america and iran

S

This is an article from the Institute of Physics magazine I read very recently http://physicsweb.org/articles/world/19/6/3. Just wanted to know what people make of it - it is potentially pretty frightening, but I don't really believe it will happen. If you go to this Professor's website you can hear the recording of what George Bush says, I'd like to know what came next.

S

I don't believe that it is a big distraction, the UN are also involved, and they didn't support the Iraq invasion.

As for Al-Zarqwari, that gives us something to celebrate, he was a monster. But his death will only bring about more violence in the near future, although if they captured him alive, then that violence would have become more of a desparate attempt to free him, and hence even more trouble.

I hate all these conflicts in the world, how can people be so nasty to one another? A bit of banter, yeah thats fine, but Iraq, Iran and all those other terrorist spawning countries... No need.

I think we should just get the nukes out, and wipe the middle east of the face of the planet. problem solved. Anyone wanna vote for me if I run for prime minister?

S

I guess I wasn't so much interested in this for the political side of things (although that is huge, central maybe), I was focusing more on the nuclear issue. I heard a talk by Joseph Rotblat (physicist, Nobel peace prize winner, anti-nuclear campaigner) about a year before he died and he showed us figures of the numbers of nuclear weapons in the world - I really regret not taking notes now, but I just found a figure on the internet - 27,600; 10,000 in the US. Surely that's not good! And Mia, I would also like to hear something - could you manage an abstract?

S

MistaG, that last sentence was obviously a joke.

Lighten up people

S

lol, The whole sentence was a joke.

If I was prime minister, the country would fall apart within days.

As for the use of nukes, I am against that. They are not powerful enough, perhaps an antimatter bomb like in Dan Browns 'Angels and Demons'. (by the way, I do realise such a bomb doesn't exist)

G

'Bush is an idiot (i think pretty much everyone agrees on this!)'.

Don't apply for any jobs at Gallop A2D. You won't last long with sweeping subjective statements like that.

G

Whether GWB is or isn't an idiot is not my point, it's the 'everyone agrees' bit. Maybe your circle of friends/acquaintances/ former and present employers and work colleagues do a2d, but I would consider that sample to be wholly unrepresentative. I would personally want far more compelling evidence of what ‘everyone agrees’.

You obviously don’t like his politics. Neither do I to a great extent. But that doesn’t make him an idiot [well not in an English language interpretation or indeed any other common-place meaning of the word].

G

..'you'd find it extremely difficult to find anyone in the IR/Int Dev field (particularly in the UK) that wouldn't describe Bush as an idiot'.

What do you base that on Mia? How many have you asked? Is it a commonplace comment in your field’s literature? I just want something more than subjective vagaries such as ‘everyone agrees' or 'you'd find it extremely difficult' etc... before I accept something as fact.

I would personally imagine GWB is an intelligent man, for the simple previously stated reason that it would be difficult if not impossible for an idiot [regarding most common interpretations of the word] to attain that particular public office.

He’s done something’s I don't agree with. That doesn't make him an idiot.

P

oooh I've missed all this, because I have been 'avin it' @ The I.O.W festival in the sunshine.

Can I ask a nosey question MistaG & Golfpro - are you American?
It's just Mia's or A2D point about everyone (esp in UK) thinking Bush is a twat is not a massively unfounded sweeping statement. There is no need for survey -his lack of popularity it is sooo pervasive, that it is ( in the abstract conceptual sense) as true as the sky being blue

P

I have found in my experience that Americans I have met whether they disagree or agree about Dubya, do not have a handle on the depth of the dislike for Bush the UK has, nor how strongly this is reinforced and (re) presented via the media.
To argue that Bush is a top bloke who has the greater good at heart would be sucide in most social situations.

BTW - I read somewhere that he has the lowest IQ of any US president ever.

P

Oh yes tee hee - too tired to write anything clever about subjective cultural interpretation of facts.
Sorry to lower the tone & divert from 'serious important topic' etc.

But I over heard someone this weekend telling someone else to "Cock Off". I've never heard this combo before . Loves it!

Bush Cock Off!

P

MistaG Cock Off.

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I am kidding about the cock off thing by the way Mista G before you get all arsey it was a joke I couldn't resist - I have been finding saying cock off funny all day. I think I am still a bit pissed and on a come down from my festival action.
You have made a terrible assumption about what I said about Bush & the masses. I have noticed you make a lot of inverances, keen to pick and choose your implicature.... chill dude.

BUSH IS A TWAT LA LA LA LAAA LA LA LAAAAA

P

Cock off -is funny though , right?
Love you man.

S

might be funny for a 5 year old

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