tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post5067904530191769905..comments2024-03-28T07:49:04.960+00:00Comments on nickhereandnow: Rescue remedynickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10472673041193755894noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-86589253959721266702011-03-30T14:06:12.951+01:002011-03-30T14:06:12.951+01:00Suburbia - Glad if I've helped a bit. It's...Suburbia - Glad if I've helped a bit. It's a very confusing business, full of hidden agendas.<br /><br />Liz - Yes, I remember your posts about the education cuts. Clearly bombing is more important than literacy. Indeed, when do we start the assault on China?Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-81626311363593032402011-03-30T10:10:10.585+01:002011-03-30T10:10:10.585+01:00Great questions that I've been wondering about...Great questions that I've been wondering about as well. We're slashing and burning education budgets but the first military strike cost almost $200 million. Are we going to invade China for their human rights abuses? North Korea? Iran? Sigh.Liz Dwyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17794296990587989214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-12222898336700957062011-03-30T09:55:02.105+01:002011-03-30T09:55:02.105+01:00I too am grappling with all those thoughts, thanks...I too am grappling with all those thoughts, thanks for putting them so conciselySuburbiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05352465945711496612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-19161675424506783052011-03-30T08:00:29.059+01:002011-03-30T08:00:29.059+01:00Quickie - There certainly seems to be some cherry-...Quickie - There certainly seems to be some cherry-picking, since other equally oppressive regimes are discreetly ignored. Whether the motive is oil, dollars, imperialism or religion is hard to say amidst the fog of phoney justifications.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-15610860772723025302011-03-30T05:05:59.807+01:002011-03-30T05:05:59.807+01:00While I welcome the change of repressed people in ...While I welcome the change of repressed people in the recent uprisings I think they should be allowed to play out their course. It seems from the numerous atrocities and oppressive regimes around the world the ones being cherry picked by the US and UK are ones in which they have a vested interest i.e. oil and $$$Paddy in BA (Quickroute)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12748161252400814925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-58692571716350930362011-03-29T17:48:11.174+01:002011-03-29T17:48:11.174+01:00Ramana - Countries are certainly run in the intere...Ramana - Countries are certainly run in the interests of big business. Not really surprising when most of the cabinet are millionaires with hefty business incomes.<br /><br />newjenny - Not at all. But if the government WAS threatening to kill all Manchester's citizens....Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-7357754884837330752011-03-29T17:42:37.271+01:002011-03-29T17:42:37.271+01:00Terra - I thought of that, but there's no prob...Terra - I thought of that, but there's no problem with oil supplies from Libya. Unless the "allies" just want more of it at a lower price.<br /><br />Eryl - I'll bet it does. And it takes an awful lot of welfare cuts to pay for one cruise missile.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-30063542802046946382011-03-29T17:37:19.828+01:002011-03-29T17:37:19.828+01:00Heart - I've got a lot of time for the Quakers...Heart - I've got a lot of time for the Quakers, having known a few. A Quaker-run country would be very different from the bellicose regimes we're surrounded with at present.<br /><br />Scarlet - I'm sure plenty of them would like to be rescued from poverty, unemployment and a dismal future.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-49215310300762609362011-03-29T17:21:38.753+01:002011-03-29T17:21:38.753+01:00I don't think the Manchester analogy holds, be...I don't think the Manchester analogy holds, because our democratically elected government doesn't oppress the population in the way that Gaddafi's government does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-87641415288258764042011-03-29T14:53:09.075+01:002011-03-29T14:53:09.075+01:00Oil politics Nick. We delude ourselves that we li...Oil politics Nick. We delude ourselves that we live in democracies. All so called democracies including the mother of all, are, in my opinion are run to protect the interests of big business. Or is that the delusion?Rummuserhttp://www.rummuser.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-3912444584104848272011-03-29T13:54:03.507+01:002011-03-29T13:54:03.507+01:00I've actually stopped tuning into this now, th...I've actually stopped tuning into this now, there's nothing I can do about it. I guess the money comes from all the cuts to education, the arts, social services...Erylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008344023000459577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-8398961240231772272011-03-29T11:05:39.112+01:002011-03-29T11:05:39.112+01:00I think the answer is a three letter word: OIL.I think the answer is a three letter word: OIL.Terra Shieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00039195435967190497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-9437179724153003342011-03-29T10:21:19.442+01:002011-03-29T10:21:19.442+01:00Actually, what is there to stop anyone from trying...Actually, what is there to stop anyone from trying to rescure the residents of Manchester? This has also crossed my mind.<br />SxMs Scarlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00449626572478125088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-24548398912014606892011-03-29T08:13:59.127+01:002011-03-29T08:13:59.127+01:00I have the same questions about my country's i...I have the same questions about my country's involvement in this huge debacle, now added to all the other wars we're tending like marshmallows over a campfire. Meanwhile, we at home are making more sacrifices of basic services every week because all the money in the world is apparently needed to fight these wars, which no one can win. I adhere to the Quaker view as well, and wish that my country and all countries were run by them.heartinsanfranciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535397382991383931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-3793067142290164362011-03-29T07:54:38.335+01:002011-03-29T07:54:38.335+01:00Secret Agent - I agree, war seldom solves a proble...Secret Agent - I agree, war seldom solves a problem and usually it makes the problem worse. As well as soaking up huge sums of money that should be going to hard-pressed public services.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-37316530933622111872011-03-29T00:36:20.299+01:002011-03-29T00:36:20.299+01:00I don't understand this, but Quaker that I am,...I don't understand this, but Quaker that I am, I am deeply opposed to war as a solution to problems, economic or political.<br /><br />(A note to Baino's cynical friend - Hasn't pretty much every Republican president been involved in a war, too?)secret agent womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03763879283931347382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-88698469384250608942011-03-28T22:10:27.858+01:002011-03-28T22:10:27.858+01:00Baino - Wars aren't the reliable vote-gatherer...Baino - Wars aren't the reliable vote-gatherers they used to be, as Tony Blair found out. I wonder if the Libyan adventure will turn sour for David Cameron as well?<br /><br />e - The military budget in the US is totally obscene. Just a small fraction of it could provide a Rolls-Royce health service for every citizen.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-17776385042373847242011-03-28T21:58:23.302+01:002011-03-28T21:58:23.302+01:00I think I agree with Baino's very cynical frie...I think I agree with Baino's very cynical friend. This is indeed a diversion from our own problems. Nick, your last question is a good one. Our citizens services are being curtailed and people are suffering for lack of jobs and supposed lack of funds, all so the west can flex its muscles and the policeman of the world can pontificate about freedom?<br /><br />Appalling and incredibly stupid, but then our politicians have never lacked hubris, unfortunately.ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376645220662546020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-34263652644692198512011-03-28T21:18:05.263+01:002011-03-28T21:18:05.263+01:00I have a very cynical American friend who's co...I have a very cynical American friend who's convinced it's a political diversion in times of economic difficulty in the west. Every Democratic president has become involved in a war, seems to be good for their career. I agree, how do we know the new guard is better than the old? You wait, next stop Syria. I think each incursion should involve a referendum of the people frankly. At least Australia's hanging back on this one. War is very unpopular for our Governments.Bainohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156193098088048637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-77293814892417309572011-03-28T19:48:58.342+01:002011-03-28T19:48:58.342+01:00W3 - I somehow doubt that joy, peace and freedom w...W3 - I somehow doubt that joy, peace and freedom will suddenly break out all over Libya. Oppressive governments are seldom succeeded by enlightened democracies.<br /><br />Conor - Absolutely, force should be the very last option when every other non-violent way of changing a rotten regime has failed.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-21047551823861373192011-03-28T19:29:24.151+01:002011-03-28T19:29:24.151+01:00Great post Nick - so many important questions. I a...Great post Nick - so many important questions. I always think - in these situations - indeed any type of 'conflict' that there has to be an open dialogue first. Now I realise that Gaddafi is probably not the sitting around the table to talk kind of person but surely force should be the very very very last option. So often that isn't the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3467242994126386706.post-9257278491741453202011-03-28T19:27:17.035+01:002011-03-28T19:27:17.035+01:00Well said my friend. I am appalled at the Libyan s...Well said my friend. I am appalled at the Libyan situation.<br />We are now joining forces with the policemen of the world spreading, joy, peace and much vaunted freedoms?<br />I think not. Not when we can't even sort out our own.<br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com