quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Yeah, China has been slack in NK, because of a domestic focus (we should all fear an externally proactive China, so I'm not complaining too much) and its short-sighted because SK is one of China's chief trading partners.
agreed

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Just thinking about it some more, the last two times the US went into a country to do something about the local politics were in the cases of Somalia and Haiti. I don't recall any opposition back then from other countries.
if i remember correctly, france had issues with somalia.

and many had umbrage with US's afghanistan development.

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Part of this mess is a total fuck-up on the public sell: a better public relations job, focussing more on human rights and less on thus far non-existent WMD would have won more global support.
in retrospect, sure.

but i cant imagine it was suspected countries like the US and UK would have problems pointing a finger at a modern day hitler like saddam.

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
the entire thing plays to the French advantage: it has effective rallied the world against the US, fulfilling its perceived role as a counter-balance.
which in my mind, and many others, shows the utter "ass holery" (howzat?) of the country, as their entire goal here is seemingly to profess they're still around and/or "one-up" the US. never a word is uttered of the suffering. the french might succesfully win a UN debate by shifting the focus and similar strategies, but respect from their opposed nations they've lost in spades because of it.