The UK-US 'Special Relationship'
Discussion
Tadite said:
The only news source that I like and respect completely is "The Economist." For TV the only one I think is half way decent is PBS special programs such as "Frontline." I do read the NY Times, Times of London, and a few others from time to time WSJ but those should all be done with a understanding of the spin.
None of the mainstream TV news channels are worth a damn in anything but crisis reporting. I truly do not understand why people want to watch talking heads scream at each other. What could be entertaining about that?
I agree on the Economist, very good. The NY Times is leftist biased $hit that have been caught out too many times and has no credibility here anymore. I also agree on some PBS news programs, they can be quite good. None of the mainstream TV news channels are worth a damn in anything but crisis reporting. I truly do not understand why people want to watch talking heads scream at each other. What could be entertaining about that?
Tadite said:
Jimbeaux said:
You certainly have a bizzare view of reality. I am pleased that it is shared by yourself and only about 9 other people. 
It is nice normal standard realism. I know the neoconservative style is was more popular these days but I think the old fashioned practical realism system of politics is making a comeback. Edited by Jimbeaux on Sunday 7th March 01:39
AJS- said:
s2art said:
Actually Britain is a world power, as is France. Both nations have the ability to project power around the globe, both have a nuclear capability.
You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
True, and still probably in the top 10 of powerful countries, but really as nothing compared to America, China or even Russia in terms of military muscle. Just by sheer weight of numbers we cannot be.You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
You are 4th in spending, China second. Considering China's size, that actually puts you on par or arguably ahead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...
http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-milit...
Jimbeaux said:
AJS- said:
s2art said:
Actually Britain is a world power, as is France. Both nations have the ability to project power around the globe, both have a nuclear capability.
You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
True, and still probably in the top 10 of powerful countries, but really as nothing compared to America, China or even Russia in terms of military muscle. Just by sheer weight of numbers we cannot be.You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
You are 4th in spending, China second. Considering China's size, that actually puts you on par or arguably ahead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...
http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-milit...
And as for China, I think its only in the last couple of years that they actually spent any money on their military at all. So right now the Chinese are playing a long game of catch up.
tinman0 said:
Jimbeaux said:
AJS- said:
s2art said:
Actually Britain is a world power, as is France. Both nations have the ability to project power around the globe, both have a nuclear capability.
You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
True, and still probably in the top 10 of powerful countries, but really as nothing compared to America, China or even Russia in terms of military muscle. Just by sheer weight of numbers we cannot be.You are confusing the term world power with Hyperpower, such as the USA. Arguable, because of our nuclear capability, we are still a superpower.
Its all a matter of definitions.
You are 4th in spending, China second. Considering China's size, that actually puts you on par or arguably ahead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...
http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-milit...
And as for China, I think its only in the last couple of years that they actually spent any money on their military at all. So right now the Chinese are playing a long game of catch up.
Tell you what though, that one kicks off, you guys are all alone, and I'm registering a load of gov.cn domain names
randlemarcus said:
Fair enough though. I'd imagine the current generation of smart weapons is just about filtering through to the secondary vendors that will actually sell to China, so probably a clever move. Money into coal fired power stations in the interim
Tell you what though, that one kicks off, you guys are all alone, and I'm registering a load of gov.cn domain names
Maybe.Tell you what though, that one kicks off, you guys are all alone, and I'm registering a load of gov.cn domain names
The thing is though that modern warfare in the west is already moving on into the distance with remote weapons, and things like Afghanistan and Iraq are simply honing many many skills and technology to the art of fighting a war by remote control.
For instance, if the Falklands kicked off into something interesting, would we need to be sending that many troops down there? Everyone keeps on thinking armed troops, but drones are taking over more and more now. Why risk the life of a soldier when you can have a team sitting in an air-conditioned room in Nevada?
And lets not forget that China is just not getting battle experience. They wandered into Tibet about 60 years, largely uninvited and on the search for uranium, and thats about it. There just isn't the experience.
You forget that the UK's spending will be at least 30% on diversity co-ordinators, 20% on climate change continuity plans and 20% on making wheel chair accessible. We're ametures, and I for one am glad of it as the only thing worse than a puffed up second rate country is a powerful politician.
JonRB said:
We were here 8 years ago with Bush, when he commented at a Israeli Palestinian summit that he didn't think the Israelis using US money to build homes that they knew would later be torn down "good value to the US taxpayer". The Palestinians were aghast that the US President sided with them!But AQ sought to end all that good will.
So, Obi has said the same thing has he?
[Guardian]Conservative party politicians lined up before the general election to promise that they would run a "pro-American regime" and buy more arms from the US if they came to power this year, the leaked American embassy cables show.
Despite British leaders' supportive stance, the dispatches also reveal – in what some will see as humiliating detail – how US diplomats in London are amused by what they call Britain's "paranoid" fears about the so-called special relationship.
One said the anxious British attitude "would often be humorous if it were not so corrosive" and that it was tempting to take advantage of this neurosis to "make London more willing to respond favourably when pressed for assistance". The UK was said to offer "unparalleled" help in promoting America's aims.
[/quote]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/wik...
Victor McDade said:
[Guardian]Conservative party politicians lined up before the general election to promise that they would run a "pro-American regime" and buy more arms from the US if they came to power this year, the leaked American embassy cables show.
Despite British leaders' supportive stance, the dispatches also reveal – in what some will see as humiliating detail – how US diplomats in London are amused by what they call Britain's "paranoid" fears about the so-called special relationship.
One said the anxious British attitude "would often be humorous if it were not so corrosive" and that it was tempting to take advantage of this neurosis to "make London more willing to respond favourably when pressed for assistance". The UK was said to offer "unparalleled" help in promoting America's aims.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/wik...
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff