Phoenix Down:
rugal2000:
"Let me ask you all non-USA citizens something: what happened in the last few years that made the rest of the world distrust anything and everything the USA says? "
Im sorry to say the answer is.........G W Bush.
THe agenda he brings is different to what Bill Clinton had. I liked Bill Clinton......and you never really heard a lot of this stuff U hear now.
So you condemn an entire country because of one man, regardless of whether he's President or some bum on the street corner. Unbelievable. That's like me saying that everyone in the UK sucks because I don't like Blair, or everyone in Iraq is evil just because Saddam is leader there.
If that's the truth then it's a pretty sorry excuse.
No Pheonix, Rugals got a point.
The rest of the world doesn't have issues with the 'average' american.
But the rest of the world looks at GW, hear's his views on world affairs, see's him back out of important treaties, refuse to sign others, expect US troops to have immunity from prosecution, refuse to put pressure on Israel while they ignore UN resolutions, imply that the US will act without UN approval.....
And of course, START a land war.
Thats one of the big differences with this Gulf war, for a lot of people.
Its simple for a lot of people.
Those who 'start' wars are aggressors.
The rest of the industrialised world does not hate America or Americans.
But they do feel that the US under the Bush administration is only interested in world affairs that directly affect the US.
That and the perecieved double-standards mentioned above are damaging the US' reputation abroard.
This will inevitably mean that the rest of the world will be more 'careful' about accepting what the present administration says at 'face value'
Although in this case its really the whole 'Starting' a war thing that doesn't sit well with the peace-loving nations of Europe.
Although if y'all could show beyond any doubt that Saddam does still have the thousands of litres of Anthrax you sold him, it might sway some of world opinion.
Countries like France and Germany won't want to leap into a major conflict without really convincing evidence.
We're talking about killing a lot of people!
Not all are gonna be evil terrorists either.
We all have to be sure.
And a lot of people are not.
Some of those wonder if the US cares about the rest of the world anyway!
Besides, the full fury of the US has yet to bring Osama Bin-Laden to justice! Al-Queda is still active and plotting attacks on your country and mine!
Wasn't the last war about stopping them?
The rest of the world is not anti-american, but the US has definately lost the respect of some of the people who matter!
When the rest of the world asks America to be a team player and the US says 'up-yours' it doesn't make the rest of the world want to jump into line just because the US says it should.
I regard myself as pro-american, but I can see that the US needs to be more aware of the outside world.
France, Germany, Russia, are all important countries.
GW should get on a plane and try some shuttle diplomacy.
Instead his attitude is 'F**k you all, we'll go it alone'
Even implying that the opinions of the other great world powers is unimportant, just hardens their attitudes against his administration.
BTW, Tony Blair is supposed to be a Labour Prime Minister.
He acts like a Republican President.
He has betrayed us on fundamental manifesto promises. He is as far removed from being a socialist as Margaret Thatcher (Who incidentally ruined OUR reputation abroard).
He is so busy always looking for a 'third way' that wont piss anyone off, that he manages to never make a single damn decision.
I've always voted Labour.
But this guy should be dropped like a ton of hot shit.
<small>[ February 07, 2003, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Metal Slug ]</small>
