# Why do liberals hate these countries so much they pretend they don't exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 15, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068 "2003-12-15T05:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/121 "2003-12-16T04:37:23Z")
> [@](#): > > ## Originally posted by **Coldfire** : Hell, the Belgians sent a submarine containing 200 paratroopers. > > Originally posted by **GMRyujin** : > Tragically, all were killed when the screen door opened… A 35 cent child-proof safety lock would have saved them all. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/122 "2003-12-16T05:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by **Ale** \* > However, our Minister for Foreign Affairs is known to have some deeply engraved ideals about eh UN (and man, I do respect him so much for that) and firmly oposed the position of the USA without a security council approval, came wind or high water (that´s how the saying goes?) Our own Foreign Minister at the time, in an unexpected and totally out-of-character attack of common sense and decency, quit before signing the agreement to send our troops to Iraq. My utmost admiration for you guys. Once the politicians’ balls embargo ends here we know where from to import some. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/123 "2003-12-16T05:31:58Z")
Not the brains. Do _not_ import the brains. I can’t emphasize this enough. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/124 "2003-12-16T05:37:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Ale_ > However, our Minister for Foreign Affairs is known to have some deeply engraved ideals about eh UN (and man, I do respect him so much for that) and firmly oposed the position of the USA without a security council approval, came wind or high water (that´s how the saying goes?) Since you asked, the phrase is “come Hell or high water.” And you’re not the only one who thinks “Coalition of the Willing” sounds stupid. I don’t know how involved Bush is in planning the various things his administration gets up to, but it sure sounds like he has a hand in naming them. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/125 "2003-12-16T06:22:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Not the brains. Do _not_ import the brains. I can’t emphasize this enough. \*\* Who´s brains and from where are them imported? For my part I´ll just say that my country is very well known for the quality of the meat it exports; rumiant meat that is; we also export plane-loads of homo-sapiens, wich usually carry their brains with them. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/126 "2003-12-16T06:28:30Z")
Ooops… By the way, Miller, thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/127 "2003-12-16T15:04:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*A 35 cent child-proof safety lock would have saved them all. \*\* They tried those, but everyone got stuck inside. It was deemed far better (and safer) to bribe future opponents with their superior force multipliers of Belgian chocolate and beer. All future Belgian invasions are now welcome. Unfortunately, invaded countries face serious per capita weight gain. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/128 "2003-12-16T15:30:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > This is very embarrassing, in a very odd sort of way, **Mighty\_Girl**. Until you told us, I hadn’t the slightest idea that any soldiers from the Dominican Republic were in harm’s way. Nor I. It seems to have had zero mention in the US mass media. > [@](#): > > Considering your peoples past history with the US, if you look upon us with generosity, it says far more for your character than it does for ours. She did say they were broke. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/129 "2003-12-16T15:50:04Z")
Hey, **Hyrdophobia** fans! Brand new pit thread for our favorite half-fuckwit! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/130 "2003-12-16T16:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*And might we take that to the extreme – suppose Canada elects a majority of NDP MPs – should we not “save them from socialism”? \*\* Hey hey _hey._ ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/131 "2003-12-16T19:27:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*Hey hey _hey._ \*\* It’s Faaaaaat Alberta! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/132 "2003-12-16T19:51:25Z")
And Saddam’s gonna sing a song for you And this is gonna show you a thing or two You’ll have some fun now with me and the war Learning each willing nation had petty reasons so far Na, na, na Gonna have to ignore it! (the right winger) Na, na, na Gonna have to ignore it! (the right winger) Hey, hey, hey! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/133 "2003-12-16T22:30:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mighty\_Girl \* > \*\ ***The Long Road** > > Hmm, let’s see. It comes with a price dear. Be sure that our big brother to the north has never, ever, given us anything without something in exchange. > > Obviously HRM Bush II thought that 300 young men and indebtness for years to come is good enough. \*\* So the United States should just give other nations money without strings attached? The US is some now the world’s welfare office, handing out checks to every country which ran up debt and can’t pay it off? **Fuck That**! There are American poor and homeless who deserve that money much more than countries who feel the United States is some Santa Claus riding around dropping off boxes of cash. Anyone not happy with the terms and conditions attached to the money should immediately send the money back so they are not burdened with any sort of agreement to the evil United States. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/134 "2003-12-16T22:47:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > Anyone not happy with the terms and conditions attached to the money should immediately send the money back so they are not burdened with any sort of agreement to the evil United States. Sir, Yes Sir, May I Have Another Sir! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/135 "2003-12-16T23:08:42Z")
Furthermore, I think that we should withold all financial support for countries that don;t go along with our roadmaps for peace. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/136 "2003-12-16T23:33:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*So the United States should just give other nations money without strings attached? The US is some now the world’s welfare office, handing out checks to every country which ran up debt and can’t pay it off? **Fuck That**! There are American poor and homeless who deserve that money much more than countries who feel the United States is some Santa Claus riding around dropping off boxes of cash. Anyone not happy with the terms and conditions attached to the money should immediately send the money back so they are not burdened with any sort of agreement to the evil United States. \*\* What the fuck exactly are you arguing for? Do you want me to disagree with you? Fuck no! Yes, yes, money comes with strings attached, in the form of steep payments and, as of the new order of things, the flesh and blood of some of our finest young men. No disagreement from me here. It is our FUCKING fault that we (“we” as not the majority but a big chunk of the Dominicans) voted in a moron. Yes, we’ll pay through our asses the folly of electing a headless chicken. Now, the argument as presented in the OP is that this group of countries did go to Iraq out of the goodness of their heart and their burning desire to set Iraq free (mind you the majority of Dominicans have no frigging idea where Iraq is). But it isn’t so. We were bribed and threatened. Did we get into this position ourselves? Yes. But don’t fucking pretend that we cared for your fucking war. We don’t. Well, yes. We do. We think it stinks. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/137 "2003-12-17T00:31:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Heh, I looked up Eritrea since I never heard of it before, and apparently their big battles have been casting off the mighty military oppression of _Ethiopa_… \*\* Not realy funny. The war between Eritrea and Ethiopa has been a really nasty and bloody one. Not to mention one of the most stupid war fought during the last decades. Think about a little scale WWI. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/138 "2003-12-17T00:43:17Z")
As usual, I should have read the whole thread before posting. The post I had an issue with had been already dealt with. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/139 "2003-12-17T02:20:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mighty\_Girl \* > \*\*We were bribed and threatened. Did we get into this position ourselves? Yes. But don’t fucking pretend that we cared for your fucking war. We don’t. > . \*\* What exactly are you talking about? Who threatened you and what was threatened? Did GB say he was going to invade your country if it didn’t support the war? So we are both in agreement that your country doesn’t support the war in Iraq and should not receive money from the United States? Sounds good to me. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068/140 "2003-12-17T05:00:08Z")
I don’t think the threat has to reach the absurd level you are saying **The Long Road**. Frankly, you are making a fool of yourself by discussing that way, I do agree with **Mighty\_Girl**. I still can not see what you are complaining about, countries do receive money for many other reasons. Offering soldiers for the war is just one bargain chip the small countries will use later to negotiate for other concessions (including loans). Support for the war is not the main reason, however, your conclusion is also dumb: many other nations did not support the war and they will still get aid (a reduced amount in many cases, as I see in a previous post) The nations in the “Coalition of the willing” have no fear of invasion, but only a very naïve person would think threatening to stop aid is not pressure tactic. For other nations, there are IMO lots of military enticements to send troops. Many of those coalition nations have reactionary governments, and I see their support as a back channel to get weapons that will be used elsewhere after leaving Iraq. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-these-countries-so-much-they-pretend-they-dont-exist/219068.md?page=8)