Yes, they have successfully contained them. That's good news for the free world.I guess I should have been more explicit. I meant that China, Russia and Iran were no threat to the U.S. in the last few years
They have contained them. That's upset them.yet it's gone out of its way to try and provoke all three.
The people of Taiwan live in a free democratic country. They transitions from a dictatorship to a democracy. They were probably supported in doing so by other free democratic countries, including the USA. The people of Taiwan would live under a dictatorship in a police state if they were under the rule of China. Do you think they should just accept that?Taiwan is part of China. It's a legacy, civil war-era, internal issue that they should be left alone to resolve.
Oh, okay. Is that because there's no Jews involved?India-China have a long standing border dispute - big deal.
Do you believe the figures issued by the Chinese Government?The rate of incarceration is much higher in the U.S. than it is in China.
There's no basis for your claim. That's why it is rubbish.That's your view and you're sticking to it. No problem. I'm not here to convince you of anything - but I disagree.
Are you aware of the details of what's going on?More trumped up narrative.
You're building a lot of Strawmen.You wrote all this in response to a point I made on infrastructure - and by infrastructure I mean the complete network of high speed rail that didn't exist 15 years ago and now does. I mean roads, bridges, etc. What you've come back with doesn't in any way counter the point I made. They spent money on infrastructure that their people will benefit from for years while the yanks don't even have a single high speed rail line in the entire country and would rather spend the money on forever wars.
Does that mean you think that Israel were in cahoots with Hamas?!Totally disingenuous. Are you aware what this symbol/character means -> "?" <-
I asked a question. I know you want to run with a certain assumption but you have no grounds to.
That's an incredibly naive statement. I say incredibly in that it lacks credibility.Yeah, I probably didn't make myself clear. I meant that China/Iran/Russia - in the last few years - have done little to nothing to deserve the aggressive stance taken against them by the U.S. None of them were a threat to the U.S.
Are you saying that it was okay for Russia to invade Ukraine and that it was the act of resisting that invasion that was wrong? Are you saying that the resulting deaths are therefore the fault of the Ukrainians?As regards the Life of Brian reference, criticism isn't a bad thing. Supporting a colony in its genocide should warrant such criticism. 600,000 dead Ukrainians should warrant that criticism (and people will continue to scream bloody blue murder here that that's not on them - but it is).
That's because the US industrialised in the 19th century whereas China only doing it now. It's easy put in brand new infrastructure where nothing existed beforehand (well whatever was there was just demolished, the state just grabs your house and land and throws you a few shekels) I'd like to see how China deals with infrastructure in already developed cities in 60 years time, then its in the same boat as everyone else.You wrote all this in response to a point I made on infrastructure - and by infrastructure I mean the complete network of high speed rail that didn't exist 15 years ago and now does. I mean roads, bridges, etc. What you've come back with doesn't in any way counter the point I made. They spent money on infrastructure that their people will benefit from for years while the yanks don't even have a single high speed rail line in the entire country and would rather spend the money on forever wars.
A resident historian enters the chat. Welcome Leo, it's been too long (?). I mean Tiananmen. 34 years ago. As you'll recall, I said that Iran, China & Russia had done nothing to the U.S. in recent years to justify U.S. aggression as it tries its hardest to goad them into conflict (and successfully so in one of the three cases, soon to be 2 of the three cases it looks like. Tiananmen has nothing to do with that.And that Tiananmen Square massacre was just a figment of our imagination.
Just how much "rules-based democracy" propaganda are you polluting yourself with each day!? I said that they were NOT a threat and you come back with stating that the U.S. has "contained them." If they weren't any threat...?Yes, they have successfully contained them. That's good news for the free world.
They have contained them. That's upset them.
My, the spreading of "rules based democracy" for the good of the world is something to behold. Even Tom Cruise's outfit can't match this. What I stated was accurate. I know you want to spread the word of "rules-based democracy" and with that, I don't need to comment further.The people of Taiwan live in a free democratic country. They transitions from a dictatorship to a democracy. They were probably supported in doing so by other free democratic countries, including the USA. The people of Taiwan would live under a dictatorship in a police state if they were under the rule of China. Do you think they should just accept that?
When all else fails, then go for Mileikowsky's playbook and default to antisemitism. I've stated previously that there are plenty of good jews. There's no comparison between the two and I dismissed it on that basis. I'll take you back to the opening of my previous post and point out that in trying to engage in whataboutery to try and blacken one side vs. the other, the list of conflicts that the U.S. has ended up in is multiple times longer than that of China. You're on very shaky ground trying to push that narrative.Oh, okay. Is that because there's no Jews involved?
If you can disprove the data, then fill yer boots. I've already listened to the argument that there's no point listening to Putin because he's a liar when the "rules-based democracy" set have been called out on porkies, left, right and centre. It's been long since acknowledged that there's something seriously wrong with the U.S. based on its level of incarceration. I've never heard anyone defend it - but given the interactions here I won't be at all surprised for that to change! Have any one of you acknowledged any wrongdoing by the U.S.? You'd have us believe that they're whiter than white? That's not credible.Do you believe the figures issued by the Chinese Government?
I disagree entirely.There's no basis for your claim. That's why it is rubbish.
I'm aware of the propaganda line that's being followed yes.Are you aware of the details of what's going on?
This is your second attempt at this and another side-stepping epic fail. If you'd like to be honest for a second, the response would be, "yes Tecate, the Chinese have built some wonderful infrastructure that their people will get full benefit from over the coming decades, while the U.S. have added nothing and spent all their $ on forever wars."You're building a lot of Strawmen.
It wasn't just a leading question, you made a statement in the form of a question.
So, previously I've put it to you that the U.S. has been and is - constantly going round the globe, destabilizing governments, staging coups, not in an effort to spread the word of the almighty to the downtrodden but to further its own objectives. You've said you're down with the crusade and more power to them! But this wasn't that? I mean, you're on record as saying its all good but yet you can't acknowledge what went down in this case? Of course you can't. Nobody here can or will. I won't be trying to convince otherwise either! Why? Because the whole house of cards crumbles the minute any of you acknowledge it - because at that point, you'd have to acknowledge that Russia is NOT the aggressor in this instance.That's an incredibly naive statement. I say incredibly in that it lacks credibility.
You're assertion that Viktor Yanukovych was elected democratically in 2004 also lacks credibility. The re-running of the election was ordered by Ukraine's supreme court. That election was free and fair. There was no overthrowing of any government. Suggesting that there was is totally disingenuous.
That's their business isn't it? I get your Church of Scientology-level zest for wanting to spread the word of "rules-based democracy" but maybe we should leave that to them. I've no doubt that they're far from perfect - but what you won't acknowledge is that the "rules-based democracy" doctrine is not entirely healthy either.Do you think that Russia is a democracy and that the people of Russia are free?
Do you think that China is a democracy and that the people of China are free?
Do you think that Iran is a democracy and that the people of Iran are free?
Exactly to my point. I've every reason to hate the Chinese. But the level of absurdity to be found has limitless depth on this thread because this is a thread in which I had to admire the Brits for having the "decency" to not have leveled West Belfast to the ground with every man, woman and child buried beneath the rubble. That, I certainly didn't see on my bingo card!@Purple China isn't all bad. It bans Bitcoin.
I see some merit in the point you're making but it still doesn't address directly the point I made. So you're saying its easier for the Chinese. But the yanks had $ to allocate. How many billions have they spent on the forever wars? I get that for them to build out infrastructure might be much higher cost but surely they'd have something to show for it that would make the everyday lives of ordinary people better? The Chinese built out an entire high speed rail network. Taking your point on board and allowing for the variance in cost, surely the yanks could have built out a line or two?That's because the US industrialised in the 19th century whereas China only doing it now. It's easy put in brand new infrastructure where nothing existed beforehand (well whatever was there was just demolished, the state just grabs your house and land and throws you a few shekels) I'd like to see how China deals with infrastructure in already developed cities in 60 years time, then its in the same boat as everyone else.
I've always thought of communism as the best system in theory and a flawed system that doesn't account for human behaviour in practice. That said, if anyone thinks that capitalism and "rules-based democracy" are perfect, I'm having none of it. There's plenty of room for improvement.Like Russia, China wasted alot of time on Mao's failed communist policies and great leaps forward only abandoned for western capitalism in the 90s. It also lost centuries of development before that by closing itself off and isolationism.
"good at defending yourself" Yeah, we'll stop right there! "How dare you put your country so aggressively close to our bases!"It seems that if you are an democratic country which is technologically advanced and is good at defending yourself and other democracies from dictators, terrorists and fundamentalists you should in fact hold back to give the aggressors a fair chance.
I think that war is going to come to a close in 2025 with or without the Donald.@Purple there are 31 countries (ex the YZI* herself) under the yoke of the YZI. Funny thing is that they are all scared stiff at the prospect of The Donald winning in case he is not bluffing about freeing them from the YZI and letting Putin do "what he damn well likes".
* YZI Yankee Zionist Imperialist
No no answer from you.A resident historian enters the chat. Welcome Leo, it's been too long (?). I mean Tiananmen. 34 years ago. As you'll recall, I said that Iran, China & Russia had done nothing to the U.S. in recent years to justify U.S. aggression as it tries its hardest to goad them into conflict (and successfully so in one of the three cases, soon to be 2 of the three cases it looks like. Tiananmen has nothing to do with that.
Why do you keep referring to rules based democracy in quotes when I didn't use that phrase?Just how much "rules-based democracy" propaganda are you polluting yourself with each day!? I said that they were NOT a threat and you come back with stating that the U.S. has "contained them." If they weren't any threat...?
Do you think that a government should be able to do anything it likes to its people without any intervention of any sort from any other country?Obviously I'm totally unreasonable here in suggesting that a sovereign nation would have every right to be upset if a military power is doing its best to provoke war, destabilize a country via CIA antics, etc. How very undemocratic of them to take issue with that type of behaviour.
You certainly don't need to comment in that way as it's completely meaningless.My, the spreading of "rules based democracy" for the good of the world is something to behold. Even Tom Cruise's outfit can't match this. What I stated was accurate. I know you want to spread the word of "rules-based democracy" and with that, I don't need to comment further.
You are blackening one side against the other by constantly going on about Israel and using the term Zionist in a racist way while not acknowledging the fact that Hamas are a fundamentalist terrorist organisation who started the current round of this forever conflict by murdering hundreds of men women and children. You then engage in whataboutery about America.I'll take you back to the opening of my previous post and point out that in trying to engage in whataboutery to try and blacken one side vs. the other, the list of conflicts that the U.S. has ended up in is multiple times longer than that of China. You're on very shaky ground trying to push that narrative.
If you can disprove the data, then fill yer boots. I've already listened to the argument that there's no point listening to Putin because he's a liar when the "rules-based democracy" set have been called out on porkies, left, right and centre. It's been long since acknowledged that there's something seriously wrong with the U.S. based on its level of incarceration. I've never heard anyone defend it - but given the interactions here I won't be at all surprised for that to change! Have any one of you acknowledged any wrongdoing by the U.S.? You'd have us believe that they're whiter than white? That's not credible.
Of course you do.I disagree entirely.
You see to have swallowed it. The Chinese one that is.I'm aware of the propaganda line that's being followed yes.
Okay, I'll ask you again; Does that mean you think that Israel were in cahoots with Hamas?Incorrect. I asked a question. I didn't "make a statement".
Are you saying that it is the fault of Ukraine and America that Russia invaded Ukraine?So, previously I've put it to you that the U.S. has been and is - constantly going round the globe, destabilizing governments, staging coups, not in an effort to spread the word of the almighty to the downtrodden but to further its own objectives. You've said you're down with the crusade and more power to them! But this wasn't that? I mean, you're on record as saying its all good but yet you can't acknowledge what went down in this case? Of course you can't. Nobody here can or will. I won't be trying to convince otherwise either! Why? Because the whole house of cards crumbles the minute any of you acknowledge it - because at that point, you'd have to acknowledge that Russia is NOT the aggressor in this instance.
Same question as above; Do you think that a government should be able to do anything it likes to its people without any intervention of any sort from any other country?That's their business isn't it? I get your Church of Scientology-level zest for wanting to spread the word of "rules-based democracy" but maybe we should leave that to them. I've no doubt that they're far from perfect - but what you won't acknowledge is that the "rules-based democracy" doctrine is not entirely healthy either.
Do tell.Exactly to my point. I've every reason to hate the Chinese.
More strawman nonsense.But the level of absurdity to be found has limitless depth on this thread because this is a thread in which I had to admire the Brits for having the "decency" to not have leveled West Belfast to the ground with every man, woman and child buried beneath the rubble. That, I certainly didn't see on my bingo card!
There's always room for improvement. It happens more when the government is elected by the people and the people have the right to free expression. Like what happens in rule based democracies rather than in Russia, China, Iran and Hamas controlled Gaza.I've always thought of communism as the best system in theory and a flawed system that doesn't account for human behaviour in practice. That said, if anyone thinks that capitalism and "rules-based democracy" are perfect, I'm having none of it. There's plenty of room for improvement.
What on earth are you talking about?"good at defending yourself" Yeah, we'll stop right there! "How dare you put your country so aggressively close to our bases!"
You'll note I wasn't responding to you, I've learned long ago that rational argument and your presence are mutually exclusive. While psychologists would fine your need to label everyone intriguing, likely suggestive of a reflection on your perceptions of self, I find them tedious and immature.A resident historian enters the chat. Welcome Leo, it's been too long (?).
Not only is it quite the opposite, Leo tells us he wasn't looking for a response.No no answer from you.
I didn't say you used the phrase, but it certainly has been used in the wider world and it is certainly pertinent to this discussion. You may not have used the phrase but it is precisely what you've been referring to, because that's the brand of democracy being pursued by the U.S. and its vassels and in terms of foreign policy, the rules are made up as they go along and are inconsistent.Why do you keep referring to rules based democracy in quotes when I didn't use that phrase?
In general, yes I do. Do I think it's a perfect system? - No. Should people have that right? - people should determine what is best for them. I don't think anyone should be going around forcing the matter by destablizing governments, orchestrating coups, etc.Do you think that democracy is a good idea and that people should have the right to elect their leaders on a regular basis?
I don't think the knee-jerk should be lets bomb these people into democracy. I don't think that there is a grain of honesty in the approach to such things right now and until that's fixed, I'd say that there shouldn't be any such intervention. We're also seeing "intervention" from the "rules-based democracy" crowd right now which is inflicting misery on people. I think there's a need to get back to diplomatic means rather than what we're seeing right now. And of course in the case of Ukraine, there were several agreements - all broken by the "rules-based democracy" crowd because they had a different agenda entirely. Imagine that 600,000 Ukrainians have died because someone wanted to use their territory to pose a threat to Russia? Zelensky was elected on a peace mandate. There was an agreement on the table and agreed to, which basically meant no NATO - and that wasn't good enough for his overseas masters (and their agenda)...but he followed those overseas masters, not the peace mandate promised to his people.Do you think that a government should be able to do anything it likes to its people without any intervention of any sort from any other country?
Upon reflection, I'm more than happy with the appropriateness of my comment/response.You certainly don't need to comment in that way as it's completely meaningless.
I dare not mention Israel? I'm guilty about "constantly going on about Israel"? I'm not in any way going on enough about Israel and nobody is. You keep trying to "blacken" an opposing view with the racism card. It's pure bs. I've said multiple times now, there are plenty of decent jews out there, who are opposed to this war. And more labelling with the use of "terrorist" when states are presented as being beyond terrorism. There's a fundamentalist streak to that culture that to me is ugly but we're certainly not going to get along with them any better by genociding their men, women and children....and not recognizing that there are state-level terrorists and equally recognizing them with that same terminology.You are blackening one side against the other by constantly going on about Israel and using the term Zionist in a racist way while not acknowledging the fact that Hamas are a fundamentalist terrorist organisation who started the current round of this forever conflict by murdering hundreds of men women and children. You then engage in whataboutery about America.
More ridiculous whataboutery.
I believe that I was asking a question. Perhaps you could have answered it instead of trying to chisel out a conspiracy theory gotcha. But I'll answer your question. I doubt that.Okay, I'll ask you again; Does that mean you think that Israel were in cahoots with Hamas?
1000% YES! Three words for you - Cuban Missile Crisis ...which also neatly ties in with my ongoing reference to the "rules-based democracy" deal...because the rules are made up as it suits by the entity installing itself as the moral authority.Are you saying that it is the fault of Ukraine and America that Russia invaded Ukraine?
Asked and answered.Same question as above; Do you think that a government should be able to do anything it likes to its people without any intervention of any sort from any other country?
The Duke just told you.Do tell.
It's the farthest thing from strawman. The propaganda line that was pursued was "human shield" this and "human shield" that. The strategy is to use all compliant media to push out that slop - because if you keep telling it to people again and again and again and again, eventually they might work on assumption and not question its validity or evidence backing it OR the simple fact that even if there was such a thing, in NO WAY could it be reasonable to use that as an excuse to bomb innocent people.More strawman nonsense.
That may well be the case but you don't make that choice for people. You leave them to organize themselves.There's always room for improvement. It happens more when the government is elected by the people and the people have the right to free expression. Like what happens in rule based democracies rather than in Russia, China, Iran and Hamas controlled Gaza.
I'll tell you what I was talking about. You referred to the U.S. as being good at defending itself. Nobody attacked it! It's half a world away from any of these things. The joke is that it claims that China is being aggressive, that Russia is being aggressive, and it is the one plonking military bases all around those places. Can you imagine the uproar there would be if, tomorrow, the Russians entered into an agreement with the Mexicans and put a big ass military installation in place along the border with the U.S.? And yet that's exactly the same deal as what played out in Ukraine. Double standards.What on earth are you talking about?
I don't think you'd be worth the effort as you are extremely ill-informed and have what is a childishly unbalanced understanding of the world.
See my response to Purple above this comment. Same goes for you.You'll note I wasn't responding to you, I've learned long ago that rational argument and your presence are mutually exclusive. While psychologists would fine your need to label everyone intriguing, likely suggestive of a reflection on your perceptions of self, I find them tedious and immature.
I've said no such thing.@Purple This thread is about Ireland's neutrality. LWT has made a very strong case that we should align with the jihadists.
I can't keep responding to your nonsense. You really have no idea what you are talking about. Fact, balance and reason are nowhere to be seen in your comments so it's just not possible to use those tools to construct a response.Not only is it quite the opposite, Leo tells us he wasn't looking for a response.
I didn't say you used the phrase, but it certainly has been used in the wider world and it is certainly pertinent to this discussion. You may not have used the phrase but it is precisely what you've been referring to, because that's the brand of democracy being pursued by the U.S. and its vassels and in terms of foreign policy, the rules are made up as they go along and are inconsistent.
In general, yes I do. Do I think it's a perfect system? - No. Should people have that right? - people should determine what is best for them. I don't think anyone should be going around forcing the matter by destablizing governments, orchestrating coups, etc.
I don't think the knee-jerk should be lets bomb these people into democracy. I don't think that there is a grain of honesty in the approach to such things right now and until that's fixed, I'd say that there shouldn't be any such intervention. We're also seeing "intervention" from the "rules-based democracy" crowd right now which is inflicting misery on people. I think there's a need to get back to diplomatic means rather than what we're seeing right now. And of course in the case of Ukraine, there were several agreements - all broken by the "rules-based democracy" crowd because they had a different agenda entirely. Imagine that 600,000 Ukrainians have died because someone wanted to use their territory to pose a threat to Russia? Zelensky was elected on a peace mandate. There was an agreement on the table and agreed to, which basically meant no NATO - and that wasn't good enough for his overseas masters (and their agenda)...but he followed those overseas masters, not the peace mandate promised to his people.
Upon reflection, I'm more than happy with the appropriateness of my comment/response.
I dare not mention Israel? I'm guilty about "constantly going on about Israel"? I'm not in any way going on enough about Israel and nobody is. You keep trying to "blacken" an opposing view with the racism card. It's pure bs. I've said multiple times now, there are plenty of decent jews out there, who are opposed to this war. And more labelling with the use of "terrorist" when states are presented as being beyond terrorism. There's a fundamentalist streak to that culture that to me is ugly but we're certainly not going to get along with them any better by genociding their men, women and children....and not recognizing that there are state-level terrorists and equally recognizing them with that same terminology.
As regards how many men, women and children Hamas killed on October 7, it seems that it's a hell of a lot less than was claimed as the Israeli state implemented the Hannibal directive and killed their own.
How is it whataboutery when I responded directly to something you brought up? You blackened China on the basis of the number of people jailed when the number of people jailed in the U.S. is much higher. I would think that's relevant to what you asserted.
I believe that I was asking a question. Perhaps you could have answered it instead of trying to chisel out a conspiracy theory gotcha. But I'll answer your question. I doubt that.
1000% YES! Three words for you - Cuban Missile Crisis ...which also neatly ties in with my ongoing reference to the "rules-based democracy" deal...because the rules are made up as it suits by the entity installing itself as the moral authority.
Asked and answered.
The Duke just told you.
It's the farthest thing from strawman. The propaganda line that was pursued was "human shield" this and "human shield" that. The strategy is to use all compliant media to push out that slop - because if you keep telling it to people again and again and again and again, eventually they might work on assumption and not question its validity or evidence backing it OR the simple fact that even if there was such a thing, in NO WAY could it be reasonable to use that as an excuse to bomb innocent people.
That may well be the case but you don't make that choice for people. You leave them to organize themselves.
I'll tell you what I was talking about. You referred to the U.S. as being good at defending itself. Nobody attacked it! It's half a world away from any of these things. The joke is that it claims that China is being aggressive, that Russia is being aggressive, and it is the one plonking military bases all around those places. Can you imagine the uproar there would be if, tomorrow, the Russians entered into an agreement with the Mexicans and put a big ass military installation in place along the border with the U.S.? And yet that's exactly the same deal as what played out in Ukraine. Double standards.
I see this as an attempt to undermine the validity of the points raised. You can't address them directly so blacken me instead. Anyone with any intelligence will see through that.
See my response to Purple above this comment. Same goes for you.