h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

birth, where do you get that from? Let's find a Muslim and ask her/him... There are plenty here on h2g2...
I know that libertarians are not only allowed to lie to their enemies (what they *call* socialists, basically anyone they disagree with) but they are *obliged* to lie to them!

I do not be-flipping-lieve you, Zagreb! You're saying that as what Rumsfeld did wasn't illegal (by your rationalisation) then let's forget it!
Frogbit asked about the moral aspects as well, and that deserves a response. The USA is the biggest arms supplier in the world, and as Helen Caldicott says, the irony is that 'our boys' (American troops) will be being killed by arms supplied by Northrop, Lockheed Martin and their hench-companies!
Your comments?

Well, I wonder if it is legal to sell arms to other countries at all.

Seems like it is and that it doesn't particularly matter how moral this is. There are few companies anymore who would deny a course of profitable action solely on the basis of morality, being as it's money and not morality that the world revolves around.

And as Zagreb mentioned, he wasn't doing it as a representative of the then administration.

So, should we forget it? I don't really think that is the point. What can you do about it? Sure it's moraly reprehensible, but it's not illegal and without some kind of reform by government to keep weapons technologies out of countries other than America it will never happen.

Which brings up a point. Is there such a thing on the books here that covers cases like this?

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Likewise, it will seem to some (americans), that laughing ones A*s off, knowing that american soldiers will probably get killed by amercanexported weapons in the coming war (anyone wanna bet on a date?), will be highly immoral, it woill not be illegal...... so here it comes.........

:_))


T´mershi Duween

Unless it has been stopped recently. Every country that has arms seems to sell them. There are huge Public shows and sales. There were a few International Shows, Sales in Europe, they used to show them on TV! (PBS) They sold out dated military equipment ,jets ,everything. As for all the chemicals, many originally came from US industry. They were outlawed as pesticides and other farming and industry chemicals. Some are chemicals from the 60's and 70's- when they were outlawed. When the US cleaned up their enviromental issues ,they did so partly by relocating the chemicals and or companies. I do not know how other counries have handled the same issues. I hope my info is outdated!

T´mershi Duween,

I'm confused. Are you saying that I think it's funny that American designed and made weapons are going to be used against American troops?
Because I don't find it funny. It seems more like a bitter reality. I have a hard time picturing anyone laughing about the impending war regardless of wether they think it is necessary or not.

However regardless of wether its funny to some deranged mental patient or not, the point of the matter is there really isn't anything that can be done without legislation that I don't think exists.

As far as I can gather Rumsfeld's action was not illegal at the time, but would be if he did it now, as the US has since signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, which forbids the trading of such agents and the technology for making them. Rumsfeld's position as Minister of Defence is of course now morally untenable, but s*d all difference that will make to an administration that doesn't know the meaning of the words.

Noggin

"I do not be-flipping-lieve you, Zagreb! You're saying that as what Rumsfeld did wasn't illegal (by your rationalisation) then let's forget it!"

My "rationalisation" is irrelevant. What he did does not appear to be illegal. The morals, sadly, do not come into it. If you lot genuinely believe that Rumsfeld will be in any trouble over this then you're wasting your time.

Starbirth: "Also I think the more you travel the more you will find you will find that american's have no corner on stupidity. However your remark on the US school systems being sub-standard is correct on the most part. Since school systems are financed on a municipal leval there is a drastic difference on funding which produces a drastic difference in school systems."

The Brittish and Australian governments are, at least, partially vested in US (administration) stupidity.


Although the US government constantly reports funding shortages for schools and the health system (for the poor of course), the spending on the military is still increasing....how much is it now? PErhaps some of that money may be redirected?

Zagreb: "Interestingly, there was a spot on the news the other day where they were talking to a CIA man who said that under the Clinton administration the CIA was considering an assassination attempt against Saddam, which would have solved everyone's problems."


Although an assasination attempt sounds appealing, we may want to remember that there were some 40 assasination attempts by the CIA on Castro. How old is he now?

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No, my laugh will not be because it´s funny but because of the irony of it all. It will be a risigning, uncomplaining laugh.The foolishness of the american administration, and the obvious course on war by all means that america displays will add to the feeling of not being a deranged mental patient, but will bring another of your famous presidents to mind. And with a slight variation of one of his famous quotes, everything seem to fit perfectly; "America is not a crooked nation, it deserves everything it gets"!.


T´mershi Duween.

Ridiculous of me to expect a response, but here goes...

"just a little on the promise thing: Muslims are no obliged to keep a promise or contract with a non-muslim."

Any chance you could source that gem Starbirth? Or are you quoting some highly enlightened friend?

Just something i made up. Gets you kind of upset when people make unfounded accussations. The kind some have made about my nation.

Actually when you come to think about it, no one is 'obliged' to keep contact or tell the truth to anyone.
I suppose the answer to this one could be found in the Koran though.

Contrary to popular belief I try not to make people upset when I post here. I became so sick of getting pissed of and getting other people pissed off, but I can't help but laugh. Maybe it's my twisted sense of humor.

But Starbirth, that's funny!

(shakes head and walks off laughing quietly to himself)

"just a little on the promise thing: Muslims are no obliged to keep a promise or contract with a non-muslim."

You made that up? Wow. What can I say? You offensive ba*tard. The mask has finally slipped. Now you're making accusations against moslems as a whole group, rather than qualifying your racism with the words "extremist" or "fundamentalist" Well done Starbirth - you've just outed yourself.

"Just something i made up. Gets you kind of upset when people make unfounded accussations. The kind some have made about my nation."

Would it make you more upset if the accusations *were* supported?


The logic is consistant at least:
They accuse us of being unethical, we'll accuse them of being immoral,
They accuse us of a crime, we accuse them of a bigger crime,
They attack our country, we'll obliterate theirs,
They use chamical weapons, we'll use nuclear.

That will show them, won't it?

Everybody PLEASE have a look at the front page for 060102 http://www.mirror.co.uk/frontpages/

ok


()

Neugen, I am reading a book by Helen Caldicott, 'The New Nuclear Danger' dated 2002, in which she talks about arms sales and in the front of which she has a pie chart showing that in fiscal 2000-2001, 'defense' spending was 49% of all government spending.

Frogbit, I'll have a look as soon as I can.. 060102 or did you mean 3? TTFN