Algeria - a bit of a sticky wicket.

[Coito ergo sum]

Coito's just on a trolling spree.

Report any offending posts, if they are against the rules.

[Jason]

They aren't, at least not the ones I've read, but you're quite obviously carrying a big chip on your shoulder and trolling for an argument.. which you'll probably get with Sandinista now.

[Coito ergo sum]

They aren't, at least not the ones I've read, but you're quite obviously carrying a big chip on your shoulder and trolling for an argument.. which you'll probably get with Sandinista now.

Nope. I just find it funny that the same sort of analysis, criticism, and investigation does not occur on threads about about Mali, Algeria, Libya, etc., as did on certain other threads, and lots of benefits of lots of doubts are given here. The prevailing sentiment here is that of "of course we're over there -- must be a good cause."

[sandinista]

They aren't, at least not the ones I've read, but you're quite obviously carrying a big chip on your shoulder and trolling for an argument.. which you'll probably get with Sandinista now.

Nope. I just find it funny that the same sort of analysis, criticism, and investigation does not occur on threads about about Mali, Algeria, Libya, etc., as did on certain other threads, and lots of benefits of lots of doubts are given here. The prevailing sentiment here is that of "of course we're over there -- must be a good cause."

Has nothing to do with that, it's about having some kind of perspective. I mean, a full on invasion of Iraq is simply not the same thing that is happening in Mali or Algeria. Hence the analysis, criticism, etc. Of course, you would also compare Castro to Hitler so we all know perspective is not your strong suit.

[Coito ergo sum]

They aren't, at least not the ones I've read, but you're quite obviously carrying a big chip on your shoulder and trolling for an argument.. which you'll probably get with Sandinista now.

Nope. I just find it funny that the same sort of analysis, criticism, and investigation does not occur on threads about about Mali, Algeria, Libya, etc., as did on certain other threads, and lots of benefits of lots of doubts are given here. The prevailing sentiment here is that of "of course we're over there -- must be a good cause."

Has nothing to do with that, it's about having some kind of perspective. I mean, a full on invasion of Iraq is simply not the same thing that is happening in Mali. Hence the analysis, criticism, etc. Of course, you would also compare Castro to Hitler so we all know perspective is not your strong suit.

What do you think is happening in Mali?

And, I made no comparison of Castro to Hitler. I describe Castro as he was -- a 50 year dictator that jailed and murdered his political opponents, "enemies of the people" and "undesirables" and imposed a half-century of Communism which served to oppress the people of Cuba and prevent them from leaving the country by law and at the point of a gun. A good indicator regarding a country is whether they have to force people to stay, and how many people are knocking on the door to come in.

[sandinista]

quote:Coito ergo sum

the worst of the worst dictators are Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Pol Pot, Nikita Kruschev, Leonid Breszhnev, Fidel Castro.

[Coito ergo sum]

quote:Coito ergo sum

the worst of the worst dictators are Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Pol Pot, Nikita Kruschev, Leonid Breszhnev, Fidel Castro.

Just because they were all dictators doesn't mean they were comparable dictators. Castro is among the worst dictators of the 20th century, doesn't mean he was just like Hitler or Mao or Stalin. Some of the dictators were worse than others.

[JimC]

They aren't, at least not the ones I've read, but you're quite obviously carrying a big chip on your shoulder and trolling for an argument.. which you'll probably get with Sandinista now.

Nope. I just find it funny that the same sort of analysis, criticism, and investigation does not occur on threads about about Mali, Algeria, Libya, etc., as did on certain other threads, and lots of benefits of lots of doubts are given here. The prevailing sentiment here is that of "of course we're over there -- must be a good cause."

Has nothing to do with that, it's about having some kind of perspective. I mean, a full on invasion of Iraq is simply not the same thing that is happening in Mali or Algeria. Hence the analysis, criticism, etc. Of course, you would also compare Castro to Hitler so we all know perspective is not your strong suit.

As CES said, what's your take on the whole Mali thing? Here's mine...

The original government was both corrupt and weak, from all one can gather. Now the military has taken over, which seems par for the course on that part of the world. Meanwhile, islamists are sweeping down from the north, quoting the Koran and shooting musicians...

An African military coalition is slowly gearing up to help resist the islamist push, and meantime the French are doing the initial work of resisting the push from the north. If their presence is brief, and they hand over a stabilised situation to the African forces, I cant see that it has been a neo-colonialist action...

[JimC]

Interesting article in today's Age:

BAMAKO: Mali's Islamic leaders praised the French-led intervention to oust insurgents controlling two-thirds of the West African nation as the US said it was ready to offer support to the mission.
''The intervention of France in Mali has nothing to do with a fight against Islam,'' Mahmoud Dicko, president of the Islamic High Council of Mali, told reporters in Bamako, the capital, on Tuesday. ''It is a fight against crime and terrorism.''
France started airstrikes on Mali's north on January 11 to back the domestic army in its bid to take control from Islamist militants who seek to impose a strict version of sharia on the landlocked nation. Malian troops seized Diabaly and Douentza on Monday after reclaiming Konna on January 18, the French Defence Ministry says.
The US was willing to provide support, including funding, logistics, medicine and transportation to the mission if African leaders requested it, Michael Battle, the US ambassador to the African Union, said on Tuesday. ''We have a lot of capacity to provide support,'' he said.
Instability in Mali threatens the wider region, especially neighbouring Niger and Algeria, Mr Battle said. ''Their peace and stability is dependent on stability and good governance in Mali.''
A small number of British special forces soldiers are already in Mali helping to co-ordinate and advise the French military effort against the jihadi groups in the north. They are part of a team of British military and MI6 personnel who are providing support to French commanders. None of the special forces soldiers are being deployed in a combat role, sources say.
Britain is also preparing to answer a call from the French for extra help with reconnaissance aircraft, which is expected to include RAF Sentinels, which were used during the Libya campaign. Britain had considered making available some of the military's small, tactical drone aircraft, which can be used to scope battlefields, but it is understood the equipment, and the teams operating them, are all needed in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/malis-is ... z2IrAhlq69

[laklak]

Hey, Lak, if we kill Malians, who will come and sweep our streets?

Eastern Europeans. As an added bonus their women are better looking, and will shag for Hershey bars and nylons.

[Svartalf]

Malians are hard workers, Romanians and Bulgars aren't.

[Coito ergo sum]

Malians are hard workers, Romanians and Bulgars aren't.

Not sure about the Bulgars, but I like the looks of certain Romanians....



And she's a smarty-pants, too....