UN authorises force against Gaddafi (at fucking last)

[Sean]

So the French are there to hand out white flags to Gaddafi's people"

[liberty]

We always defend people that are being slaughtered by their own government (unless, of course there is no oil in it for us).

And many times, awful governments which are threatened by their own people.

During the Cold War we aligned ourselves with third world dictators; we needed the support. It was not a sure thing we were going to win. Krushev said “we will bury you” and for a while it looked like they might. In war one does what has to even if it has to be done while holding ones nose. During WWII a very popular liberal president got in bed with perhaps the worse mass murder in the twenties century, Joseph Stalin. Our dictators in the Cold War were pussy cats by comparison.

[Big RR]

Liberty--I can't argue with your perception of Stalin, but think how international relations might be if we embraced popular movements and land reform than dictators who supported our business interests and oppressed and tortured thei own people, perhpas not on the scale of Stalin, but with many more modern efforts taught to them by us. Do you really beieve th eend justifies the means?

[liberty]

Liberty--I can't argue with your perception of Stalin, but think how international relations might be if we embraced popular movements and land reform than dictators who supported our business interests and oppressed and tortured thei own people, perhpas not on the scale of Stalin, but with many more modern efforts taught to them by us. Do you really beieve th eend justifies the means?

I have an ingrained dislike, born of child hood experiences, and in some cases out right hatred of dictators and tyrants as well as the arbitrary use of power. But war is a situation that demands the application of logic. I constantly try to remind myself that,” logic is a cruel task master obey his will or court disaster“. During the war we did what had to be done. For example, if Iran had gone communist the strategic position of the Soviet Union would have greatly increased. But now that the war is over we can afford to be somewhat more selective in our friends.

I support the popular will with protections for minority rights. And that includes the wealthy. I am not rich myself but I believe that everyone should be treated the same. Instead of seizing land the government should use the tax system to raise the money needed to buy land for the poor. As I see it land seizures are self defeating. One generation stages a revolution and dispossess the rich; the next generation the off spring of former rich have their own revolution and so it goes on and on with constant revolution.

[Gob]

'I suppose this means I won't be getting an invitation to the Royal wedding.'

[Big RR]

Liberty--while I agree in theory, the biggest problem I have with your freezing the status quo is that it often reward those who acquired their wealth by theft and violence. The answer isn't to make them destitute, but it is to take back what they illegally acquired (or at least most of it).

[Scooter]

I'm curious, JoydayJef, have you entered into a contract with the administrator of this forum (you know, that would be the guy who ponies up the money to keep this place going) for a cut of what you make peddling your crap on his dime? No? Then I guess you would be engaging in theft of services. IF you are indeed from Oman, I believe they still punish theft by cutting off a hand. Perhaps someone should inform the authorities there of what you are up to.

Why don't you try getting a real job, if you could handle it..