The One and Only North Korea Thread (merged a few times)
Take that one step further. The Balkans in the 90's. Many in the US couldn't relate to genocide in Europe, ergo it wasn't important. How many now under the age of 40 remember it? A lack of interest doesn't equate to a lack of significance, much the same with fat bastard in NK.
...the Falklands, or "Las Maldives" as the current POTUS calls 'em...
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The Russians are getting nervy.
How much all of this is bluster and political games, is open to question.
BBC News - North Korea tensions: Russia's Lavrov fears 'spiral'
How much all of this is bluster and political games, is open to question.
BBC News - North Korea tensions: Russia's Lavrov fears 'spiral'
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Does he really? Surely even he knows that the Maldives are some 8000 miles from the Islas Malvinas?
But sadly, that famed intellect and coolness under pressure does seem to be lacking.
Barack Obama makes Falklands gaffe by calling Malvinas the Maldives - Telegraph
One wonders how he'll handle the young fat one.
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Why the heck is the dimwit calling them by such a contentious name anyway? BO is English speaking (ish) - at least, not Spanish. His nation is English speaking. It damn well ought to be supporting democracy and legality, so why the hell is he pandering to the illegal, immoral and baseless claims of the Argies by using an inappropriate name for British territory?
Fool.
Fool.
Otherwise, Lyneham Lad is right.
I'm not one to defend President Obama on much, if anything, but.....
I and most I know who went to school in Southern California learned them by the name Malvinas. That doesn't change that the islands are Brit territory, just that I learned the name a wee bit differently than you. On this issue I've been lectured by Brits about how I should call them the Falklands as hundreds of years ago our lot and your lot were the same lot.
I live on a street with a Spanish name, the radio station I listen to at times is across the border in a Spanish speaking country, about 20 something miles away. On a clear day I can see Russia, err Mexico from my porch. I ate Mexican food for dinner yesterday. The Mexican football team is regularly covered in the local fish wrap. Spanish is spoken regularly in our household when we dont want my little guy understanding what the wife and I are saying. I vacation regularly in Mexico. I think you get the point that just because the US has strong Euro ties, it doesnt over ride strong local influences.
I and most I know who went to school in Southern California learned them by the name Malvinas. That doesn't change that the islands are Brit territory, just that I learned the name a wee bit differently than you. On this issue I've been lectured by Brits about how I should call them the Falklands as hundreds of years ago our lot and your lot were the same lot.
I live on a street with a Spanish name, the radio station I listen to at times is across the border in a Spanish speaking country, about 20 something miles away. On a clear day I can see Russia, err Mexico from my porch. I ate Mexican food for dinner yesterday. The Mexican football team is regularly covered in the local fish wrap. Spanish is spoken regularly in our household when we dont want my little guy understanding what the wife and I are saying. I vacation regularly in Mexico. I think you get the point that just because the US has strong Euro ties, it doesnt over ride strong local influences.
Last edited by West Coast; 30th Mar 2013 at 00:11.
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Not to mention that "Hispanics" are the 2nd-largest and fastest-growing ethnic group in the US... having passed "African-American" as the 2nd-largest ethnic group in early 2001.
Of course he is going to pander to their votes by "expressing solidarity with the oppressed Latino against the European Colonial Oppressor"!
After all, British (and Falkland Islands) citizens cannot vote in US elections, so they are not to be bothered with.
Of course he is going to pander to their votes by "expressing solidarity with the oppressed Latino against the European Colonial Oppressor"!
After all, British (and Falkland Islands) citizens cannot vote in US elections, so they are not to be bothered with.
For what it's worth (and forgive straying to the South Atlantic instead of South Korea for a moment) Obama actually said:
Which was pretty much the public line of the Reagan administration while AIM-9Ls were being prepared to head south in 1982... [2]
So to be fair to him, AB, what he was doing was being even-handed and polite; he did use the F-word in the presence of Latin Americans, which can only be seen as being careful not to upset the UK. I appreciate that the Daily Mail believes that US foreign policy should be exercised in the interests of the UK, but it seems entirely fair to me that the President of the United States should, well, attempt to carry out American foreign policy in the interests of the United States, which may mean having to avoid taking sides with long-standing allies if it avoids causing widespread angst in the US's back yard...
[1] Source - Remarks by President Obama and President Santos of Colombia in Joint Press Conference | The White House about half-way down, but search for 'Maldives' in page
[2]Yes, yes, I know about the complication of Harry Train being godfather to Jorge Anaya's son and Jeanne Kirkpatrick's problem of not meeting a fascist dictator she didn't see as a likeable bulwark against communism adding to the PR fun
And in terms of the Maldives [sic] or the Falklands, whatever your preferred term, our position on this is that we are going to remain neutral. We have good relations with both Argentina and Great Britain, and we are looking forward to them being able to continue to dialogue on this issue. But this is not something that we typically intervene in.[1]
So to be fair to him, AB, what he was doing was being even-handed and polite; he did use the F-word in the presence of Latin Americans, which can only be seen as being careful not to upset the UK. I appreciate that the Daily Mail believes that US foreign policy should be exercised in the interests of the UK, but it seems entirely fair to me that the President of the United States should, well, attempt to carry out American foreign policy in the interests of the United States, which may mean having to avoid taking sides with long-standing allies if it avoids causing widespread angst in the US's back yard...
[1] Source - Remarks by President Obama and President Santos of Colombia in Joint Press Conference | The White House about half-way down, but search for 'Maldives' in page
[2]Yes, yes, I know about the complication of Harry Train being godfather to Jorge Anaya's son and Jeanne Kirkpatrick's problem of not meeting a fascist dictator she didn't see as a likeable bulwark against communism adding to the PR fun
Last edited by Archimedes; 30th Mar 2013 at 01:11.
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At the risk of getting this thread back on track...
North Korea has said it is entering a "state of war" with South Korea in its latest escalation of rhetoric against its southern neighbour and the US.
BBC News - North Korea enters 'state of war' with South
BBC News - North Korea enters 'state of war' with South
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
So to be fair to him, AB, what he was doing was being even-handed and polite
Why Barack Obama is an anti-colonialist
The State Department’s Falklands press briefing was a diplomatic disaster for the US
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The most worrying thing about North Korea is that they don't have the checks and balances of the Chinese. If the Dear Fat One gets out of bed one day with a hangover, they'll be off - There will be no one to tell him that he is wrong. They are not criminals - just barking mad! And no one has ever told him he his wrong; a leader with the ethics and morals of a spoilt three year old. The only solution to NK is do a deal with the Chinese. It will be expensive, but not as expensive as the damage caused in a conflict. As for those in the US - I think they should give the country back to the Americans. Hey, what's good for the Malvinas is good for the Native Americans.
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North Korean Threat
Let us all hope it is just hot air, because under the Treaty of Washington 1954, all the allies who had taken part in the Korean War agreed that '..in the event of any renewal of hostilities, the signatory nations will be prompt and united in response' (That's us folks! I may not have got the oprecise wording right).
No such Treaty. The Geneva Agreements of 1954 contain no reference to the resumption of hostilities. There was a Declaration by the US made in Washington later, but it is not, to my knowledge, binding on anyone. The Geneva Agreements refer to the Vietnam War. Are you confusing this with the 1953 Armistice Agreement, which the North Koreans have said they already refuse to abide by (quite a few times)?
The text of the Armistice is here
FindLaw: Korean War Armistice Agreement: July 27, 1953
The text of the Armistice is here
FindLaw: Korean War Armistice Agreement: July 27, 1953
Last edited by Fox3WheresMyBanana; 30th Mar 2013 at 10:04.