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Armchair criticisms of military decisions

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MajorTom Since: Dec, 2009
#101: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:04:41 PM

^^ Many of the charges and problems with Bush abroad were echoes of the same stuff levied against Ronald Reagan 20 years earlier. Euros don't like actual leaders in the Presidency it seems.

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#102: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:07:34 PM

Euros don't like actual leaders in the Presidency it seems.

:D

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
mahel042 State-sponsored username from Stockholm,Sweden Since: Dec, 2009
State-sponsored username
#103: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:20:27 PM

Not when they represent an Expansionixt/imperialist/whatever American agenda. Obama was popular because he seemed to be just right instead of extreme right when looking at a non-american right-left political scale.

In the quiet of the night, the Neocount of Merentha mused: How long does evolution take, among the damned?
saladofstones :V from Happy Place Since: Jan, 2011
:V
#104: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:24:23 PM

Bush was unpopular moreso because of Iraq and him being a bumbling idiot, at least in Europe. He was popular before Iraq since it was pretty cut and clear that there were not going to be WM Ds in Iraq (regardless of what the intelligence reported).

Reagen was respected, even if people disagreed with him, because the perception is that he defeated the Soviet Union (regardless of if this is true). Socialists, naturally, are against him. France doesn't like Reagen because France has desires to be the next superpower.

For Obama its more of a feeling that he is incompetent, arrogant and went back on his promises. Not to mention most of his international drives failed.

@Mahel: I can't help but laugh at anyone who calls America imperialist since it seems to be the farthest, in its dealing with other countries, from that model since America still has no real desire to get involved in world affairs or a great understanding of long-term political goals.

edited 4th Jan '11 4:25:12 PM by saladofstones

Well he's talking about WWII when the Chinese bomb pearl harbor and they commuted suicide by running their planes into the ship.
mahel042 State-sponsored username from Stockholm,Sweden Since: Dec, 2009
State-sponsored username
#105: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:30:10 PM

Yeah I know it's not that but that is kind of the feeling you get when it seems that they always want to bust in and ruin stuff that seems at least stable when there are places that are falling apart that would welcome the help and running over anyone that tries to stop them. Of course I'm affected by lack of knowledge not dispensed by the media but it might explain why some people feel that way. When your are the only super power you get a lot of "armchair" super powers complaining about your every move.

edited 4th Jan '11 4:32:52 PM by mahel042

In the quiet of the night, the Neocount of Merentha mused: How long does evolution take, among the damned?
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#106: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:30:49 PM

At this point, America could drop candy from airplanes over Darfur and people would call it imperialist because its forcing their unhealthy diet on the kids of Sudan. The word is thrown around way to lightly.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
saladofstones :V from Happy Place Since: Jan, 2011
:V
#107: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:31:21 PM

Its kind of why I can't watch any Yahtzee video related to American military, like call of duty, because it becomes an Anti-American rant of absolute bullshittery.

@Scrye: The problem being that with something like Darfur, you need to pick a side, practically the one that will provide more stability since neither side tends to be clearcut victims or aggressors, and maintain a strong local presence in order to keep things stable.

The French Foreign Legion, regardless of what you think of France or their motivations, do a fairly decent job of stabilizing situations mainly because one of their tactics involve not siding with one faction and periodically kicking the teeth in of a warlord that gets too belligerent.

edited 4th Jan '11 4:33:58 PM by saladofstones

Well he's talking about WWII when the Chinese bomb pearl harbor and they commuted suicide by running their planes into the ship.
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#108: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:32:47 PM

I didn't think Yahtzee ever waited for an American military game to do that.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#109: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:34:51 PM

I only remember the furthest he went was calling Co D 4 a Conservative Fantasy.

Also, RAMIREZ DOES EVERYTHING

edited 4th Jan '11 4:36:20 PM by RawPower

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
JosefBugman Since: Nov, 2009
#110: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:37:14 PM

The world hates you because for the most part your militaries decisions have led to regime overthrows of elected governments in vast swathes of SA (so they are going to dislike you), certain parts of the Middle east (in particular support for the Shah's regime in the past that has had certain problems associated with it) so they are going to dislike you. The middle east also doesn't like being told what to do in any case and likes having its traditions, even if the rest of the world doesn't.

Whacking great Chunks of Asia don't like you because you bombed their fathers, or set them on fire. And Europe doesn't like you because you are doing the exact same things that we did during the 19th century that you shouted at us to stop after WW 1 & 2. Also spreading your own interests tends to leave people cold when your corporations seem to be self-serving and unwilling to help local people (even if they are they aren't doing enough). Oh and then there is Africa, which hates you because your corporations are crooked, and because you are vicariously associated with Europe.

Plus there is the constant feeling that you guys are really proud of your achievements despite not actually doing very well at playing either global policeman OR machieivallian powerbroker. I mean your the worlds only superpower guys, you should be breaking up fights, not starting and then sucking at them.

There we go.

And yes this is a good aproximation of an armchair criticism, it also happens to be accurate enough.

edited 4th Jan '11 4:43:02 PM by JosefBugman

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#111: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:39:23 PM

Well excuse me, princess. Let's get back on topic.

mahel042 State-sponsored username from Stockholm,Sweden Since: Dec, 2009
State-sponsored username
#112: Jan 4th 2011 at 4:42:14 PM

Yeah well most military games do glorify the American military because it helps sales or something.

About Darfor etc. In my extremely inexperienced opinion I do belive that the Us could gain a lot of goodwil by just proposing a joint thing to help them via the UN or something and listen to what the inernational community says, because as was said earlier you lost a lot wth the Iraq WMD's thing. But hten agin it's not really my area, but I really like playing at armchair leadership as long as it doesn't have any real effect. Also from the people I have met people seem to consider the us left right scale to be centered a bit more to the right than the "normal" scale

edited 4th Jan '11 4:45:53 PM by mahel042

In the quiet of the night, the Neocount of Merentha mused: How long does evolution take, among the damned?
pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#113: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:12:03 PM

Hey, there's an idea for a first person shooter: UN Peacekeeper in Darfur, or any other pick of unmitigated hellhole. And no matter what you do, you won't be saving the world.

Although if you're lucky, you might be able to do a small random act of kindness, like giving some food to some half-starved locals or... something. I'd play it, but I also played Third World Farmer and Darfur Is Dying.

edited 4th Jan '11 5:14:15 PM by pvtnum11

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#114: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:13:14 PM

What about the perks man? Can I get a helping streak? [/sarcasm]

Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#115: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:32:21 PM

Would there be an expansion pack that adds a whole 0 weapons to the game?

There'd also be an issue with controls. There'd be no button to pick up weapons. Only drop them.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#116: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:32:57 PM

We're playing as the French?

Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#117: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:34:17 PM

No. Just people who are almost as effective as the French.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#118: Jan 4th 2011 at 5:39:40 PM

We get to be the UN? Fuckin sweet; +20 to persuasion!

DasAuto Sapere Aude from Eastphalia Since: Jul, 2009
Sapere Aude
#119: Jan 4th 2011 at 6:00:54 PM

Euros don't like actual leaders in the Presidency it seems.
Actual leaders have make decisions and demands n' shit. Caretaker presidents are much easier to handle. But really, I don't think our currency has feelings.

About being uneducated armchair military: Hey, it's a hobby of mine. Don't tell me what I cant do. tongue

Now if you excuse me, Starfleet is about to award the Christopher Pike Medal to my dick.SF Debris
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#120: Jan 4th 2011 at 6:44:47 PM

Well considering none of the military tropers here are positively Squeeing over Obama's every move, it's not that inaccurate an extrapolation that Obama is widely disliked across the entire military.
He's better liked than Bush, at least on my aircraft carrier. But the attitude I see towards Obama is a general "Meh."

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
MajorTom Since: Dec, 2009
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#122: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:18:59 PM

The world hates you because for the most part your militaries decisions have led to regime overthrows of elected governments in vast swathes of SA (so they are going to dislike you), certain parts of the Middle east (in particular support for the Shah's regime in the past that has had certain problems associated with it) so they are going to dislike you. The middle east also doesn't like being told what to do in any case and likes having its traditions, even if the rest of the world doesn't.

Hey, you need to swap "militaries" with "Political Leaders".

We never made the decision to go anywhere.

As for the remark about military tropers and Obama, I don't hate Obama, though I don't agree with some of his decisions, I think his heart is often in the right place and he at least makes more of an effort to have dialogue with his opposition than most Democrats.

The Air Force stance is mostly that the guys working at desks either like or are apathetic to Obama, the mechanics and engineer dudes generally have a mild dislike, and in my Security Forces shop his face on the TV tends to lead to the channel changing and calling him "Osama" and not Obama.

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#123: Jan 4th 2011 at 10:28:26 PM

[up] [up] Yes, I'm a squid, but if you make any jokes about serving calamari I'll keelhaul you. tongue

[up] I thought the Air Farce would prefer to never go anywhere? wink

edited 4th Jan '11 10:36:56 PM by BlueNinja0

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
JosefBugman Since: Nov, 2009
#124: Jan 5th 2011 at 12:12:08 AM

[up][up] In the case of those two *shrug* maybe, but for the most part people deployed in those areas didn't ever ask "why are we doing this thing?"

I think that is an essential difference between military and civvie life, is that I can ask my boss at the museum about why we are doing something and get a reasonably straight answer, whereas if I was in the military I might get a dressing down for asking too many questions.

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#125: Jan 5th 2011 at 2:33:14 AM

Would you quit it with dissing the French? When you do that, you diss everyone the French ever defeated. This includes large chunks of my family, which makes it personal. The French are very effective sons-of-bitches, and they taught the CIA everything about torture, among other things.

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?

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