"You rightist hawks were pissing in your pants with fear of the Soviets. "
No, during that time I was on the other side, living in one of the countries controlled by the Soviets.
"entire edifice was so corrupt and incompetent that it would simply collapse "
It did collapse precisely because rightist hawks like Reagan were smart enough to know that only pure demonstration of power could bring Soviet Union down.
You don't know what are you talking about.
Hell, I don't get that supposed caffeine addiction.
I had hard time during first couple of weeks after quitting smoking ( 10 years smoker) but I haven't even noticed when I stopped dirking coffee.
"because we had no answer to communist rhetoric"
We had plenty of answers to leftist rhetoric but we are not talking about rhetoric here but direct or indirect intervention by the Soviets.
"The current crisis in US foreign policy is precisely because the only role the US has managed to find for itself has been as global policeman being called to the scene of every disaster. "
As opposed to what ? Petitioner who asks that very policeman for help ?
Where do you see strong leadership ? European would-be powers could not even agree what to do about genocide going on 300 miles from their capitals and it took our intervention to get things going there.
"Wether the 'real decisions' are taken in the UN or elsewhere the US suspects that it is not influential in the decisions and it is right."
US rightly recognizes that places where regimes of Zambia and Sudan are recognized as a valid and equally important partners are not where want to be "influential."
"we didn't care how many tens of thousands they murdered so long as they were on 'our side'.
"
We had to do that to keep up with Soviets who were busy propping up anyone who would listen to their "rhetoric"
"up into 'enemies' and 'friends' is a very naive one. "
No it is not. At any given point you do have friends and you do have enemies. You might have problems telling one from another but that is entirely different problem.
"US influence in world affairs is declining. The US was bumped off the UN drugs and human rights comissions by the Western powers."
Maybe, just maybe these organizations are NOT places where real decisions are being made.
Ever thought about that ?
"it could not hold Afghanistan against irregular troops with light arms "
How about US and Vietnam ?
Hell, Germans had problems subduing Tito and other partisans yet only lunatic would claim that their military wasn't one of the best in the world.
You seem to think it would more prudent to assume that your enemy is inferior and incapable of hurting you.
I am truly happy that we had "hawks" and not people like you making decisions about this stuff.
"I only wish that the US honored and reviered its scientists and poets as the Russians do."
I does.
In different way but it surely does.
Brain drain is known problem for many countries.
Where do you think these scientists end up ?
If it they felt we do not appreciate their contribution here is US they would never come here.
Why bother ?
Current generation IDE devices are more than enough for everyday computer use.
Most people wouldn't even notice even someone switched their disks to SCSI.
FOD is a different thing as it would result in engine damage which generally is NOT considered fatal ( at least for most of commercial planes which do have more than one engine).
The Concorde ran over piece of metal that punctured fuel tanks and cause fire which is as dangerous as one can get.
This is precisely what will limit expansion of free software.
People do not have to buy it and childish appeals to their conscience won't be effective.
People have learned that over and over again and now it is turn for OS fools to learn that lesson as well.
"It isn't hard to prove that MS leverages their proprietary knowledge of the OS to make special hooks for their applications and break others applications. "
So where is that proof ?
I have seen people bitch about that but I am yet to see any sort of proof ( I used to work with Win32 so you can be technical here)
"they leveraged their OS to destroy browser competition and put IE on top. "
No, they created better browser than Netscape did.
Slashdot Mirror
"Bush is obviously aiming to restart a cold war. Why? Because the cold war was good for the economy. It "
He proposed to significantly cut US offensive arsenal if missile defense was to be implemented.
Europe was practically recreated using US money after world war 2.
Please shut up and enjoy what you have.
Good riddance.
"the narrowness and insularity of your views"
...
As defined by who ?
You ?
Well known Oracle of this world
Don't be ridicules.
Sure, you can get reasonable asm printout using any dissembler but you won't get any comments, labels ... nothing , just pure asm.
"You rightist hawks were pissing in your pants with fear of the Soviets. "
...
No, during that time I was on the other side, living in one of the countries controlled by the Soviets.
"entire edifice was so corrupt and incompetent that it would simply collapse "
It did collapse precisely because rightist hawks like Reagan were smart enough to know that only pure demonstration of power could bring Soviet Union down.
You don't know what are you talking about.
"After all France did invent them."
Yeah, right.
Invented guillotine as well
Hell, I don't get that supposed caffeine addiction.
I had hard time during first couple of weeks after quitting smoking ( 10 years smoker) but I haven't even noticed when I stopped dirking coffee.
"because we had no answer to communist rhetoric"
We had plenty of answers to leftist rhetoric but we are not talking about rhetoric here but direct or indirect intervention by the Soviets.
"The current crisis in US foreign policy is precisely because the only role the US has managed to find for itself has been as global policeman being called to the scene of every disaster. "
As opposed to what ? Petitioner who asks that very policeman for help ?
Where do you see strong leadership ? European would-be powers could not even agree what to do about genocide going on 300 miles from their capitals and it took our intervention to get things going there.
"Wether the 'real decisions' are taken in the UN or elsewhere the US suspects that it is not influential in the decisions and it is right."
US rightly recognizes that places where regimes of Zambia and Sudan are recognized as a valid and equally important partners are not where want to be "influential."
"we didn't care how many tens of thousands they murdered so long as they were on 'our side'.
"
We had to do that to keep up with Soviets who were busy propping up anyone who would listen to their "rhetoric"
"up into 'enemies' and 'friends' is a very naive one. "
No it is not. At any given point you do have friends and you do have enemies. You might have problems telling one from another but that is entirely different problem.
"US influence in world affairs is declining. The US was bumped off the UN drugs and human rights comissions by the Western powers."
Maybe, just maybe these organizations are NOT places where real decisions are being made.
Ever thought about that ?
Start with yourself.
I promise to follow your steps.
"it could not hold Afghanistan against irregular troops with light arms "
How about US and Vietnam ?
Hell, Germans had problems subduing Tito and other partisans yet only lunatic would claim that their military wasn't one of the best in the world.
You seem to think it would more prudent to assume that your enemy is inferior and incapable of hurting you.
I am truly happy that we had "hawks" and not people like you making decisions about this stuff.
Hell, you are one dangerous lunatic.
I do mean it.
Hell, let them do it.
They gonna end just like they did with their attempt at being "world power".
We will simply outspend them into bankruptcy.
"I only wish that the US honored and reviered its scientists and poets as the Russians do."
I does.
In different way but it surely does.
Brain drain is known problem for many countries.
Where do you think these scientists end up ?
If it they felt we do not appreciate their contribution here is US they would never come here.
"During summer the hot water pipelines are normally inspected and tested,"
Still, during winter they break left and right.
Why bother ?
Current generation IDE devices are more than enough for everyday computer use.
Most people wouldn't even notice even someone switched their disks to SCSI.
FOD is a different thing as it would result in engine damage which generally is NOT considered fatal ( at least for most of commercial planes which do have more than one engine).
The Concorde ran over piece of metal that punctured fuel tanks and cause fire which is as dangerous as one can get.
Do you see medical radiation being referred to as way to lose you hair or anti-cancer treatment?
Same principle applies here.
You racist pig !
..
PS.
Seriously, if you were to mention that in politically correct environment, you would be severely punished for complete lack of sensitivity etc
"no good Xfree86 support means people stuck Tridents have to buy the Xig sever"
I always use Xig, even with what is considered "good XFree suppport" cards X is much , much faster using Xig server.
This is precisely what will limit expansion of free software.
People do not have to buy it and childish appeals to their conscience won't be effective.
People have learned that over and over again and now it is turn for OS fools to learn that lesson as well.
Whatever it does , I wish it would do it at least as fast as Windows did stuff in 1996.
"It isn't hard to prove that MS leverages their proprietary knowledge of the OS to make special hooks for their applications and break others applications. "
So where is that proof ?
I have seen people bitch about that but I am yet to see any sort of proof ( I used to work with Win32 so you can be technical here)
"they leveraged their OS to destroy browser competition and put IE on top. "
No, they created better browser than Netscape did.
What force ?
You people gladly pay for our movies, McDonald's crap food and all the other stuff.
Blame yourself.
So why did he leave that noble Europe and moved his ass to US ?
Can you answer that for me ?