Originally posted by GrimisYikes. What a whiner. Get over it already. Instead of whining about the US getting results, maybe he should worry more about the Sudan...
The only positive result I can see from this is that Saddam no longer reigns over Iraq. However, instead of systematic, orderly tyrrany we have chaotic, random tyrrany. Take your pick.
I agree though, this sounds awfully like someone who's used to being treated as a contemporary geopolitical oracle throwing a tantrum because they went ahead and did this without his formal blessing.
If I had my druthers the UN would go the way of the League of Nations, it's nothing but an NWO command/control apparatus.
The whole idea of "legal wars" and "rules of war" are very surreal, but have been key to the Western World for some time now, and will probably continue to be important in the future.
Originally posted by DrDirtHas there ever been a "legal" war?
Wars can, realistically, only be legal or illegal in the context of a revolution versus a sitting government. The Civil War was "illegal" in the sense that they rebelled against the sitting government.
"Illegal" war assumes international law, which is nonexistant.
You know, if John Kerry weren't so darn electable, the Democrats would be panicking right now. Oh wait, he isn't and they are. - James Taranto
And just remember, our killing innocent Iraqis in order to coerce them into succumbing to our will is liberation by a coalition of the willing, but killing our troops to get them to leave the country is terrorism. Words are fun!
HELP IS ON THE WAY! "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - George W. Bush 8/5/04
The UN is still bitter that we didn't jump on board that International Court thing. I mean who the hell do we think we are not wanting our own soilders being arrested in other countries and being charged with War Crimes.
We really have some gaul.
Seriously is there really a point to the UN anymore? I mean all they ever do is debate and impose sanctions that have no real impact.
I mean that Oil for Food thing worked out real well...well at least for Saddam and Anan and his kid who ran the thing.
War is always going to be Illegal for someone...especially the side that's losing.
Originally posted by spf2119And just remember, our killing innocent Iraqis in order to coerce them into succumbing to our will is liberation by a coalition of the willing, but killing our troops to get them to leave the country is terrorism. Words are fun!
Definitely, what with the US carpet-bombing Iraqi cities and all. And those innocent, mortar-wielding Iraqis. And the Iranian-backed revolution by regular, innocent Iraqis, like Moqtada al-Sadr. Yep, just fighting for self-determination.
On topic, perhaps this is just a way for Annan to try and damage Bush, thereby helping elect John Kerry, who will undoubtedly be more conciliatory... thus increasing Annan's own power.
Originally posted by PalpatineWOn topic, perhaps this is just a way for Annan to try and damage Bush, thereby helping elect John Kerry, who will undoubtedly be more conciliatory... thus increasing Annan's own power.
But that explanation fails to take into account The Saucer People and the Reverse Vampires.
(We're through the looking glass here, people.)
On a non-joking note, that seems a long way for Kofi to go for "power" that's negligible at best. Just because he "endorses" Kerry doesn't mean that he can compel Kerry to act the UN's way in the future. Bush has shown how little the UN can do to stop the U.S., and Kofi couldn't do any more to stop Kerry if he wished.
Moreover, Annan's second term is up in December 2006. (Secretaries-General have not, in the past, opted to serve more than two terms.) So even if he jockeyed to put Kerry in the White House, his "control" over him would last less than two years... if he could control him at all. Further, it's highly unlikely that Kofi could predict his successor, let alone designate him; so it's not as if he could transfer Kerry's "debt" to a protege.
Originally posted by PalpatineWOn topic, perhaps this is just a way for Annan to try and damage Bush, thereby helping elect John Kerry, who will undoubtedly be more conciliatory... thus increasing Annan's own power.
But that explanation fails to take into account The Saucer People and the Reverse Vampires.
(We're through the looking glass here, people.)
On a non-joking note, that seems a long way for Kofi to go for "power" that's negligible at best. Just because he "endorses" Kerry doesn't mean that he can compel Kerry to act the UN's way in the future. Bush has shown how little the UN can do to stop the U.S., and Kofi couldn't do any more to stop Kerry if he wished.
Moreover, Annan's second term is up in December 2006. (Secretaries-General have not, in the past, opted to serve more than two terms.) So even if he jockeyed to put Kerry in the White House, his "control" over him would last less than two years... if he could control him at all. Further, it's highly unlikely that Kofi could predict his successor, let alone designate him; so it's not as if he could transfer Kerry's "debt" to a protege.
Making a comment to the news media doesn't strike me as going out of one's way at all.
In my estimation, Kofi Annan is a politician and a bureaucrat. It is the natural order of things that such people seek and consolidate power. Why did he seek office in the UN, and how did he get there, if not out of a desire for power? And, beyond that, I assume that Mr. Annan has at least some belief in the power and worth of the United Nations. It's clear from Kerry's own words that he holds the UN in higher regard than Bush does (and most Americans do, if polls are to be believed). Isn't it natural that Kofi Annan would seek to endorse the man most compatible with his goals and values?
It's no different than unions or other organizations endorsing candidates. The UN is, in its own way, an interest group in regards to our coming election. Earlier in this campaign, John Kerry boasted that unnamed foreign leaders were supporting him. And now it's "through the looking glass" to assume that Annan is a Kerry booster?
Originally posted by Phantom LordI mean who the hell do we think we are not wanting our own soldiers being arrested in other countries and being charged with War Crimes.
If soldiers, not just from the US but from any nation, commit war crimes should they not be arrested and tried? Should the soldiers of any nation committing war crimes against US interests not be arrested and tried?
Originally posted by Jonny_EnglishIf soldiers, not just from the US but from any nation, commit war crimes should they not be arrested and tried? Should the soldiers of any nation committing war crimes against US interests not be arrested and tried?
There is a difference between trying somebody for legitimate war crimes in an established judicial body, and between trumped up charges on the sort of non-crimes the ICC seems to be interested in prosecuting. This is the same court many want to be allowed to try people for "crimes against the environment."
You know, if John Kerry weren't so darn electable, the Democrats would be panicking right now. Oh wait, he isn't and they are. - James Taranto
Originally posted by Jonny_EnglishIf soldiers, not just from the US but from any nation, commit war crimes should they not be arrested and tried? Should the soldiers of any nation committing war crimes against US interests not be arrested and tried?
There is a difference between trying somebody for legitimate war crimes in an established judicial body, and between trumped up charges on the sort of non-crimes the ICC seems to be interested in prosecuting. This is the same court many want to be allowed to try people for "crimes against the environment."
Gimis is correct. We, as a nation, are committed to bringing our troops who commit crimes to justice. The trouble was that if we went along, our soldiers, especially high ranking officers, would be arrested as a form of political harassment.
As it is, people like Henry Kissinger wont go to certain countries because of the International Court.
I remember he said he was in France and they wanted to question him about something from when he was apart of the Nixon administration and he got the hell out of the country before they could get him.
The International Court was designed to bring rules and general's to justice for committing Genocide and other crimes against Humanity.
Only problem is the countries that really hate us (Most of Europe for example) are the ones who charge people with the crimes and we as a nation could never allow any of our Soilders to be put in that kind of Jeopardy.
Originally posted by Phantom LordAs it is, people like Henry Kissinger wont go to certain countries because of the International Court.
Is this supposed to be an example of how the International Criminal Court is a bad thing? Henry doesn't go to certain countries for very good reasons, few of which have to do with a politically crusading ICC set out to punish world leaders for just doing things that some people "don't like." In fact, Henry hasn't been going to certain countries for decades now. He's not travelled to Southeast Asia, Chile or Cyprus for many many years. This is due to the fact that a large portion of the people on this earth consider him a war criminal, without rhetorical coaching from the ICC. Moreover, quite a few of those people are Americans.
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Haven't seen that, but I don't drive past the E85 station in town. I guess the spread between E85 and straight gasoline is going to depend on the state. Here in Wisconsin, for example, E85 producers get a $.