International Reaction to US Election

[Ljube]

Well, in all fairness, you have to admit they tend to support democracies worldwide lauri.

[Spiffor]

Bush has already said he plans to remove Castro in his next term.

I am now disturbed.

[Harovan]

I saw an interview of three American students on a German university today. They were disappointed about the election, because all three had voted for Kerry. But the most disturbing was, they expressed regret for having four more years to pretend to be Canadians in public, because they're ashamed of their homeland. It's not the first time I hear this nonsense. Lots of people here dislike Bush, but this doesn't mean they would resort to violence just for others being American. Most people just don't give a damn what's going on over there, or at most shake their heads and move on with their daily business.

In our talks at work the election was a non-issue so far.

The official reaction, as far as I can see, is cautious.

[Drachasor]

Originally posted by laurentius
Delusional Americans

America is not fighting for democracy, its not fighting for better world, liberty, or even free trade. What it is and has fought for always is its self interest.

Just not always very well.

In the long run, democracy, a better world, liberty, and free trade is in its best interest.

-Drachasor

[Ljube]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Bush has already said he plans to remove Castro in his next term.

I am now disturbed.

I hope he'll wait till Castro dies. It shouldn't be too long

[Sikander]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Who's whining? I'm laughing myself silly...

"Please...stop it....you're killing me!", could be construed as whining, though it is probably closer to pleading.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Ljube-ljcvetko
Well, in all fairness, you have to admit they tend to support democracies worldwide lauri.

Yes sure, but they are also supporting lot of dictatorships and pseudo democracies around the world. They do this because these countries are usefull to them ie. its in their self interest to appear as friendly.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Drachasor


Just not always very well.

In the long run, democracy, a better world, liberty, and free trade is in its best interest.

-Drachasor

You went straight to the Core of it all. I see the current trend just as a rational continuation of the lack of ability to see long term gains. You can see this short sightness in everywhere today, the quartal economy, fast food etc.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Ljube-ljcvetko
I hope he'll wait till Castro dies. It shouldn't be too long

If Castro dies, he wouldn't have "removed Castro". The regims is unlikely to survive him for any long period of time anyway.

The American meddling in the power transition in Cuba will only make Cuba the US' bordello once again. And a war will turn Cuba into a hellhole.

[Drake Tungsten]

The election result was the American people raising a middle finger to the rest of the World

[laurentius]

wow drake, now your so cool

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
I saw an interview of three American students on a German university today. They were disappointed about the election, because all three had voted for Kerry. But the most disturbing was, they expressed regret for having four more years to pretend to be Canadians in public, because they're ashamed of their homeland. It's not the first time I hear this nonsense. Lots of people here dislike Bush, but this doesn't mean they would resort to violence just for others being American.

Americans in Europe are already expected to apologize for their country. Now that their country has actually chosen Bush, they'll have to apologize pretty much everytime they mention their nationality.

Kinda like Muslims living in a very-non Muslim city. They're expected to voice their disagreement and dissociation with Muslim extremists. But in the case of the US, the extremists are mainstream.

[Drake Tungsten]

wow drake, now your so cool

Thank you!

[WotanAnubis]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie
The election result was the American people raising a middle finger to the rest of the World

Not really. According to my newspaper the large majority of Bush voters believe that most all people not living in America also think Bush is doing a good job and should have his four more years.

So really, it's just a slight majority of the American people being completely oblivious to what's going on outside their borders.

Nothing new here then.

[Berzerker]

Hence, if the rest of the world dislikes something that America is "doing", it is an example of how they are interfering in American affairs and are commie/socialist/fascist/evil/nazis.

And this interference was crooked politicians using the UN to screw the US and help Saddam defeat the sanctions.

Ok, well, I agree America can decide to make its supremely stupid decisions that are bad for its future.

That remains to be seen, Bush, or should I say his advisors, have shown incompetence in the conduct of the war but that doesn't mean Iraq will be the mess it was under Saddam.

That's not a good thing for it to do though, but I guess you like arguing the principle of it over the particulars of the specific issues.

It is the principle that matters, and you're ignoring some relevant particulars - like the UN oil for food scam. Factor that into the equation and all this talk of cooperation and communal decisions becomes hot air.

Oh, and we are a pretty crappy "global cop" overall. Very spotty history, some good stuff, a lot of bad stuff.

It's hard work

One more thing, the Middle East hates us because of what we have done in the past; we have done real, tangibly bad things over there, which we didn't rectify and are still doing in many cases. Don't pin this on Europe.

Iraq was fabricated by the Brits who saw wisdom in having 3 antagonistic populations in one country to facilitate the removal of oil while they're fighting. The French were mad about losing it's colony in Vietnam so we got drawn into that mess. Israel? I believe the Brits pushed that one too. Kuwait? Another British fabrication. The entire region has European fingerprints all over it...

the WWII argument, which holds 0 weight today, sorry but it really doesn't.

Well does it or doesn't it?

And if it did.. why did you left us hanging with SU, communist invasion? Oh that's right, realpolitiks right?

And yet Finland is "free" now and it didn't take another bloody war with several million more casualties.

Well for us it's really simple, you helped them, provided lot of goods that killed us. Should I now hate the US and think they're the reason for those things? It would sound a bit silly now wouldn't it.

No, it wouldn't. But I don't know what you're talking about either. Murmansk convoys?

Well, breaking news it sounds exactly the same for me and many of us who hear these arguments that even kindergarden teacher would go 'Wooaah! did you grow in a barrel raised by gay bikers?!'

I'd be mad at the US for helping the commies kill Fins. I'm mad at the US for helping Saddam kill Iranians and Kurds.