theloniusfleabag

Dear August1991, I have read "Shake Hands with the Devil', and indeed, the US was adamant about not getting involved in Rwanda. They had their butts kicked recently in Mogadishu, mind you, and it was a sore spot with the USA for a while. The book is an interesting read, especially for those critical of the UN. The UN is a powerless entity without the support of it's members states. By the way, it is the source of the stat I used for the US military valuing the lives of 80,000 Rwandans vs. the material value of 1 US soldier. Actually, I just opened the book, and I stand corrected. The passage from the book, pages 498-499, and it reads as follows...

Dear caesar, First of all, I think you should avoid the terms 'them' and 'us', it smacks of prejudice, something you are claiming is wrong.Secondly, you left the restaurant, and went elsewhere, something that no real business can thrive on for long. You could always make some sort of claim or charge, although I am not sure how this procedure works. I would first contact your local police and ask for direction on how to proceed. Then, you would have to decide whether it is worth your time and effort to pursue such a matter.

Dear I Miss Reagan, A very good point. It makes sense with the murder-charge relevancy as well. If someone cannot decide about abortion until that late in the term anyway, they could be deemed to have 'blown their chance' (and should have blown their husband instead) and should consider adoption.

I am personally against any 'language laws', especially sign-language ones(sic). Business is business. If I wish to own a store with nothing but Sanskrit on the sign, and only accept the Zloty or the Tugrik as currency, that should be my own call. It would be a bad call, in my estimation, but I should be free to make it. If people choose not to shop at my store, then it would be my own fault. If they do, then fine. If Asian markets lose 'white' or any customers because of their signage, it's their loss. I think all sign laws should be scrapped, and let the owners decide what is right for their business.

Dear August1991, Yes, we should show the 49.5% of the USA that Bush must go. lol It is rarely embassy officials, or indeed any gov't representatives that influence foreign dictators. It is almost always business investors that they heed. Most overseas business investors maintain very close ties with those in (both) gov'ts.

Dear ceemes, Then why does Israel need a country? This is why I am an anti-zionist, but not anti-jew. I dislike the notion of borders based on religion. However, the Ottoman Empire, Islam's 'greatest achievement, was dismantled by force by the British. There are those in Islam who seek to have a nation ruled by the laws and culture of Islam alone, most notably Osama Bin Laden and the 'Arabic Peninsula'. The only trouble with that, it seems, is the vast amount of oil there.

Dear Stoker, The UN sent as many troops to Rwanda as the member nations were willing to contribute. It sure would. However, it would often entail war with the USA, (and Russia and China) either directly or by proxy when we tried to remove some of their favorite 'moderate' dictators.

Dear August1991, I did not say it was 'not OK', I was merely responding to your query regarding 'when does sport become business'? Big Blue Machine writes... which is true, the NHL is a business, not hockey itself.

Dear Argus, I noticed that too, and was also surprised. I do believe Greg is in the middle of his 'Master's Thesis' and does not have the time to moderate 'at will', only intermittently.

Dear Argus, Many of these are fully supported by the USA in exchange for favourable trade and access to raw resources. Don't forget, it was you who said "Don't underestimate the importance of cheap energy". The US, especially, funds, arms and supports dictators if it is profitable to do so. The problem is sticking to the 'moral high road', not recognizing it. 'Asinine ethics' can often get in the way of winning.As to Libya, Qadaffi claims to have turned over a new leaf. We should at least check it out. Or, it could be a ruse. Perhaps the PM PM is going to try to bankrupt Libya by introducing a gun registry and patronage advertising contracts.

Dear August1991, Sounds like an investment firm. If I win the lottery, I was going to invest heavily with 'Hookers and Coke'. We are not trading artillery barrages with the US over the Waterton/Glacier Nat. Park boundary, though. Not sure if you wanted this reply here, or under another thread, such as 'The US now a hated nation" or something, but here are a few thoughts. Most of the anti-american rhetoric I hear is from Canadians who have travelled abroad, or from those that have lived/worked in the US. Also, many 'ethnic people' that I talk to, first or second generation immigrants. Wondeful people, and I try to learn their language and cultures when I can. I can speak a bit of Cantonese, some Punjabi, and a bit of Greek from these friends. I also believe them when they tell me that their countries are different than what is portayed in American media. I have a very good friend that recently moved back from the USA, and he hated it. (Mind you, he was in New Jersey)He couldn't believe the blatant and overt racism, the widespread ignorance of world issues and geography, and the overwhelming propaganda that the US' ideology, idolatry and foreign policy is 'pure as driven snow', innocent of any transgression or aggression. I have had many other discussions with many individuals, and the vast majority say the same thing. I have met immigrants from Switzerland, Hong Kong and India, among other places, and the 'bizarre imaginings of English-Canadians' is a world-wide perception.

Dear August1991, A sport is something invented by people for love, fun, and/or exercise. At some point in history, spectators began to to be drawn in, for a multitude of reasons, I'm sure. When those involved in 'sport' decided to make not just some money from those spectators, but their sole income from said 'sport', it becomes business.I play hockey Friday and Saturday nights, because I love it, it is lots of fun and good exercise. It is still a 'sport' to me. Sure, it would be nice to make money from it, rather than pay for it, but I would much rather participate than watch. (I feel the same way about porn). I'm sure that, to a large degree, for both sport and porn, once one 'turns pro' there isn't much love or fun left, just money.

Dear August1991, For both of these, one only need look at a few things. The ongoing trade issues, and the rhetoric coming out of the US(there is some from both sides, admittedly) that if things do not heavily favour the US, things are unfair. After all, the US claims to have the most valuable people in the world, Americans. Their wants and needs far outweigh the wants and needs, and even the lives, of anyone in any other country in the world. When they act accordingly, they must be 'completely innocent', but only if these ideas of 'American superiority of the individual' are true. I can't imagine why almost nobody in the world likes them.

Dear Big Blue Machine, You are correct, my apologies. Canada should tell the USA to stuff their weapons in space program. The USA is becomming a 'pariah' state, making enemies wherever they go. Recent events show that 'conventional warfare' is fast going out the window, and ICBM's are one of the least impending threats the US faces. Canada is one of the least likely countries to face invasion threat, let alone a missle attack. With our vast resources, the greatest threat as of now to Canada is the USA. I'm not too worried about that until they run short of water.

Dear kimmy, Indeed, this is my belief. The Arrow would have been a money-maker, as it would have been sold to other countries, not just to the Canadian military. Who knows what other R&D monies, for both military and commercial enterprise, might have come into Canada if they were the leading aerospace developer.

A few, I think, pertinent questions. Does Islam have the right to declare borders, and within those borders, laws, based on religious text? Apart from some involvement in the '9/11' terrorist attcks, did the West have justification of the invasion of Afghanistan because Islam (and shari'a law) was repressive and oppressive? If so, is that akin do declaring war on the values and laws of Islam? Is the West saying that "There will never be another country that is run by 'your' religion?" Would the unopposed 'self-determination' of Islam (the 'un-Western infuenced' overthrow of the Saud regime, for example, or the allowance of Afghanistan to be governed by Islamic law rather than democracy) help end the abrasion between the West, Israel and Islam? Or is there a need to declare war outright on Islam?

Dear Hugo, Germany had their share of genius, with Rommel, Guderian, Hoth, Kluger, Manteuffel, etc, but also too many 'yes men' afraid to give Hitler any news that wasn't good, or even realistic. Goering and Keitel especially, but also 'The Fuhrer's Mephistopheles', Bormann. What!? I can only assume you mean near the end of the war, as the German pilots were top of the heap. Richard Bong, the USA's top ace counted some 40 kills (in the Pacific) while Germany's Eric Hartmann counted some 320 (the allies gave him something like 240). Germany almost won the Battle of Britain, had Hitler not re-focused the Luftwaffe away from airbases and instead on civilians in population centres. I must concur, it became a war of 'industrial attrition' the likes of which we may not see again.

"To the best of my recollection, we did not break the law" Col. Oliver North, Iran-Contra scandal. "To the best of my recollection, we did nothing wrong" William Casey, CIA director, Iran-Contra scandal. "I don't remember anything" Pres. Ronald Reagan, Iran-Contra scandal.

Dear Hugo, 'Potential' is still conjecture, as the US' military production was sorely lacking in 1939. They wanted to stay out of the war even moreso than 'the great appeaser', Chamberlain.Germany's production only peaked in 1944, even though it had the snot bombed out of it. Japan's production capabilities vastly increased with the taking of the East Indies and South East Asia. I do believe that the .88 was the premiere weapon of the day, and Hitler meddled with too greatly with the production of jets fighters for them to make a difference.I suppose, Hugo, you are mostly right, for there were too many mistakes made by the Axis, and a whole series of 'ifs' were the only things that could have made a difference. "If Germany had allowed women to work in factories (Like the US and Russia), if they had declared 'total war' to gear military production even higher, If Hitler had not made a few key tactical blunders....if he would have fired Goering the morphine addict early on.... As to the 'trained personel' of the US, I think only Italy fielded a more incompetent military.

Dear Hugo, I must agree, but in the European theatre, it was solely because the vast US factory production was unbombable. They did perform 'admirably' in the Pacific, mind you, but learned all their lessons the hard way. That is a larf. Besides, the sequence is all conjecture anyway. Had Hitler launched 'Seelowe' and took Britain in 1940, it could have changed the war entirely. Germany would have had the British and French Fleets,(or what was left of them) and with the Italians, had the largest Armada in history. The Russian campaign would have looked totally different. And, as you indicate, it would have happened before Hitler lost his grip.

60 years ago, the Battle of the Bulge, or the Ardennes offensive, was Germany's last great gamble of WWII. The Americans consider it a 'great victory' and was the largest USA vs. Germany battle of the war. However, Hitler believed (and rightly so) that the Americans were the 'weakest link' and knew that they would crumble under fire, his hopes were that he could divide the Allied forces, both tactically and 'morale-wise'. The Americans did crumble, a lot of them dropped their guns and ran (the exception to this was at Bastonge), and it took British General Montgomery to temporarily assume command of the American 1st and 9th Armies to 'stop the rot'. A dubious battle to celebrate, but if Hollywood makes a movie about it, the USA will certainly be 'the heroes', saving the world singlehandedly.

Dear kimmy, I agree, and it is not out of any 'hero worship' I feel badly about his fate, but I do think that it was an example of terrible waste. Who knows, he could have been the next JKF, but instead he became just another toe-tag, shot to pieces, yet again, by trigger-happy morons.

I believe that the NHL is now a business, and no longer a 'sport'. Sad really, but reality. Since the players and owners now regard it thusly, they should follow the rules of business. Firstly, abolish the union. Unions aren't helping matters, as many young players would love to play in the NHL for far less than some of the overpriced 'marquee players'. I don't recall the actual name of the business in question, but a few years ago a group of unionized miners refused to work for less than a certain amount of money, and the owner of the mine said "I can't turn a profit with those wages" and he closed the mine rather than be forced to operate at a loss. I don't think the situation is much different with the NHLPA. It is sad that "Canada's Game" is now only about money, but if that is the way the player's union and the owners want it, then they should suffer the consequences, as with any business. Any business has the right to roll back wages, provided proper notice is given, but unions prevent normal business rules from applying.

Dear willy, "The meaning of life is 'to be'. Evolution is simply 'to be' more efficiently, you see?" Theloniusfleabag.

Dear maplesyrup, Lol. Them. If you join the Civil Service, you, average shmoe, become 'them', the unwashed masses. There is a British comedy series called "Yes, Minister" that I strongly suggest you watch. My sister, who worked for one of our provinces Ministry's of Finance, could not believe how alike the shows were to reality. Sadly, the series was a comedy.As to the hockey strike, let the owners and the players rot. Ottawa should have no place in this one, it is between the owners, the players and the fans. The owners are not fully to blame for not 'keeping themselves in line", because it only takes 1 owner to cross the line and then the rest must follow suit or be left behind. The league needs a 'pay structure based on percentages', because that is the only way that everyone can avoid spending beyond 100% of revenues.