2010-10-28, 08:23 | Link #9561 |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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2 girls executed as spies by Somali militant group
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1775779/ At least they didn't stoned them to death.
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2010-10-28, 09:16 | Link #9562 | |
Chiyo IQ, Osaka Aptitude
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Age: 39
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2010-10-28, 09:42 | Link #9563 | |
Disabled By Request
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But I also have to ask, what is proper democracy? The kind of democracy you have in the US, or in Italy, or in the UK, France, Germany, or any other leading democratic nation? I don't think it is. The democracy you see in any of those nations is no different than the voting system Stalin established in his early years. You vote, but by the end of the day, you're voting for a different faction in the same system. Republicans and Democrats all fall under the same category, as do the majority of most parties in the US. Italy changes government every 6 months if we're lucky, and Berlusconi's only managed to stay in power for so long because he's had help from the underground. When you consider all of this, do you really think we have a choice? True democracy means you're allowed to choose who you want to follow, but the system doesn't grant you all the choice you might wish for, especially when you have a second body of voters who're more important than you in the final stages of an election, so how do you know your vote was effective when it's up to somebody else already in power to decide? And with the way governments work, I have to wonder if we really do have any liberty to make our own choices and if those choices are well informed. We only know what we hear on TV, the news, magazines and all of them are controlled to some extent by the government, so we never really have the knowledge that we need or that one who expect from a real democracy. This inherently limits our ability to choose. The governments of the world, rather than aid us, govern and control us so that their work is easier. They decide the laws for us rather than implement what is in the best interest of the people. As I mentioned before somewhere, US healthcare is a prime example. That is something the people need, but also something the US is reluctant to invest in because there's money to be made from pharmaceuticals. It is something everyone needs, so capitalist mentality dictates that the price for such goods should be high due to high demand. But healthcare isn't a business. It's a human right that is denied us because of this capitalist democracy. |
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2010-10-28, 11:53 | Link #9565 | |
Not Enough Sleep
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: R'lyeh
Age: 48
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2010-10-28, 12:07 | Link #9566 |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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China halts oil work in Iran as U.S. ties grow :
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1776034/
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2010-10-28, 12:14 | Link #9567 | |
Pretentious moe scholar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 37
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I wish that more world leaders had moe genderswapped versions as hot as Putin's: Spoiler for Moe genderswapped Putin (slightly NSFW):
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2010-10-28, 22:14 | Link #9568 |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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How to influence friends, bribe neighbours and miff the U.S
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1777213/ Or, how to use other ''players'' to increase your own power.
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2010-10-28, 23:22 | Link #9569 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Vladimir is the "real deal" (good or bad as that may be). It was embarrassing as hell when alcoholic frat boy Bush, Jr. thought he was even worthy to be in the same room never mind "look Putin in the eye and gauge his soul".
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2010-10-29, 02:59 | Link #9570 | |
Disabled By Request
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2010-10-29, 08:27 | Link #9572 | |
Zetsubou gunsou
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Switzerland
Age: 43
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Also you rarely see such well written and researched articles about the Middle East in western media (Ulrich Tilgner is one of the few who has a clue). Too bad that western media still report things under the ignorant assumption that there are clear lines between allies and enemies in the Middle East. |
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2010-10-29, 13:32 | Link #9573 | |
Um-Shmum
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: at GNR, bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts
Age: 39
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its over 1000 Km away, in the Persian Gulf. and the "influence" its trying to gain is anything but reassuring, given that its entirely aimed at destabilizing the existing status quo for their own agenda. Iranian influence in Lebanon has brought the country to the brink of civil war (only a matter of time at this stage) led to the raise of Hamas to power in Gaza, which has effectively torn the Palestinian collective in two. and is actively prolonging the Arab-Israeli conflict by continuing to espouse the world view that the Arabs should keep fighting instead of just accepting Israel as a permanent presence in the region. say what you will about the Western powers and their perception of "good and evil". at least they try to support stability in the region.
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2010-10-29, 14:12 | Link #9574 |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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Koreas exchange gunfire at land border
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNew...69S1EQ20101029
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2010-10-29, 15:50 | Link #9575 | |
Aria Company
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Being on the other side of the middle east from Israel doesn't suddenly mean it's not in the middle east. The middle east is not determined by proximity to Israel. It's generally more or less centered on the Persian Gulf. Not going to address the rest because I do not feel like getting into the same discussion I've had with you in the past. There are clear lines. The guys shooting at you are your enemies. The ones selling you oil are your allies.
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2010-10-29, 15:55 | Link #9576 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Despite all the talk the UN members give and such, I believe that nobody in the council actually gives a shit until a NK refugee diaspora or major skirmish starts. By then it is too late : we would have thousands dead by the pound.
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2010-10-29, 16:02 | Link #9577 | |
Um-Shmum
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: at GNR, bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts
Age: 39
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you know, the two places I (and the news story) mention by name as places Iran is extending its influence to.
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2010-10-29, 16:35 | Link #9578 | |
Aria Company
Join Date: Nov 2003
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You claimed it wasn't a local power in the middle east. It is. I don't even see why your contesting this point except to try to paint Iran as an outside power coming in. 1000km is pretty damn local. You might not like Iranian influence, and you can probably make an argument about it being destabilizing. However, it's still regional.
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2010-10-29, 16:43 | Link #9579 | |||
Zetsubou gunsou
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Switzerland
Age: 43
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Obviously they're not doing it for selfless reasons. Nobody does. Iran had no influence whatsoever in the Lebanon conflict. That the Hezbollah receives some funding from Iran is undeniable, but their agenda is entirely their own and aimed at inter-lebanese matters. Any other perception is just ignorance about Lebanese realities. It's not in the Iranian's regime interest either as the Hezbollah has closer ties to the reformists than to them. Funny you'd mention the Hamas, as originally it was supported by Israel for exactly that purpose: splitting the Palestinians in a faction rival from the Fatah. Quote:
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Lebanon is a pretty good example of that. During the civil war there were more muslims killed by muslims than any others, and the two shia militias, Hamal and Hezbollah, happily slaughtered each other with Syria's blessing. Now they're the closest allies to the Christian faction led by Michel Aoun, once Syria's No1 enemy! |
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2010-10-29, 17:23 | Link #9580 | |
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
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But yeah nothing special, these types of new is something we shouldn't even be surprised.
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current affairs, discussion, international |
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