<!--QuoteBegin--Legionnaired+Nov 7 2003, 12:04 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Legionnaired @ Nov 7 2003, 12:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> the literacy level is so low in places like the middle east that it is very, very easy for someone to be convinced to do something like that for the good name of the faith. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I'm going to jump in from here. Do you mean by literacy level the % of how many people can read? People aren't <i>that</i> poor and uneducated in Mid-east as you have been informed.
From CIA worldfactbook
Iraq: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.4% male: 55.9% female: 24.4% (2003 est.)
Iran: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 85.6% female: 73% (2003 est.)
Syria: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.9% male: 89.7% female: 64% (2003 est.)
80% of the total population doesn't seem that bad. Closing on USA <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--Dread+Nov 6 2003, 06:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dread @ Nov 6 2003, 06:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 80% of the total population doesn't seem that bad. Closing on USA <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> <a href='http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html#People' target='_blank'>http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo.../us.html#People</a>
USA Literacy - total population: 97% . Plenty enough to get us on the moon. What have your hilarious elk hunters done for the world lately? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
OPEC. Too internally divided to form a real force. Furthermore, its stakes in the world energy suply have fallen since the seventies. I myself would go for China - not because it is in itself a major expansionistic power, but I doubt that it will be able to continue to control the outlying areas. Internet and other media, the old regime unwilling to start any real democracy. I hope i'm wrong, and democracywill slow arrive in China, however.
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 6 2003, 04:42 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 6 2003, 04:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> And the best part - only two of the eleven OPEC nations are run by democratically elected officials. And (gasp!) neither one is in the mideast (Indonesia and Venezuela). What a shock!!! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> This is why it would be exceptionally good if Iraq became a democracy. Next to Saudi Arabia, Iraq has the 2nd largest oil supply in the middle east ( maybe the world... can't remember ). Not only would an Iraqi democracy present a threat to OPEC... but the attittudes and perceptions that come with such a fundamental change would have very interesting effects. Or Iraq could just not rejoin OPEC...
The majority of OPEC countries really have no power... Saudi Arabia has the power within OPEC. It has the largest supply of oil in the world. It also have the most efficient and productive oil infrastructure of the world. If it wanted to, it could flood the world's oil market and drive all the other countries out of business ( except maybe Iraq ). So I really wouldn't say OPEC is the danger... Its the one who controls OPEC that is the danger.
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 7 2003, 12:30 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 7 2003, 12:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--Dread+Nov 6 2003, 06:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dread @ Nov 6 2003, 06:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 80% of the total population doesn't seem that bad. Closing on USA <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> <a href='http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html#People' target='_blank'>http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo.../us.html#People</a>
USA Literacy - total population: 97% . Plenty enough to get us on the moon. What have your hilarious elk hunters done for the world lately? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Hmm... Finland: total population: 100% (1980 est.)
The real question is: what bad have we done for the world, ever? We like to stay undetected and neutral...like hedgehogs. Which btw rule.
Sorry Monseee! I never meant to hurt you! I never meant to make you cryyyyy... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
My point; mid-eastern people are not some uneducated barbarians. If 80% of the population can read, I say that's pretty well.
Necro<insert non-birthday-related title here>Join Date: 2002-08-09Member: 1118Members
funny i found it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
i'd consider the USA to be the most dangerous to world peace
Taking into account the general attitude in Finland, it's not really surprising that Isreal and the US were nominated. The media here often portrays Israel as the bad guy, and Palestine as the victim, because, apparently, according to the news sources here, Isreal kills a lot of civilian when retaliating, while of the Palestinians, pretty much all are just innocent and peaceful, honest.
Also, most people condemn the war in Iraq, especially now, since no weapons of mass destruction have been found. The war is "clearly illegal", and so it's easy to bash the US. A columnist was outraged at the results of the poll though, and in his opinion the questions were worded badly, or people are just unbeliavable ignorant.
I'm pretty scared of Russia these days. Khodorkovsky's arrest could potentially affect Kreml's power structure, and the delicate balance of power might be disrupted, which could lead into problems. Of course, living right next to Russia might have something to do with my opinions.
Personally, I can't really understand how a war can be legal or illegal. But that's off-topic.
<!--QuoteBegin--Necro-+Nov 7 2003, 07:08 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Necro- @ Nov 7 2003, 07:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> funny i found it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
i'd consider the USA to be the most dangerous to world peace <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> If we're defining dangers to peace as destabilising influences, I'd agree. I'm sure I've done this one before.....
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Also, most people condemn the war in Iraq, especially now, since now weapons of mass destruction have been found. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm really hoping that was a typo and "now" is supposed to be "no". Otherwise there are some gentlemen in Washington who would love to hear about these WMD that have been found <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
Actually, it's rather difficult to believe that they will *not* find any such weapons eventually. There are several hundred munitions dumps in Iraq with hundreds of thousands of <i>tons</i> of ammunition stored in them. Iraq had nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs for 30 years. It is very difficult to believe that they were all accounted for and destroyed by Iraq, if that's what Hussein tried to do. Which, we all know from his past history, is very unlikely. To think that he suddenly stopped working on such devices after his track record is to stretch naivety to a whole new level.
That's pretty OT though. I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns...
Yes, I am feeling a bit confrontational today <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . Seeing Chris Rock live in a few hours.
Chris rock has one of the funniest jokes about gun control ever.
"You don't need no gun control. You know what you need? Bullet control. I think all bullets should cost $5000. You know why? If a bullet cost $5000 there'd be no more innocent bystanders. And if you saw someone that got shot six times you know he did something real bad."
"You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named 'Bush', '****', and 'Colon.' Need I say more?"
Uhhh ok seeking revelence....the EU should never be a homogenus economic state because without the diversity that currently exists there could be a world wide depression.
Throw in my two cents for a second. I personally think the biggest real threat to the world is Russia, with their support of nuclear power in Iran, their weapons are floating around on the black market. The guy who runs the country is ex KGB, I have my doubts about him, he has that bond bad guy look about him. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> Of course their constant harassment of Eastern Europe is a major factor too. Also I notice Russia shares a border with NK, yet I never hear about Russia?s reaction to NK's behavior, ever, makes me wonder if they have anything to do with it, or don't really mind at all.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm really hoping that was a typo and "now" is supposed to be "no". <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Awwww, man. Now there's no point in changing it either, since everyone will see the typo in that quote.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I see no reason why the CIA factbook would lie about the rate of literacy in Finland. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, today's youth! Look, when I was your age...
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Confrontational, perhaps, but an interesting point of view nonetheless. In about five years or so, EU might have over 30 countries. That's a large part of Europe, although EU's influence may not grow that much along with the new members, since it already has nearly all of Europe's most rich and powerful countries. Now for some pondering.
World War I. Caused not only by economical reasons, but also caused by ideologies. At the start of the 20th century, most European nations (or, rather, the leaders) preached that war is healthy for a nation and active expansion, through war, should be encouraged. Then, four years of hell unlike ever before for that generation (and, well, really, unlike ever before for any generation in Europe). One wonders if that... incident changed Europeans so much that they nowadays just want to stay away from "other people's business", or, if a course of action is decided on, it should be through diplomatic channels. Of course, such was already attempted before World War II, and that didn't quite work out.
Now's the time for someone to abolish this so-called theory.
More importantly, are France and Germany disagreeing with US just for the sake of disagreeing?
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> That's pretty OT though. I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The EU non-intervention is fiction. For example, it does support intervention via the UN, and it has more soldiers abroad in peacekeeping missions abroad (well, I still see the US force in Iraq as a fighting, not a peacekeeping force). There is no current threat to the EU, not only because it has combined one of the larger militairy forces in the world, but also because the neighbouring countries will rather cooperate with the EU than fight it, hoping to get good economic treaties.
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 7 2003, 03:05 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 7 2003, 03:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> That's pretty OT though. I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns...
Yes, I am feeling a bit confrontational today <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . Seeing Chris Rock live in a few hours. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> So these nasty warmongering types will be unleashing armies with no UN mandate then? Gosh I really do hope they aren't the only nation to deploy nukes in wartime too! Can you see where I'm going with this, children?
Oh and MonsE...Chris Rock....? *shakes head sadly*
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 7 2003, 10:05 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 7 2003, 10:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Woo! Hooray for the nation of EU! *puts party hat on on and donces* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Now throw in some country names, or did you mean that all the EU countries are separately, the biggest threat? Obviously Finland is pretty scary nation. Oh yesss, the race of super-hedgehogs that I've breeded on my backyard shall soon, with the assistance of finnish polar bears, take over the earth and eventually I shall rule the universum here from my parents basement! Mwahahahahahaaa!
<!--QuoteBegin--Dread+Nov 10 2003, 09:25 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dread @ Nov 10 2003, 09:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 7 2003, 10:05 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 7 2003, 10:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Woo! Hooray for the nation of EU! *puts party hat on on and donces* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Now throw in some country names, or did you mean that all the EU countries are separately, the biggest threat? Obviously Finland is pretty scary nation. Oh yesss, the race of super-hedgehogs that I've breeded on my backyard shall soon, with the assistance of finnish polar bears, take over the earth and eventually I shall rule the universum here from my parents basement! Mwahahahahahaaa! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Why is all the EU's Foreign Policy suddenly based on its Colonial past?
Why do Americans seem to think that is a fundemental part of EU Policy when, to be honest, over here I don't know of anyone over here who thinks in such a way?
Not only that but when did the EU get a Foreign Policy of its own?
Prehaps when (if) the EU Constitution is passed, with its own President and, more importantly on international affairs, it has its own Foreign Secretary, who will make an EU Official Foreign Policy then one can talk about the EU's policy towards the rest of the world.
Unless of course you think the EU = France+Germany w/ a bit of everyone else thrown in but they don't really matter.
The EU may not actually have a written foreign policy... But its actions do give a hint. The individual opinions/actions of the nations that the EU is made up of also hints at the EU's foreign policy. You cannot separate the EU from the nations it consists of.
In the end... the EU DOES have a foreign policy...
<!--QuoteBegin--othell+Nov 11 2003, 12:24 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (othell @ Nov 11 2003, 12:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The EU may not actually have a written foreign policy... But its actions do give a hint. The individual opinions/actions of the nations that the EU is made up of also hints at the EU's foreign policy. You cannot separate the EU from the nations it consists of.
In the end... the EU DOES have a foreign policy... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> The EU's member states have their own foreign policy.
Take for instance the French's (illegal) banning of British Beef, or the fact that there are rules against Robert Mugabe visiting but the French still invite him in.
I mean to say that the EU is against/for something would be an over generalisation, you have to look at what the member states do and why they do it.
The individual countries have their own policies... But the EU has policies as well. They may not be as etched in stone or easily recognized... But the EU does have foreign policies.
<!--QuoteBegin--othell+Nov 11 2003, 09:17 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (othell @ Nov 11 2003, 09:17 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The individual countries have their own policies... But the EU has policies as well. They may not be as etched in stone or easily recognized... But the EU does have foreign policies. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> At this point I would like to state that EU is currently nothing more but a union based on economy. EU is supposed to make trade easier, control pollution in those countries and act as a diplomatic link between EU nations. It's not one country that has a president and army. You can't blame EU for not attacking a country or what you want. Blame some specific nations(German? France? Belgium?) but don't put blame on something that is not even meant to shake/make world peace.
It isn't easy finding european nations as biggest threat alone, is it?
I'd pretty much agree with most of the top results, actually. Pakistan, N Korea, and the US certainly all have the potential to cause a nasty ruckus. That's not crazy or prejudiced. If you can't stand to hear negative things about your country, you probably shouldn't read the news. I'm surprised China didn't make it higher, though.
As for Israel's complaints, well, they can shove it. They're obviously hell-bent on continuing the conflict. After all, they only pay lip-service to America's attempts to resolve the situation. I'm not absolving the Palestinians of guilt, because they're almost as bad. But Isreal should know better. Before you white-wash me as "anti-semitic", I'm pretty much against oppression in general. I rank Isreal's complaints up there with China's ire over seeing pro-Tibet sympathisers on an official's trip to London.
As far as the EU is concerned, I hope it never gets any further than it already has. At least, not with the UK in tow. But it seems like President Bliar won't give us a choice in the matter, so I guess I'd better get used to it. ):
The EU has economic policies. Is anyone here going to tell me that economics has nothing to do with politics and foreign policies these days? Or in the past 100 years? How about the last 3000 years?
The EU *does* have foreign policies. They are just disorganized and contradictory.
As a trading bloc, the EU would be completely ineffectual without foreign policies.
Oh, and welcome to punitive measures for unfair trade practices. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 13 2003, 10:56 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 13 2003, 10:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The EU has economic policies. Is anyone here going to tell me that economics has nothing to do with politics and foreign policies these days? Or in the past 100 years? How about the last 3000 years?
The EU *does* have foreign policies. They are just disorganized and contradictory. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> No, we just don't have an army nor will to form one in order to dictate other nations outside EU's influence. You can't say EU is a big threat because it's an economical in nature. <b>EU is not meant</b> to affect Iraq or N-Korea or China in way of making them stop doing 'bad stuff'. Like I'm not waiting for you to find a cure for cancer, you shouldn't expect EU to magically force every nation in the world to peace.
<!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Nov 14 2003, 05:07 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Nov 14 2003, 05:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If you embargo a country and prevent all your businesses from trading with them, that is a foreign policy. No army required. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> My_spacebar_is_borked.Just_bear_with_it.
I'm in complete agreement with MonsE here (do you know what writing that cost me?)
The EU is primarily (or supposedly - lets leave my feelings about the way it's run aside for a minute) a trading bloc. That is to say, a group of nations with common trading policies. I.e all members agree to abide by certain measures and tariffs, both within and without the Union.
Simply by having (or not having) those tariffs, the EU is setting up a 2 price structure, one price internally, another externally. The disparity this creates is effectively a foreign policy.
Thats leaving aside the whole issue of the European Rapid Reaction force (read Franco-German army) and other non-economic measures....
<!--QuoteBegin--[tbZ]BeAst+Nov 14 2003, 07:05 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([tbZ]BeAst @ Nov 14 2003, 07:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm in complete agreement with MonsE here (do you know what writing that cost me?)
The EU is primarily (or supposedly - lets leave my feelings about the way it's run aside for a minute) a trading bloc. That is to say, a group of nations with common trading policies. I.e all members agree to abide by certain measures and tariffs, both within and without the Union.
Simply by having (or not having) those tariffs, the EU is setting up a 2 price structure, one price internally, another externally. The disparity this creates is effectively a foreign policy. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Errr...so?It_has_a_foreign_policy_but_what_that_has_to_do_with_EU_aggressively_embarging_ nations_outside_its_influence?Like_you_said,it's_a_trading_union. Why_should_it_do_anything?How_EU_threatens_the_world_peace?Your_logic_just_baffles_me.
Comments
I'm going to jump in from here. Do you mean by literacy level the % of how many people can read? People aren't <i>that</i> poor and uneducated in Mid-east as you have been informed.
From CIA worldfactbook
Iraq:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.4%
male: 55.9%
female: 24.4% (2003 est.)
Iran:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.)
Syria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.)
80% of the total population doesn't seem that bad. Closing on USA <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<a href='http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html#People' target='_blank'>http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo.../us.html#People</a>
USA Literacy - total population: 97% . Plenty enough to get us on the moon. What have your hilarious elk hunters done for the world lately? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
This is why it would be exceptionally good if Iraq became a democracy. Next to Saudi Arabia, Iraq has the 2nd largest oil supply in the middle east ( maybe the world... can't remember ). Not only would an Iraqi democracy present a threat to OPEC... but the attittudes and perceptions that come with such a fundamental change would have very interesting effects. Or Iraq could just not rejoin OPEC...
The majority of OPEC countries really have no power... Saudi Arabia has the power within OPEC. It has the largest supply of oil in the world. It also have the most efficient and productive oil infrastructure of the world. If it wanted to, it could flood the world's oil market and drive all the other countries out of business ( except maybe Iraq ). So I really wouldn't say OPEC is the danger... Its the one who controls OPEC that is the danger.
<a href='http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html#People' target='_blank'>http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo.../us.html#People</a>
USA Literacy - total population: 97% . Plenty enough to get us on the moon. What have your hilarious elk hunters done for the world lately? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hmm...
Finland:
total population: 100% (1980 est.)
The real question is: what bad have we done for the world, ever? We like to stay undetected and neutral...like hedgehogs. Which btw rule.
Sorry Monseee!
I never meant to hurt you!
I never meant to make you cryyyyy... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
My point; mid-eastern people are not some uneducated barbarians. If 80% of the population can read, I say that's pretty well.
/de-rail
i'd consider the USA to be the most dangerous to world peace
total population: 100% (1980 est.) <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is naturally an outrageous lie.
Taking into account the general attitude in Finland, it's not really surprising that Isreal and the US were nominated. The media here often portrays Israel as the bad guy, and Palestine as the victim, because, apparently, according to the news sources here, Isreal kills a lot of civilian when retaliating, while of the Palestinians, pretty much all are just innocent and peaceful, honest.
Also, most people condemn the war in Iraq, especially now, since no weapons of mass destruction have been found. The war is "clearly illegal", and so it's easy to bash the US. A columnist was outraged at the results of the poll though, and in his opinion the questions were worded badly, or people are just unbeliavable ignorant.
I'm pretty scared of Russia these days. Khodorkovsky's arrest could potentially affect Kreml's power structure, and the delicate balance of power might be disrupted, which could lead into problems. Of course, living right next to Russia might have something to do with my opinions.
Personally, I can't really understand how a war can be legal or illegal. But that's off-topic.
i'd consider the USA to be the most dangerous to world peace <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If we're defining dangers to peace as destabilising influences, I'd agree.
I'm sure I've done this one before.....
I'm really hoping that was a typo and "now" is supposed to be "no". Otherwise there are some gentlemen in Washington who would love to hear about these WMD that have been found <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
That's pretty OT though. I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns...
Yes, I am feeling a bit confrontational today <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . Seeing Chris Rock live in a few hours.
"You don't need no gun control. You know what you need? Bullet control. I think all bullets should cost $5000. You know why? If a bullet cost $5000 there'd be no more innocent bystanders. And if you saw someone that got shot six times you know he did something real bad."
"You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named 'Bush', '****', and 'Colon.' Need I say more?"
Uhhh ok seeking revelence....the EU should never be a homogenus economic state because without the diversity that currently exists there could be a world wide depression.
Of course their constant harassment of Eastern Europe is a major factor too. Also I notice Russia shares a border with NK, yet I never hear about Russia?s reaction to NK's behavior, ever, makes me wonder if they have anything to do with it, or don't really mind at all.
Awwww, man. Now there's no point in changing it either, since everyone will see the typo in that quote.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I see no reason why the CIA factbook would lie about the rate of literacy in Finland. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, today's youth! Look, when I was your age...
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Confrontational, perhaps, but an interesting point of view nonetheless. In about five years or so, EU might have over 30 countries. That's a large part of Europe, although EU's influence may not grow that much along with the new members, since it already has nearly all of Europe's most rich and powerful countries. Now for some pondering.
World War I. Caused not only by economical reasons, but also caused by ideologies. At the start of the 20th century, most European nations (or, rather, the leaders) preached that war is healthy for a nation and active expansion, through war, should be encouraged. Then, four years of hell unlike ever before for that generation (and, well, really, unlike ever before for any generation in Europe). One wonders if that... incident changed Europeans so much that they nowadays just want to stay away from "other people's business", or, if a course of action is decided on, it should be through diplomatic channels. Of course, such was already attempted before World War II, and that didn't quite work out.
Now's the time for someone to abolish this so-called theory.
More importantly, are France and Germany disagreeing with US just for the sake of disagreeing?
That's pretty OT though. I think all of the EU is the biggest threat to world peace and stability. Its isolationism and non-interventionist overreaction to its centuries of colonialist warmongering have swung the pendulum too far. The evil men of the world will simply take it as a sign of weakness and let loose the hounds, as they always do in such cases. But no one ever learns...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The EU non-intervention is fiction. For example, it does support intervention via the UN, and it has more soldiers abroad in peacekeeping missions abroad (well, I still see the US force in Iraq as a fighting, not a peacekeeping force). There is no current threat to the EU, not only because it has combined one of the larger militairy forces in the world, but also because the neighbouring countries will rather cooperate with the EU than fight it, hoping to get good economic treaties.
Yes, I am feeling a bit confrontational today <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . Seeing Chris Rock live in a few hours. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
So these nasty warmongering types will be unleashing armies with no UN mandate then? Gosh I really do hope they aren't the only nation to deploy nukes in wartime too!
Can you see where I'm going with this, children?
Oh and MonsE...Chris Rock....?
*shakes head sadly*
Woo! Hooray for the nation of EU! *puts party hat on on and donces* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Now throw in some country names, or did you mean that all the EU countries are separately, the biggest threat? Obviously Finland is pretty scary nation. Oh yesss, the race of super-hedgehogs that I've breeded on my backyard shall soon, with the assistance of finnish polar bears, take over the earth and eventually I shall rule the universum here from my parents basement! Mwahahahahahaaa!
Woo! Hooray for the nation of EU! *puts party hat on on and donces* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Now throw in some country names, or did you mean that all the EU countries are separately, the biggest threat? Obviously Finland is pretty scary nation. Oh yesss, the race of super-hedgehogs that I've breeded on my backyard shall soon, with the assistance of finnish polar bears, take over the earth and eventually I shall rule the universum here from my parents basement! Mwahahahahahaaa! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why is all the EU's Foreign Policy suddenly based on its Colonial past?
Why do Americans seem to think that is a fundemental part of EU Policy when, to be honest, over here I don't know of anyone over here who thinks in such a way?
Not only that but when did the EU get a Foreign Policy of its own?
Prehaps when (if) the EU Constitution is passed, with its own President and, more importantly on international affairs, it has its own Foreign Secretary, who will make an EU Official Foreign Policy then one can talk about the EU's policy towards the rest of the world.
Unless of course you think the EU = France+Germany w/ a bit of everyone else thrown in but they don't really matter.
In the end... the EU DOES have a foreign policy...
In the end... the EU DOES have a foreign policy... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
The EU's member states have their own foreign policy.
Take for instance the French's (illegal) banning of British Beef, or the fact that there are rules against Robert Mugabe visiting but the French still invite him in.
I mean to say that the EU is against/for something would be an over generalisation, you have to look at what the member states do and why they do it.
At this point I would like to state that EU is currently nothing more but a union based on economy. EU is supposed to make trade easier, control pollution in those countries and act as a diplomatic link between EU nations. It's not one country that has a president and army. You can't blame EU for not attacking a country or what you want. Blame some specific nations(German? France? Belgium?) but don't put blame on something that is not even meant to shake/make world peace.
It isn't easy finding european nations as biggest threat alone, is it?
As for Israel's complaints, well, they can shove it. They're obviously hell-bent on continuing the conflict. After all, they only pay lip-service to America's attempts to resolve the situation. I'm not absolving the Palestinians of guilt, because they're almost as bad. But Isreal should know better. Before you white-wash me as "anti-semitic", I'm pretty much against oppression in general. I rank Isreal's complaints up there with China's ire over seeing pro-Tibet sympathisers on an official's trip to London.
As far as the EU is concerned, I hope it never gets any further than it already has. At least, not with the UK in tow. But it seems like President Bliar won't give us a choice in the matter, so I guess I'd better get used to it. ):
The EU *does* have foreign policies. They are just disorganized and contradictory.
Oh, and welcome to punitive measures for unfair trade practices. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
The EU *does* have foreign policies. They are just disorganized and contradictory. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, we just don't have an army nor will to form one in order to dictate other nations outside EU's influence. You can't say EU is a big threat because it's an economical in nature. <b>EU is not meant</b> to affect Iraq or N-Korea or China in way of making them stop doing 'bad stuff'. Like I'm not waiting for you to find a cure for cancer, you shouldn't expect EU to magically force every nation in the world to peace.
My_spacebar_is_borked.Just_bear_with_it.
Now_I_would_like_to_ask_you_why_EU_should_embargo_other_nations?
What's_the_point?Why_the_hell_should_EU_interfere_with_other_peoples_conflicts.
It's_not_a_nation_or_redcross_organization_trying_to_make_world_a_better_place.
You_can't_blame_an_union_that_is_economical_to_embarog_other_nations_because_they_are
bullying_smaller_nations.
Blame_UK,blame_Norway,_blame_spain_or_bulgaria_for_not_doing_anything.
But_imo_it's_just_foolish_to_blame_something_that_isn't_even_trying_to_be_a_peacemaker.
Blame_all_European_nations_for_not_doing_anything,but_don't_blame_the_European_Union.
Addition:And_I_don't_see_USA_embargoing_China_or_Russia.
What_difference_would_it_make_if_EU_would_embargo_Russia?
Economical_harm_for_everyone.And_knowing_russian_determinance_we_would_be_just_
diplomatically_driving_the_largest_military_force_in_europe_away_to_trade_with_Asian_nations.
Damn_this_is_annoying.The_keyboard_I_mean.
Edit:Corrected_the_lining+addition.
The EU is primarily (or supposedly - lets leave my feelings about the way it's run aside for a minute) a trading bloc. That is to say, a group of nations with common trading policies. I.e all members agree to abide by certain measures and tariffs, both within and without the Union.
Simply by having (or not having) those tariffs, the EU is setting up a 2 price structure, one price internally, another externally. The disparity this creates is effectively a foreign policy.
Thats leaving aside the whole issue of the European Rapid Reaction force (read Franco-German army) and other non-economic measures....
The EU is primarily (or supposedly - lets leave my feelings about the way it's run aside for a minute) a trading bloc. That is to say, a group of nations with common trading policies. I.e all members agree to abide by certain measures and tariffs, both within and without the Union.
Simply by having (or not having) those tariffs, the EU is setting up a 2 price structure, one price internally, another externally. The disparity this creates is effectively a foreign policy. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Errr...so?It_has_a_foreign_policy_but_what_that_has_to_do_with_EU_aggressively_embarging_
nations_outside_its_influence?Like_you_said,it's_a_trading_union.
Why_should_it_do_anything?How_EU_threatens_the_world_peace?Your_logic_just_baffles_me.
I_feel_you_are_saying_this_only_because_some_people_in_EU_put_USA_high_on_the_list. a_teenangst_vengeance <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->