Missing historical coverage for today in the news?

[LoadWB]

My second CH posting.  WOO HOO!

Ahem... has anyone else noticed, and ergo a little irked about, the seeming lack of coverage in the standard news outlets about today's historical significance in the United States??

[the_leander]

What, that the US finally got off of its backside after years of sitting back happily watching the rest of the world burn?

[LoadWB]

Precisely.  But more to the point, the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that occured while Japanese representatives were in Washington supposedly negotiating a peace accord.

Oh, and if you guys hated us then, just wait as things get better under this administration, which is willing to deal with whatever regime gains power in whatever country.

[the_leander]

Precisely.  But more to the point, the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that occured while Japanese representatives were in Washington supposedly negotiating a peace accord.

There is actually quite a good piece on this here.

Oh, and if you guys hated us then

We didn't and don't. Ask vets who came over here the reception they received.

just wait as things get better under this administration, which is willing to deal with whatever regime gains power in whatever country.

Ultimately you have to deal with people beyond just shooting them every time they pop up. England had to do it with the IRA, chances are NATO will have to enter into discussion with the Taliban.

As far as Karzai goes... I have to ask: What is the alternative? So far as I can see there is no one else willing to step up.

But ultimately Afghanistan is a colossal screw-up on just about every level. I don't think anything anyone can do at this point will fix the issues we have left to fester for so long (which we could have dealt with if only we had not bothered with Iraq).

No matter what Obama does at this point, he's going to be wrong and that is wholly and solely down to decisions made by Bush.

Also, welcome to CH, enjoy your stay

[persia]

Touchy, touchy.  I like Americans, but their government's foreign policy frankly stinks and hasn't changed much in several decades.  But really we've done some crappy things too, particularly to the native folk here.

Maybe that's the problem, governments are generally like farts, they all smell, Americans problem is they keep trying to insist that theirs doesn't smell...

[LoadWB]

Maybe that's the problem, governments are generally like farts, they all smell, Americans problem is they keep trying to insist that theirs doesn't smell...

Unfortunately, the silent majority (majority in numbers, not majority in action) are trying to get it across that our government stinks, and has for almost two decades.  The real problem is the GOVERNMENT thinks it does not stink.

It is a serious shame.  I attended the 9-12 march on DC as well as the 11-2 Patriot Rally, and it was MUCH more than what was reported by the flame-stream news outlets.  In fact, after my experience on 11-2, I have never felt in my life like something I did actually made an impact.  I met with some very cordial congressmen and staff, had a long discussion with the staff of my local representative, and more than I have time to type about.  Suffice to say, it was worth sleeping six hours in Reagan National Airport.

[the_leander]

flame-stream news outlets.

I lol'd, hard.

Mind if I use that?

[persia]

It was Lord Acton who explained why corruption-free and government are oxymorons.  

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Lord Acton, in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887

I think most people in most countries are willing to accept that, like our current government lead by Manchurian Candidate Rudd, with Climate Change denier Abbott sitting in the wings.  They're both serving somebody other than the public, but they always give us something right before the elections in the hopes it'll sway us in their favour.

In the end you pay your taxes and hope for the best.  But really anyone who *wants* to be Prime Minister, Chancellor, President, Supreme Leader, what ever, is likely to be corrupt, otherwise why would they want the job?

[LoadWB]

I lol'd, hard.

Mind if I use that?

By all means; I'm glad it was good for a chuckle  Helps to alleviate the frustration under which it was conceived.

[Tension]

Ultimately you have to deal with people beyond just shooting them every time they pop up. England had to do it with the IRA, chances are NATO will have to enter into discussion with the Taliban.

As far as Karzai goes... I have to ask: What is the alternative? So far as I can see there is no one else willing to step up.

But ultimately Afghanistan is a colossal screw-up on just about every level. I don't think anything anyone can do at this point will fix the issues we have left to fester for so long (which we could have dealt with if only we had not bothered with Iraq).

No matter what Obama does at this point, he's going to be wrong and that is wholly and solely down to decisions made by Bush.

Also, welcome to CH, enjoy your stay

Agreed.  I can't believe nobody decided to google 'Northern Ireland Troubles' before invading Iraq.  At the height of the troubles here, there were 35000 British troops on the streets.  All it did was antagonise the protagonists, and make life hell for the civilian population as a whole.

40 years later we have peace on the streets, because people sat round a table and are trying to sort things out.

How did anyone think they could invade a country the size of Iraq with limited resources, and sort it out in a few months?

Stupid bastards.