Comments on: In Yo’ Face Diplomacy http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/ America's favorite blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:47:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: B http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3090 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3090 Sad. True. Too bad it looks like we're going to get these kind of on-going humorous incidents through the 2004-2008 season. Haahahahaha. Wait, no, that's not really funny. Sad. True. Too bad it looks like we’re going to get these kind of on-going humorous incidents through the 2004-2008 season. Haahahahaha.
Wait, no, that’s not really funny.

]]> by: jr http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3091 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3091 Odd. I don't see anything wrong with his decision. He simply went after those who make the decisions in those respected countries, and, being unfamiliar with how them there folks do things, simply modeled it after the way things are run at home. Odd. I don’t see anything wrong with his decision.

He simply went after those who make the decisions in those respected countries, and, being unfamiliar with how them there folks do things, simply modeled it after the way things are run at home.

]]> by: Murray http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3092 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3092 In this age of multinational corporations, who can tell where a business comes from? Chrysler is owned by Mercedes, as I recall Vivendi (sp?) owns much of our media, as does Sony, and Murdock. But what is really important is that the people of Iraq get the most for their bucks. It seems likely that they will eventually foot the bill for all of this, and I'm sure that they would much rather pay someone like Halliburton 2X the going price of gasoline than get it from the French. Besides, The French, Germans and Russians, didn't do it our way, so we're going to take our ball and go home, …so there. In this age of multinational corporations, who can tell where a business comes from? Chrysler is owned by Mercedes, as I recall Vivendi (sp?) owns much of our media, as does Sony, and Murdock.

But what is really important is that the people of Iraq get the most for their bucks. It seems likely that they will eventually foot the bill for all of this, and I’m sure that they would much rather pay someone like Halliburton 2X the going price of gasoline than get it from the French.

Besides, The French, Germans and Russians, didn’t do it our way, so we’re going to take our ball and go home, …so there.

]]> by: Landis http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3093 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3093 I, for one, am glad that they actually said it. I mean who, in the whole world, would have thought they'd have done it any different? Admitting what's going on is the first step.... I, for one, am glad that they actually said it. I mean who, in the whole world, would have thought they’d have done it any different? Admitting what’s going on is the first step….

]]> by: Joshua Scholar http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3094 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3094 I grew up in Saskatchewan (that's in Canada for those of you who never heard of it... above the United States, thank you). Unlike most places in the US, Sask. has three viable parties, the Progressive Conservatives on the right, the Liberals in the middle and the New Democratic Party on the left. The NDP in Saskatchewan, by the way started socialized medicine in Canada (and probably socialized insurance before that, I'm not sure). Anyway, my point here is that whenever the government changed hands in Sask. all government contracts went to whatever businesses were associated with that party - at least that's what I heard. That was purer form of legalized corruption than what's going on here. In this case there are two policy reasons for what we're doing, one is the conflict of interest problem you mentioned where we might not actually trust some of those companies. But the more important issue here is that it's perfectly rational for us to throw our weight around. As an American I DON'T CARE IF WE"RE BEING FAIR TO FORIEGN CORPORATIONS. Why the hell should I ever care about that? But I do care whether my country has the clout to protect ourselves. If we don't throw our wieght around we lose it! If we send a message that our "allies" can hinder our security whenever doing so can buy a few points in domestic politics, then we'll be screwed at every chance. But I'm sure those poor abused foriegn corporations are very greatful for your love. Your charity for the truely deserving is touching. Oh did you notice the huge multi/city demonstrations against terrorism and facism in Iraq the other day. I didn't think so. check out http://healingiraq.blogspot.com I grew up in Saskatchewan (that’s in Canada for those of you who never heard of it… above the United States, thank you).

Unlike most places in the US, Sask. has three viable parties, the Progressive Conservatives on the right, the Liberals in the middle and the New Democratic Party on the left. The NDP in Saskatchewan, by the way started socialized medicine in Canada (and probably socialized insurance before that, I’m not sure).

Anyway, my point here is that whenever the government changed hands in Sask. all government contracts went to whatever businesses were associated with that party - at least that’s what I heard. That was purer form of legalized corruption than what’s going on here.

In this case there are two policy reasons for what we’re doing, one is the conflict of interest problem you mentioned where we might not actually trust some of those companies. But the more important issue here is that it’s perfectly rational for us to throw our weight around.

As an American I DON’T CARE IF WE”RE BEING FAIR TO FORIEGN CORPORATIONS. Why the hell should I ever care about that? But I do care whether my country has the clout to protect ourselves. If we don’t throw our wieght around we lose it! If we send a message that our “allies” can hinder our security whenever doing so can buy a few points in domestic politics, then we’ll be screwed at every chance.

But I’m sure those poor abused foriegn corporations are very greatful for your love. Your charity for the truely deserving is touching.

Oh did you notice the huge multi/city demonstrations against terrorism and facism in Iraq the other day. I didn’t think so.

check out
http://healingiraq.blogspot.com

]]> by: Bob http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3095 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3095 Joshua, a day after we announced the no-contracts-for-you policy, we asked some of the very same countries to consider retiring Iraq's debts. We are nothing if not smooth. Paging Dr. Howard, President Bush, Dr. Howard... Joshua, a day after we announced the no-contracts-for-you policy, we asked some of the very same countries to consider retiring Iraq’s debts.

We are nothing if not smooth.

Paging Dr. Howard, President Bush, Dr. Howard…

]]> by: Joshua Scholar http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3096 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3096 bob, that's spin. Yeah, France was going to pony up big bucks... God, how stupid do you think I am? bob, that’s spin. Yeah, France was going to pony up big bucks… God, how stupid do you think I am?

]]> by: Ras_Nesta http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3097 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3097 Josh, Canada was going to pony up a few hundred mil, not Emperor C-plus Agustus campaign dollars, but more than 99% of the world. If only foreign corporations could donate money to the GOP, they'd be be on easy street. Josh, Canada was going to pony up a few hundred mil, not Emperor C-plus Agustus campaign dollars, but more than 99% of the world.

If only foreign corporations could donate money to the GOP, they’d be be on easy street.

]]> by: Bob http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3098 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3098 Joshua writes: "bob, that's spin. Yeah, France was going to pony up big bucks... God, how stupid do you think I am?" It may be embarrassing, but that's what the administration did: denied the possibility of contracts--not just to France, but to a number of Name Brand countries--then asked for help with debt forgiveness. No spin there, just the facts, as reported in Thursday's Times. This makes me feel sorry for satirists. How can they make a living when their work is being outsourced to Washington? As for your question, I'm going to assume it's rhetorical. Joshua writes:

“bob, that’s spin. Yeah, France was going to pony up big bucks… God, how stupid do you think I am?”

It may be embarrassing, but that’s what the administration did: denied the possibility of contracts–not just to France, but to a number of Name Brand countries–then asked for help with debt forgiveness. No spin there, just the facts, as reported in Thursday’s Times.

This makes me feel sorry for satirists. How can they make a living when their work is being outsourced to Washington?

As for your question, I’m going to assume it’s rhetorical.

]]> by: Joshua Scholar http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3099 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/12/10/in-yo-face-diplomacy/#comment-3099 By the way, here's another Iraqi blogger who's talking about the demonstrations. http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com note the first blogger I mentioned has pictures and is putting up more http://healingiraq.blogspot.com Note you might have to reload that page a few times to see this blog. I think blogspot is screwing the Zeyad over. Since the earliest days of his blog, when I try to load it I get gibberish most of the time. I have to hit reload a few times, then the page appears. His is the only page on blogspot with this problem. Maybe someone at blogspot doesn't want that page going out. Ras Nesta: so you want to solve the problem of poor abused multinational corporations by bringing MORE corruption to Washington. This conversation fell down the rabbit hole before it started. Liberation is bad, security is bad, international corporations are worthy of our charity and we need more corruption in Washington. My scorecard is melting from the surrealism. By the way, here’s another Iraqi blogger who’s talking about the demonstrations.

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com

note the first blogger I mentioned has pictures and is putting up more

http://healingiraq.blogspot.com

Note you might have to reload that page a few times to see this blog. I think blogspot is screwing the Zeyad over. Since the earliest days of his blog, when I try to load it I get gibberish most of the time. I have to hit reload a few times, then the page appears. His is the only page on blogspot with this problem. Maybe someone at blogspot doesn’t want that page going out.

Ras Nesta: so you want to solve the problem of poor abused multinational corporations by bringing MORE corruption to Washington. This conversation fell down the rabbit hole before it started. Liberation is bad, security is bad, international corporations are worthy of our charity and we need more corruption in Washington. My scorecard is melting from the surrealism.

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