James R: Oz is not the US. Oz does not have the same operational perspective. Oz needn't have it. We do. Our needs are as compelling to us as Oz's needs are to you. Oz's aversions to reality don't automatically have to be ours.
<i>>>The US made regions of the pacific radioactive too, you may recall. "Things that we consider wrong today were par for the course in the past."</i> Just stating some facts. No judgment was implied. <i>>>....somewhat hegemonic.... Or somewhat not--a 'frame-of-reference' sort-of interpretation.</i> On second thoughts, the "somewhat" was a mistake.
James R. may be cute, but I am not cute!!!!!! Screw you, Xev'licious! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Mr G.: I am interested in getting an intelligent American's view on this. Sitting in Australia, I feel like I can take a more balanced view of things than the average post-September 11 American can. Nevertheless, Australia is not immune to terrorism any more than the US is. We've just lost 80 Australians in the Bali bombing. (Did that even make the news in the US?) The Australian government, after the British government, is one of the prime supporters of the US position on Iraq. Of course, I can think for myself. I look at what information is presented to me as a citizen and I make my own judgment on whether my government's actions have been adequately justified by my elected representatives. I do not believe that Iraq should be attacked unless there is clear evidence of wrongdoing regarding weapons stockpiling. Surely such evidence should be fairly easy to come by and a justification should be quite easy to give, if it truly exists. I would be interested to know what you mean by: <i>Oz does not have the same operational perspective. Oz needn't have it.</i> Also: <i>Our needs are as compelling to us as Oz's needs are to you.</i> What needs? Finally: <i>Oz's aversions to reality don't automatically have to be ours.</i> What "aversions to reality" are you talking about?
Xev: Gag me with a spoon. I simply like and respect James R. I'm not about to bed the guy. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Troll. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Don't worry Mr G. - you're not my type. For a start, you ain't female! Not that there's anything wrong with that...
A generalization that US Americans can only think irrationally. I'm willing to allow you to re-judge the merit of such an assumption. (BTW: my/our condolensces on your unfortunate loss.) Because the idiots responsible couldn't tell Australians apart form US Americans. I suggest y'all start wearing Candian maple leafs. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Runmor has it that the US Government knows where 90% of Iraq's undeclared WMD are located. Further, that to reveal to the world at this time what the US knows would permit Hussein to move his WMD from the very sites we're targeting for destruction on the first night of our attack. The requisite 'smoking gun' is more likely to be at the bottom of a bunch of bomb craters that in an Iraqi WMD declaration to the UNSC/UNMOVIC. What I mean about the rest is that being a super-power makes us think and act different from those who aren't--those who can afford to act non-super-powerish. Life is simpler for non-US Americans.
Firstly, although Australia is not the US, that does not preclude us from seeing things from your point of view. The hysterical reaction of a few twits hasn't stopped our government from providing support at some risk to their re-election chances. Nor does it prevent us from having a similar operational perspective. While we don't have the need to mobilise for a full assault on Iraq, we are lending some specialist forces to your "cause", indicating not only to you, but to the rest of the world (also at some risk), that Australia's viewpoint on the situation is not dissimilar to that of the US. "Need" is not a factor which should come into consideration. And as for "aversions to reality"... Are you assuming that Australians are generally of the same mind as James R? He does represent (quite well) a proportion of Australia. While we might respect his views, we might not completely agree with them.
Mr G, I hope it is more than just a rumour. To start a war based on a rumour is not going to get US the international support it seeks. Assuming it is not a rumour. Assuming the US government does know where Iraq's hidden WMDs, why wait? Point it out now and start bombing Iraq the very next day. Heck, the very next hour. Even if Iraq were to start moving the WMDs, US can bomb more than the targeted sites since a justification for war has already been obtained. Why wait? Point out the locations and US is vindicated. Screw the rest of the world. US has got its justification for war. Start bombing away. But until then...
Squid V: I have no ill considerations of OZ. In fact, not only do I appreciate its support of the US in past situations, I'd actually like to hang out there for an extended period of time and share a great many beers with our friends. All I'm saying is that the Australians who post here are of a decidedly different perspective on things than myself. Lots of Americans here don't share my views, too. Then again, the demographics of this board are such that most US folks who think like me aren't actually hanging out here. Which means that the opinions expressed ny US Americans herein are a subset of actual US American thingking and should not be considered definitive.
Originally posted by Mr. G Because the idiots responsible couldn't tell Australians apart form US Americans. I suggest y'all start wearing Candian maple leafs. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! It's been suggested that it was a case of mistaken identity, but I don't believe that. I've been in Indonesia, been in Bali, and was not often mistaken for an American. Are we to believe that these people put potentially months of time and effort into this strike and then picked the wrong club? One known amongst the locals for being a primarily Australian hangout? Choosing Bali itself as a target ensured that there would be Australian casualites, not to mention other nations. Australians represent an extremely high proportion of Bali's tourists. Also, if they didn't target us specifically, then they assuredly didn't care that we would suffer casualites. Runmor has it that the US Government knows where 90% of Iraq's undeclared WMD are located. Further, that to reveal to the world at this time what the US knows would permit Hussein to move his WMD from the very sites we're targeting for destruction on the first night of our attack. Agreed. What I mean about the rest is that being a super-power makes us think and act different from those who aren't--those who can afford to act non-super-powerish. Life is simpler for non-US Americans. Fair enough. Perhaps true on an political basis, but not strictly on an individual one.
Sorry, no, I think James R would be jealous of me if I did. Why don't you go share this little fantasy with him? Awww man, then I can't tease you?
Man, I can't believe I let two typo's pass in the same post. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Idiot, he said "regime", not "racist". Can't you read? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
