# Tucker Carlson loves France \_because\_ they bombed Greenpeace? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672 "2005-08-12T01:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/21 "2005-08-12T18:37:59Z")
> [@Biffy The Elephant Shrew](#): > > Killing people because they announced that they were going to stage a protest is funny? Fuck you. Fuck you in spades. There are no words for what a fucking imbecile you are. No, imbecile, they blew up a boat because they announced that they were gonna stage a protest which involved _moving that boat into a military zone_. People died because they were **on the boat** that was scheduled to _enter a military zone._ There might be no words for what an imbecile I am, but the words for what you are… “lacks reading comprehension skills.” If the French wanted to kill the Greenpeacers for protesting, they’d have shot them. They wanted the boat out of the picture, so they sank it. Idiots happened to be on board. You know this. Yet you want to paint the French as a government that kills those who disagree with it. They might even be that, but not in this case. Get over yourself. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/22 "2005-08-12T19:17:44Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > People died because they were **on the boat** that was scheduled to _enter a military zone._ And docked in the harbour of a peaceful nation and erstwhile ally. > [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > If the French wanted to kill the Greenpeacers for protesting, they’d have shot them. They wanted the boat out of the picture, so they sank it. Idiots happened to be on board. They used explosives and sank a boat in the middle of the night while crewman slept on board. Do I need to point out how fraught with danger that is? > [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > You know this. Yet you want to paint the French as a government that kills those who disagree with it. They might even be that, but not in this case. Clearly, in this case, this is what happened. They snuck secret agents into a friendly nation, destroyed private property and people died as a direct result. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/23 "2005-08-12T19:22:12Z")
No, the French government destroys the property of people who announce their intentions to mess with it. The French agents are guilty of manslaughter, and, by extension, so is their government. But this is not a case of “Those two people disagree with us. Silence them.” ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/24 "2005-08-12T19:25:12Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > Clearly, in this case, this is what happened. They snuck secret agents into a friendly nation, destroyed private property and people died as a direct result. Yeah, but come on. It was GREENPEACE. BFD ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/25 "2005-08-12T19:29:44Z")
Yeah, you’re right. Fuck 'em. Pinko-commie bastards. I don’t want to be seen defending Greenpeace. And that goes double for the French Government. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/26 "2005-08-12T19:35:11Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > Yeah, you’re right. Fuck 'em. Pinko-commie bastards. I don’t want to be seen defending Greenpeace. And that goes double for the French Government. That’s not what I was saying. I don’t really care enough about the subject to say that. I don’t hate Greenpeace or anything. It’s just that most of the shit they ever find themselves in is their own doing. Ehh, it gets a big ass “Who gives a fuck” from me. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/27 "2005-08-12T19:51:49Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > That’s not what I was saying. I don’t really care enough about the subject to say that. I don’t hate Greenpeace or anything. It’s just that most of the shit they ever find themselves in is their own doing. > > Ehh, it gets a big ass “Who gives a fuck” from me. Yeah, those two crew members were just \*begging \* to be murdered by the French military. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/28 "2005-08-12T19:59:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, those two crew members were just begging to be murdered by the French military. Well, announcing your intention to sail into the middle of a secured nuclear test site ain’t exactly begging to be left alone, either. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/29 "2005-08-12T20:10:22Z")
> [@Genghis Bob](#): > > Yeah, those two crew members were just \*begging \* to be murdered by the French military. I can’t quite figure out how to get my feelings across on this matter. The emoticon below I think sums it up. The emoticon is not directed at you or your comment, but rather to the topic of a couple of Greepeace guys getting blown up. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/30 "2005-08-12T21:46:35Z")
Drilling a hole in the ship so it slowly sank in harbour would’ve been more comical and less fatal. ---
**Author:** ![Barely\_Adequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barely\_Adequate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barely_Adequate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/31 "2005-08-12T22:47:28Z")
**Sam Stone:** _“…Plus, the bowtie sucks.”_ Tucker is just a Tom Olyphant wannabe… and a work-in-progress. Give him another 10-15 years to mature and develop sound critical-thinking skills. You perhaps thought he was Margaret Carlson’s little brother? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/32 "2005-08-13T02:02:04Z")
I don’t think that’s particularly funny, but you know what I think _would_ be funny? When the money hungry jerks on camera are pushing the cops on COPS, hoping to get beaten and get a big payoff, if instead of multiple nice requests to please get up, if two or three MORE cops surround the guy and beat him with sticks until he’s in a bloody pulp. THAT would be funny. Sure, that happens sometimes without the cameras rolling, but I’d say ironically enough that the cops aren’t provoked as much in those situations as much as they just want to beat someone up. It’d be funny to see a gold-digging hoodlum get his. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/33 "2005-08-13T04:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, announcing your intention to sail into the middle of a secured nuclear test site ain’t exactly begging to be left alone, either. No, it’s begging to be taken into custody **after you actually break a law**. How about if they hadn’t sunk the boat, just snuck aboard and shot the crewmen in the head with silenced pistols? Still funny, asshole? ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/34 "2005-08-13T04:37:21Z")
Tucker Carlson is a dick. That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/35 "2005-08-13T09:29:41Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > I hate to do this. > > And I don’t want anyone to think that I side with Carlson on ANYTHING. > But liking France for bombing Greenpeace is, indeed, funny. …former Prime Minister the Rt Hon David Lange called the Rainbow Warrior incident as“a sordid act of international state-backed terrorism”. Fernando Pereira, a 35 year old Dutch Photographer, was not killed in the initial explosion, but was trapped underwater and drowned. In the wake of the bombing, New Zealand was subjected to trade sanctions, causing huge damage to our primary export industries. So please explain, how is terrorism resulting in death funny? Did you laugh when the twin towers came down? > [@](#): > > Greenpeace makes a point of inserting itself and its people into situations where they could be harmed or killed unless the perpetrator of whatever “vile act” they’re protesting ceases their commission of the act, regardless of the danger to themselves. In 1973, then Prime Minister of New Zealand Rt Hon Norman Kirk sent the naval frigate NZHMS Otago as a protest at French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll. It penetrated the 60 mile exclusion zone, and at 35 kilometres, observed the explosion of an open air nuclear bomb. The threat to the people of the Pacific and the surrounding envirionment was so strong that even nations were using the “tactics” of Greenpeace to bring world attention to what was going on at Mururoa. > [@](#): > > Moving a rowboat between a whaler and a whale is idiotic. Yet Greenpeace does it, expecting its tactics to work because no one would possibly do anything to them. They believe that they have taken the position beyond which no one will go, and trust their judgment in that matter to be their armor. You are apparently ignorant of the history of nuclear testing in the Pacific region. Have you ever heard of Rongelap Atoll? Operation Exodus? I am no great fan of Greenpeace, but without many of their actions, nuclear testing may still be going on in our backyard, or the people of Rongalap may not have been relocated. The movement wasn’t all about using the tactics you talk about, you know. > [@](#): > > And France slapped them. HARD. At first, after the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, the French Government had the gall to condemm the bombers-pretending they weren’t involved. It was only after some smart detective work by our police forces, sloppy work by the French Secret Service, and an article in the French paper Le Monde that it was actually revealed that France was involved. The French were too cowardly to even admit they were involved-how is this slapping Greenpeace down? They blew up the ship and ran away… > [@](#): > > Why do you think those PETA idiots only pour paint on the fur coats of women and effete celebrities? Because they believe that the extremity of their actions precludes more extreme behavior on the part of their targets. Let’s see them try that with Vin Deisel. I’m sure you could easily point to a few superficial simularities between PETA and Greenpeace, but be honest-the two organisations are not comparable. > [@](#): > > If Vin chased the guy down and pounded the crap out of him, that’d be FUNNY. If Vin had chased the guy down, pounded the crap out of him, that would be assault. If Vin had then killed him, that would be murder. For some reason, you think murder is funny? Only two people were ever convicted in relation to the bombing, and thanks to sanctions and an apathetic international community, they only served two years before being spirited off to French territories. > [@](#): > > And French agents affixing mines to the hull of a ship that had declared its intentions to violate a secure area is wise, and FUNNY when it happens to be shrill-betty Greenpeace as the target. The attack on the Rainbow Warrior was not just an attack on Greenpeace, it was an attack on New Zealand’s sovereignty by an allied nation. It was a defining moment in our country-it reinforced our resolve with our anti-nuclear policy, and reminded us who our “real” friends in the world were. > [@](#): > > As for the two deaths, that is regrettable, but I can’t see them sitting there trying to explain things to Saint Peter. Again, plain ignorance. Two deaths? You seem so sure of your assertions, yet you get the basic facts of the bombing wrong. Maybe before you make your half-assed comments you would want to do a little research? How can you think this is funny? > [@](#): > > “Well, we were aboard a freighter, right? And we were… we announced that we were gonna sail it into a militarily-secured nuclear test site? And we were gonna sit there and then… y’know… dare them to continue? Then, right as we were about to get underway? There was this kaboom?” _The last moments of the Rainbow Warrior_ > [@](#): > > Peter Willcox was asleep when the first explosion happened. At first he thought they had been in a collision at sea, but then he realised they were in harbour. But he knew something was wrong - the sound of the generator had disappeared and water was rushing in. He remembers the horror of trying to make sure everyone was off the boat and then the dreadful moment when they realised that one crew member - the photographer, Fernando Pereira - was still on board. It later emerged that he had gone back to get his cameras, and had been caught in his cabin by the rising water. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/reunion/reunion8.shtml](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/reunion/reunion8.shtml) Kaboom! A laugh a minute, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/36 "2005-08-13T11:57:15Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > No, it’s begging to be taken into custody after you actually break a law. How about if they hadn’t sunk the boat, just snuck aboard and shot the crewmen in the head with silenced pistols? Still funny, asshole? No, asshole, the distinction was already drawn between shooting the participants and disabling their ship. Or hadn’t you read the thread? > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > …former Prime Minister the Rt Hon David Lange called the Rainbow Warrior incident as“a sordid act of international state-backed terrorism”. Of course the NZ Prime Minister called it that. I would expect no less of a leader whose territory had been the staging ground for such an operation. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > Fernando Pereira, a 35 year old Dutch Photographer, was not killed in the initial explosion, but was trapped underwater and drowned. Because Fernando was aboard a ship that was the declared vehicle for criminal acts. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > In the wake of the bombing, New Zealand was subjected to trade sanctions, causing huge damage to our primary export industries. Of course it was. France wanted its agents back. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > So please explain, how is terrorism resulting in death funny? Did you laugh when the twin towers came down? I’m sorry… what? To compare those two would be laughable if it didn’t show the depths of your ignorance and jingoism. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were buildings which housed thousands of people, none of whom had ever stated the intention of moving those buildings into the territory of al-Qaida. There was no one in those buildings who had comitted a crime against their attackers or had announced their intentions to do so. You’re trying so hard to win an argument that your reason has abandoned you along with your sense. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > In 1973, then Prime Minister of New Zealand Rt Hon Norman Kirk sent the naval frigate NZHMS Otago as a protest at French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll. It penetrated the 60 mile exclusion zone, and at 35 kilometres, observed the explosion of an open air nuclear bomb. The threat to the people of the Pacific and the surrounding envirionment was so strong that even nations were using the “tactics” of Greenpeace to bring world attention to what was going on at Mururoa. Wait, so what you’re saying is that, _before_ the sinking of the _Rainbow Warrior_, New Zealand… **entered an allied nation’s sovereign territory and comitted a criminal act?** Wow. There goes your moral high ground. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > At first, after the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, the French Government had the gall to condemm the bombers-pretending they weren’t involved. It was only after some smart detective work by our police forces, sloppy work by the French Secret Service, and an article in the French paper Le Monde that it was actually revealed that France was involved. The French were too cowardly to even admit they were involved-how is this slapping Greenpeace down? They blew up the ship and ran away… Plausible deniability and all that. Name a nation that does not do this. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > I’m sure you could easily point to a few superficial simularities between PETA and Greenpeace, but be honest-the two organisations are not comparable. I make no effort to compare the two- I use the paint-pouring example only as a means to illustrate the use of extreme action as a defense against retaliation. But be honest- you knew that. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > If Vin had chased the guy down, pounded the crap out of him, that would be assault. If Vin had then killed him, that would be murder. For some reason, you think murder is funny? Only two people were ever convicted in relation to the bombing, and thanks to sanctions and an apathetic international community, they only served two years before being spirited off to French territories. Our hypothetical Vin might have an affirmative defense against an assault charge, and that same defense would nail him for manslaughter,l if anything, same as what the French agents were convicted of. And to pretend that New Zealand would do otherwise in defense of its sheep-brains exports is disingenuous. > [@Banquet Bear](#): > > Again, plain ignorance. Two deaths? You seem so sure of your assertions, yet you get the basic facts of the bombing wrong. Maybe before you make your half-assed comments you would want to do a little research? How can you think this is funny? Oh, I did my research. Used these sites: [Greenpeace NZ’s account](http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/about/rainbow-warrior.asp) Local timeline of the bombing And, at the end of the day, I think it is funny because it is always refreshing to see people who think their extremisim is a defense against consequences be proven wrong- the hard way. You’re still an asshole for the comparison to the WTC attacks. If you can’t see the difference in the two, then you’re either binded by misplaced national pride or just stupid, but I’m going to bet on a combination of the two. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/37 "2005-08-13T15:11:10Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > No, asshole, the distinction was already drawn between shooting the participants and disabling their ship. Or hadn’t you read the thread? > [@](#): > > Of course the NZ Prime Minister called it that. I would expect no less of a leader whose territory had been the staging ground for such an operation. You mean a terrorist operation, of course, don’t you? > [@](#): > > Because Fernando was aboard a ship that was the declared vehicle for criminal acts. Cite that this was the justification for the targeting and bombing of the Warrior? Are you telling me the penalty for protesting should be death? > [@](#): > > Of course it was. France wanted its agents back. …oh, I’m sorry, you probably thought that was funny too. The French snuck over here, blew up a ship in our waters to teach Greenpeace a lesson that “extremism is not a defense against consequences”, pretended they didn’t do it for three months, and then when found out, punished us! Tell me, say what you like about Greenpeace, but what did New Zealand do to deserve sanctions? Do you approve of just letting terrorists go? > [@](#): > > I’m sorry… what? > > To compare those two would be laughable if it didn’t show the depths of your ignorance and jingoism. The fact that you think the Rainbow Warrior bombing was “funny” shows the depth of your ignorance and your jingoism. Are we not allowed to be outraged? I have to put up with shits like you making fun of our terrorist actions on our shores? > [@](#): > > The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were buildings which housed thousands of people, none of whom had ever stated the intention of moving those buildings into the territory of al-Qaida. There was no one in those buildings who had comitted a crime against their attackers or had announced their intentions to do so. But did you laugh? > [@](#): > > You’re trying so hard to win an argument that your reason has abandoned you along with your sense. > Wait, so what you’re saying is that, _before_ the sinking of the _Rainbow Warrior_, New Zealand… **entered an allied nation’s sovereign territory and comitted a criminal act?** Wow. There goes your moral high ground. The sixty mile exclusion zone was arbitarily set up by France, had no basis in international law, and therefore broke no criminal laws. The Otago stayed out of the 12 mile limit. But hey, you did your research right? > [@](#): > > Plausible deniability and all that. Name a nation that does not do this. …hold on here a second. You contend that France blew up the Rainbow Warrior because it was a “declared vehicle for criminal acts.” Thats your justification isn’t it? Well gosh, don’t you think they should own up to it? Wasn’t it true the the Warrior wasn’t blown up because it was going to tresspass into French waters, as you constantly contend, but because of the negative publicity the Rainbow Warriro would cause on its journey? Wasn’t it more to do with stopping the Warrior stirring up pro independence movements in French Polynesia? Why did the new French Prime Minister, Michel Rocard apologise in 1991 if the bombing was a defensive, acceptable action? Whats the point in blowing up a ship for being a “declared vehicle for criminal acts” if noone knows you did it? why wait three months? Why not impound the boat when it acutally broke the law? Why not sink it outside of New Zealand territorial waters, if it was such a big threat? Why not, as **Baldwin** suggests, just shoot them in the head? Ships, by virtue of the fact that they are designed to hold **people** , are likely to have people on board. Even the IRA had the decency to phone through a warning when the blew something up (most of the time), yet in this case-the French did not. This was not, as you seem to want to characterize it, a police action-it was a criminal and terrorist one. > [@](#): > > I make no effort to compare the two- I use the paint-pouring example only as a means to illustrate the use of extreme action as a defense against retaliation. But be honest- you knew that. …and paint pouring should not mean the death penalty for the person pouring the paint, but be honest, I bet you knew that too… > [@](#): > > Our hypothetical Vin might have an affirmative defense against an assault charge, and that same defense would nail him for manslaughter,l if anything, same as what the French agents were convicted of. The agents that were convicted of manslaughter were only involved in supporting the terror cell that planted the bomb-so manslaughter was appropriate. If the terror cell with those who planted the bomb were caught-I’m sure that murder charges would have applied. And if Vin decided to come over to our country, and chase down and kill someone for throwing paint on him, he would be up for murder too. > [@](#): > > And to pretend that New Zealand would do otherwise in defense of its sheep-brains exports is disingenuous. No need to pretend: I have every confidence that my government would not resort to terrorism and murder to protect our export industry. Lovely strawman though. > [@](#): > > Oh, I did my research. Used these sites: > > [Greenpeace NZ’s account](http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/about/rainbow-warrior.asp) > > Local timeline of the bombing So you stand by your comment that two people died in the bombing? Do you have a true understanding of the events leading to the bombing, the 25 year history of French Nuclear Testing in the Pacific, and Greenpeaces role in helping getting the testing out of our backyard? You understand the problems in French Polynesia, the forced relocations of whole settlements of people, you get all of this, don’t you? > [@](#): > > And, at the end of the day, I think it is funny because it is always refreshing to see people who think their extremisim is a defense against consequences be proven wrong- the hard way. The extremism here is the fact that a nation felt so threatened by a tiny protest boat that they felt the need to blow it up and then pretend someone else did it. > [@](#): > > You’re still an asshole for the comparison to the WTC attacks. If you can’t see the difference in the two, then you’re either binded by misplaced national pride or just stupid, but I’m going to bet on a combination of the two. I’m an asshole? You are the one who thinks that Fernando’s death is funny-oh sorry, I mean _regretable_. I asked a simple question: did you laugh when the towers came down? I simply don’t find terrorism and death a funny matter-you seem to think its funny when it happens to us, but geez, mention the WTC, and look how your back gets up. How about the USS Cole? Did you laugh at that? Wasn’t it funny to see one of the worlds mightiest warships get taken out by a few guys in a boat? I’m sure you were just overcome in fits of laughter… Because I can reassure you one thing-I most definately didn’t laugh. I watched the towers come down live over here in New Zealand and I was in tears. A couple of days after 9/11 I put serious thought into quitting my job, hopping on a plane and coming over and helping with the relief effort. It was an attack on your heartland-it was scary and it was personal and it hurt. Just like you, and for millions of people around the world, we were with you. The Rainbow Warrior Bombing was an example of a clear-unambigious criminal and terrorist act. It most certainly was not funny-you could argue ironic, but you are not making that arguement. Your inability to see how much this incident affected our country makes you the jingoistic blinded by national pride, not me… ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/38 "2005-08-13T15:44:17Z")
Tucker Carlson says lots of stupid shit but he wears a bowtie so stupid people think he’s intellectual. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/39 "2005-08-13T19:28:52Z")
Just popped in to post a heart “Well done and bloody well said!” to my fellow Kiwi, **Banquet Bear**. You find terrorism funny, **HCHP**? That’s really, _really_ sad, mate. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/40 "2005-08-13T20:31:50Z")
I didn’t say I found terrorism funny,\*\* Ice Wolf\*\*. I find the idea that “activists-” private citizens can announce their intention to perform an extreme and dangerous act that threatens a nation’s security and then express outrage when that nation retaliates against them- laughable. Two New Zealanders are up in arms about this, and I can’t say I blame you. It’s certainly an affront to national pride when an allied government conducts an operation on your soil without your knowledge. You should know- you did it to France. But France felt its national interests were threatened, and rightly so- and it took steps to eliminate the threat. If US agents had sank the boat that was planning to blow up the USS Cole, sending one of those Yemenis to the bottom, would you champion the Yemeni government if it asked for the heads of those agenst on a silver platter? I bet you would. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672.md?page=3)