Time to read THE LAST CENTURION?

n7axw wrote:
Same with Germany and Japan. They didn't understand us culturally. Nor did they have a clue as to our industrial capability...

Don

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Germans under Nazi, to put it simple, were dumb. The anti-intellectual position of the regime, total chaos that Nazi leadership created everywhere under pretext of order, led to the situation where nobody could actually understood what is going on and why exactly that way. Their analytics and intelligence constantly bickered for power and influence, which (considering the Fuhrer usual attitude) caused the situation in which they tried to fit facts into their leaders opinion.

Same for Japanese, albeit on less level. Here the problem was the conflict between Army and Navy military Junta's, in which any war plan was firstly a political move, and only secondly - a military action.

Russia is #2 and #7!!!
I expect that by the end of the week Russia with be #1 for number of confirmed new cases about #4 for total cases.

Dilandu wrote:

n7axw wrote:
Same with Germany and Japan. They didn't understand us culturally. Nor did they have a clue as to our industrial capability...

Don

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Germans under Nazi, to put it simple, were dumb. The anti-intellectual position of the regime, total chaos that Nazi leadership created everywhere under pretext of order, led to the situation where nobody could actually understood what is going on and why exactly that way. Their analytics and intelligence constantly bickered for power and influence, which (considering the Fuhrer usual attitude) caused the situation in which they tried to fit facts into their leaders opinion.

Same for Japanese, albeit on less level. Here the problem was the conflict between Army and Navy military Junta's, in which any war plan was firstly a political move, and only secondly - a military action.

Yeah, both arrogant and dumb. In both cases it was a case of believing their own ideology. I think it's almost an ironclad law of nature that ideology promotes intellectual laziness and turns brains to mush.

Not that we have a lot of room to talk. Think Vietnam and Iraq...

Don

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Daryl wrote:Don, great sentiment but reality intrudes.
My country (Australia) has long be an ally of the US, in many cases the first to turn up for any military adventure the US embarks on.
However we are realists, and there has been public discussion on a hypothetical situation. If it turned out that a new element (Unobtainium?) was found that would both enhance the US military's power and the US economy, and if Australia was the only place it was to be found, and if we said no we won't supply it to the US. Then, ally or not, like so many other countries we would find ourselves being liberated from our tyrannical government by the benevolent US military.

It is this suspicious, hostile attitude that explains why so many Americans favor neo-isolationism.

There really isn't any chance that Australia wouldn't sell Unobtanium to anyone for the right price.

I disagree Fly.

Given the history of our current government they'd sell it for the wrong price.


That being said the two countries are too important to each other not too.

Rereading what I had written, I was a bit clumsy.
Firstly I didn't mean any insult to the US, sorry. Secondly I used the example of unobtainium to make a different point than the obvious.
The point I was really trying to make was the disregarding of sovereignty. Not actually trying to steal resources, although that has happened.
I could list many instances where the US has just plain ignored the rights of other countries. Even with BinLaden, while I agree that he got what he deserved, riding roughshod over Pakistan's rights was illegal. Killing that Iranian general with a drone strike, imagine if they had taken out a senior US General the next day in response? Both Iraq and Afghanistan complain continuously about US presence and actions.
Rendering the citizens of other countries, charging Assange for journalist activities on UK soil.
Invading Iraq for WMD, when it was obvious that they had none, but North Korea did have (as does the US). US corporations who pay no tax in the countries where they make their profits. Could list dozens more.

Daryl wrote:Rereading what I had written, I was a bit clumsy.
Firstly I didn't mean any insult to the US, sorry. Secondly I used the example of unobtainium to make a different point than the obvious.
The point I was really trying to make was the disregarding of sovereignty. Not actually trying to steal resources, although that has happened.
I could list many instances where the US has just plain ignored the rights of other countries. Even with BinLaden, while I agree that he got what he deserved, riding roughshod over Pakistan's rights was illegal. Killing that Iranian general with a drone strike, imagine if they had taken out a senior US General the next day in response? Both Iraq and Afghanistan complain continuously about US presence and actions.
Rendering the citizens of other countries, charging Assange for journalist activities on UK soil.
Invading Iraq for WMD, when it was obvious that they had none, but North Korea did have (as does the US). US corporations who pay no tax in the countries where they make their profits. Could list dozens more.

Several points. Possession of US classified materials is a crime under US law no matter where you might happen to be standing. The decision of extradite or not to extradite is for the Foreign Office 10 Downing etc to make, but it is NOT theirs to decide on if it was a crime.

Second, your statement about WMD, which was completely in error. Saddam DID have WMD and used WMD. After invading in 2003, approx 5,000 weapons were recovered, many still containing nerve gas. The only question that had to be answered was what did he do with the weapons he had.

Last point. Of all of the First and Second World countries, only the US taxes corporations on income made outside of the home country. Companies based in say, the UK, don't pay UK taxes on income earned in Italy. An American company would be charged taxes if it was to sell candy bars and soft drinks on the Moon.

Annachie wrote:Given the history of our current government they'd sell it for the wrong price.

Much as I hate to correct you, it would be the UK that sold it at the wrong price, especially under a Labour government.

For an real-life example, check out John "Two-Jags" Prescott and the Gold-Reserve sell-off. The ruddy moron announced in advance that the UK was going to divest itself of a large portion of its Gold Reserves as "surplus to requirements".
And what happened?
The price of Gold plummeted like Biden's reputation for chivalry just before the sell-off, then it bounced back just after. As a result, the UK (and Two-Jabs) was outmaneuvered to the tune of several billion pounds.
Nice one, Two-shags. Nice one.

Don't equate stupidity with the right wing mantra of selling stuff off a below value.
Australia has had 30+ years of it.

Hell, at one stage in the 1990's Australia was selling LPG to Japan at about a fifth of market value from the west coast, and buying it at regular prices from Singapore I think it was for the east cost.

Michael Everett wrote:

Annachie wrote:Given the history of our current government they'd sell it for the wrong price.

Much as I hate to correct you, it would be the UK that sold it at the wrong price, especially under a Labour government.

For an real-life example, check out John "Two-Jags" Prescott and the Gold-Reserve sell-off. The ruddy moron announced in advance that the UK was going to divest itself of a large portion of its Gold Reserves as "surplus to requirements".
And what happened?
The price of Gold plummeted like Biden's reputation for chivalry just before the sell-off, then it bounced back just after. As a result, the UK (and Two-Jabs) was outmaneuvered to the tune of several billion pounds.
Nice one, Two-shags. Nice one.

while I wont disagree with you on that one, it cannot be said that the history of privatisation in the UK has been a great & glorious one.

How many of these have immediately been seen to be undervalued and now have left us with damaged public services, just when we need them most - all sacrificed on that ideology, by a bunch of incompetent w...s & shysters.

Prime exhibit - Chris Greyling... wrecked whatever he touched. My wife is a probation officer, and they are still trying to recover 10 years on from him and his privatisation. IIRC that one man caused over three billion pounds of damage to the UK.

Sorry - thinking about him sets me into full rant mode