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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: marcos who wrote (80788)3/9/2003 7:20:35 PM
From: Karen Lawrence  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 281500
 
Message 18677888

good post from Don't Start the War.



To: marcos who wrote (80788)3/9/2003 8:03:12 PM
From: quehubo  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 281500
 
<<Do you believe then that Gore won the 2000 US election, because more people voted for him than for Bush II? ... leaving aside the questions of dodgey ballots and whose daddy's judges etc, do you find unfair or unreasonable the principle of the electoral college under which low-population areas get somewhat better representation? ... what is the alternative then, how would you propose the votes be weighted - with the most people, with the most land area, with the most money, with the most weapons, or what? >>

The people/nations with the most at stake should have the most say. No person/nation should forsake their rights to defend themselves as they see fit, fully aware of the consequences of unilateral action.

Who really doubts that the USA is the symbol to be targeted by Saddam and every other lunatic who wants to scare the hell out of the world? Excuse us if our perceptions are clouded with memories of our victims of terrorism and our desire to prevent future attacks. We dont have the luxury of feeling that we are not the primary targets or that the chances of being directly impacted are small.

<<Personally i wonder whether the concept of veto in the security council might be outdated ... the whole structure of UNSC, would you set it up that way now? ... probably not eh ... but it's pretty bloody stupid to be pouring fine wines down the drain in futile petulance at some dim perception of what is frenchness, and be at the same time avoiding thought on these vital questions [not meaning you personally here, don't know your body of work>>]

I agree ideally a world where a functioning multilateral body makes perfect sense. Unfortunately I see little hope of that working on a grand scale in our lifetimes. The USA, Canada and Mexico cannot even agree on whether we should liberate Iraq. I expect to see a future with more Coalitions of the Willing banding together when common interests and goals are aligned.

<<Kids we don't have yet, working on that now [fingers crossed at the moment, after three miscarriages] ... eighteen years after we succeed there will be strife in this world, guaranteed, there always is, and yes my kid[s] may very well be in the thick of it, as either mexicano or canadian forces .... i advocate removing the prohibicion in the constitucion against las fuerzas armadas passing the borders, for what it's worth, i also would like to see closer alliance between my two countries, also with Denmark and New Zealand and Ireland et al, as posted above ... a parliament of independent democracies, and yes with sharp fangs to smile with, the better to further the path of true working positive multilateralism >>

Good luck with kids, I have two close 18 & 13 year old boys. If nations want equal say they should be representative of their populace and bring a proportionate ability to support actions to the table.



To: marcos who wrote (80788)3/9/2003 8:03:19 PM
From: unclewest  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 281500
 
it's pretty bloody stupid to be pouring fine wines down the drain in futile petulance at some dim perception of what is frenchness

I have a 1917 model 30 06. One of 200,000 made for the French army according to the Remington museum curator. When I bought it years ago, it was in perfect condition. The seller told me it had never been fired and was only dropped once or twice.

The French refused to fight twice in forty years when the Germans were sitting in their cafes drinking coffee and cognac by day and spending nights sleeping with their women.

Drink their wine or throw it away. But never ever count on them when the chips are down.
uw



To: marcos who wrote (80788)3/9/2003 8:15:48 PM
From: LindyBill  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 281500
 
the better to further the path of true working positive multilateralism


Let's see. Will that be "Logical positive multilateralism?" Or should we go for "Post Modern multilateralism?" Naah, I guess we would be better off with "Post Colonial multilateralism."

Whatever it is, I am glad we have a Constitution that stops that kind of nonsense from happening here.