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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/putin-grateful-to-romney

Well done good sir, well done.

Thank you Mitt Romney, for helping the Russians remain hostile to us.

Mitt's been doing great lately.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/mitt-romney-obama-libya_n_1877406.html

Mitt Romney's foreign policy is to say "American exceptionalism, bitch!" and then moon the rest of the world.

Silly me. Here I am thinking China is the #1 foe.

He's just making friends wherever goes, isn't he?

At least Russia know where they stand unlike Isreal flapping in the wind.

Oh please, Obama's only slightly less pro-Israel than any other American president. Most of the people whining about how he isn't strongly enough pro-Israel themselves couldn't give a rat's ass about what's actually going on over there, they just want to "support Israel" because of some vague, non-biblical interpretation of the end times.

Little do they know we have a kunning plan.

 Melissia wrote:
Oh please, Obama's only slightly less pro-Israel than any other American president. Most of the people whining about how he isn't strongly enough pro-Israel themselves couldn't give a rat's ass about what's actually going on over there, they just want to "support Israel" because of some vague, non-biblical interpretation of the end times.

Well, and they hope the jews will eventually nuke some muslims...

Mitt is just doing his part to jumpstart the economy: If he can build up a new "Evil Empire" for us to oppose think of all the defense contracts and money to be made...

No one actually thinks that Russia wasn't already rather hostile toward the US, do they?

If I have a decision to make on some of those contract corperation I cut the freaking knees out. First to go ACFirst...then AECOM....Supreme...Actually not KBR for the DFAC's...Red River...

Early in the campaign I mentioned that while Obama held only a slight lead in the polls and so the election was considered an even contest, those forecasts weren't taking in to account the fact that Obama is a very skilled campaigner, while Romney is a fairly poor campaigner.

I think stuff like this is starting to show that.

 Jihadin wrote:
At least Russia know where they stand unlike Isreal flapping in the wind.

Where does this absolute commitment to Israel come from?

You know your right Sebster. US should just leave Isreal to handle their affairs. I'm pretty sure Isreal will come out ahead with expanded territory by conquest. Then the age old question could be answered. Does Isreal really have nukes. I like that approach better. What I don't like is possible strike at US installations in the ME. That would be bad.

 sebster wrote:
Early in the campaign I mentioned that while Obama held only a slight lead in the polls and so the election was considered an even contest, those forecasts weren't taking in to account the fact that Obama is a very skilled campaigner, while Romney is a fairly poor campaigner.

I think stuff like this is starting to show that.

 Jihadin wrote:
At least Russia know where they stand unlike Isreal flapping in the wind.

Where does this absolute commitment to Israel come from?

One: I don't think its that big of a deal. Russia isn't really our "friend"... more like cold acquaintances, but it is perplexing thats he's rather overly agressive on this stance.

Two: ? When have we NOT been allies with Israel (other than that ship attack off the coast)?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Jihadin wrote:
You know your right Sebster. US should just leave Isreal to handle their affairs. I'm pretty sure Isreal will come out ahead with expanded territory by conquest. Then the age old question could be answered. Does Isreal really have nukes. I like that approach better. What I don't like is possible strike at US installations in the ME. That would be bad.

Heh... good point.

I think everyone needs to recognize that Israel as been very RESTRAINED.

Frankly... let 'em duke it out... I know who's gonna win.

 whembly wrote:

 sebster wrote:
Where does this absolute commitment to Israel come from?

One: I don't think its that big of a deal. Russia isn't really our "friend"... more like cold acquaintances, but it is perplexing thats he's rather overly agressive on this stance.

Two: ? When have we NOT been allies with Israel (other than that ship attack off the coast)?

.

It comes from Christian Fundamentalism(weirdly enough) and the cold war...
and initially the US opposed Israel due to their socialist programs and strong ties to the USSR....but that changed when Arab forces using Soviet equipment attacked Israel.

And when has Israel been our ally? I for one certainly don't remember them deploying troops to Iraq or Afghanistan, the fact of the matter is now that the cold war is over, US support for Israel is drying up very fast.

Israel troops deploying to another country IE Iraq and Afghanistan to help the US.....

 whembly wrote:

 sebster wrote:
Early in the campaign I mentioned that while Obama held only a slight lead in the polls and so the election was considered an even contest, those forecasts weren't taking in to account the fact that Obama is a very skilled campaigner, while Romney is a fairly poor campaigner.

I think stuff like this is starting to show that.

 Jihadin wrote:
At least Russia know where they stand unlike Isreal flapping in the wind.

Where does this absolute commitment to Israel come from?

One: I don't think its that big of a deal. Russia isn't really our "friend"... more like cold acquaintances, but it is perplexing thats he's rather overly agressive on this stance.

Two: ? When have we NOT been allies with Israel (other than that ship attack off the coast)?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Jihadin wrote:
You know your right Sebster. US should just leave Isreal to handle their affairs. I'm pretty sure Isreal will come out ahead with expanded territory by conquest. Then the age old question could be answered. Does Isreal really have nukes. I like that approach better. What I don't like is possible strike at US installations in the ME. That would be bad.

Heh... good point.

I think everyone needs to recognize that Israel as been very RESTRAINED.

Frankly... let 'em duke it out... I know who's gonna win.

It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

 Seaward wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

I don't think it's meant to be a joke.

 Cheesecat wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

I don't think it's meant to be a joke.

Right... and?

 whembly wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

I don't think it's meant to be a joke.

Right... and?

Um, you can't connect the image and Shuma's statement it's basically showing that Israel is dominating it's neighbours.

 Cheesecat wrote:

Spoiler:

 whembly wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

I don't think it's meant to be a joke.

Right... and?

Um, you can't connect the image and Shuma's statement it's basically showing that Israel is dominating it's neighbours.

No, I get it... I was just trying to see what you're driving at (and to some extent Shuma's)...

I was only implying that if there's a big furball in that region, Israel will spank everyone. That's all...

And I'm not so sure I'd agree with Shuma's assertation that Israel doesn't WANT to flex it's muscle and make US do the heavy lifting...

 Jihadin wrote:
You know your right Sebster. US should just leave Isreal to handle their affairs. I'm pretty sure Isreal will come out ahead with expanded territory by conquest. Then the age old question could be answered. Does Isreal really have nukes. I like that approach better. What I don't like is possible strike at US installations in the ME. That would be bad.

This just makes me sad. Of course Israel has nukes. I just think it's really sad that Mordechai Vanunu can come forward and tell the world about the program, end up copping 18 years in prison for doing so, and people respond by pretending it's still a question up for debate. I mean, way to really comment on the importance of moral courage there. Come forward, whistleblowers, and tell us about the dark and and dangerous actions of your governments, and if the truth is mildly inconvenient we'll watch you go to prison and then pretend you never said anything.

And the idea of the situation being settled by Israel, or anyone else undertaking a war of expansion is just childish. What matters is people's lives, whether they're Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian or whoever else. As such, the US commitment, as should everyone else's, be to peace, and to economic opportunities for everyone. The problem is that isn't the US position, they're position is support Israel, even when Israel does some really fethed up stuff.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 whembly wrote:
One: I don't think its that big of a deal. Russia isn't really our "friend"... more like cold acquaintances, but it is perplexing thats he's rather overly agressive on this stance.

Russia is a former nemesis with whom you are presently trying to de-escalate tensions, in order for each country to scale back on nuclear weapon stockpiles and save a load of money. Treating them like an enemy once more stops that happening.

Two: ? When have we NOT been allies with Israel (other than that ship attack off the coast)?

The question is why tie yourself so closely to Israel. From a realpolitik POV they give you nothing. From a humanitarian POV your undying support (and UN veto) gives Israel free reign to do horrid things to the Palestinians and keep them in permanent squalor.

 Jihadin wrote:

I think everyone needs to recognize that Israel as been very RESTRAINED.

Frankly... let 'em duke it out... I know who's gonna win.

I know lots of people are going to die. Shouldn't that be a problem?

 Monster Rain wrote:
No one actually thinks that Russia wasn't already rather hostile toward the US, do they?

My only interest in this thread was using it as an opportunity to make a laughing Mitt Romney macro. As Dogma Sebster noted yesterday, that image is untapped comedy gold.



I just wish I had photoshop at work, instead of mspaint.

That was Sebster, but I enjoy the misplaced props.

Edit: Also, the mustache god is very angry.

I regret the error. Let me show you how much, using Mr. Romney's hair - the universally accepted medium.

Sebster relook at your quote. You attribute something to me that I didn't even say

 whembly wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:

Spoiler:

 whembly wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:
It sure as hell won't be Israel. They can dominate their local rivals because they're the closest thing the region has to a military superpower, but they're not well liked. Europe doesn't like them, China and Russia don't really like them, the rest of the planet can't really stand them. They have an entire country locked up in their closet that they feed scraps to and just about everyone outside of the U.S. recognizes how fethed up that is. If they unilaterally attacked their neighbors there would be a rather drastic shift from antipathy towards them to outright hostility as they finally cement their place as a regional bully. They don't even have the population to make use of any territorial grabs they might make. Israel doesn't want to attack anyone because they know that it's a stupid idea. They want the U.S. to be goaded into doing it for them. We're their bankroller and fall guy and they've actively worked against our interests in the past, it's an unhealthy relationship that they don't deserve.

This was honestly one of the funniest things I've ever read.

I don't think it's meant to be a joke.

Right... and?

Um, you can't connect the image and Shuma's statement it's basically showing that Israel is dominating it's neighbours.

No, I get it... I was just trying to see what you're driving at (and to some extent Shuma's)...

I was only implying that if there's a big furball in that region, Israel will spank everyone. That's all...

And I'm not so sure I'd agree with Shuma's assertation that Israel doesn't WANT to flex it's muscle and make US do the heavy lifting...

Outside of their rapidly growing fundamentalist party there isn't strong popular support for conflicts with Israels neighbors. Israel has it pretty good right now and most of the country identifies the ways in which armed conflict could damage the way they're viewed. Being seen as an underdog is very important to Israel as it gives them carte Blanche to expand into Palestinian territories. If they can get someone else to solve their security concerns while they focus on the Palestine issue that's pretty golden for them. Interviews with Israeli polity are pretty consistent in this regard.