Hard News: The Wellington Cables
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I believe the phrase American imperialism was coined back then, yes. I still have the literature.
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BenWilson, in reply to
Wikipedia was mentioned, but it was a clear typo, and acknowledged as such nearly immediately by the author.
To be honest, most Americans I know would likely agree although I know they're unusual in large parts of their homeland.
There's also large parts where they feel much the same as we do, angry about their elites, and powerless. This was a part of Obama's landslide, although now that he hasn't saved the world, I think the sense of powerlessness has deepened.
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Clint Fern, in reply to
The idea that the Bush administration was the instigator of all that is bad with US interventions is laughable. Central America in the 80s springs to mind as a precursor of the techniques used in Iraq. It certainly isn't just a republican problem either, it was the Carter administration that first started funding what became the Taliban and the Kosovo conflict, aka the war of Bills Penis, saw an early use of uranium depleted shells.
Of course the US is far from the only country to use these practices, we just hear about them. The UK is complicit in most of the recent conflicts and previous to that was involved in a number of post WWII incidents (e.g. Kenya, Malaya).
I would doubt that Russia observed niceties when it rolled into Chechnya or Georgia. Simple fact is war is always dirty whoever is fighting, which in recent times is very often the US.
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
You know, I believe the Vietnam War was a bit controversial back in the day.
On the occasion of LBJ's visit to parliament I was punched from behind, just once, in the ribs, by a silent gentleman of middle-aged cow-cocky appearance. The sight of a spotty adolescent carrying a sign that read simply PEACE was presumably too much for his patriotic sensibilities.
That didn't prevent me from borrowing Leadbelly and Harry Partch albums from the Wellington US Information Service. It was free, you could take them home like library books, and they seemed so pleased that someone was even interested.
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I believe the phrase American imperialism was coined back then, yes. I still have the literature.
I thought it originated during the late 19th century. How old are you exactly?
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The sight of a spotty adolescent carrying a sign that read simply PEACE was presumably too much for his patriotic sensibilities.
That, plus he could be pretty sure you weren't going to fight back.
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BenWilson, in reply to
That, plus he could be pretty sure you weren't going to fight back.
Could have been a test.
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Che Tibby, in reply to
Could have been a test.
i think Joe is lucky he didn't try AI him. damn cow-cockies.
@RB. i get that USA does a lot of good things. the trouble is the perception they like to sell of themselves - the one where they could all be crew off USS Enterprise, saving the universe and all that. and that people continuously buy that shit.
when in fact, as wikileaks is showing us, they're just the same as everyone else.
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i get that USA does a lot of good things.
The USA. It’s no Luxembourg.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
@RB. i get that USA does a lot of good things. the trouble is the perception they like to sell of themselves – the one where they could all be crew off USS Enterprise, saving the universe and all that. and that people continuously buy that shit.
Oh, sure. But the contention was that they do nothing good in the world, which
is false. -
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This is so laughably far from the real-world effects of the Fulbright programme - both in terms of participants' views and careers - that I'm going stick with amusement.
And this is why I disagree with I/S. I'm not a recent or close student of US foreign policy but generally agree with the failures identified in this thread. However, that doesn't mean every US Diplomat or diplomatic endeavour is corrupt and any personal engagement necessarily taits you.
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Che Tibby, in reply to
But the contention was that they do nothing good in the world, which is false
accepted. also goes a long way to explaining the scholarship programs IMHO - buying positive press.
worked for me, if i'd not been an exchange student there i'd probably freaking hate the place.
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Again, no other states approach this level of commitment.
Say what? In terms of %tage of GDP other states make far bigger contributions. You should know that Russell.
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and for the record, I don't buy the "US does nothing good in this world" line. Does lots wrong, but so do we all, at individual and state level.
What we have these days is far more opportunity to identify and push back against wrongness, WikiLeaks is part of that opportunity. We need to make use of these times before they disappear.
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A minor threadjack to report that Giovanni, in his scarlet and black doctoral robes, cut a dashing figure in the graduates' parade down Lambton Quay just now.
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A minor threadjack to report that Giovanni, in his scarlet and black doctoral robes, cut a dashing figure in the graduates' parade down Lambton Quay just now.
Nice! I'm not remotely cynical about graduations, think they're damn fine events and think anyone who's got the talent and discipline to complete a Doctorate deserves a little celebration.
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Che Tibby, in reply to
whaaaat? he getting ANOTHER one of those things.
man is a machine.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Say what? In terms of %tage of GDP other states make far bigger contributions. You should know that Russell.
No argument there. The top 5 per capita contributors to the WFP are (or were): Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden.
But the fact that nearly half of the entire budget of the World Food Programme comes from the US is quite remarkable.
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Che Tibby, in reply to
But the fact that nearly half of the entire budget of the World Food Programme comes from the US is quite remarkable.
but... they're the world's biggest economy. in 2009 they spend almost five times as much - $US16b* - subsidizing food production. money that prevents farmers like ours sending food to them, let alone the world's poorest countries.
russell, you haven't fallen asleep while any large, green "pods" sat in the garage have you?
*can't attest the accuracy of that link
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Chart tool courtesy of the OECD
US in the 09 data ranks 1 for net donations (USD28665m), rather less well for donations/GNI (0.2%)
NZ for comparison is poor on both, with USD313m and 0.29%
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
A minor threadjack to report that Giovanni, in his scarlet and black doctoral robes, cut a dashing figure in the graduates' parade down Lambton Quay just now.
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FletcherB, in reply to
I think that guy's going a little faster than the average graduate's parade (or he has very strong fingers?)
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But the fact that nearly half of the entire budget of the World Food Programme comes from the US is quite remarkable.
A cynic might comment that they need to continue subsidising their farmers...
In any event, from Wikipedia:
In July 2009, the World Food Programme reported that it has been forced to cut services because of insufficient funding.[49] It has received barely a quarter of the total it needs for the 09/10 financial year.
Which suggests other countries have been falling short?
In relation to the UN overall budget, the report from the Secretary General to the General Assembly on 18 October 2010 included this statement:
A related UN slide presentation gives a detailed breakdown of the funding shortfall of the UN, including this:
US element of shortfall in funding of the UN = US$691 millions. -
Giovanni actually completed his PhD a few years ago but never got around to graduating, and so he had to front up before they decided to take it away from him and thus delete the memory. Most people look wierd in those outfits, but he really suited it - as he's such a rennaisance man.
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