Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Banjax]

Kudos to bannjaxx - you're holding your own rightly there my son 8-)

hehe - i love a good debate with learned fellows

[Dishevelled Den]

politicians only react to the public consensus, we in the west as taxpayers and voters could change it almost overnight - if their was a will  :-/

I don't see how it can be reasonably suggested that any proposal in this regard could gain realistic traction.

The problem lies not wholly in the self-interest exhibited by the West but more squarely with the incompetent and corrupt regimes in the very countries suffering in the way being discussed.

you're right zulu - we'd never vote for the guy who made ending world poverty a priority - what about our taxes? our schools? our demands and needs? sadly we almost always put ourselves first - i'm no different, but i can dream can't i? 

...and that's where the humanity is shown and as long as such humanity exists, there is a chance that many wrongs will be addressed 8-)

[Banjax]

i've just been knighted - for services to waffle! 

[Dishevelled Den]

i've just been knighted - for services to waffle! 

..congratulations bj -  your posts are far from waffle, here's to the next thousand or ten

[Nickbat]

politicians only react to the public consensus, we in the west as taxpayers and voters could change it almost overnight - if their was a will  :-/

I don't see how it can be reasonably suggested that any proposal in this regard could gain realistic traction.

The problem lies not wholly in the self-interest exhibited by the West but more squarely with the incompetent and corrupt regimes in the very countries suffering in the way being discussed.

you're right zulu - we'd never vote for the guy who made ending world poverty a priority - what about our taxes? our schools? our demands and needs? sadly we almost always put ourselves first - i'm no different, but i can dream can't i? 

That's the whole point about democracy, bj. We vote for people who we believe will look after our interests. We seek to root out corruption (see the expenses scandal) because we genuinely want to governed by people we can trust. The problem in the Third World is that even though the populous at large know how corrupt their leaders are, there is often no way of getting rid of them. If we, in the West, get involved we are accused of racism/imperialism/colonialism. I pity the poor people of Zimbabwe, but what can we do? Mugabe is a tyrant; I would hazard a guess that most Zimbaweans agree, but we are powerless to do anything about it. 

[Martin_1962]

politicians only react to the public consensus, we in the west as taxpayers and voters could change it almost overnight - if their was a will  :-/

I don't see how it can be reasonably suggested that any proposal in this regard could gain realistic traction.

The problem lies not wholly in the self-interest exhibited by the West but more squarely with the incompetent and corrupt regimes in the very countries suffering in the way being discussed.

you're right zulu - we'd never vote for the guy who made ending world poverty a priority - what about our taxes? our schools? our demands and needs? sadly we almost always put ourselves first - i'm no different, but i can dream can't i? 

That's the whole point about democracy, bj. We vote for people who we believe will look after our interests. We seek to root out corruption (see the expenses scandal) because we genuinely want to governed by people we can trust. The problem in the Third World is that even though the populous at large know how corrupt their leaders are, there is often no way of getting rid of them. If we, in the West, get involved we are accused of racism/imperialism/colonialism. I pity the poor people of Zimbabwe, but what can we do? Mugabe is a tyrant; I would hazard a guess that most Zimbaweans agree, but we are powerless to do anything about it. 

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

[Banjax]

politicians only react to the public consensus, we in the west as taxpayers and voters could change it almost overnight - if their was a will  :-/

I don't see how it can be reasonably suggested that any proposal in this regard could gain realistic traction.

The problem lies not wholly in the self-interest exhibited by the West but more squarely with the incompetent and corrupt regimes in the very countries suffering in the way being discussed.

you're right zulu - we'd never vote for the guy who made ending world poverty a priority - what about our taxes? our schools? our demands and needs? sadly we almost always put ourselves first - i'm no different, but i can dream can't i? 

That's the whole point about democracy, bj. We vote for people who we believe will look after our interests. We seek to root out corruption (see the expenses scandal) because we genuinely want to governed by people we can trust. The problem in the Third World is that even though the populous at large know how corrupt their leaders are, there is often no way of getting rid of them. If we, in the West, get involved we are accused of racism/imperialism/colonialism. I pity the poor people of Zimbabwe, but what can we do? Mugabe is a tyrant; I would hazard a guess that most Zimbaweans agree, but we are powerless to do anything about it. 

sadly true Nickbat 

[Dishevelled Den]

That's the whole point about democracy, bj. We vote for people who we believe will look after our interests. We seek to root out corruption (see the expenses scandal) because we genuinely want to governed by people we can trust. The problem in the Third World is that even though the populous at large know how corrupt their leaders are, there is often no way of getting rid of them. If we, in the West, get involved we are accused of racism/imperialism/colonialism. I pity the poor people of Zimbabwe, but what can we do? Mugabe is a tyrant; I would hazard a guess that most Zimbaweans agree, but we are powerless to do anything about it. 

......well made Nick and I would say that sentiment could be applied to many other countries the collective plight of which is constantly exhibited as being the sole fault of everyone but their own leadership.

[Nickbat]

politicians only react to the public consensus, we in the west as taxpayers and voters could change it almost overnight - if their was a will  :-/

I don't see how it can be reasonably suggested that any proposal in this regard could gain realistic traction.

The problem lies not wholly in the self-interest exhibited by the West but more squarely with the incompetent and corrupt regimes in the very countries suffering in the way being discussed.

you're right zulu - we'd never vote for the guy who made ending world poverty a priority - what about our taxes? our schools? our demands and needs? sadly we almost always put ourselves first - i'm no different, but i can dream can't i? 

That's the whole point about democracy, bj. We vote for people who we believe will look after our interests. We seek to root out corruption (see the expenses scandal) because we genuinely want to governed by people we can trust. The problem in the Third World is that even though the populous at large know how corrupt their leaders are, there is often no way of getting rid of them. If we, in the West, get involved we are accused of racism/imperialism/colonialism. I pity the poor people of Zimbabwe, but what can we do? Mugabe is a tyrant; I would hazard a guess that most Zimbaweans agree, but we are powerless to do anything about it. 

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

Yes, but the leaders of the Pan-African nations would denounce it as "white colonialism", and we would be back at square one. 

[Dishevelled Den]

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

...sadly it’s a non-starter from a purely military standpoint Martin.  The problems being faced in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that.  More importantly the military consideration pales when one must consider the civil infrastructure which would be necessary in the aftermath of military action.

The manpower and finance needed to achieve a realistic outcome simply isn't there.

[albitz]

And there is little or no oil in Zimbabwe afaik.If there was I,m sure we would have formulated a plan to "rescue" its people by now.

[Martin_1962]

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

...sadly it’s a non-starter from a purely military standpoint Martin.  The problems being faced in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that.  More importantly the military consideration pales when one must consider the civil infrastructure which would be necessary in the aftermath of military action.

The manpower and finance needed to achieve a realistic outcome simply isn't there.

I thought shoot Mugabe and it would all straiten out :-/

[Martin_1962]

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

...sadly it’s a non-starter from a purely military standpoint Martin.  The problems being faced in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that.  More importantly the military consideration pales when one must consider the civil infrastructure which would be necessary in the aftermath of military action.

The manpower and finance needed to achieve a realistic outcome simply isn't there.

I thought shoot Mugabe and it would all straiten out :-/

[LJay]

No were are not - our military could sort him in about 5 minutes - one sniper would be enough

...sadly it’s a non-starter from a purely military standpoint Martin.  The problems being faced in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that.  More importantly the military consideration pales when one must consider the civil infrastructure which would be necessary in the aftermath of military action.

The manpower and finance needed to achieve a realistic outcome simply isn't there.

I thought shoot Mugabe and it would all straiten out :-/

I wouldn't have thought so. These countries seem to have a never ending supply of people ready to take over, each as bad as the one before!

[Dishevelled Den]

I wouldn't have thought so. These countries seem to have a never ending supply of people ready to take over, each as bad as the one before!

....not too far from the truth there Lj, - good morning to you - that's why there must be a fundamental change of attitude of those in such countries who would seek to lead their people.

Until that is achieved no amount of interference from the West - however well intentioned or otherwise - will have any discernible effect.