Saudi Arabia

Post by **stui magpie** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:20 pm

First door on the left, one cross each.

pietillidie · Post by **pietillidie** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:03 pm

Cough *Amerindians* cough *slavery* cough *Mexico* cough *Hawaii* cough *Puerto Rico* cough *The Philippines* cough *Panama* cough *Haiti* cough *The Dominican Republic* cough *Syria v1.0* cough *Indonesia* cough *Laos* cough *Franco* cough *Iran v1.0* cough *Iraq v1.0* cough *Bolivia* cough *Vietnam* cough *Guyana* cough * Paraguay* cough *Ecuador* cough *El Salvador* cough *Nicaragua* cough *Guatemala* cough * East Timor v1.0* cough *Colombia* cough *Iraq sanctions* cough *Afghanistan* cough *Iraq* cough *drones* cough *arms sales* cough....

It takes incredible effort to navigate all of those fine planetary contributions in any technical way and still feel all warm. The simplest way to feel good about the US as a state is to memorise the following historical cognitive parameters:

Enlightenment > virginal pilgrims > revolutionary war > constitution > WW2 > Berlin Wall > Sep 11

Doesn't that give everyone a glow of pride and contentment rounded off with a sympathy which invites a steely new commitment?

Once again: Nations are convenient cognitive placeholders, not moral agents. They get at something else too tedious to describe in everyday conversation. We can't make serious, straight-faced claims such as "the US has been an overwhelming force for good" without running extraordinarily complex calculations, if at all.

It would be far more honest to concede that what we really mean is "the US as I model it in my mind's eye seems overwhelmingly beneficial for me and my welfare and happiness and that makes me feel good". This way, at least we're admitting that we're not conducting a serious analysis, but rather we're being completely emotional and solipsistic, and we hope like hell it's true because it feels good to us as a working assumption.

Post by **Jezza** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:14 pm

pietillidie wrote:Big piece here furthering that article above if someone has time to format and paste it:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-29/s ... ty/6813422

Thanks for linking the article PTID! Very interesting read.

Post by **think positive** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:21 pm

So is it possible just to look at current times, or are the nazis the only ones who get to put it all in the past? How about the English coming in and killing all the aborigines? And then There is what we did to the scots (who can forget Hawaiian born mel Gibson as he is being hung drawn and quartered, FREEDOM!) and then there's the Irish! Lucky Aussies sit back and think they can pass judgement, of course you can, all the real Aussies got slaughtered, had their children stolen, and got booed on the footy field! Your just the next generation, innocent babes in arms!

September 11 really! Your going to blame that on the yanks! How damn dare you.

I'll tell you what when push comes to shove, I know who I want on my side.

God bless America. They will save you, even when you don't damn deserve it.

Let he who is free of sin cast thy stone.

But hey well done, turn it into another USA hate thread!

Gotta keep those tall Poppy's down boys, well done.

pietillidie · Post by **pietillidie** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:53 pm

Mugwump · Post by **Mugwump** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:08 pm

Mugwump · Post by **Mugwump** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:12 pm

Post by **David** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 1:59 am

You're nothing if not predictable, Mugwump.

I was simply pointing out that, really, any major power being in charge of the UN human rights commission is probably going to be worthy of a few raised eyebrows, and that America is no exception. And neither is Australia, for that matter.

Perhaps Nepal, the Netherlands and Finland ought to have it on rotation.

Mugwump · Post by **Mugwump** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 2:54 am

David wrote: I was simply pointing out that, really, any major power being in charge of the UN human rights commission is probably going to be worthy of a few raised eyebrows, and that America is no exception. And neither is Australia, for that matter.

Well, perhaps - but you actually wrote "having America or one of its close allies (like us) in charge wouldn't be much better" (than Saudi Arabia). That's rather different to " a raised eyebrow". As you expressed it above, however, I'm on board.

Sorry to be predictable, but it is a bit like moving the ocean with a shovel, sometimes.

Post by **Jezza** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 12:58 pm

Saudi Arabia executes 47 people including an influential Shiite cleric! Iran and Lebanon have been the most vocal in their condemnations.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35213244

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-03/s ... ge/7064802

Post by **David** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 1:31 pm

This is pretty depressing news, given that ending the civil war in Syria is virtually impossible without effective negotiation between Iran and Saudi Arabia. An outrageous act on the part of the Saudi government, and just a huge setback to peace in general.

Wokko · Post by **Wokko** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 2:56 pm

There's also the proxy war in Yemen between Saudi and Iran.

Post by **think positive** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 7:30 pm

Post by **David** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:37 pm

Not looking good:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/j ... -execution

Post by **Jezza** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 9:51 pm

Sunni-Shia relations are going to take a massive blow now.

Considering much of the conflicts in the Middle East are centered around this schism I can't see any peace in the region any time soon.

This is an unofficial Bulletin Board - owned and run by its users. We welcome all fans of the Mighty Collingwood Football Club.

Saudi Arabia