buffycat

Telegraph American officials are pressing the Afghan government for an escalation of the war on drugs, including the use of controversial chemical spraying, following the failure of British-led efforts. Last year Afghanistan produced 93 per cent of the world’s opium They are so keen to adopt an aggressive policy after another record drug harvest in Afghanistan, that the US ambassador to Kabul has offered to have himself sprayed with herbicide. *** Go for it Mr Ambassador! Meanwhile - if Afghani poppies are responsible for 93% of the world's opium does that REALLY mean that someone else control's the other 7&? And this 7% accounts for ALL the opiates used legally by the entire world? I'm with the Senlis (sp) council on this one: legalize and regulate all Afghani opium poppy crops. There is a shortage of pain killers worldwide anyway.

Indeed.

Would this be allowed? The double standard applied here is pathetic.

Good grief, what a sad turn this took. Instead of a discussion which might have focused on the extremists elements in our own nations, this turns into an attack thread against two posters - one of which is myself. Am I surprised? Not really. There are those who don't want to look beyond their own ingrained belief system, never test boundaries or thoughts. It's really too bad for them in the long run - so much tunnel vision. These movements exist, just as other extreme movements exist in other faiths - this is part of the danger of all religions - it is a power grab. It often works well where education is lacking - hence the US bible belt and the Mid East. (sort of /sarcasm).

Gimme a sec and then check your pms!!

Thank you. From the article above - it is sated that these sanctions do NOT go far enough. So - do YOU agree with increasing the pressure by using boycotts? divestment? What do you see Dancer as a method for pressure?

Putin can't hold a candle to the Bush/Clinton dynasty. Putin at least got rid of a tonne of oligarchs let loose to carpet bag the Russian economy after the fall the the USSR. He has IMO done a great job.

WTF kind of post is this? To be honest Scotty boy - I have another name for you - and it isn't bigot.

cite???

Perhaps, or he could borrow the hospital sheets now covering Ariel's comatose corpse....

Yes I believe it was. LINK I believe they were guarding alot of the more 'affluent' homes in NO. Of course, if the US wasn't off killing folks in far away places their won National Guard could've deployed to assist in the rescue and clean up. But - hey killing foreigners is FAR more FUN!!!

You're welcome ScottSA, anytime... Now, any thoughts on Burma? What about Canadian companies who do business with the Junta? How should we address that issue? You DO know that Canadian companies pilfer don't you? (Or have you been drinking beer and watching hockey -- hoooyaaaa).

This thread is about Burma. Not Tibet. Not Palestine. Can you guys ever stay on topic?? (don'[t bother answering that - as I already know the answer). WRT Burma, I'm not sure that much will change there. India and China don't seem to want to rock the boat - afterall this is all about access to a land's resources, which sadly is something that occurs all over the place (Just the names are changed). The rape of South America, Latin America, South Pacific will continue - it's just business ain't it? Why would any country want to control their own resources? I mean the gall of them!! Democracy? Freedom? Catchwords - for the rich to exploit the poor. It's South America redux. Canada isn't going to do anything either - too many mining interests (just like Africa), and of course most of the public is blissfully unaware of the evils committed by our own - too much beer and hockey I guess.

Not much changes around here does it? When some can't discuss they resort to quip little insults and personal attacks... ugh - old and very boring. WRT these sorts of 'christians' they are no different than anyone who hides behind religion to pursue their own 'power' agendas. Every organised religion does this, hence the problem with ALL organised faiths. Add to this the end of the era of Nations, who else can we all wage war against: RELIGIONS themselves - it's the old my God has a bigger shlong than yours - and it is SO effective, due to the fact that religious people give up their ability to think for themselves. Pathetic.

Dick(less) Cheney G. Dubya Bush Madelaine Albright Paul Wolfowitz Michael Ledeen Henry Kissinger Donald Rumsfeld Tony Blair Bill Clinton (and Hillary too) Douglas Feith Richard Perle Bibi Netanyahu Ehud Olmert Ariel Sharon Boris Yeltsin Angela Merkel John Negroponte I could go on... but I think this short list is a good start!!

Hi jennie, Thanks for posting this! Evo talks straight - I nice change from the usual BS we get up here via our politicians. I'm just wondering if you have had a chance to view John Pilger's War on Democracy? Very good documentary wrt the US' involvement in the affairs of Latin and South America. Evo is featured along with Chavez as Pilger takes a good long look at the mess the corporate US has made of so many countries down there. Here is the link: War on Democracy by John Pilger I'd love to hear what you think. Pilger is IMO one of the very few REAL journalists left out there. Kudos to such a brave soul.

Hi Kuzadd, Those were great little videos. Thank you for posting them. IMO this is a big problem which doesn't get near the attemtion it should. It is hardly surprising however - as our world changes from groups of nations to groups of corporations. I think the book will be a very interesting read, I'll certainly be looking out for it on my next trip the the bookstore. wrt Blackwater sueing the families of the four killed in Fallujah, as sad as it is - I am again NOT surprised.

Excuse me but are you calling me a liar? Easy to do in an anonymous forum eh? Actually neither are a lie and your blatent personal attack has not gone unnoticed. What the f is your problem? Do you know me? NO. So unless you do and can come forth with any kind of real proof as to what I said happened to me personally you can simply piss off. And as for my Black Belt - oh rest assured I do have it, working on my next level currently. I've even won a few medals in sparring! The cop could've done better - we also don't have a clue as to what transpired before he dragged her in front of the camera. As for Moxie - so in your eyes beating on a junkie is just okay? What they aren't people with serious problems? Chaulk one up for the 'let's use force' crowd to deal with everyone!! As for police brutality - the majority of it goes unreported. It happens more often than any one here wants to admit. Not only do I understand this sad fact from personal experience, I also know a few cops who corroborate the problems but feel quite helpless to do much about it. Too bad these are older fellas and nearing retirement, though I imagine once retired at least one of them will be speaking out loudly.

You have got to be kidding me? Mr. Nice Police Officer would have not used any kind of force - even if she had been polite? BAhahahaha!! Uh yeah right. That is not the way it goes sadly enough. Sometimes one can be polite, and friendly but still ends up getting the crap beat out of them by the cops. (Yes I AM speaking of personal experience here - when I was only a year older than this girl - and NO I didn't DO a damn thing - apart from wanting to use a phone to call - MY MOTHER). Sorry - don't talk to me about police violence - BEEN there - DONE that. Oh, and once after being assaulted by two perverts and winding up at the cop shop to look through endless mugshots - guess what - the cop that drove me home prompty attempted to feel me up and stick his dirty paw down my pants!! Nope - some cops are sick bastards.

With respect to cannabis (I won't use the racist term marijuana) the easiest way to eliminate the criminal element involved currently in the production of the kind herb is to allow adults to grow their own. A reasonable amount would be six plants per adult per household - et voila - crime reduction almost immediately (given the few months needed for the plants to reach maturity). WRT other drugs - I'm supportive of outright legalisation and regulation - period. Addiction is a health issue - not a criminal one. LEAP Prohibition DOES NOT work, never did, never will. All that occurs is an increase in crime, corruption of public officials and punishment of those who really need medical help. Time to all take our proverbial heads out of the sand and actually deal with the issue of Abuse - NOT use. edited to add: I did not vote in the poll because it was lacking the clear and obvious choice of NO penalty wrt cannabis.

Funny that hey aren't charging here for stolen goods - which is implied by many posts here. Seems she's only being charged with assaulting a cop. Sorry - I don't see the police as an institution to be respected - they lost that in my eyes YEARS ago. Sure there are few oldtimers on the force who still may deserve respect as they actually used their own common sense - sadly they are few and far between. Nope, this guy used excessive force and could have restrained her in a much more successful way. No need for the pepper spray, no need for the excess force. I will never cow-tow to the cops. I will be polite if I 'HAVE' to deal with them - outside of that - I hope I never again have the pleasure to interact with these neanderthals.

There is a distinct double standard on this board. Some members get away with anything, name calling, calls for violence etc. Nothing happens - nothing changes. Says alot IMO.

So, what is the real purpose of declaring the Revolutionary Guard of Iran a 'terrorist' organisation? Well - to make it easier to attack!! Don't need congressional approval to attack then!!! (Not that the congress has any morals these days anyway - as they get their marching orders from their biased donators). It doesn't get any worse than that Ray - Unmasking AIPAC

Thank you Higgly - off to read more about ASEAN now.

This guy needs retraining wrt restraining people. Speaking as a black belt - it's really not that difficult to do. All you folks who condone the action of this officer really need to have a little more interaction with these types of cops.