Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 4:49 pm  

Dally wrote:

I'm pretty sure he didn't get one at the thought of you.

It would have been more likely to be over you.

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 4:51 pm  

Mintball wrote:

It would have been more likely to be over you.

Why?

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 5:04 pm  

Some further thoughts. • What you do do is to support, if possible, any opposition that you can find evidence is representative of the bulk of the people. And you do it in terms of what they ask. So for instance, there are trades unions in Europe that are providing support, as asked for, by Zimbawean unions. These things make a difference. But they're not 'sexy' and headline-making. And they are based on not just responding to anyone asking for anything, but involve groups with provable mass support, and not, say, providing arms. I mentioned Zimbabwe – where the unions and progressive organisations asked for union movement in the UK, and this has been very active (as asked) in supporting the campaign on sanitary protection for women. Now that in itself might sound really rather strange, but here is some more information on this quite specific issue. It might not seem obviously linked to the struggle in that country for real democracy and against Mugabe, but it is. • You also have to try to be consistent – and to have an ethical approach to foreign policy (as we were promised but never given, by New Labour. So for instance, you don't give bleedin' recruitment gifts to the likes of al-Queda and its ilk by attacking the likes of Iraq (which you previously supported) and ignoring the behaviour of the state of Israel. And to say that Israel has behaved appallingly is NOT a sign of support for Islamic fundamentalism and it is NOT anti-semitism. • You stop thinking in the shortest term possible. So for instance, the 'threat' in Afghanistan (and elsewhere within the Islamic world) might have been reduced at this point in time, but we have NOT eradicated it; it will almost certainly emerge again. And in the process of reaching this stage, we have wasted countless lives on both sides.

Some further thoughts. • What you do do is to support, if possible, any opposition that you can find evidence is representative of the bulk of the people. And you do it in terms of what they ask. So for instance, there are trades unions in Europe that are providing support, as asked for, by Zimbawean unions. These things make a difference. But they're not 'sexy' and headline-making. And they are based on not just responding to anyone asking for anything, but involve groups with provable mass support, and not, say, providing arms. I mentioned Zimbabwe – where the unions and progressive organisations asked for union movement in the UK, and this has been very active (as asked) in supporting the campaign on sanitary protection for women. Now that in itself might sound really rather strange, but here is some more information on this quite specific issue. It might not seem obviously linked to the struggle in that country for real democracy and against Mugabe, but it is. • You also have to try to be consistent – and to have an ethical approach to foreign policy (as we were promised but never given, by New Labour. So for instance, you don't give bleedin' recruitment gifts to the likes of al-Queda and its ilk by attacking the likes of Iraq (which you previously supported) and ignoring the behaviour of the state of Israel. And to say that Israel has behaved appallingly is NOT a sign of support for Islamic fundamentalism and it is NOT anti-semitism. • You stop thinking in the shortest term possible. So for instance, the 'threat' in Afghanistan (and elsewhere within the Islamic world) might have been reduced at this point in time, but we have NOT eradicated it; it will almost certainly emerge again. And in the process of reaching this stage, we have wasted countless lives on both sides.

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 9:21 pm  

rover49 wrote:

Most likely to have an impact on the west, laudable as it is to be concerned at atrocities being carried out with machetes on some remote border in Africa or South America, it is not hurting our national interests as the politicians see it.

What are our "national interests"?

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 11:53 pm  

Mintball wrote:

I bet you got a stiffy just at the thought.

I bet you got a stiffy just at the thought.

Nah, contrary to socialists (who get very excited about the prospect of stealing from the rich in order to give to the government - as if David Cameron really needs the extra money) those of us on the political right dont get turned on by specific policies.

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Thu May 31, 2012 11:57 pm  

Mintball, I just spoke with my girlfriend, who is Ukrainian, about your affinity for dictators and she reckons that if you ever lived under a tyrant, as she and her family have, then perhaps you wouldnt be so blase about their autocratic rule and brutal leadership. She firmly supports action to help any people in the world oppressed by tyrants.

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:58 pm  

David Titan wrote:

I just spoke with my girlfriend, who is Ukrainian, about your affinity for dictators .

I thought she was Zimbabwean?

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:36 pm  

David Titan wrote:

Mintball, I just spoke with my girlfriend, who is Ukrainian, about your affinity for dictators and she reckons that if you ever lived under a tyrant, as she and her family have, then perhaps you wouldnt be so blase about their autocratic rule and brutal leadership. She firmly supports action to help any people in the world oppressed by tyrants.

It's a bit much to talk about Dally like that, oh well, at least you've all moved out of his house now, eh?

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:16 pm  

Mintball wrote:

It would have been more likely to be over you.

Re: President Assad and Mrs. al-Assad : Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:53 pm  

Dally wrote:

I thought she was Zimbabwean?

Its one of those johnny-foreigner places that are hard to spell.