mardi gras skin Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I was surfing Real Clear Politics and they had a link to this article: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259125/obama-s-mubarak-overreach-bing-west Its ok, but what really interested me was this comment from "Bart" posted on 02/07/11 at 15:39: Mubarak has not been an American "ally". We have paid him money to do stuff and Mubarak, within his own personal and political limits, has done that stuff.There is a difference between a prostitute and an ally; Mubarak is a prostitute. The U.K., in contrast, is, within limits (there are always limits), an ally. In general, if you identify your "ally" as a person, he is the former, and if you identify your "ally" as a country, it is the latter. (We don't identify the British P.M. as our "ally" - we have preferences, but by and large, we just accept whoever the British choose because we have confidence in the underlying relationship.) Accordingly, by the same token, we don't have other "non-democratic allies". We have despots who do what we tell them to do, within their personal and political limits, because we pay them to do those things. Because they are not "allies" - because they are despots - it is fine with me if they are "unsettled." They don't deserve anything else. There's nothing "arrogant" about saying that a despot ought no longer to remain in power. Or at least, it is no more "arrogant" than saying that any other person who is engaged in immorality should refrain from further immoral conduct. We are fully entitled to make and set forth our judgments about one the conduct of others. If that's "arrogance" (or "presumption"), then too bad - I'm willing to be arrogant or presumptuous. I thought the distinction between allies and prostitutes (maybe "contractors" would be less inflammatory) was a good one. I'm ok with Obama dismissing Mubarak when he outlives his usefulness because he was never really an ally. There's no real fear that other dictatorship/"allies" will turn their backs on us as long as we keep giving them what they want. They couldn't care less that we moved on from Mubarak. He outlived his usefulness and they already expect that we'll lose interest in them if they can't give us what we want. There was no loyalty involved in these relationships. I don't know if it actually works like that in the surreal world of international politics, but it makes sense to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 He obviously has no future as a diplomat. Interesting that you neglect to examine the John Careful ...even whores get offended added Who is worse....the one that offers a bribe..or one that takes one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardi gras skin Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Interesting that you neglect to examine the John If the john pays, he's done his part. If he gets tired of what he's getting, he quits paying and moves on. He doesn't owe the prostitute anything. But sure, choosing to align ourselves with dictators makes us scummy. Prostitution is a morally apt comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stadium-Armory Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 The French would argue that they're our best friend, because unlike the British, they don't rubber stamp or blindly follow when we ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 . Prostitution is a morally apt comparison. Perhaps we need to go to a clinic for VD before moving on? Stadium...the French will **** anything for free,but they can be a ***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubbs Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Reminds me of Chappelle's version of Pretty Woman. "You need to get the **** out of here." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 If the john pays, he's done his part. If he gets tired of what he's getting, he quits paying and moves on. He doesn't owe the prostitute anything. But sure, choosing to align ourselves with dictators makes us scummy. Prostitution is a morally apt comparison. :no: It's unfair to prostitutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 If Mubarak is a prostitute what is Karzai? It would be interesting to hear what he thinks the 99ers are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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