Can they? Actually I have no doubt that Austalians can BUT I do have doubts about the sycophantic fuck they elected. He promised no additional forces would be sent on his election platform, yet today he doubled Australian numbers of forces commited to Iraq.
I hope that free trade deal works out for Mr Howard.
…nope, but it kept our own government in check, did it not? And hopefully, our government can work to change the US foreign policy, can it not? Is that not how democratic nations should act? Do you not believe in diplomacy?
HaHaHa! Can anyone do that? Well other then the god botherers??
Jeeeez I think MOST of the world knows Mr Bush can do whatever the fuck he likes. He should be pleased I can grumble about what he does…he likes me, I live in a democracy.
At least someone realizes that it will take more forces and not less to quiet things in Iraq. Too bad none of the other countries are willing to help out in such a way. But, I guess sticking it to the US is more important than helping Iraqis.
OH MY GOD!!! You are so right! More troops equals democracy! Why didn’t I notice that before??? I feel so unobservant.
Democratic nations should do as you say and if you don’t want to participate in something you disagree in then that is certainly you’re perogative. Telling someone to ‘shut the fuck up’ isn’t a good way to get them to change how they think and act, though is it (and I certainly know from experience!)? And diplomacy is fine, but what happens when a sizable and vocal population of a country dislikes and outright hates the people you are trying to influence with that diplomacy? Your words ring kind of hollow at that point, I’d think.
Oh I forgot to answer this one!
Did you ever for a moment in your life stop to think that being in an insignificant Pacific nation is a bloody good place to be?
No warheads pointed here. No egomaniac leaders. No “obligation” to “free” the world.
I get to watch him spout shit on tv.
You have to live with the consequences.
Oh, so you are still sore that the US acted without getting others on side, or is it that they acted at all? Take a deep breath and let it out…Okay now that you’ve gotten over your snit, what are you going to do to help Iraqis make a successful transition to democracy that will ensure their freedom and eliminate the terrorists? Please note I don’t think the US should have invaded at that time without more support from the world community, either.
I don’t believe my nation said “shut the fuck up”…just a whole lot of citizens. You and I both know that whatever NZ says is irrelevant to the US.
What can they do? I don’t actually think they can do anything. They can impose certain things while they are there but they have to leave eventually and then the Iraqis will do what they do.
Personaly I believe it will be messy.
Did America not rise from a messy war?
…well thats a load of bullshit. New Zealand were in Iraq-we sent troops over once the fighting was over. There were no protests here over that-it was part of the humanitarian effort to help the Iraqi’s out. But after a year, we pulled them out, because there was NO POINT. The security situation was so pathetic that our Army Engineers were confined to their compound for the last few months of their stay. We came to help the effort, Uzi, but apparently we weren’t needed…
Uzi, does your brain work in Black and White? Can you speak in anything else but cliches? This has nothing to do with sticking it to the USA. This has everything to do with the Bush Administration sticking it to the world. The Bush Admistration presented a case to invade Iraq that was horseshit. Most of the world didn’t believe it. The United States invaded Iraq regardless, and ended up the Occupying Power. As the occupying power, the US sold off all of the assets, fired all the public service employees, and got rid of the army. It set up detention systems that were fundumentally flawed, that resulted in the false arrest and abuse of thousands of people. The power situation is worse than prewar, and according to this people have to wait for five hours to get petrol for there cars in one of the most oil rich nations in the world. Charities keep pulling out of the country-Doctors without Borders was the last one, because of the security situation. GUESS WHAT? People want to help. We sent troops there. But there really isn’t anything anyone can do until while the US still have a say in the running of Iraq. They have been shown to make a succession of stupid mistakes in the running of Iraq, and the Generals in charge have done a pretty poor job of winning hearts and minds.
Yes, but a whole lot of troops from an international coalition would make it very hard for the terrorists to operate and thus allow the infrastructure of the country to be rebuilt and people to get on with their lives. It will allow the Iraqi police forces time to train and rebuild to the point where they can handle anything left over once the forces leave by themselves. If at that point the Iraqis vote in some religious nut that is there business and they can’t blame anyone but themselves.
…okay, in case you hadn’t noticed, this is a message board. Calm Kiwi said it was here duty to BITCH loudly, to which you implied that it did no good, and how would it change US policy. I answered that question, and you think my words ring hollow? I agree, if the Rt Hon Clark were to tell the President to “shut the f*ck up”, it wouldn’t go down well. But we have a duty, do we not, to speak our minds? To say when, we feel something is morally wrong, to speak up? It is our governments job, is it not, to express the thoughts of the majority of its citizens to the world? You are joyful over the newly found democracy over in Iraq, can I ask why you don’t like it expressed elsewhere in the world?
Aww…you missed the bit when I said there will be a messy war when America finaly leaves.
It matters not a JOT if the “whole lot of troops” come from 1 country, or 3 countries or 12 countries. It all boils down to what the people decide. They helped decide they wanted Sadam after all. Yes they probably regreted that but did they vote for American occupation?
The defeat of Sadam will EVENTUALLY be good for Iraqi people. It has also CREATED a shitload of terrorists. There can be NO doubt in that.
Mr [Smirky-Face] Bush is NEVER going to win fans outside of America.
Oh BTW! I just loathe him…I have NO idea how to operate explosives!
…its not OUR fault there isn’t a whole lot of troops in an international coalition. I’m sure that New Zealand would be more than glad to go back to Iraq-I know that I would, under certain conditions. But when the US strategy seems to be designed to bolster the ranks of the Iraqi insurgents, why would we? If they end up having to stay in their compound for months on end because it was unsafe to otherwise, why would we? Tell me, beyond your strategy of “getting more troops from an international coalition”, how is this supposed to help? Our rules of engagement are different. We would have a different patrolling phillosophy. How do you suggest the influx of troops will help solve the situation? Who would they report to?
…oh, and Goodnight calm kiwi, good night Uzi, gotta get some sleep, big function tomorrow, and I have some banqueting to do!
And Ice Wolf, World Eater, and Bites When Provoked, thanks for the compliments… 
Night Night.
I believe my compliments were implied 
I think I said it was your perogative to say whatever you please. But if enough of you say one thing and your government says another, I wouldn’t put to much faith in what a representative of said government was saying. Why would I if the overwhelming mood of the country is against your position? I can only speak for what I have observed in Canada. I can understand why the US wouldn’t bother to listen to us after the way we beak off no matter what our political masters may say (actually some of them do say the same thing as their constituents. Probably helps in all sorts of ways when you are trying to settle trade talks, but if it makes someone feel better that is all that counts, I guess).
I don’t know what this means. I don’t think I have heard much talk about how joyful it is that a newly found democracy has arisen in Iraq. All I hear is how evil the US, or GW, is for allowing that new found democracy in Iraq to occur in the first place. I guess it never occurs to them that some democracies come about at the point of a sword. It seems that if the Iraqis themselves had chosen to wield that sword then everything would be kosher. It is only when someone else does it for them that people seem to get upset about it.
:: hangs head in shame ::
…and ** calm kiwi **!
…and its 0130 in the morning, off to bed with you as well! I hardly ever post this much! Must be that Kiwi spirit thing…
Night!
[QUOTE=Uzi]
I think I said it was your perogative to say whatever you please. But if enough of you say one thing and your government says another, I wouldn’t put to much faith in what a representative of said government was saying. Why would I if the overwhelming mood of the country is against your position?
[QUOTE]
See yet another reason to come from NZ. The people and the govt had the same opinion re: Iraq. The people ranted and raved…but the govt beat them to it. We were part of the Non willing coalition. I guess when the overwhelming decision of a country makes a decision…Ummmm well maybe that makes them democratic???
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