Election time - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

boneheaddoctor · #46 12-15-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

sorry folks "democracy" and "free elections" are not the be all and end all. I was watching some coverage last night and while the reporter was talking, not one but two bombs went off.

Democracy doesn't work in the middle of civil war any more than an umbrella works in the middle of a hurricane. It's window dressing, a salve. The country is in shambles and people want to argue about making the trains run on time without realizing they have no trains.

What the country needs is an authoritave central government. Dictator, communism, facisim, whatever. But a parlimentary system in such a sharply divided country (in which 1/3 of the population are essentially unrepresented) is going to fall flat on it's face.

We all know the left hates democracy....and you just proved it.

mikemover · #47 12-15-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

sorry folks "democracy" and "free elections" are not the be all and end all. I was watching some coverage last night and while the reporter was talking, not one but two bombs went off.

Actually, there were only a couple of small incidents. By all accounts, the elections went even smoother and more successfully than anyone anticipated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

Democracy doesn't work in the middle of civil war any more than an umbrella works in the middle of a hurricane. It's window dressing, a salve. The country is in shambles and people want to argue about making the trains run on time without realizing they have no trains.

Iraq is not in a "civil war". Most of the country is actually quite peaceful right now. It's just the small minority of troublemakers that's getting the coverage, as usual. As I already said in another post.... Iraq was in shambles LONG before we showed up. We're helping them do something about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

What the country needs is an authoritave central government. Dictator, communism, facisim, whatever. But a parlimentary system in such a sharply divided country (in which 1/3 of the population are essentially unrepresented) is going to fall flat on it's face.

Yes, that's a f***ing BRILLIANT idea!

Are you serious???.... They've already endured the dictator/fascism plan, and I'm sure most of them would say "no thanks" to communism as well.

WE (the US) are also a "sharply divided country", with a lot of people who claim to be "unrepresented", yet our representative government is ticking along quite nicely for the most part.... Imagine that.

Mike

el presidente · #48 12-15-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

What the country needs is an authoritave central government. Dictator, communism, facisim, whatever. But a parlimentary system in such a sharply divided country (in which 1/3 of the population are essentially unrepresented) is going to fall flat on it's face.

That's some funny sheite!

H2O2 · #49 12-15-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

I'd be willing spend 10 times as much, just so that the UN is NOT involved.

Sometimes it's just about principle. My disdain for the UN overpowers my usual disdain for "big government free spending".

Besides, the UN "containment" strategy didn't exactly foster democracy and freedom for the Iraqi citizens.... did it?.....

Mike

BFD Fostering democracy and "freedom" wasn't the point, was it? Neither is the current strategy; it's about installing a compliant client state--no more, no less. Cut the bull and let's just call a turd a turd, already.

mikemover · #50 12-15-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

BFD Fostering democracy and "freedom" wasn't the point, was it? Neither is the current strategy; it's about installing a compliant client state--no more, no less. Cut the bull and let's just call a turd a turd, already.

It was about all of the above and more, and I consider all of the above (and the "more" part) to be legitimate motivations. It is OUR self-interest I am most concerned with. All other considerations are secondary. My apologies if that hurts your sensitive side.

Mike

dlssmith · #51 12-15-2005, 05:06 PM

A well run Iraq will not be much of a "client state". If you mean that they will buy our products. It is a very rich country in more than just oil. Their agribusiness base has tremendous potential that was never really exploited by Saddam. They could be a very big exporter of food as well as oil. And if the US achieves anything good in all this, it will be that Iraq is looked on as a provider of much needed protein in the middle east and africa and europe.

As to what they'll buy from the US, little, I imagine, unless we can convince them that GM and Ford and John Deere products are the best. Asia will benefit much more than us in this regard.

Of course, there is the oil. Much needed, but mainly in Asia - looking forward.

H2O2 · #52 12-15-2005, 05:24 PM

No, client state as in doing our bidding and not putting up much of a fuss when we throw our weight around...the usual "Sphere of Influence" type of stuff we're known and despised for in this hemisphere.

boneheaddoctor · #53 12-15-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

BFD Fostering democracy and "freedom" wasn't the point, was it? Neither is the current strategy; it's about installing a compliant client state--no more, no less. Cut the bull and let's just call a turd a turd, already.

Do you have wet dreams about Stalin and Lenin?

H2O2 · #54 12-15-2005, 08:18 PM

Uh...noooo. What a very curious question to ask of another grown man.

boneheaddoctor · #55 12-15-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

Uh...noooo. What a very curious question to ask of another grown man.

Was just wondering since your displeasure of a democratic Iraq is so painfully clear.

Finix2835 · #56 12-15-2005, 08:32 PM

boneheaddoctor · #57 12-15-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finix2835

H2O2 · #58 12-15-2005, 08:41 PM

Displeased with the impropriety of paying for a "democratic" Iraq--not my job. I doubt Iraqis want to pay to rebuild the crumbling Viaduct in Seattle either.

Botnst · #59 12-15-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

...
What the country needs is an authoritave central government. Dictator, communism, facisim, whatever...

The lie that every god-damned murdering headman, chief, dictator, king, and Maximum Leader has said since before the written word.

Congratulations, you have found your element.

Bot

NKowi · #60 12-15-2005, 08:54 PM

If we can arrange for the Iraqis to have open and free elections, we might yet be able to do the same for the American people. Hope truly does spring eternal.