law / standard for Americans and one for everybody else. B) How would the US react if any of its citizens would be incarcerated without trial, how would they react if there citizens would be kidnapped on foreign soil and held and tortured in secret jails? Including people who clearly have been shown to be complete innocent bystanders? 4) A MO where non-American “collateral damage” - like in the recent “bombing” in Pakistan - is accepted with a shrug of the shoulders – is a symptom of a supremacy attitude that will not make the US any friends. 5) All of above leads to growing anti-Americanism and makes it far easier to recruit terrorists as well as increase passive support for them. It also leads to that support for the US has diminished dramatically amongst traditional allies. Down here in Australia there has traditionally been an enormous support for the US based on the fact that it was the US who saved Australia from a Japanese invasion in WW2. I have never seen as much anti-US sentiments as I have seen now. 6) Finally – the ends never justify the means. This is the biggest problem IMHO. The US has relinquished the moral high ground and once you do this you are stuffed. No matter how many young testosterone driven, gun loving people on this board dismiss any criticism with “fuckem” – the way the US currently conducts the “war on terror” will for sure not win it in the long term. Maybe there is a cultural problem here. Seems that so many Americans think the US can do no wrong and is the best country in the World in every single aspect. Maybe it is this mindset that is causing a lot of the current problems. Maybe that is why the Americans hate the French so much – they have a similar attitude ;-) Just my 5 cents --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/grieving-villagers-ask-who-was-to-blame/2006/01/15/1137119010555.html Interesting how it is "OK" to kill a whole bunch of villagers in order to get to this guy (and as usual he is not there - CIA seem completly useless ). So if those killed were westerners - what would people say? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Latest from Pakistan is that he was not there. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4612400.stm Not surprised. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

There is also some interesting commentary from a senior British officer of the way the US forces conducted themselves thus contributing to the problems. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4603136.stm --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Tthis and an earlier thread regarding personal information sought by a potential employer raises the question if the US has any privacy laws? This type of stuff would be completely illegal in many other countries (e.g. here in OZ). Down here there has to be a very good reason for asking for personal information and it is limited and highly regulated. E.g. Banks can ask for a police record check before they employ people. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

It is so funny how JR continues to run this disinformation campaign regarding guns / crime in the UK. No matter how many times he is bombarded with facts – he just continues soon after in another thread. Do a search for these threads – it is hilarious. JR’s persistency in this matter again earns him the "Iraqi Information Minister Award". JR you crack me up… --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

The content of this post is about the biggest pile of tripe and false claims I have seen for a long time. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Looks to me that SC is becoming Troll Corner lately. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I disagree with the statements of the original post. However, I think it is a very good idea to learn at least a little of a local language when you live there or even if you just travel there. Trying to communicate with locals in their language demonstrates respect. I used to travel a lot to France and often experienced the "arrogance" when trying to talk english with locals and rarely succeeded finding somebody who wanted to talk english (or german which I also speak). I then made the effort of learning som basic french and suddenly I was a) treated much nicer by locals b) people actually used their (limited) knowledge of english to help the communication. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-judge-resigns-over-bugging-row/2005/12/21/1135032080292.html --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I just bought a 42. I use the docking station at my PC - connected to power and the PC via USB and put the camera in it for data transfer and recharge. You can connect from the camera directly to TV, recharger etc. It has all the ports build in except USB. So no problem. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

really ! can you buy it online? i remember this being shown in England in the 70's, i've tried many places to get hold of it This documentary was the only one to show the true horrors of the death camps. I bought it in Australia. Try online DVD stores. Sure you can buy it somewhere. I don't agree with your last statement about "the only one to show...". While "World at War" is clearly the most comprehensive documentary about WW2 (something like 20 hours or so) and was made at a time when most of the key eye witnesses were still alive it is probably not the best one when it comes to give you a full picture of the "machine" behind the holocaust. There have been some very good documentaries about the Holocaust. The best I have seen in recent times was shown down here a few months ago. It is a series called "Auschwitz inside the Nazi State" and made by the BBC. Here is a web site that tells you more about it: http://www.pbs.org/auschwitz/ This is most comprehensive documentary series about this issue IMO. I am going to buy it. BTW contributing to the quality of World at War is that Sir Laurence Olivier is narrating it. What a voice... PS: World at War is available on e-bay - quite cheap actually. Auschwitzz I have seen on Amazon. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

You can buy World at War on DVD, I have the full set and highly recommend it. Best documentary about WW2 ever. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I think it was Kallend who said to notice how carefully Condi was choosing her words. What does this mean? Well probably that the US will continue to "render" people and have locals subject the detainees to torture. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.