Quoted: The best barometer of doing right as a nation is to be hated by all the right people.

Interesting idea.  Makes sense to me.

Quoted: You're concerned for how the rest of the world thinks about us??  Sounding a bit like you're leaning left man... get your ass back here and let us straighten you out. America will not be doomed to go it alone... we'll be blessed.   F*** the rest of the world.

Actually mate, thats what a lot of the rest of the world would actually like.

Now, understand taht I'm speaking as a devil's advocate here, and I am pro US, and Pro Israel (if not necesarily all of the policies of those two entities), and that I do rather like you guys (thats as close as a Brit gets to saying I love you guys!.

Now, a lot of the rest of the world doesn't realise just how much money it gets from the US. But they do see some of the bad things. And a lot of this is not just recent history, its post world war II stuff, they do see the odd facist dictator that you propped up, and the odd socialist government that you assisted down. They forget what your greatest generation (and mine) did for us, and they see what some of the people since have done with that legacy.

Talk to Greece about their junta, or bits of South America.

Ask the older generation whether they like America or not, they remember what we owe you, and so do i, but a lot of the younger generation would prefer it if your .gov wasn't so active outside their own borders.

Their's a book by... erm... William Blum www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567512526/qid=1098824290/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-9359554-0668925 I'd really like one of the better history-minded members of the board to take a read of this, and refute it, cos I would like to believe most of it is wild conjecture and outright fabrication. Warning though, make sure you borrow it from a library rather than buy it, cos you'll probably be irritated at spending your money on it.

Anyway.

To paraphrase somebody else's .sig, I'm from the part of Europe you saved, and I'm damn grateful for it. So if any members are anywhere near Wales, I'll show them the bit that appreciates them :)

Cheers
/PHil

I believe that it would be wholly inaccurate to take the opinions of the British press and London urbanites as being representative of what Brits in general believe. Do CBS and NYC sissies speak for you?

To make my point: Bear in mind that under the UK's parlimentary system a vote for the ouster of the prime minister can be called for at any time. Now, is Tony Blair still there or is he gone?

And let us assume that the Brit soldiers, as are our soldiers, are far better representives of their countrymen than a few effete, loudmouthed twits. Anybody got any problem with how the Brits fight?

I rest my case.

SD

Quoted: America is "the world".

Thats my new favorite saying!

Quoted: One good thing about going at it alone is that you don't have to worry about europe, or anyone else fucking it up.

Or as Patton said "I'd rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me."

Quoted: I believe that it would be wholly inaccurate to take the opinions of the British press and London urbanites as being representative of what Brits in general believe. Do CBS and NYC sissies speak for you? To make my point: Bear in mind that under the UK's parlimentary system a vote for the ouster of the prime minister can be called for at any time. Now, is Tony Blair still there or is he gone? And let us assume that the Brit soldiers, as are our soldiers, are far better representives of their countrymen than a few effete, loudmouthed twits. Anybody got any problem with how the Brits fight? I rest my case. SD

Cheers sir, you now have one beer token to be redeemed any time you travel to the UK

It's actually a little more fiddly to get the prime minister out, there is, to coin a phrase, a lot of politics involved, but yes, we can. And its been kinda close of late if you lsiten to the papers.

I think the number of people in favour of the Iraqi invasion is possibly under 50% now, but there's still a lot of positive feeling towards america.

Do us a favour though, when the Black Watch relieve the marines so they can go to Fallujah, would you stomp that shithole flat, and make suer you can come back to the spot we're keeping warm for you so they can get home for Christmas. Problems in Fallujah that cause the Black Watch to be stuck out there for longer than necessary will erode support.

/PHil

I found it strange that the British parliment had to openly debate the deployment of the' Black Watch'.  Shouldn't the decision have been left to the commanders on the ground?  With all the negative press coverage about Tony Blair giving in to the 'U.S. request', I found it amusing that a small report carried in 'The Times' of London mentioning that it was actually the Brits who had reqested to see more action, although the official line remains that it was the U.S. that requested for assistance.

They dont hate the US, they dont hate Americans - I know becuase I helped analyze US govt polling data from other countires. They hate American POLICY, and the hate BUSH.

I dont care one way or the other if they like us or not, but those are the FACTS. Even in hard core Arab countries, this is the general trend.

Quoted: They dont hate the US, they dont hate Americans - I know becuase I helped analyze US govt polling data from other countires. They hate American POLICY, and the hate BUSH. I dont care one way or the other if they like us or not, but those are the FACTS. Even in hard core Arab countries, this is the general trend.

I don't care, why, if, who hates us.

Worrying about what haters think is a fools errand.

I don't care, why, if, who hates us. Worrying about what haters think is a fools errand.

Amen. Don't hate the player, hate the game

Come on back home, Borg.  Lot's to see in this great country.  Screw the rest of them.

Western Europe is not "the world."

You think it's bad as an American, try traveling to some places as an Israeli!

Come to think of it - that might be one country you can go to during your extensive travels and definitely find more suppport in the local tavern.

Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't make you popular.  Such is life.

Quoted: Come on back home, Borg.  Lot's to see in this great country.  Screw the rest of them.

I can't wait....four more days!

Quoted: Western Europe is not "the world." You think it's bad as an American, try traveling to some places as an Israeli! Come to think of it - that might be one country you can go to during your extensive travels and definitely find more suppport in the local tavern. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't make you popular.  Such is life.

Amen to that!

And, we all ought to remember that well next time some self-styled grand country in Europe wants us to go bleed for them.  Play by their rules.  The Germans are overruning the French?  NO PROBLEM!  Go to the UN, that's what it's for.  No, we agree with your thesis that war solves nothing.  Talk it over.  ("Die deutschen Truppen stehen vor den Toren von Paris."    Mes amis!  Mes amis!   Es kommt die Angriff.  Au secours, Les Etats Unis, au secours.     Hey, I agree with you, no war.  )

we haven't saved them in a couple decades.

Because they ALL know we can whip their ass!!!And have most of them!!