So with the recent global terrorism alert I realised that we don't have a place to discuss such events as they happen and how they are being dealt with/reacted to.
So now I've done that, here's the latest as I'm aware of it. Normally I'd provide sources but I'm on my iPad so it's difficult to do so.
US embassies across the Great Middle East are closed until Saturday due to the current threat, the embassies of other western nations in Yeman have also been closed with staff being evacuated from the county.
Additionally a global travel alert has been issued for all US citizens, with US/UK citizens in Yeman being told to leave immediately.
Yeman's security services have been placing much of the country on lockdown, with the army out in force due to intelligence indicating that a large number of Al-Qa'ida operatives are in the country to work on the expected attack.
They (Yeman's security forces) have also just recently announced that they have foiled an attempt by AQ to blow up several oil pipelines and seize control of costal cities, howev they remain on high alert, so there is obviously more to come.
Mod edit:
- As of July 2024, the OTC Israel and Palestine thread
is locked indefinitely and that discussion should not migrate to other threads. Discussion of terrorism or extrajudicial activity related to either of them (including speculation about a connection to them) is banned here.
Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 28th 2024 at 12:37:25 PM
"Could always stop claiming to be a global protector of human rights and instead admit to helping where you can as long as it doesn't go against other interest."
That pretty much is what we claim
.
Maybe in internal goverment discussions, but the global rhetoric of the US hasn't gotten past the "World police" phrase, culturally you still represent yourself as the pinnacle of morality, as the great good guys of the world, the political rhetoric hasn't caught up either, a US department might put out a report saying that you protect human rights as long as its not against your interests, but you'll never get a US president admitting it.
It predates that, under Clinton you claimed to believe in stopping ethnic cleansing, during the Cold War the US was responsible for so many dictatorships despite being the "beacon of democracy". You know why the French get a lot less flack for their actions (beyond them being smarter about it), they don't claim to be the moral voice of the world, dear god, you guys seriously refer to the president as the "leader of the free world", do you realise how that looks to people who are deprived of their freedom by states the US supports?
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranPoint taken. Though if De Marquis wants to respond I feel he should, I don't like getting the last word in just because something is off topic.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranIt's most certainly not off-topic. The USA have their overwhelmingly pompous obsession with putting themselves, and every citizen besides, at the centre of a narrative of righteous heroism, to thank for a great part of the contempt the world has for them.
But you're mistaken on the French. They aren't as loud or theatrical about it, but the French think that they're God's gift to the goddamned planet. They are overall unrepentant and unapologetic about their colonies, casually racist, contemptuous of other cultures by default, and extremely heavy handed in their assumption that their way of life is the best there is, and in forcing it down everyone's throats.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.I don't think that way. I would consider US as a forerunner and a first-among-equals (due to its clout and activism) among a coalition of western, market economy based, democratic countries. The president just happens to be the head of that country. But I wouldn't attribute leadership of the free world directly to the president.
The United States has had success in containment against rivals that are clearly on the not-free side (Soviet bloc during the Cold War, China, terrorist organizations in the Arab world). But it does not do well in actually establishing democracy by itself. Particularly because American democracy is not as good of a model of democracy compared to several examples in Europe.
So Sweden is being nicer to ISIS fighters than it is to it's own soldiers. Figures, I will never understand Europe. And God forbid the poor little things feel alienated after joining a death cult,slathering people, and vowing to destroy their own country. Yes it is our responsibility to make sure we don't hurt their wee feelings. Edit
http://www.thelocal.se/20150126/swedish-soldier-issues-challenge-to-home-government
Their is an article from The Local about the Swedish soldier they mentioned.]] Also people on this sight regularly site move on.org or think progress. Unless you have specific incidents that say Briebert lies a lot, than I fail to see how they are an "unreliable source",as opposed to just disagreeing with you.
edited 20th May '15 3:58:13 AM by JackOLantern1337
I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.![]()
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They're referencing World Net Daily - I'm glad they put that right at the start of the article so you can get a good idea of the rest is likely to contain...
Whoah, ninja'd so fast! :)
Of course, WND has greatly exaggerated what Sweden are actually doing. And no-one else has come up with a better solution yet.
edited 20th May '15 3:59:15 AM by betaalpha
Probably that it's easier for former extremists to get counseling and assistance than your own troops, who have been doing ISAF operations. Mind you, this is something that I've heard, no idea whether it's true.
We had a problem with peacekeepers and other soldiers deployed on international missions not counting as veterans, so they do not receive the benefits.
edited 20th May '15 5:01:08 AM by TerminusEst
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
They haven't been to a war, so they are not veterans.
This changed a month ago or so, and now Finland has around 20.000 more veterans since WW 2.
Si Vis Pacem, Para PerkeleIf there's one thing I can't stand, it's a country neglecting its soldiers and veterans, especially ones with a strong patriotic rhetoric. But I suppose that's a discussion for The Military Thread?
I still find it admirable that these ISIS fighters get welcomed back into society, healed and reinserted, instead of being disowned and made stateless by their own motherlands. Gives me faith in humanity.
edited 20th May '15 5:50:07 AM by TheHandle
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.We were asked to go into Bosnia as part of an international coalition. And we did stop the genocide there. Britain went there with us so they can also claim that victory.
And many US people are still over there as peacekeepers.
We were asked to help with Kuwait. Again, as a coalition. This pissed of Osama Bin Laden, but he wasnt mad at just us.
The only recent events we had no business being in was invading Iraq and Afghanistan, Somalia possibly, and minor skirmishes. Now there were places where we helped in the wrong ways.
But the point is that there is enough the States did outright wrong you dont need to slander the few things we got right to criticize effectively.
And again, Britain isnt without their contributions.
Being aware of this hypocrisy is the only way to help fix it.
"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur

Iraqi Troops Repel Daesh attack on Khaldiya, a town in Anbar: http://time.com/3884302/isis-iraq-anbar/
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