>I think most actually agree with Brokaw. What you see here on the UT is more often an example of people arguing for arguments sake (to stir up trouble and/or just to present an opposing view and play the devils advocate) rather than a true representation of the public view.

Oh sure... I'm guilty of playing the devils advocate, but that is the role I have been playing for as long as I'm here on the forum. Whether it is technically or in the chatter category.

However that does not mean that I don't think I'm right in matters that are 180 degrees from the public view. Now, I'm not an american. I'm just an outsider who has a strong urge to show a mirror to anyone who has a certain self image. I have a broad interest in foreign politics and world cultures, and I try to understand it.

People tend to think in good and evil, but most people could not be classified objectively with good and evil. If you're born in libanon, the isrealies are evil and visa versa. You have to understand their problems to get a reasonable picture of the problems up there. If you're not born in an islamic country, it might help to understand to go back a few hundred years ago and analyse the religous wars in europe. If you don't understand the trouble between the sunnies and the shiites, you may look at northern ireland.

People do so easily judge from the perspecitive of the bubble they live in, rather than to try to understand matters.

The above is esspecially important for the body guard of the world: The US. If they act as the strong muscled gi-joe with brains of the size of a peanut, it means trouble along the way that has consequences for the whole world. Needless to say that I and also a lot of people in the US think that the US has been acting that way the last couple of years: Like an elephant in a chinashop. I'm sure you know the long list of incidents in regards of the WAR against terror that did no good the the outside image of the united states (see, yesterday the FBI released a report of the inhuman situation in abu grail). If you analyse the results of the last election up here you can see a significant drop of support for the US. I'm quite sure that this not exclusive to the Netherlands, but is common in western european countries. See the situation brittain.

Personally, I don't see the support for the US recovering before the outcome of the next election. One thing is sure, something needs to change in the US, before it can regain some of they lost credibility the last couple of years.

But bottom line... My participation up here is aimed at ignorant statments that show no understanding of the described matters above. People who think like gi-joe, and don't look further then the lenght of their nose, could expect a remark from me. Some of them, like Kevin Goff did by referencing a webblog, could try to reducile me but my skin is thicker than the elephant above. I stand up for my believes, and anyone who disagrees with it, well swallow it or just twit filter me. I understand I could come accross insulting to americans when I say something like "Ignorant americans", but this is not directly aimed at all the american people, but to the portion of americans who think they can rule to world by pressing their believes by using their guns.

end of rant.

Walter,



















>>>I would like to think that the marjority of Americans who have followed this news item think like this:
>>
>>Hi perry,
>>
>>I agree. But some folks up here don't understand how this works. They have no clue what effect these kind of things have internationally.
>>
>>Walter,
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/02/brokaw-hussein/
>>>
>>>>>John, yes or no....do you think Hussein got what he deserved?
>>>>>
>>>>>" Deserves it! I dare say he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for answering my question.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm not overly eager to deal out death and judgement - the eagerness comes from those trying to find fault with the 'process'.
>>>>>
>>>>>If it was such a "sham", then why aren't other Arab nations (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt) raising all sorts of hell over this? Can anyone show any links where European governments and court systems are howling? Why aren't there any U.N. Resolutions protesting the trail? Hussein was judged and found guilty for actions against his own people, and met with justice.
>>>>
>>>>Oh there were quite a few comments. The dutch vice premier, Zalm had some comments on the barbaric way hussein was punnished.
>>>>
>>>>Walter,