Saddam Hussein

[big brother]

Here's an interesting read:
http://www.ejectejecteject.com/

(scroll down to the title that says)
End U.S. Imperialism Now!

[Helm]

An “Empire” is defined as a nation state that has political control over other nation states, and uses that political control to extract the wealth and resources from the subjugated country.

The United States of America does not have any political control over any other sovereign nation on the face of the Earth. We have influence, but influence is to control as a rich uncle is to a prison warden. That's all you need to know. The entire idea of American Empire and U.S. Imperialism is dead on its face after that. No control means no empire. Period.

Oh wow.

[big brother]

This is what I was referring to:

The US not only does not pull in the resources of other nations…it does exactly the reverse. We pump billions and billions of dollars annually into those nations that host our facilities, and the minute any one of those nations decides we are no longer welcome, we pack our bags, leave and turn those billion-dollar institutions over to the host country. (Look up Subic Bay and Clark Air Base in the Philippines for some recent examples)

Now, let's suppose the U.S. went into Djibouti with the Marines, and stole every single thing that's produced there in a year…just grant the premise and say we stole every goddam thing they make. If we hauled away all of Djibouti's annual wealth, how long would it run the U.S. Economy, which is 7,481 times greater?

Well, 8,760 hours divided by 7,481 gives you an answer of 1.17 hours. In other words, it takes the U.S. 1.17 hours to produce what Djibouti produces in a year.

If the US really did go in and steal everything that the bottom thirty countries in the world produce, it might power the US economy for two or three days.

Conversely, the billions and billions of dollars the US spends annually in aid, rent, etc. â€" plus uncounted billions more from private American charities â€" would supply the entire GDP of Djibouti for hundreds of years.

In addition to the GDP issue, there's the prohibitive cost of a military operation. I'm not convinced looting countries is so financially justifiable.

Of course the whole argument should be read in context.

[Helm]

Political influence cannot be underestimated. It leads to long-term rewards, both in finances and geopolitical terms.

[big brother]

Oh wow.

(Was gonna write something about direct control and the British East India Trading Company, but no need making this thread any more OT.)

Running the risk of schadenfreude, I'm glad Saddam is dead (hopefully not a double), and that his execution was public.

[Adamski]

If you can't at least match up what I've said, especially the part where I showed how full of shit you are about the "spreading democracy" part, then fuck off!

DG, I really think you should stop with the abusive way you conduct yourself in arguments on the forums. I think you're very firmly in flaming terratory here, and it's not funny or endearing.

Also, we regularly cover topics from the very serious to the very silly, but whatever the issue, if you disagree with someone, calmly explain why you think differently. Name-calling and swearing at people will not be tolerated.

You wrote this yourself in the forum rules thread, maybe you should reflect on it a little.

[DGMacphee]

And it would have been nice if you could PM me about it first.

[Nacho]

Adam should send the Police Militar to you???

[DGMacphee]

Yep, right after he plants the "evidence".

All seriousness, I'll watch the cuss words.

[Andail]

Obviously, killing Saddam like that is a huge political mistake. Instead of letting him grow old and pale in some jailhouse and eventually rot away, they gave him a quick dramatic death, like that of a dangerous prisoner of war, too dangerous to be kept alive.
They even gave him a chance to utter a grand last remark, that people can quote forever after (although american media hasn't manage to properly translate it).

If you view that movie, you see a dirty torture facility, crowded with hecklers. In the centre you see a man who is apparently not frightened, he stands with his back straight and he refuses to put on the hood. Before he dies he chants that islamic stuff which every faithful muslim should say before he dies.
This is just one big pr-stunt. I can't believe how people can sit back and murmur "well that oughta teach 'em something! We suuuure nailed that scumbag now!" Apparently, they don't understand that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Saddam and his followers.

Now, I naturally find the whole spectacle extremely disturbing, and I'm disturbed how people can watch this and consider it a good solution.
To quote Riverbend: "After nearly four years and Bush's biggest achievement in Iraq has been a lynching. Bravo Americans"