I'm just so disgusted at the American people!

[Olivier]

I'd just like to share one detail I observed. The media has always referred to the troops in Iraq as the "Allies" and never as the "US troops". Given that there were hardly any significant allies except Great Britain, this makes me wonder about the support for a potential war on Syria (which is obviously the next target, as we know, thanks to Rumsfeld). I have reasonable doubt that Blair could force Great Britain into a war against Syria, so - what if there are no allies left?

Yes, true! Or the "Coalition".
I doubt the United Kingdom would follow the USA in Irak. First because it's not their interest, and also because all this costs much money. The UK can not afford a permanent war like the USA.

The USA will "find" other allies just for the show. They will speak about the Danes, the Dutch, the Czech, the Spaniards, the Portugueses... even if there is no soldier from these countries with them.

Australia may help again. Australia is very afraid of Islam since the bomb killed dozens of tourists in Bali.

Japan may pay for US wars as long as it needs a US support against North Korea.

[Skylimit]

If they call you a "liberal", take it as a compliment

A radical, progressive, against war, in favour of a multicultural society, I guess

We're all a bunch of liberals in here ...

[Olivier]

And now the national library in Baghdad is on fire and people take everything they can carry and a bit more and the Americans try to say it's not their fault. "we didn't encourage people to this" or something like that said an American officer who was interviewed for todays newspaper.

Have you seen, this boy, Ali, who lost his legs and his arms?

[Olivier]

If they call you a "liberal", take it as a compliment

A radical, progressive, against war, in favour of a multicultural society, I guess

We're all a bunch of liberals in here ...

BTW, the Liberal party won the elections in Quebec yesterday. We have a new prime minister.

The elections here are the copy of the elections in GB...

[Gauss]

I did not know. What meaning has "liberal" in the US?

Sort of the opposite of patriotic. In general it is not advisable for a successful politician to be considered liberal. Clinton was too liberal for many Americans. (That has something to do with the concept that somebody who lives in his fourth marriage - like both the German chancellor and vice-chancellor - could never run successfully for a public office other than deputy municipal dog catcher.)

If they call you a "liberal", take it as a compliment
A radical, progressive, against war, in favour of a multicultural society, I guess
We're all a bunch of liberals in here

This description fits. Maybe I would substitute "radical" by "open-minded".

BTW, the Liberal party won the elections in Quebec yesterday. We have a new prime minister.
The elections here are the copy of the elections in GB...

In what sense? Honestly, I've never understood the Canadian party system, except for NDP (greenish) and Parti Québécois. They are easy.
But then there is the confusing name of a Progressive Conservative Party ... and in the goals of the Liberals it is simply unclear to me why they are called "liberal" (anyway, how do we understand this word?) And many parties seem to be confined to specific regions in Canada where they gain most of the votes (and most of their overall votes).

[K3lvin]

This conversation reminded me of this excellent EUObserver article. There are just more and more things in the US that are so Orwellian that it's just hilarious if you've read the book. For example, the Patriot Act. It's mainly about expanding the power or US govt in surveillance and gathering information etc. By naming the law 'Patriot Act' makes the opponents of this law unpatriotic, of course. There's more about the real "newspeak" of the US in the article.

And renaming French Fries to Freedom Fries is another thing straight from Orwell's book. (they had drinks like Victory Gin etc.) It's a great book, read it.

WAR IS PEACE.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGHT.

[Olivier]

This description fits. Maybe I would substitute "radical" by "open-minded".

Well, so I am definitly.

BTW, the Liberal party won the elections in Quebec yesterday. We have a new prime minister.
The elections here are the copy of the elections in GB...

In what sense?

Well the elections are only one turn (in France, usually two). The lieutenant-gouvenor, who represents the Queen, declares the campaign open and names the new prime minister after the vote.
The Assemblee Nationale looks like the House of Common and the High Chamber looks like the House of Lords.
The prime minister is the leader of the winner party, there is also a shadow cabinet with the opposition...

The winner party is elected for 5 years, but the prime minister can ask for new elections whenever he wants...

It's the same at the federal level. The parlement of Ottawa looks like the british parlement in London. There are the same gards with red costumes and black bear fur hats...

But then there is the confusing name of a Progressive Conservative Party ... and in the goals of the Liberals it is simply unclear to me why they are called "liberal" (anyway, how do we understand this word?) And many parties seem to be confined to specific regions in Canada where they gain most of the votes (and most of their overall votes).

There are two levels: provincial and federal. Some leaders change. Jean (John) Charest, the new prime minister (liberal) of Quebec was the leader of the Conservative party in Ottawa.

The political system in Canada could inspire Europe. It's an interesting system.

[eurobillsandcoins]

This description fits. Maybe I would substitute "radical" by "open-minded".

Well, so I am definitly.

BTW, the Liberal party won the elections in Quebec yesterday. We have a new prime minister.
The elections here are the copy of the elections in GB...

In what sense?

Well the elections are only one turn (in France, usually two). The lieutenant-gouvenor, who represents the Queen, declares the campaign open and names the new prime minister after the vote.
The Assemblee Nationale looks like the House of Common and the High Chamber looks like the House of Lords.
The prime minister is the leader of the winner party, there is also a shadow cabinet with the opposition...

The winner party is elected for 5 years, but the prime minister can ask for new elections whenever he wants...

It's the same at the federal level. The parlement of Ottawa looks like the british parlement in London. There are the same gards with red costumes and black bear fur hats...

But then there is the confusing name of a Progressive Conservative Party ... and in the goals of the Liberals it is simply unclear to me why they are called "liberal" (anyway, how do we understand this word?) And many parties seem to be confined to specific regions in Canada where they gain most of the votes (and most of their overall votes).

There are two levels: provincial and federal. Some leaders change. Jean (John) Charest, the new prime minister (liberal) of Quebec was the leader of the Conservative party in Ottawa.

The political system in Canada could inspire Europe. It's an interesting system.

Bought the Montreal paper today, saw it, I'm not suprised, Landry ...

(moderated by Olivier)

[Olivier]

Bought the Montreal paper today, saw it, I'm not suprised, Landry ...
(moderated by Olivier)

Please, no insult on this forum.
Thank you.

[Antti]

right or wrong:

A suppressive government is better than no government.

?

Right, although at a first look it might seem anything is better than a suppressive government, but at least it's a government and keeps up somekind of order. Total anarchy would probably feel great after events like recently in Iraq, but only for a day or two, people who have lived their entire lives under strict rules start longing for order rather fast

[eurobillsandcoins]

So sorry, I meant to say that he puts his foot in his mouth. Says insults to the rest of Canada, red rags?

[Olivier]

So sorry, I meant to say that he puts his foot in his mouth. Says insults to the rest of Canada, red rags?

"Foot" is ok... but I don't really understand what you speak about.
I am not aware of the canadian affairs... (I doubt that the Europeans are neither).
As long as I don't have the right to vote here, I don't feel much concerned. I feel more concerned about what happens in Europe.

[Olivier]

When I talked about some people selling their dollars for euros... I have found this on Internet:

"In anticipation of what the US war against Iraq will do to the US economy, and in protest of Bush's war on Iraq, people around the globe are starting a campaign to change their US dollars into Euros and other currencies."

everything is on this site:
http://www.boycottwar.net/DivestDollars.htm

And it seams belgium groups are organised against the US policy...
http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/resources_en.php
(they are from Gent)

Olivier

[Skylimit]

"In anticipation of what the US war against Iraq will do to the US economy, and in protest of Bush's war on Iraq, people around the globe are starting a campaign to change their US dollars into Euros and other currencies."

I sold everything in dollars last year, already ...
And even quit my job (American company)

Now hows that ...

[of course this had nothing to do with the war ... but with concern about the health of the American Economy ... War is a great thing to divert the attention from the fact that the USA is bankrupt, and going down ]

[Olivier]

[of course this had nothing to do with the war ... but with concern about the health of the American Economy ... War is a great thing to divert the attention from the fact that the USA is bankrupt, and going down ]

I am a bit afraid about a possible american bankrupt à l'argentine... Canada exports 85% of its goods in the USA.

Anyway, my money is still in Europe, in euros.