Interesting that what you home in on is not the agents of the countries that have nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, states that could cause genuine harm or even destroy the United States. You also didn't home in on smaller but hostile states with WMDs that the United States may soon end up fighting in some fashion, and have agents in the US, such as Iran, Syria, North Korea, and others. You also didn't home in on the many terrorist organizations that have a presence in the US, like the hundreds of Hezbollah members, or even Al Qaeda - all of which have attacked and killed hundreds or even thousands of Americans. You didn't even chose the many other US allies with agents in the United States, such as France and the UK. You chose to pay attention to a small ally dwarfed by its neighbors and European nations, a close US ally and trading partner, the citizens of which are the subject of hatred by bigots, and genocidal wishes of racists around the world. Interesting. . . . . So, out of all the other choices, why do you single them out?
Iran not only constructs its own drones, it manufactures its own jet fighters.
There is a slight translation problem. The Farsi word for "jet fighter" translates into English and most European languages most accurately as "target drone".
*cough* Patriot Act *cough* NDAA *cough* assassinations w/o trials *cough* massive NSA spy center under construction right now
Yes, all aimed at Al Qaeda and its affiliates that are making war against the United States, and legal under the law of war. The US Congress passed the laws behind them, as well as the Authorization for Use of Military Force. Al Qaeda is no longer being handled as a purely law enforcement problem. Bin Laden, as head of Al Qaeda, declared war on the US and launched attacks. The US is responding in kind. Not hard to understand.
You should probably see a doctor. You don't sound well. Of course you'll do less well if you take the fringe crank Greenwald seriously.
But when Iran & Syria do the exact same thing - buying snooping gear from the free market to keep their population in check - they are suddenly "evil"
No, I'm afraid you are quite wrong there, Syria and Iran have been evil regimes for quite some time. The 1982 Hama massacre is a good taste of what the Syrian regime is capable of. It also serves as an example of what the Arab & Muslim world will tolerate in silence, but when an Israeli soldier kills one Palestinian Arab suicide bomber it is decried as a massacre and war crime. Iran has long practiced state sponsored terrorism.
We're already sanctioning Iran because they will take Euros or Yen for oil.
The Europeans, like the US, say that they are sanctioning Iran due to its outlaw nuclear program. But lets go with what you assert, that it is about dollars versus euros. So are the Europeans sanctioning Iran because they take Euros for oil too? Wouldn't that be kind of stupid for the Europeans to do, to punish Iran for accepting their currency to pay for oil? And that's what you claim? Shouldn't they be punishing the Iranians for accepting their currency for other goods besides oil too? Or do they think it is OK for Iran to take European currencies for other goods, but only punish them for taking their currency for oil? If they were looking out for their own interests, why would they be punishing Iran for taking their currency at all? Hmmmm. Maybe I'll believe the Europeans, that this is about Iran's nuclear program after all, otherwise you have to believe something that is transparently stupid.
This is another straw for the camel; the American public is tired of invading Middle Eastern countries to keep the price of Texas oil high, so we need them to attack us.
I thought that the story was that the US invaded oil rich countries to get cheap oil, not to make oil more expensive? Do you think you could at least settle on a consistent line of bull? I guess after Chinese and European companies got so many oil contracts in Iraq that you can't really try to claim that bull any more, eh?
Blood is already in the water, the sharks are circling.
Excellent! A fresh supply of shark fins for soup, and aphrodisiacs to sell to China for a profit! And then there are all the other valuable parts of the shark.
You are sort of the "Professor Backwards" of disaster.
It is certainly possible to compare America's police state tactics to Syria, just as it's possible to compare the OWS crackdowns with the protests in Tahiri Square.
The US government is using surveillance on people in direct contact with terrorist* organizations to stop people who want to do things like fly planes into buildings for mass slaughter and detonate bombs in crowds for mass slaughter. The Syrian government is using surveillance and mass slaughter to prevent free and fair elections. The difference is clear as the difference between night and day.
For the uninformed - this is the sort of regime that runs Syria, and what it is capable of doing to its own cities and citizens:
Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization
Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story
Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center
U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story
Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings
Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story
1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa
A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story
2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab
A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story
San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab
Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization. Full Story
Do you think you could come up with a list of foreign governments that you think are actually responsible for their own behavior, and that of their country? Are there any that have even a smidgen of influence over the activities within their borders? Or is everything the fault of the United States? The mass starvation in North Korea? The slaughter in Syria? The dreams of regional hegemony and genocidal inclinations of Iran? Do the leaders of these countries have their own dreams, their own goals? Are they responsible for their actions? Or is it all the United States again?
What you seem to be missing is a moderate left party. Where is the American party that isn't aiming for communism, but would increase taxes on the rich, using the money to pay for improved infrastructure and social services (e.g. public transport, more money/help for the unemployed or low income people, single-parent families, investment in bad bits of cities, etc)?
That sort of thing is pretty much the platform of the Democratic party in the US. However, in fairness, there is very little legislation that passes in the United States at the national level, or in most states, that doesn't have at least some degree of support from both parties. The Republican party is also for improving infrastructure, and social services - when necessary. There are disagreements as to how to pay for things, how long they last, etc. One thing that many Europeans have a hard time with is that American political parties, at least the Democrats and Republicans, tend to be "big tent" parties that have a fairly wide range of political views - the parties both have their conservative and liberal wings. This is somewhat less true than in the past, say 30 years ago.
The Republicans aren't far right, they are center-center right. I don't think even in a European context they would be truly far right. There is one notable difference between the American and European right. The American right rejected the far right in the 50s and 60s, so it has withered. The Left in America hasn't done that fully.
The Republicans reject authoritarianism, racism (despite the nonsense you read on Slashdot), and are not anti-immigrant. They do want all immigration to be legal, however. As things stand now, approximately 10% of the population of Mexico has crossed into the United States, almost all illegally. That really can't be a good thing for all the things it implies.
As to your other questions -
I don't believe that the National Socialists have won any elections ever, although they do run for office from time to time. The various Communist parties put people on the ballot, but I doubt they've won much unless it was unopposed. Communists have been appointed to high government positions, however - Van Jones, for example. The Socialists have won office here and there. There is a US Senator who is a socialist, and the city of Milwaukee (a major city) has elected a socialist party mayor in years past. The state of Minnesota also elected a Reform Party governor several years ago - Jesse Ventura, the actor and former wrestler. I believe Green Party members have won local office as well.
So the United States truly does have the full range of political parties in it, but the American electorate is drawn more towards the center. The national election system helps reinforce that tendency. I don't think that is a bad thing.
Information Operations is generally a fancy way of saying advertising. Advertising must be thought useful by somebody as it pretty much pays for broadcast television and radio, as well as providing income to many web sites, including this one. I don't think that advertising to try to convince people to not engage in violence is a bad thing. If it is, could you see about getting some of the public service announcements pulled from American and European television?
The overall the US defense budget has been declining as a percentage of GDP for a long time.
The F35 is being marked to many countries, not just the US. How do you market? With advertising. What is a common form of advertising? Videos.
As to the US reverting to pre-WW2 with its military in some fashion, I'm sure that is would be a popular idea in some circles. I doubt most Americans would want to return to a place where the US Army would look at the mighty Romanian Army as the next competitor to catch in terms of power.
My intelligence is about all I have going for me. I know it's selfish, but I shudder to think of living in a world where *everyone* is smart by default. I didn't get kicked around all those years by the jocks just to settle for being an average intellect.
I wouldn't worry too much. If experience is any guide, any genes involved with intelligence must be recessive.
Sounds like a form of what are referred to as "confidence building measures" taken in various treaties aimed at reducing arms or reducing the chance of war. Interesting form though.
And whats the betting the pipe conveniently has a US Intel feed monitoring all the data. A way to spy on Europe, without having to get permission to tap into the European pipes directly
Brilliant! Because sitting on Iraq end of an internet pipe going into Europe is SO much better than sitting on the American end of an internet pipe going into Europe because... well.... maybe not.
You have too many wild conspiracy theories, and too few facts. Most of what your wrote is nonsense. You should think about spending some time in the library researching militant Islam and the periodic outbursts of Islamist terror over the centuries. If you can't manage that you are likely to earn a reputation as a crank.
It's funny, but I don't recall that the NKVD, KGB, SMERSH, or other secret police organs of Soviet Power in the USSR worried about blood feuds from torture, or any of that. They simply tortured and killed in staggering numbers.
Torture is ineffective and diminishes the society that condones torture. I still think that the stories that came out last decade are a big part of why American society is so psychotic today.
Some small segments of American society did become unhinged, yes, but not anything close to all of American society.
Many people are also mistaken regarding what went on at Abu Ghraib. The Army put a stop to abuse by a handful of rogue soldiers who were abusing prisoners, court martialed them, and sent them to jail. All the news media really did was report the news of the Army investigation, and what had gone on. Of course it is more profitable, poltically and financially, to spin dark conspiracy theories when the reality is closer to Jackass: The Movie.
Private Lynndie England, the woman who has become the emblem of the US' shame over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, on Tuesday showed little expression aside from an occasional nervous giggle at a hearing to determine whether she should face the full weight of a court martial.
When first confronted with pictures of her gloating over naked and cowering Iraqi prisoners, England had shown no alarm, telling the officer who led the investigation of the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq: "It was just for fun."
That lack of comprehension returned to haunt her yesterday as the prevailing view of the US military -- that England and the handful of other lowly reservists charged in the abuse were rogue soldiers -- began to emerge more fully.
"They didn't think it was that serious. They were just joking around and having some fun during the night shift," Chief Warrant Officer Paul Arthur told the court.
He added later: "From the get-go, it was jokes and frustration." . . ..
If England is convicted on all 19 charges, she could face 38 years in the brig. Some 25 witnesses are to appear including Specialist Joseph Darby, the soldier who first came forward about the abuse, and Specialist Jeremy Sivitz, who was granted relative leniency for cooperating with the investigation. Much of the prosecution's evidence is from photographs, with more than 280 images of abuse of detainees, . . . The images first came to the attention of the authorities last January.
Arthur, a member of the military CID, was at Abu Ghraib when a soldier in England's military police
Slashdot Mirror
how long? before Iran retaliates and the whole thing escalates into WW3
You mean like seeking regional hegemony, running terrorist campaigns worldwide, threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, threaten Europe's energy supplies to freeze people, use suicide boats to attack gulf shipping, arm Hezbollah to attack Israel with and ultimate goal of destroying Israel, attack US troops, send suicide bombers to Europe and America, aid America's enemies, threaten attacks on nearby countries and cities with missiles, kill diplomats, subvert nearby countries, unleash the suicide bomb brigades (serious), and the ninjas (you decide), perhaps adding some WMDs to the attacks?
I doubt that many people will buy it.
Popcorn?
Interesting that what you home in on is not the agents of the countries that have nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, states that could cause genuine harm or even destroy the United States. You also didn't home in on smaller but hostile states with WMDs that the United States may soon end up fighting in some fashion, and have agents in the US, such as Iran, Syria, North Korea, and others. You also didn't home in on the many terrorist organizations that have a presence in the US, like the hundreds of Hezbollah members, or even Al Qaeda - all of which have attacked and killed hundreds or even thousands of Americans. You didn't even chose the many other US allies with agents in the United States, such as France and the UK. You chose to pay attention to a small ally dwarfed by its neighbors and European nations, a close US ally and trading partner, the citizens of which are the subject of hatred by bigots, and genocidal wishes of racists around the world. Interesting. . . . . So, out of all the other choices, why do you single them out?
Iran not only constructs its own drones, it manufactures its own jet fighters.
There is a slight translation problem. The Farsi word for "jet fighter" translates into English and most European languages most accurately as "target drone".
*cough* Patriot Act *cough* NDAA *cough* assassinations w/o trials *cough* massive NSA spy center under construction right now
Yes, all aimed at Al Qaeda and its affiliates that are making war against the United States, and legal under the law of war. The US Congress passed the laws behind them, as well as the Authorization for Use of Military Force. Al Qaeda is no longer being handled as a purely law enforcement problem. Bin Laden, as head of Al Qaeda, declared war on the US and launched attacks. The US is responding in kind. Not hard to understand.
You should probably see a doctor. You don't sound well. Of course you'll do less well if you take the fringe crank Greenwald seriously.
But when Iran & Syria do the exact same thing - buying snooping gear from the free market to keep their population in check - they are suddenly "evil"
No, I'm afraid you are quite wrong there, Syria and Iran have been evil regimes for quite some time. The 1982 Hama massacre is a good taste of what the Syrian regime is capable of. It also serves as an example of what the Arab & Muslim world will tolerate in silence, but when an Israeli soldier kills one Palestinian Arab suicide bomber it is decried as a massacre and war crime. Iran has long practiced state sponsored terrorism.
We're already sanctioning Iran because they will take Euros or Yen for oil.
The Europeans, like the US, say that they are sanctioning Iran due to its outlaw nuclear program. But lets go with what you assert, that it is about dollars versus euros. So are the Europeans sanctioning Iran because they take Euros for oil too? Wouldn't that be kind of stupid for the Europeans to do, to punish Iran for accepting their currency to pay for oil? And that's what you claim? Shouldn't they be punishing the Iranians for accepting their currency for other goods besides oil too? Or do they think it is OK for Iran to take European currencies for other goods, but only punish them for taking their currency for oil? If they were looking out for their own interests, why would they be punishing Iran for taking their currency at all? Hmmmm. Maybe I'll believe the Europeans, that this is about Iran's nuclear program after all, otherwise you have to believe something that is transparently stupid.
This is another straw for the camel; the American public is tired of invading Middle Eastern countries to keep the price of Texas oil high, so we need them to attack us.
I thought that the story was that the US invaded oil rich countries to get cheap oil, not to make oil more expensive? Do you think you could at least settle on a consistent line of bull? I guess after Chinese and European companies got so many oil contracts in Iraq that you can't really try to claim that bull any more, eh?
Blood is already in the water, the sharks are circling.
Excellent! A fresh supply of shark fins for soup, and aphrodisiacs to sell to China for a profit! And then there are all the other valuable parts of the shark.
You are sort of the "Professor Backwards" of disaster.
It is certainly possible to compare America's police state tactics to Syria, just as it's possible to compare the OWS crackdowns with the protests in Tahiri Square.
Of course it's possible. It is also ridiculous.
The US government is using surveillance on people in direct contact with terrorist* organizations to stop people who want to do things like fly planes into buildings for mass slaughter and detonate bombs in crowds for mass slaughter. The Syrian government is using surveillance and mass slaughter to prevent free and fair elections. The difference is clear as the difference between night and day.
For the uninformed - this is the sort of regime that runs Syria, and what it is capable of doing to its own cities and citizens:
Hama 1982 – The Syrian massacre you never heard about
Now, why might the United States government be engaging in surveillance? I'm sure you can figure it out if you try.
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011
More
Do you think you could come up with a list of foreign governments that you think are actually responsible for their own behavior, and that of their country? Are there any that have even a smidgen of influence over the activities within their borders? Or is everything the fault of the United States? The mass starvation in North Korea? The slaughter in Syria? The dreams of regional hegemony and genocidal inclinations of Iran? Do the leaders of these countries have their own dreams, their own goals? Are they responsible for their actions? Or is it all the United States again?
. . . and understand that the movement they started didn't get everything right. . . but their views should definitely be considered.
The ESSENTIAL BOYD
Start here: The Reformers
State ‘Death Panels’ Attributable to Single-Payer
It is almost unbelievable that everyone doesn't realize that government run healthcare is a panacea, isn't it?
State ‘Death Panels’ Attributable to Single-Payer
Carolina Man Battling Breast Cancer May Have to Pay After Denied Treatment
Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions
Oregon Tells Patients State Will Pay for Assisted Suicide, Not Health Care
Does everybody in the UK understand that?
Elderly dying due to 'despicable age discrimination in NHS'
Some people will believe anything despite the evidence, eh?
What you seem to be missing is a moderate left party. Where is the American party that isn't aiming for communism, but would increase taxes on the rich, using the money to pay for improved infrastructure and social services (e.g. public transport, more money/help for the unemployed or low income people, single-parent families, investment in bad bits of cities, etc)?
That sort of thing is pretty much the platform of the Democratic party in the US. However, in fairness, there is very little legislation that passes in the United States at the national level, or in most states, that doesn't have at least some degree of support from both parties. The Republican party is also for improving infrastructure, and social services - when necessary. There are disagreements as to how to pay for things, how long they last, etc. One thing that many Europeans have a hard time with is that American political parties, at least the Democrats and Republicans, tend to be "big tent" parties that have a fairly wide range of political views - the parties both have their conservative and liberal wings. This is somewhat less true than in the past, say 30 years ago.
The Republicans aren't far right, they are center-center right. I don't think even in a European context they would be truly far right. There is one notable difference between the American and European right. The American right rejected the far right in the 50s and 60s, so it has withered. The Left in America hasn't done that fully.
The Republicans reject authoritarianism, racism (despite the nonsense you read on Slashdot), and are not anti-immigrant. They do want all immigration to be legal, however. As things stand now, approximately 10% of the population of Mexico has crossed into the United States, almost all illegally. That really can't be a good thing for all the things it implies.
As to your other questions -
I don't believe that the National Socialists have won any elections ever, although they do run for office from time to time. The various Communist parties put people on the ballot, but I doubt they've won much unless it was unopposed. Communists have been appointed to high government positions, however - Van Jones, for example. The Socialists have won office here and there. There is a US Senator who is a socialist, and the city of Milwaukee (a major city) has elected a socialist party mayor in years past. The state of Minnesota also elected a Reform Party governor several years ago - Jesse Ventura, the actor and former wrestler. I believe Green Party members have won local office as well.
So the United States truly does have the full range of political parties in it, but the American electorate is drawn more towards the center. The national election system helps reinforce that tendency. I don't think that is a bad thing.
Information Operations is generally a fancy way of saying advertising. Advertising must be thought useful by somebody as it pretty much pays for broadcast television and radio, as well as providing income to many web sites, including this one. I don't think that advertising to try to convince people to not engage in violence is a bad thing. If it is, could you see about getting some of the public service announcements pulled from American and European television?
The overall the US defense budget has been declining as a percentage of GDP for a long time.
The F35 is being marked to many countries, not just the US. How do you market? With advertising. What is a common form of advertising? Videos.
As to the US reverting to pre-WW2 with its military in some fashion, I'm sure that is would be a popular idea in some circles. I doubt most Americans would want to return to a place where the US Army would look at the mighty Romanian Army as the next competitor to catch in terms of power.
It must. I see many highly rated comments that are farcical if you know much of anything about the topic under discussion.
My intelligence is about all I have going for me. I know it's selfish, but I shudder to think of living in a world where *everyone* is smart by default. I didn't get kicked around all those years by the jocks just to settle for being an average intellect.
I wouldn't worry too much. If experience is any guide, any genes involved with intelligence must be recessive.
Sounds like a form of what are referred to as "confidence building measures" taken in various treaties aimed at reducing arms or reducing the chance of war. Interesting form though.
And whats the betting the pipe conveniently has a US Intel feed monitoring all the data. A way to spy on Europe, without having to get permission to tap into the European pipes directly
Brilliant! Because sitting on Iraq end of an internet pipe going into Europe is SO much better than sitting on the American end of an internet pipe going into Europe because... well.... maybe not.
You have too many wild conspiracy theories, and too few facts. Most of what your wrote is nonsense. You should think about spending some time in the library researching militant Islam and the periodic outbursts of Islamist terror over the centuries. If you can't manage that you are likely to earn a reputation as a crank.
It's funny, but I don't recall that the NKVD, KGB, SMERSH, or other secret police organs of Soviet Power in the USSR worried about blood feuds from torture, or any of that. They simply tortured and killed in staggering numbers.
The KGB prison in Vilnius at The Museum of Genocide Victims
solitary confinement cell, KGB style.
Surprise!
And the Gulags?
What Were Their Crimes? Living in the Gulag Stalin World - Lithuania
The Great Terror: A Reassessment
- - - - -
Torture is ineffective and diminishes the society that condones torture. I still think that the stories that came out last decade are a big part of why American society is so psychotic today.
Some small segments of American society did become unhinged, yes, but not anything close to all of American society.
Keep in perspective that: Only Three Have Been Waterboarded by CIA The most recent of which was about 9 years ago.
Many people are also mistaken regarding what went on at Abu Ghraib. The Army put a stop to abuse by a handful of rogue soldiers who were abusing prisoners, court martialed them, and sent them to jail. All the news media really did was report the news of the Army investigation, and what had gone on. Of course it is more profitable, poltically and financially, to spin dark conspiracy theories when the reality is closer to Jackass: The Movie.
Iraq abuse photos were `just for fun'
In standard English there is a kind of understatement which is very common and universally understood.
The police are often overlooked as masters of understatement, double entendre, and irony. . . . especially irony.
I guess that's why it is so effective for comedy when they depart from it.
Be careful what you don't ask for, you might get it.
http://religion.slashdot.org/
Hmmm..... I sense a disturbance in the force..... as if tens of thousands of atheists cried out and then went silent . . . .
According to the police report, Zimmerman was treated at the scene by the FD for bleeding from the back of his head and from his nose. Simple fact.