# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/41 "2005-08-13T20:32:51Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Carlson’s got a bit of a caustic sense of humor and he’s not somebody I’d usually put in the batshit crazy category of conservative. My guess was that he was amusing himself with a little bit of trollery. Does he not realise that people will take him seriously, or not care? People will embrace this opinion as their own, now! _in the world according to “that bowtie boy so smart even the liberals on PBS gave him a show”:_ 1. Nuke testing=good 2. Anti-nuke protesting, therefore=ungood 3. Peaceful protest=terrorism 4. Murder & arson of protestors=heroic! I … may … vomit. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/42 "2005-08-13T20:35:25Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > **Biffy** , I kind of agree with you that it isn’t “funny”, but rather only slightly humorous. What would have been funny would be let them into the area and then go ahead with the test anyway. > > That would have put them at the front of the line for a Darwin Award. Nah. It would have made them martyrs. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/43 "2005-08-13T20:43:35Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Because Fernando was aboard a ship that was the declared vehicle for criminal acts. > … > Of course it was. France wanted its agents back. And in your world, the difference between “agent” & “criminal” is merely & only the orders of a state? To claim that state power legitimizes an act by virtue of state power is less legal theory than lawless autocracy. ---
**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, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/44 "2005-08-13T20:48:57Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > I didn’t say I found terrorism funny,\*\* Ice Wolf\*\*. > 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. The _Rainbow Warrior_ crew were going to sink a French warship? They were going to destroy equipment, damage something that belonged to another country, take lives? No, they were not. They were going to embarrass the French, and publicise their views on nuclear tests in the Pacific. Still comes down to covert action against a protest against nuclear tests. And it is still terrorism, and it took lives. Just because it was “state sponsored”, as we’ve found out in the years since, doesn’t make it any less of a degree than that. Not funny, **HSHP**. I’m a Kiwi wondering how you can get your jollies at the thought of things being blown up and people dying. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/45 "2005-08-13T20:50:35Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > 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. > > 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. National interests != national security. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/46 "2005-08-13T20:59:40Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > 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: The terrorists were Greenpeace. France was fighting the terrorists. New Zealand was the one harboring the terrorists. ---
**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, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/47 "2005-08-13T21:06:08Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > The terrorists were Greenpeace. France was fighting the terrorists. New Zealand was the one harboring the terrorists. Woah – broad definition of “terror” there, **Unregistered Bull**. How were they causing terror? ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/48 "2005-08-13T21:08:43Z")
In some of the same manner that ALF or ELF does. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/49 "2005-08-13T21:10:30Z")
Sailing in international waters is not terrorism in any sense of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/50 "2005-08-13T21:18:09Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > Sailing in international waters is not terrorism in any sense of the word. Their intended actions were not that of sailing. They interfere causing danger. Their terrorists. I know that fellow enviromental extremists or animal rightist don’t care about such actions and/or agree with such actions. But others obviously care and/or disagree about those actions as France did in this case. ---
**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, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/51 "2005-08-13T21:18:28Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > In some of the same manner that ALF or ELF does. As **zagloba** just said – they intended sailing in international waters. Highlighting something they were protesting about. Not breaking into places, not causing damage, not taking lives. Man oh man, I bet you have a royal fit whenever there are picketing protests in your neighbourhood … ---
**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, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/52 "2005-08-13T21:21:49Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > Their intended actions were not that of sailing. They interfere causing danger. Their terrorists. I know that fellow enviromental extremists or animal rightist don’t care about such actions and/or agree with such actions. But others obviously care and/or disagree about those actions as France did in this case. Let’s see – the French felt that the crew would cause danger (to themselves as the crew on a ship near the tests?) and so, out of goodwill, they decided to prevent the danger by blowing up the ship, covertly, in a friendly country and then deny everything (surely they would have expected pats on the back for their quick-thinking in saving lives! Oh, wait, they _didn’t_ save lives …) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/53 "2005-08-13T21:24:47Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > As **zagloba** just said – they intended sailing in international waters. Highlighting something they were protesting about. Not breaking into places, not causing damage, not taking lives. > > Man oh man, I bet you have a royal fit whenever there are picketing protests in your neighbourhood … They didn’t announce their intention to sail into the middle of a secured nuclear test site? ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/54 "2005-08-13T21:26:36Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > Let’s see – the French felt that the crew would cause danger (to themselves as the crew on a ship near the tests?) and so, out of goodwill, they decided to prevent the danger by blowing up the ship, covertly, in a friendly country and then deny everything (surely they would have expected pats on the back for their quick-thinking in saving lives! Oh, wait, they _didn’t_ save lives …) :rolleyes: They could have sunk it in open waters. ---
**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, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/55 "2005-08-13T21:33:55Z")
So okay, if anyone’s planning a protest within a few miles of **Unregistered Bull** , take note – he doesn’t like that, and he’ll call you a terrorist. Pays to know these things beforehand. ---
**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 13, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/56 "2005-08-13T21:37:53Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Nah. It would have made them martyrs. But it still would have been funny. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/57 "2005-08-13T21:40:42Z")
You do not kill someone and destroy private property outside of wartime for a stated intention. You board their unarmed vessel and arrest them when they violate the military zone, not before they commit a criminal act. The mining of the _Rainbow Warrior_ and the concomitant destruction of life were acts of murder at best and state-backed terrorism at worst. I lean toward the latter. If you think otherwise, you are an utter fool. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/58 "2005-08-13T21:42:48Z")
that’s not what they were intending on doing. It would be more like if you to trespass and physically stop, due to your presence, a secured an expensive, dangerous, and necessary military operation, then be prepared for being treated accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/59 "2005-08-13T21:49:01Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > You do not kill someone and destroy private property outside of wartime for a stated intention. You board their unarmed vessel and arrest them when they violate the military zone, not before they commit a criminal act. The mining of the _Rainbow Warrior_ and the concomitant destruction of life were acts of murder at best and state-backed terrorism at worst. I lean toward the latter. > > If you think otherwise, you are an utter fool. That has been a fairly SOP for terrorists now and prior to 9/11. ---
**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 13, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672/60 "2005-08-13T21:49:39Z")
I’m sorry but,…wait, I’m not sorry. The main point here should be, If you don’t cause any shit, then there won’t be any shit. Upon preview: Cool. **Ogre** thinks me a fool. Oh well. Life goes on…for those of us not stupid enough to be on that boat, that had proclaimed it’s intentions to go where it shouldn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-loves-france-_because_-they-bombed-greenpeace/316672.md?page=4)