Anyone else up watching things unfold?

Bear bored us all completely to death with wittery prose along the
lines of:

Not just the Chinese, IMO. The Americans will have big problems if they
think that the whole world will adapt to the American way. If they try
to force the issue, then I'd hate to think what will happen.

 

On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 21:36:10 +0000,

Possibly. The other interpretation is the "engines feel at their best
just before they blow up" / "it's coldest just before dawn" metaphor.

 

There's a story told about Lloyd George, whose oratory was immensely
powerful. He was invited soon after WW1 to Llandewi Breffi [or wherever!]
to speak to the area's assembled women's groups on the subject of
temperance - this was while the US was going through Prohibition, of course.
He gave an impassioned speech for about an hour, and at the end of it he was
besieged by damp-knickered fans. One was especially insistent to have his
notes to treasure for eternity as a memento of this most stirring and
uplifting occasion. LG demurred for as long as was polite, but eventually
gave up and handed over his notes which said merely "Too many pubs".

 

The value of the dollar is about to plummet. Which is a sure sign that
they are about to start throwing their weight about. 15 Years ago at a
speech I asked Ted Heath what he though the Merkin's would do with their
military capability at the point when their economy imploded. He did a lot
of prevaricating but I think the point was made.

 

It will be fine; Bush's best friend, God, will simply smite anybody who is
evil enough to resist.

Have you people got no grasp of international politics?


--
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Kawasaki ZX-6R J1
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
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The speccy Geordie twat.

 

AndrewR bored us all completely to death with wittery prose along the
lines of:

<fx: clicks fingers>

Damn, I knew I forgot something.

 

Aren't they flowers that nobody notices?

 

Isn't that the latin plural? A collective insult perhaps.

 

Elvis takes his orders from John Dillinger, holed up in his bunker under
Deally Plaza.

 

I thought Dimbowibble's documentary about the War on terror the other night
was pretty good.

 

Oh, yes, I agree entirely. Whether or not you are a supporter or an
apologist for the British Empire, though (and I could good-naturedly
argue that one for hours[1]) does not alter the fact that Britain *was*
a superpower; the only superpower, like the US is now.

And anyone who says otherwise is simply ignorant.

[1] The Empire had its darker side. It's also important to separate
"colonialism" from "imperialism". I think there's a distinction to be
made. On balance, I think the Empire bestowed more good than evil upon
its subjects, but I wouldn't slag off anybody who argues the opposite.

 

Oh, yes, I agree entirely. Whether or not you are a supporter or an
apologist for the British Empire, though (and I could good-naturedly
argue that one for hours[1]) does not alter the fact that Britain *was*
a superpower; the only superpower, like the US is now.

And anyone who says otherwise is simply ignorant.

[1] The Empire had its darker side. It's also important to separate
"colonialism" from "imperialism". I think there's a distinction to be
made. On balance, I think the Empire bestowed more good than evil upon
its subjects, but I wouldn't slag off anybody who argues the opposite.

 

Oh, yes, I agree entirely. Whether or not you are a supporter or an
apologist for the British Empire, though (and I could good-naturedly
argue that one for hours[1]) does not alter the fact that Britain *was*
a superpower; the only superpower, like the US is now.

And anyone who says otherwise is simply ignorant.

[1] The Empire had its darker side. It's also important to separate
"colonialism" from "imperialism". I think there's a distinction to be
made. On balance, I think the Empire bestowed more good than evil upon
its subjects, but I wouldn't slag off anybody who argues the opposite.

 

TOG@toil, , <>
wrote in

You can't bludgeon us into agreeing by constant repetition you know

 

Come on, Des, be halfway sensible. An online, 21st century dictionary is
obviously going to frame a definitions in the context of its time. Although
the word 'superpower' was not current in either 1st century Latin or 19th
century English, that doesn't stop it being entirely reasonable to use the
term analogously in the context of Rome or Victorian Britain. Both 16th
century Spain and 17th century France were the principal powers in their
time, but neither had the dominant position of Rome or Britain in theirs -
or the USA right now. That being said, Britain really fucked up in the
Crimean War and was bailed out by France. Where the hell does the phrase
'gunboat diplomacy' originate but in Palmerston's use of force to dominate
allies and client states while he was Foreign Secretary.

 


Heh. I'm still right.....

 

Toby Augh-Nottoby wrote:

This is precisely the point.

Actually, I was thinking more about whether ancient Rome qualified for
superpower status or not. Originally I didn't think so, because its
influence was geographically limited. But certainly, within the context
of Europe/near Asia/North Africa, yes.

I was also pondering sweller's reckoning that the US would implode (or
words to that effect) within 30 years. Sorry, sweller, can't reply in
thread because using this Google Beta is PITA when it comes to
threading, but....

....I dunno. I think longer than that. If only because when people have
forecast the impending, or imminent, collapse of a system, it always
seems to have lasted longer than they thought.

The Commies reckoned that capitalism would roll over and die quickly.
It didn't. People thought the Soviet system would collapse swiftly. It
didn't. I can't actually see what internal pressures would rip the US
apart, and I can't see which nations could mount a successful
challenge....

.....except China. here, I'd agree with Bear[1]. Sooner or later, the US
and China will collide.
[1] It happens more often than you might think....

 

TOG@toil, , bored us all completely to
death with wittery prose along the lines of:

Esp with the Taiwanese subject...

 

Well partially right as usual

Lets have one of those good natured debates that goes on for hours when we
meet. I can't be arsed typing it all out.

One quick point though as I can't resist. Britain was certainly foremost
among European powers as a colonial force, but it had already had it's
arse kicked out of America in back in 1776 or thereabouts. The Merkins
didn't really need to flex their muscles internationally at that time, as
they had lots of natural resources to exploit and an indiginous population
to wipe out.