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Author Topic: Egypt and the world and Libya - Now without Ukraine!  (Read 373579 times)

Sir Pseudonymous

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #840 on: February 21, 2011, 10:24:26 am »

SirP: You seem to have missed the fact that the most powerful country in the world began as mobs of angry, mostly uneducated peasants tearing down their own institutions of governance. And yet, they made a functioning state.
You mean, a handful of affluent, classically educated, influential businessmen instigated and funded a revolt against the token forces stationed in a fairly unimportant, geographically isolated backwater, then formed a coalition of independent countries that imploded less than a decade later, was hastily rallied, and then imploded again barely half a century later, before finally gaining prominence in the twentieth century by virtue of not razing itself and its industrial infrastructure to the ground about every other decade like Europe did.

How many times have I been over this in this thread, now?

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Also, nice job generalizing all Arabs as a bunch of backwards, Koran-spouting goatherds with no possible comprehension of principles of governance. Perhaps you'd like to share how establishing a functioning state is the white man's burden?
A poor state run by a dictatorship will have piss-poor education, and a culture that thus disregards useful education. People raised in such an environment cannot produce a functioning democratic state. Those handful who are naturally brilliant or cunning will just take power for themselves, and then get their heads blown off by some borderline retarded thug, who seizes the reins of power and runs the country further into the ground. See: pretty much every third world country, and many former "second world" countries now classified as "first world" with the fall of the Soviet Union. Also, the Soviet Union, though that wound up a "success" story in the end, as did Cuba (although there, Castro was backed by the CIA up until the point where he did effectively the same thing that turned them against Batista in the first place...).

Ho yes, silly me, it's in Africa, so obviously we're talking about backward half monkey Muslims that will obviously choose to be leaden by a religious leader. Said leader will obviously promulgate law such as "women flogging are mandatory on Sundays" because that what Muslims do.
Us, being 15 years old leaving in our moms basement are not affected by that in anyway (thank to our awesome military) and will get back to playing cod once the media stop speaking about it.

Ok.
:-\

People only care because it's exciting. It's a voyeuristic spectator sport. Once the flames die down and things go to the "boring" work of trying to piece together a new country out of nothing no one will pay any attention to it.

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On topic, do you think we can hope for prosecution for the bastards that supported Kadhafi in France? (I won't even ask for in the US at this point.)
Really, the level of impunity that have European for their actions in Africa is amazing.
For? Supporting an unpopular regime? It's not like a two-bit dictator from an irrelevant shithole was protecting government officials in a vastly more powerful and relevant country, so it's not as though his fall from grace leaves them hanging in the wind.

So, Sir P, assume for a second that the vast majority of a countries populace wants this significant change, to the point where they are willing to accept the possibility of death to accomplish it. The dictators have no intent of giving up on power, and will instead likely pass it to an even more insane and tyrannical heir, like in Libya. What would you suggest the revolutionaries do if not exactly what their doing now?
Like I said, I don't care who wins. I just don't like the general attitude that the violent revolutionaries are some kind of saints for what they're doing. I also don't like seeing states go up like tinderboxes in general, whether it's justified or not. Even some place like China I wouldn't like to see go up flames, because at least the government they have now, horrible it may be, is better than the unknown, demonstrably violent quality revolution brings to the table.
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I'm all for eating the heart of your enemies to gain their courage though.

DJ

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #841 on: February 21, 2011, 10:30:37 am »

A poor state run by a dictatorship will have piss-poor education, and a culture that thus disregards useful education. People raised in such an environment cannot produce a functioning democratic state.
So the best thing is to live in a Warhammer40k world?
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Phmcw

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #842 on: February 21, 2011, 10:35:09 am »

You know nothing about these countries, and that's painfully obvious. But given that I have a few friend and acquaintance that are both hopeful and worried for their families right now, I found it infuriating instead of just annoying.
The level of education in tunisia, especially isn't bad at all, and is not too bad in the other countries.

"It's not like a two-bit dictator from an irrelevant shithole " But how uniformed are you exactly?  Lybia, an irrelevant shithole? Are you a fox news addict?

"A poor state run by a dictatorship will have piss-poor education, and a culture that thus disregards useful education. People raised in such an environment cannot produce a functioning democratic state." You're pulling this out of your ass. Go check their education level first.
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Sir Pseudonymous

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #843 on: February 21, 2011, 10:45:41 am »

It is irrelevant because it has no bearing on the rest of the world. At least not to the point of being able to protect government officials in a far, far more powerful, relevant country from prosecution for... what, exactly? Siding with a government you don't like? Dealing with them rather than ostracizing them? If what they were doing was illegal, then they'd have paid for it already, because Libya sure as hell couldn't shield them from the consequences of actually committing a crime.
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I'm all for eating the heart of your enemies to gain their courage though.

Phmcw

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #844 on: February 21, 2011, 10:49:57 am »

Selling weapon to dictatorship? Helping human right abuser? Plain old corruption (paid vacation... when it's not getting paid by dictators)?
And yes it have this sort of power, you don't seems to understand how much corruption is rampant in Europe.
Wikileak have taught us that nearly all French politicians have been bribed by one African dictator.
Did you ever hear the word "franceafrique"? Do you know what it means?
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RedKing

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #845 on: February 21, 2011, 10:51:43 am »

Like I said, I don't care who wins. I just don't like the general attitude that the violent revolutionaries are some kind of saints for what they're doing. I also don't like seeing states go up like tinderboxes in general, whether it's justified or not. Even some place like China I wouldn't like to see go up flames, because at least the government they have now, horrible it may be, is better than the unknown, demonstrably violent quality revolution brings to the table.

I don't think anyone is saying the guys in Libya are saints. But they're also not the bad guys here. And they've also been the exception to the rule so far. I seem to remember you denigrating the Egyptian protestors for the same reasons, despite the relative lack of violence and the fact that Egypt has a well-educated middle class that was involved.

And I actually agree with you re: China, because:

1. The scope is so much bigger. The death tolls would be staggering.
2. I don't see the current government of China as all that horrible. They've made significant reforms in the last 30+ years since Mao, and continue to trend in that direction. The key with China is that with that many people, change has to come slowly or else Bad Things Happen (tm).
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olemars

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #846 on: February 21, 2011, 11:14:54 am »

Latest bizarre twist: Apparently a bunch of libyan fighter jets and helicopters from the Benghazi airbase have just landed on Malta.
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RedKing

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #847 on: February 21, 2011, 11:52:36 am »

Latest bizarre twist: Apparently a bunch of libyan fighter jets and helicopters from the Benghazi airbase have just landed on Malta.

And by 'a bunch', you mean "two". Odd, but meh. If I were on patrol, and found that my airbase had been taken over by pissed-off anti-government rebels, I'd probably look for somewhere else to land too.



EDIT: On a more somber note, there's quite a lot of unconfirmed buzz that the Libyan Air Force is strafing and bombing protestors/rebels near Tripoli. It's possible the two pilots who went to Malta were just refusing to take part. If these reports are true, then it's no longer civil unrest, it's a full-on civil war.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 12:03:41 pm by RedKing »
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olemars

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #848 on: February 21, 2011, 12:01:32 pm »

Didn't know the number when I first posted it. Appears it was two helos and two mirage fighters.

Also a number of Libyan ambassadors and other diplomatic personell resigning in China, India, Malta, Sweden and just now - the ambassador to the UK. Last one might just be rumors it seems.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 12:05:27 pm by olemars »
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RedKing

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #849 on: February 21, 2011, 12:15:21 pm »

Wow...not just ambassadors, but army generals and the Minister of Justice. I think it's endgame time for Qaddafi. According to the NY Times, pro-government forces are retreating into a few key buildings in Tripoli and have lost most of the rest of the city.

If he hasn't already made it to the private jet you should ALWAYS keep fueled up if you're a tinpot dictator, then I don't think he's going to live to see the next sunrise. ESPECIALLY if the reports about the Libyan Air Force are true. The people are going to be out of blood, if they weren't already.
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Remember, knowledge is power. The power to make other people feel stupid.
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olemars

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #850 on: February 21, 2011, 12:21:10 pm »

Quote from: The Guardian liveblog
5.07pm – Libya: Salem Gnan, a London-based spokesman for the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, says eyewitnesses in Tripoli have told him the navy has opened fire on parts of the capital.

    We have just heard that the military ships are bombing an area in Tripoli and many people have been killed although we don't know how many at the moment because people have just called to tell us it is happening.

Gnan said the navy appeared to be bombing a residential area outside the city centre as part of a desperate crackdown by Gaddafi's troops.

    He is even turning the ships on his people now. His plan is to use absolutely everything he can to stop what is happening.

If any of that is true then Ghaddafi had better become a hunted man for the rest of his life.
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MetalSlimeHunt

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #851 on: February 21, 2011, 12:24:09 pm »

I'm fairly certain that "The rest of Ghaddafi's life." can be measured with an hourglass at this point.
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RedKing

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #852 on: February 21, 2011, 12:45:13 pm »

I'd like to think so, but history has shown people can get away with a hell of a lot and live a long time, even after they leave power. Look at Augusto Pinochet.

There are still rumors floating around that Qaddafi already split for Venezuela. I really hope those are inaccurate, and that he's holed up in the Presidential Palace, contemplating his own personal Reichsbunker moment.


There's entirely too much Twitter traffic to stay on top of, but it looks like:

1. Libya's own diplomatic team to the UN has denounced Qaddafi and declared his actions to be genocidal and that Qaddafi has "declared war on his people". They're also calling for the UN to interdict Libyan airspace. (good luck with that)
2. Parliament building has been set on fire.
3. Reports of airstrikes appear to be confirmed, by some of the diplomatic corps that are resigning. Apparently that decision seems to be driving a lot of the disintegration of Qaddafi's command, causing a mass of defections within the military and civil service.
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olemars

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #853 on: February 21, 2011, 12:47:21 pm »

According to AJ, the two fighter pilots who went to Malta defected after they were ordered to bomb Benghazi.
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RedKing

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Re: Egypt and the world
« Reply #854 on: February 21, 2011, 01:04:25 pm »

Apparently the UN is paying attention, and gee gosh....it's not very happy.

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The Secretary-General had an extensive discussion today with the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi, on the deteriorating situation in that country.

The Secretary-General expressed deep concern at the escalating scale of violence and emphasized that it must stop immediately. He reiterated his call for respect for basic freedoms and human rights, including peaceful assembly and information.

Reacting to the leader''s interpretation of the events and the response of the authorities, the Secretary-General underlined the need to ensure the protection of the civilian population under any circumstances. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and called upon the authorities to engage in broad-based dialogue to address legitimate concerns of the population.

Well, that will certainly set things in order.  ::)

But then, what are you gonna do? Even if the SecCouncil did act, they'd have to go through all the bureaucracy first, and neither Russia nor China want to set a precedent for the UN intervening in a how a country reacts to its rebellions.

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Remember, knowledge is power. The power to make other people feel stupid.
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