Posted on 11/12/2005 4:32:47 AM PST by Crackingham
We had gathered at the venerable University Philosophical Society of Trinity College, Dublin to debate the resolution: “This house believes that George W. Bush is a danger to world stability.”
But those tasked with defending the resolution were disinclined even to discuss what they clearly considered gross understatement. Instead, Patrick Cockburn, a British journalist, began by angrily accusing the United States of embarking upon an “old-fashioned imperial war' in Iraq and beyond.
As for terrorism, that he dismissed as “something people believe in like they believe in witchcraft. What does it mean?”
Though he was unsure of terrorism's definition, he harbored no doubts about who was responsible for it. President Bush, he said, “is not fighting terrorism, he is provoking it. That is the truth of the matter.” This brought vigorous applause from the students assembled in the stately hall.
Richard Downes, an Irish journalist, recited Humpty Dumpty. His point was that Iraq had been broken by Bush, whom he called a “maniacal egg killer.” This evoked gales of laughter.
He called the U.S. military “astonishingly incompetent.” Then he launched into a long story about an encounter he had once had with an African who believed the Irish smeared excrement (he used a more common term) on the walls of their homes. I think he was implying that people of one culture often misunderstand those of other cultures and that the Iraqis had been misunderstood by Bush and his ilk (though certainly not by enlightened people such as himself).
Craig J. Murray, formerly British ambassador to Uzbekistan, asserted that the crimes committed by that country's rulers are “subsidized by the government of George W. Bush.” Bush has done this, he said, for the benefit of Enron. The goal of Americans, he instructed the students, is to “get at the oil and gas so they can guzzle it.”
He added: “George Bush talks directly to God. He is the most dangerous religiously inspired fanatic in the world.” This, too, brought an enthusiastic ovation.
Much better. Thank you for the clarification.
LOL!
I think you're right on here.
I'm not keen to spend too much effort on root causes, but in my judgment, its the sheer nihilism imposed by their feudal societies over millennia.
I have been and again recently became a research student at London University, and I have to say that self motivation seems entirely absent. Its the plodding, somewhat resigned, hump shouldered 'time to make the donuts' attitude. There is simply no pride save in King and Country, and that is sorely wanting.
What I feel is very good news is financial liberalism (market economics supported by property rights) is catching on. The London Big Bang has taken hold. Growth there is good. The Japanese Big Bang has too (and Japan is just now coming round).
What the sneering pig Chirac calls the new communism is really individual rights and free movement of capital to entrepreneurs who would innovate and invent, and the shrugging off of the socialist, welfare statist yoke. This is what we mean as Americans, and what we intend to build in places like Iraq (and, curiously, through the lending policies we design at the IMF).
The silly monkies can moan all they want in places like Ireland and France. When they're economies are all grown up perhaps we'll allow them a seat at the policy table.
Hate-Bush Fest -- Trinity College Division -- alert.
When American agriculture can easily food the whole world, why are so many people starving and dying of hunger. And don´t you think you exaggerate when you say that Europeans spend 40% of their income for food? What do you mean, that the US economy is the most efficient? With regard to energy, or what? And how comes that the US trade deficit is on a record high?
Yes, about the agriculture. Some blame has to go to, guess who?, the french who subsidize theirs in a very high amount to compete on the world market. They even tell the Africans not to use American products because we are trying to poison them.
Efficiency is measure by productivity. European productivity can't compete, the gap is widening.
Since the early sixties, we have helped other nations to the extent of having them do most manufacturing outside the US,then import it. Since then we have become a service oriented society. Example: Name one electronics component, outside of computers that is manufactured here. Even washers, dryers, refrigerators are not manufactured here anymore. Asia, Mexico and south America do that now. I would like to see some change, however, we have done and are doing very well economically despite those give aways.
Are you following my footsteps on FR? I demand an answer from Mr. Seesalt, not you. Oh, and it´s surely kind of you that you let the cheap work be done by poor people in third-world-countries. Well, we do the same. But it´s not a matter of humanity rather pure and simple capitalism.
it has to do with both. What came first, the chicken or the egg? It is the same kind of question. After the WWll, we opened our markets to Germany by imposing a 4.5 to one ratio to the dollar. Was that kindness or Capitalism, or both. The US was always interested in making Europe strong again as fast as possible, because of the Eastern block threat. Back then we still had all of the manufacturing that we have given up now. I am sure we can debate the reasons back and forth for centuries and not come up with a conclusion.
Deal.
Is that because the IRA traitors in the H-block protests were filthy animals crapping in their cages? Worse than that, Bobby Sands was a spoiled brat refusing to eat his vegetables!
Anyways, it's a pity to see our most famous college become like this - we need to run liberals out of educational institutions, before education declines any further.
True. The downfall of Western Civilisation, most likely.
You might like to sample a first year economics course.
Agreed. Wholly.
That's good to hear!
So why do you claim America could feed the world? I just mind arrogance - be it European or American style. It leads us nowhere. Respectful treatment is the only acceptable option for treating the other side of the Atlantic.
Sure, Europe faces heavy problems, and everybody can see what Communism has done to the Eastern European countries.
However, the US isn´t a problem-free zone.
Btw, check your stats, the GDP per capita is even in the Ukraine 6,300 $, and in Poland double as much.
I understand your anger. But look around, we´re in a minority defending the Iraq war. Sad, but true.
However, the US isn´t a problem-free zone.
You are correct, of course.
After all Utopia has not reared it's beautiful head anywhere in the world. :(
Well, we all now know where this journalist stands, eh? Hey Happy, do you know this guy? What paper does Downes write for? And how's it goin??
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