Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on July 2, 2009 10:24 AM Originally written by John Bunch on July 2, 2009 1:59 AM Derek, Of course, if you want to take the "Chomsky" line that anything bad that happens anywhere in the world is ultimately the CIA's fault (and "the corporations"), I of course can't stop you.   I agree with you that it is absolutely not true that most bad things happen because of the US

"Because of the CIA" and not "because of the US" is what John suggested, quoting Chomsky. What you did is a synecdoche, Liliana. A pars pro toto to be more specific.

Originally written by Jacek K. on July 1, 2009 11:31 PM Originally written by John Bunch on July 1, 2009 11:01 PM You don't think that the Iran story was big ?  Not as big as MJ, I think the conclusion was.

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on July 2, 2009 5:24 PM I think it might be as strong, but I agree with you that it is absolutely not true that most bad things happen because of the US: in fact I think more good things haappened because of the US, than bad, if you take it as a whole.

This ia absolutely relative. It depends on whether you prefer more delicious red meat or pure vegetarian food. A friend in need may be a friend indeed, but strongly-arming people to gorge down American culture may cause long-lasting disdain.

If you are a die-hard vegetarian, all the gravy-dripping red meat may be viewed as a harmful and unhealthy distraction.

Originally written by John Bunch on July 1, 2009 5:01 PM You don't think that the Iran story was big ? Iran lost, according to this week's "Economist" magazine, a lot of respect, both internally and externally. The regime has been shown to be weaker than we thought, and fraught with internal divisions. The regime has lost the initiative and the status quo will no longer be the same. In the region, I think that many will no longer view Iran as some kind of "defender" of their interests, because it obviously has too much to deal with internally. For a country on the way to getting nukes and which also denies both the Holocaust, and Israel's right to exist, this was a major, major development.

It was not exactly the French Revolution what was happening in Iran, Mosabi is not exactly Nelson Mandela either. If not this regime there will be another regime, because the main power is held by the clerics in Iran. I do not think the whole country does not believe in the Holocaust, or even a big part of it: I think these are only the president's personal views. People started glorifying this movement, but I do not really think it was any major step towards democracy, I am not even sure if the majority of the people in Iran would want what is generally called democracy at this day and time. It may even cause more problems for them, in their view, I think.

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on July 2, 2009 10:51 AM I am not even sure if the majority of the people in Iran would want what is generally called democracy at this day and time.

Here is a message of general application, from Ryszard Kapuscinski's Shah of Shahs (1982):

All books about all revolutions begin with a chapter that describes the decay of tottering authority or the misery and sufferings of the people. They should begin with a psychological chapter, one that shows how a harassed, terrified man suddenly breaks his terror, stops being afraid. This unusual process, sometimes accomplished in an instant like a shock or a lustration, demands illuminating. Man gets rid of fear and feels free. Without that there would be no revolution. (via WSJ)

Originally written by John Bunch on July 2, 2009 2:52 PM how many people are killed by knives in Malaysia or the UK every year ? (if your answer is "I don't know", you are no doubt right, because there probably are not very reliable statistics on that).

Although the border with Thailand is relatively porous for the entry of firearms (just like Mexico and US), what's unusual in Malaysia would probably be the use of machetes in a highly urban setting (in addition to the numerous santch thieves on bikes), but the resultant deaths are probably just a fraction of the gun robberies in US (in proportional terms).

Robbery at residential gate at Tmn Maluri, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Robbery at 7-Eleven in Ipoh, Perak.

Robbery at internet cafe in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur.

Robbery at internet cafe in Pandan Jaya, Kuala Lumpur

Robbery at ...

Originally written by John Bunch on July 2, 2009 6:59 AM Was it "sick" to airdrop arms to the French resistance in World War II ? .

John, can't you see any difference between helping resistance fighters combat a foreign invader with which the USA was itself at war and inciting and aiding a faction inside a sovereign country that is not at war with anybody to overthrow by force the democratically elected government of that country in peacetime?

We know that the US loves to overthrow despots - I am thinking of Batista in Cuba and Pinochet in Chile, and then there are the Saudi kings, of course. It was an American who first said: "I know that he is a sonofabitch but he is our sonofabitch!"

Derek

Originally written by John Bunch on July 2, 2009 11:47 PM Derek, if you read my post, it said, "if Iran were to fire a WMD". My "plan", would only go into effect if Iran were to have already begun a major war.

What you wrote was:

"If I were president of the U.S., I would say to Amajinedad, behind closed doors, the following: "If you fire a WMD, we will begin dropping crate-loads of assault rifles, anti-tank weapons, and body armor into your country and into those areas of Teheran that are against you, and into those areas of Iran where ethnic minorities live, and then we will see how long you last."

So according to that scenario, you would presumably say the same thing to North Korea and threaten them with the massive delivery by air of "crate-loads of assault rifles, anti-tank weapons, and body armor". I have a feeling that both Iran and North Korea would gratefully accept that offer and duly fire off a WMD for you!

I am still having difficulty picturing 20 thousand "peaceful demonstrators" in hajibs suddenly being equipped with body armor, assault rifles and anti-tank weapons. Would there be a crash course on DVD on how to use all that stuff peacefully or would you just let them try it out in their backyards until they got the hang of it?

Derek