The Guardian: Nato is a threat to Europe and must be disbanded

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by DanS
The main reason why NATO/US is still welcome in most places is that it saves European countries a lot of money. Having somebody else foot the bill for a part of your defense is a great deal that's worth a lot of humble pie.

Europe would have to increase spending substantially to have a viable integrated EU force. Europe might have to increase spending somewhat in any event, as the US draws down its forces.

Actually, the armies of most European countries are mainly overkill now that Russia isn't a threat. Europe doesn't need those 140,000 soldiers to "defend" itself against non-existent foes.

[Pyrodrew]

Agathon - I often found it didn't help my grade any to share an opposing political/ethical viewpoint of any teacher/professor.

[Agathon]

But back OT.

People always think they need an army, but who really does these days. Apart from contributions to UN peacekeeping and harassing Korean fishermen, New Zealand doesn't need a military.

Who wants to invade Britain for example? Who has any reason to do so?

[Agathon]

Agathon - I often found it didn't help my grade any to share an opposing political/ethical viewpoint of any teacher/professor.

Then you didn't have me as your teacher. I never give people bad marks for being right wing - that's just not fair. I always think that a teacher should refrain from telling the students his politics unless asked. Some of mine might suspect that I am a social democrat, but none know the truth. I recently came across an ex-student of mine who now sells communist T-Shirts and he was as surprised as I was to discover our mutual redness.

I don't really talk politics with my supervisor though, we mainly talk about work (that I ought to be doing). He did surprise me by saying how much he hated Bush.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Agathon


I've met precisely two people who liked him, both were Jewish and thought he was good for Israel.

I suppose lots of people like him in Alberta, but the cold there has obviously warped your minds.

Considering recent events and press, would you be surprised that 30% of Canadians were willing to own up to a favourable opinion of Bush personally, and that 51% of Canadians think that now they're in, they should stay stuck into Iraq?

btw, that's three to five times the entire population of Alberta.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by notyoueither


Considering recent events and press, would you be surprised that 30% of Canadians were willing to own up to a favourable opinion of Bush personally, and that 51% of Canadians think that now they're in, they should stay stuck into Iraq?

btw, that's three to five times the entire population of Alberta.

Must be the "others" then.

[Serb]

Guys, back to topic- bash NATO.

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Agathon

Agathon - I often found it didn't help my grade any to share an opposing political/ethical viewpoint of any teacher/professor.

Then you didn't have me as your teacher. I never give people bad marks for being right wing - that's just not fair. I always think that a teacher should refrain from telling the students his politics unless asked. Some of mine might suspect that I am a social democrat, but none know the truth. I recently came across an ex-student of mine who now sells communist T-Shirts and he was as surprised as I was to discover our mutual redness.

I agree, but from the new student's perspective he/she doesn't know which teachers will be (un)consciously fair. There is word-of-mouth, but that requires finding a couple prior students from that teacher for a good assessment - which isn't easy for all students.

Disagree / No bias = Good
Agree / No bias = Good
Agree / Bias = (Very) Good
Disagree / Bias = (Very) Bad

Eventually, I found it just easier and safer to be a good listener and tactful inquisitor to find areas to agree on rather than risk being "wrong".

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Pyrodrew
Agathon - I often found it didn't help my grade any to share an opposing political/ethical viewpoint of any teacher/professor.

I often found that when people say this, it was a convenient excuse for sh!t work.

[Pyrodrew]

Originally posted by Tingkai
I often found that when people say this, it was a convenient excuse for sh!t work.

For one teacher I could do sh!t work since he liked me so much... it appeared that way anyways.

But perhaps you're right... all teachers have no bias and are completely fair.

Teachers

[Tingkai]

Paranoia

[Pyrodrew]

I often found that when people say this, it was a convenient excuse for sh!t work.

Originally posted by Tingkai
Paranoia

Paranoia

[Serb]

Bunch of armed paranoids (aka NATO)

[notyoueither]

Why then are you so concerned about a defensive alliance, Serb?

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by notyoueither


Considering recent events and press, would you be surprised that 30% of Canadians were willing to own up to a favourable opinion of Bush personally, and that 51% of Canadians think that now they're in, they should stay stuck into Iraq?

Hello? If thinking that the Americans should stay in Iraq is pro-Bush or pro-America, I am it.

Wrt to Finland, they actually did insist they did not have an alliance with Germany, but were merely "co-belligerents" against the SU. Now, this did not do alot of difference in practice, but anyway.