Blair facing revolt over Iraq

[Makeo]

There is a common confusion here: moral justification for war vs national interest.

Think of it as a 2 by 2 matrix.

comprende?

[Makeo]

Originally posted by GeneralTacticus


It was, partly...

A popular misconception. Note that after WWII, the disarmamament and occupation of Germany was much more rigid.

[faded glory]

Originally posted by Comrade Tribune


You are bombing him anyway, right or not.

But if you send in the ground troops, we will at least find out if he actually has weapons of mass destruction.

Na the Israeli's will be the one to find that out. And if he does, there will be lots of happy palestinians dancing in the streets. I just hope Israel has as maske's and patriots set up.

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by el freako
It's a generally accepted facet of international diplomacy that you have to have a legitimate reason for going to war - Faded Glory's citing of the break of the cease-fire agreement is the best I can see - but your assertion that the US could do it just because it's in their 'interest' set's a terrible precedent.
If every acted only in it's own narrow 'interest' the world will become an extremely dangerous place.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned the breaking of the cease-fire agreement before FG did...

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I believe that the US has plenty of reasons to topple Saddam beyond merely disliking his regime. The most obvious is Iraq's refusal to allow weapons inspectors into the country, a direct violation of the agreement that ended the Gulf War. If Iraq violates that agreement, the US has every right in the world to depose Saddam.

Ahh, yes, there it is.

On your other point, I'm not going to argue with you about which historical events were "justified" and which weren't. I personally feel that all moral justifications are bull**** and that, when it comes right down to it, every nation takes action based upon their own self interest. I think this is the most realistic view of the world; if you depend upon other nations to justify their actions, you're going to be in a world of hurt.

[GeneralTacticus]

A popular misconception. Note that after WWII, the disarmamament and occupation of Germany was much more rigid.

Yes, it was precisely to prevent Germany from rising again that they were so rigid. In any case, the Western Allies didn't impose a ludicrous reparations bill on the Germans and in fact actually sent them money. This combined with the fact that they didn't go through an economic collapse meant that they weren't so bitter over it this time... moreover the Third Reich had been utterly overthrown by the end, there was no way that anyone could claim Germany had been 'stabbed in the back'.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Boddington's
anti-American hordes led by Saint Marcus, Paiktis et al

Wow I always wanted to be the leader of a horde CHAAARGE!!!

go back to your drinking Stewie

[Solly]

Originally posted by paiktis22


Wow I always wanted to be the leader of a horde CHAAARGE!!!

go back to your drinking Stewie

I am teetotal.

[Bereta_Eder]

Bod needs a cazzo

Originally posted by Boddington's
I am teetotal.

Then your problem is inherent

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Boddington's


I am teetotal.

And I'm the Queen of Sheeba

[Saint Marcus]

anti-American hordes led by Saint Marcus, Paiktis et al

And rightly so!

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison




And I'm the Queen of Sheeba

I find that unlikely, you can't even spell it correctly!


It's spelled "Sheba."

[Solly]

Originally posted by Lonestar


I find that unlikely, you can't even spell it correctly!


It's spelled "Sheba."

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Lonestar
It's spelled "Sheba."

Do I look like the kind of man who gives a flying f**k?

Pedantry won't win you any points in my book kiddo

[Solly]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison


Do I look like the kind of man who gives a flying f**k?

Pedantry won't win you any points in my book kiddo

You were quite happy being the pedant when I said I am teetotal.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Boddington's


You were quite happy being the pedant when I said I am teetotal.

That wasn't pedantry Stew (get a dictionary ), that was just laughing at the totally unbelievable