The Bribery is Getting Unseemly

[Timber Loftis]

Well, while President Bush is in Houston today trying to explain why it takes 7 lost lives before NASA gets money for safety improvements - including the monetary cutbacks of NASA throughf 3 Presidencies - including his $500million trimming of the safety budget last year;

Blair is in France helping to cajole and bribe the French, and Turkey's Parliament convinces itself that the war is inevitable and it must stand with the US or lack a say in things to come.

Of course the oil to France and the billions to Turkey have nothing to do with this.

The lesson the US gets to teach this decade: the rules we created the UN to rule by mean nothing because it's all based on alliances and the guy with the most money can bribe his way into doing anything he wants.

If we are just, we do not have to "grease the skids" so much folks. BTW, if you did this bribery stuff to open your corporation overseas, you'd get thrown in jail.

[Djinn Raffo]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: The lesson the US gets to teach this decade: the rules we created the UN to rule by mean nothing because it's all based on alliances and the guy with the most money can bribe his way into doing anything he wants. If we are just, we do not have to "grease the skids" so much folks. BTW, if you did this bribery stuff to open your corporation overseas, you'd get thrown in jail.

nuff said!

[Davros]

I agree TL ...... now where's my cut of the spoils for being supportive

[Rokenn]

I'll give up all my WoMD for $20 million in direct aid (ie cash). Who do I forward my mailing address to? [img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img]

[The Hierophant]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: The lesson the US gets to teach this decade: the rules we created the UN to rule by mean nothing because it's all based on alliances and the guy with the most money can bribe his way into doing anything he wants. If we are just, we do not have to "grease the skids" so much folks. BTW, if you did this bribery stuff to open your corporation overseas, you'd get thrown in jail.

True, but if you want a powerful, civilized society then greed has to be accepted as it's driving force. Greed is what making established, sedentary communities is all about. Leaving civilization is easier than you think, it's just not all that glorious. And with the way in which civilization has spread across the planet and sytematically removed most nomadic lifestyles it's a little difficult to get by as a roamer. Difficult, but not impossible. To hell with all of these so-called leaders! They sure as hell don't lead me!

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, while President Bush is in Houston today trying to explain why it takes 7 lost lives before NASA gets money for safety improvements - including the monetary cutbacks of NASA throughf 3 Presidencies - including his $500million trimming of the safety budget last year; Blair is in France helping to cajole and bribe the French, and Turkey's Parliament convinces itself that the war is inevitable and it must stand with the US or lack a say in things to come. Of course the oil to France and the billions to Turkey have nothing to do with this. The lesson the US gets to teach this decade: the rules we created the UN to rule by mean nothing because it's all based on alliances and the guy with the most money can bribe his way into doing anything he wants. If we are just, we do not have to "grease the skids" so much folks. BTW, if you did this bribery stuff to open your corporation overseas, you'd get thrown in jail.

Just a leeetle bit of attention to detail here Timber....The UN was NOT created to RULE anything or anyone.

[ 02-05-2003, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Davros]

Quite correct Magik - not like TL at all - looking at his posts he is usually very careful and considered with his wording - I gather he meant "the rules that were created for the UN to operate by". Even clearing up the misunderstanding in wording - his point remains pretty clear.

The OZ parliment has been in full session today, with both houses debating support for the US if the UN refuses to sanction Bush's war. They pulled up stumps after 14 hours, and will be back at it again tomorrow. All the opposition parties (Labour, Democrats and Greens) are now dead set against, and we just have the Liberals (the government and party I vote for) on teh pro side.

[Timber Loftis]

Well, MagiK, you get the nitpick award, and Davros you get the nice save award.

But, in a sense, the UN does rule, guys. It rules those countries who agreed to be ruled by it. When Iraq violated the one biggest rule of the UN by violating the sovereignty of its neighbor, the UN ruling body got together and approved the use of force against Iraq. When Iraq lost the war, the UN ruling body got together and ruled on sanctions, which Iraq had to sign on with. Now that Iraq has violated the sanctions it agreed to, the UN is at this very moment hearing testimony by Colin Powell upon which its Security Council will decide (i.e. rule) on whether or not there has been enough of a violation of the rules to go to war again against Iraq.

The UN's rule is simply the rule of equal agreeing-to-be-ruled nations. Every nation can leave the UN's rule at any time, or ignore any one particular ruling, but may lose their membership - which is the only real penalty. Of course, having all the UN nations against you sorta sucks.