Amnesty questions claims about Libyan attrocities

[Archean]

Interestingly enough these same things (sans the democracy part) were present 5,000 years ago in Indus basin civilization of that period.

Few years ago BBC made a very interesting documentary series on 'Islam and Science' which characterized the scientific achievements of Muslim empires spanning over almost a 1,000 years. Incidentally before that series I didn't knew (amongst many other things) that Egyptian Hieroglyphs were first translated by someone called Ibne-ul-Wahshiya (I am not sure about spellings sorry), along with advances in astronomy, optics, medicines, algebra/algorithms etc. in fact the first ever hospital of the world was established by them as well. So in a way almost every empire do advance science/knowledge for the period they are on top, until some other nation rises and move things bit further.

I think something similar (i.e. documentaries covering achievements of empires) should be in order for other great empires of their times. What do you say?

 

[Benny26]

Good old Egyptians, they were the masters alright. What a find the Rosetta Stone was...We certainly wouldn't know what we know now without it.

I think something similar (i.e. documentaries covering achievements of empires) should be in order for other great empires of their times. What do you say?

Is that a sneaky play on the British empire i wonder? Jeez, we did make some mistakes though: China's Hong Kong springs to mind...and filling Australia with convicts wasn't a very good idea. India didn't turn out that bad though, they're still chugging along quite happily.

 

[Archean]

filling Australia with convicts wasn't a very good idea

Yup, especially since in most sports they *censored* *censored* and more *censored* you guys ....... until recently, well until you won the ashes

India, is a different and complex story, and the emerging huge difference between haves and have-nots could eventually lead to un-rests, along with problems with regard to rampant corruption etc. Anyway, what else one could expect from a 3rd world country trying to pick itself up.

 

[Benny26]

Yup, especially since in most sports they *censored* *censored* and more *censored* you guys ....... until recently, well until you won the ashes

Yeah, we really like to rub the ashes in their faces. We also like to rub the 2003 Rugby world cup final in their faces also (and that really hurts!). But what do they expect, saying all the English do is drink tea and worship the Queen...not to mention calling us "Pomie's"

I fancy a cuppa now after that rant

You gotta give India some credit bieng quite a stable country in amongst a lot of chaos...It's amazing how much thy hate Pakistan.

 

[Archean]

Indian stability is near farce by the way, as there is 30 (+/-) or so different separatist struggles going on in that country, which funnily enough, their media always 'fail' to report. Some of them are pretty bloody some are not. And yes the way there is hatred amongst them is pretty staggering to put it mildly.

When is the next rugby WC by the way? Isn't it supposed to be during 2011?

I fancy a cuppa now after that rant

I was rather thinking about beer

 

[Benny26]

Maybe it's an "out of sight, out of mind" thing with India then. Maybe some of the hatred might be the fact that Pakistan has nukes, and that Pakistan hates India. (You really have to think hard when saying Pakistan has nuclear weapons...It's scary!)

When is the next rugby WC by the way? Isn't it supposed to be during 2011?

Yep, this year, in New Zealand, in October/November. So who are you routing for then?

I was rather thinking about beer

Well, I'm English, it has to be tea or otherwise i might lose my passport...Beer is allowed, but only in very large measurements; It is also mandatory for beer to be consumed at football matches.

 

[captaincranky]

...[ ]..., which funnily enough, their media always 'fail' to report.....[ ]....

Are you even allowed to use an adverbial form of "funny"?
I've never heard that used in "Ameriglish". We colonists tend to stick to , "oddly", or perhaps, "comically", in that context.

Anyway, as to western media exaggerating "Libyan atrocities", it's fairly easy for a cub reporter to confuse a Molotov cocktail with a tactical nuclear weapon, at least if he or she wants to get out of the mail room full time.

 

[Archean]

Nope, I think this is purely my own 'transgression'. There is a saying here, which goes something like this "you can see a twig in someone else's eye, but you can't see a boulder in your own' ....... I am sure you know what I mean.

I can throw in bit more fuel to lit the fire as well, i.e. media in almost every country does this, to cater for certain interests including their own.

Well, I'm English, it has to be tea or otherwise i might lose my passport...Beer is allowed, but only in very large measurements; It is also mandatory for beer to be consumed at football matches.

Now this is new one for me. I thought people go to football matches only to see some bald men wearing studs running around kicking opponents in the face or if they are really angry in the nuts (I hope this word is allowed on TSF). Besides, I don't want to hear/smell a really beery burp right next to me.

 

[Benny26]

Generally the only 'bald men running around kicking opponents in the face or nuts' only happens after the match round the backstreets.

Besides, I don't want to hear/smell a really beery burp right next to me.

Well, if you've ever been to an English football match you would know that that's almost an impossibility...sadly

(unless you sit in a Royal box...then it's more of 'Pimms' burp)

 

[Archean]

Well, if you've ever been to an English football match you would know that that's almost an impossibility...sadly

Sadly the answer is no, if I ever decided to spend money to watch some sports, I'd rather go and watch Sharapova playing tennis. And to the royal burp ........ I guess that honor should go to Captain, as he is the most senior tech spotter amongst us .

Generally the only 'bald men running around kicking opponents in the face or nuts' only happens after the match round the backstreets.

Even in EPL some matches are boring considering your observation here, so I wouldn't mind some on pitch on-camera action like this.

 

[Benny26]

If you ever want to see some bald "action" in regards to a football match, check out a football team called Millwall. They've pretty much decided to forego the football stuff and just have a good old fasion punch up...with kicks and nut crunching added just for extra spice.

Sadly the answer is no, if I ever decided to spend money to watch some sports, I'd rather go and watch Sharapova playing tennis. And to the royal burp ........ I guess that honor should go to Captain, as he is the most senior tech spotter amongst us .

I don't know what to make of the Sharapova remark. I mean, I don't even know if you yourself are male or female? (and the outcome of either could have very different meaning, for me ).

With regards to Captain: how do we know his real age?...When do you ever find 'old people' that are into Tech?...Maybe he's just a spotty 20 something with an advanced wit, who intern, beautifully disguises himself as an older, more seasoned man.

Who knows such things?

 

[Archean]

Okay, I though it would be very obvious from my choosen user name i.e. Archean that it must be a male user name.

I suspect I am right about his age, as once upon a time in some thread we ended up talking about 'some vegetable' stuff :evil:

I guess there are few positives about being bald, e.g. one saves on shampoo .... and well when things really get hot on field people have 'less things' to hold onto while beating the crap out of each other.

 

[Benny26]

Archean a male user name? I must be missing something there :suspiciou ...Well in that case i'm not surprised you like a bit of Sharapova (or is that you would like a bit of Sharapova? ) She's on the TV right now paying a semi-final at Wimbledon funnily enough.

'some vegetable stuff'?...Yeah, maybe that could explain an age i suppose.

I wouldn't know with the advantages to being bald because i have long hair (I woke up one morning thinking i could look like Johnny Depp if i grew my hair...I'm still single 4 years after that morning)...But a bald head does also give you a respectable look; Patrick Stewart springs to mind. Also, you can actually polish your head...which i think is just cool.

 

[Archean]

No I don't really fancy or like 'bit' of her. It is just that, it is more easy on eyes to see her play than that Spanish fat legged monster. Well to be honest I think beauty of Tennis has been utterly destroyed by the two-handed backhand players, so usually I don't watch whenever such players are on tv.

This should explain what Archean means.

Head polishing? Okay I wonder why I've never seen someone getting it done at a nearby hair saloon

 

[Benny26]

You're male and you don't fancy Maria Sharapova?...Are you an alien or something? What the hell is going on man.

That's very interesting, saying the two-handed backhand has destroyed the beauty of Tennis...Not alot of people would notice something like that. Personally, I love Roger Federer for the very reason of his one-handed backhand.

This should explain what Archean means

I still can't see the obvious male link...

I don't think people go to saloons to get their head polished...they more do it themselfs at home. It isn't hard to whack a little furniture polish on the top and give it a quick run over for that nice sheen.

 

[captaincranky]

You're male and you don't fancy Maria Sharapova?...Are you an alien or something? What the hell is going on man.

Well, Maria Sharapova has sort of an old face. Or perhaps one that doesn't look like it would age all that well. Pity that Anna Kournakova has retired, not for the sake of tennis in general, but for lechers like you and I that watch it. I used to adore the way Anna's little skirt hiked up when she threw any one of her myriad double faults within a match.

But enough about tennis. Russian and Ukrainian women are some of the most beautiful in the world, and it would seem, they're certainly among the most willing to take their clothes off for the camera. So there you have it, the cream of the Caucasian crop, so to speak, and all a la carte.

That's very interesting, saying the two-handed backhand has destroyed the beauty of Tennis...Not alot of people would notice something like that. Personally, I love Roger Federer for the very reason of his one-handed backhand.

The two handed backhand has only damaged the beauty of tennis. The distinction of a having completely destroyed the beauty of tennis, belongs solely to Serena Williams.

 

[Benny26]

captaincranky said:
Well, Maria Sharapova has sort of an old face. Or perhaps one that doesn't look like it would age all that well.

With respect, I'm not generally looking at Maria's face when i'm watching her.

captaincranky said:
The two handed backhand has only damaged the beauty of tennis. The distinction of a having completely destroyed the beauty of tennis, belongs solely to Serena Williams.

I dunno...I would seriously consider adding Venus to that as well.

 

[captaincranky]

I dunno...I would seriously consider adding Venus to that as well.

Well tru dat, maybe. But she isn't pure ghetto to the bone like her "little sister".

I really don't watch much women's tennis any more because of those two.

That said, I was flabbergasted when they made the Wimbledon payout the same for women as men. This under some BS, "equal pay for equal work" civil rights ruse.

From where I sit, the women still have to play only 2 out of 3 sets in the final, as opposed to best 3 out of 5 for the men. Plus, they don't hit as hard, or run as fast. So, to me, that means they're getting paid a hell of a lot more, for a lot less work.

 

[Archean]

From where I sit, the women still have to play only 2 out of 3 sets in the final, as opposed to best 3 out of 5 for the men. Plus, they don't hit as hard, or run as fast. So, to me, that means they're getting paid a hell of a lot more, for a lot less work.

I absolutely agree to this.

Also, I've noticed that in women's game, if a player takes the upper hand, the other player usually just give up too easily. Hence, women's games is pretty boring to look at and isn't worth the money one may pay to watch it.

Watching Serena play is like watching a big cow chasing a little ball, oddly enough it may be a funny proposition for some.

 

[Benny26]

The "equal pay" thing is like a cancer spreading through sports; Darts is another area where it exists. It can even be more drastic than Tennis, example: Men's BDO final is best of 13 sets at best of 5 games per set, while the women's final is best of 3 sets, and yes, for the same £100.000 prize money. Also, the men's quarter's and semi's are best of 9 and 11 sets respectively, while the women's matchs all stay at best of 3 sets. The quality of women's Darts is also terrible...apart from the top seed Trina Guliver who's won it 9 times in the last 10 years.

Obviously as a man i'm really against this just like you two are.

Archean said:
Also, I've noticed that in women's game, if a player takes the upper hand, the other player usually just give up too easily. Hence, women's games is pretty boring to look at and isn't worth the money one may pay to watch it.

I agree here, the men's Tennis isn't a patch on the women's. I personally think any of the top 10 men (even more maybe) could easily blow away the top women's seed without problem.

Archean said:
Watching Serena play is like watching a big cow chasing a little ball, oddly enough it may be a funny proposition for some.

Yeah.....She almost throws physics out of the window how she can play being so fat.

 

[Archean]

Luckily (at least till now) we don't have any 'women F1 motor racing' or it will be just as ruined.

One area where I don't mind watching women in action is 'wrestling' :evil:


Edit:
Have a look at this as well. I must say the idea look very noble to me.

 

[Benny26]

Good old Max knows what's best for F1...but then again, I suppose any old boot knows that women can't drive as good as men

Is that the women's wrestling where they just stand in the ring and 'jiggle up and down'?...I've heard that's a good watch.

Have a look at this as well. I must say the idea look very noble to me.

Yeah, we can come back to Sharapova again with the grunting...there's just no need for it.

 

[SNGX1275]

I personally think any of the top 10 men (even more maybe) could easily blow away the top women's seed without problem.

I think its far more drastic than that. I'd bet money that any of the men in a major tournament could beat the women's top seed.

Here is some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Sexes_(tennis)

Note that the man did lose a couple times, but the age difference is astounding. Also a 203rd ranked unknown male absolutely smoked the (young) Williams sisters - I don't know their ranks at the time, but I'm sure they were pretty highly ranked.

 

[Benny26]

SNGX1275 said:
Here is some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_..._Sexes_(tennis)

That's a nice little find. I'll admit i've never known about that.

No disrespect to older payers though, but todays Tennis is a far much higher caliber game with the men. You're probably right about any of the men beating the women...I wonder why there hasn't been a "battle of the sexes" since those? Maybe the answer is the proof that the women just have no chance against a 'well known' male tennis face.

 

[Archean]

+1 on caliber for men's game remark Benny.

Now back to topic

In a June 27 interview on National Public Radio, Ban Ki-moon, Washington’s South Korean puppet installed as the Secretary General of the United Nations, was unable to answer why the UN and the US tolerate the slaughter of unarmed civilians in Bahrain, but support the International Criminal Court’s indictment of Gadaffi for defending Libya against armed rebellion. Gadaffi has killed far fewer people than the US, UK, or the Saudis in Bahrain. Indeed, NATO and the Americans have killed more Libyans than has Gadaffi. The difference is that the US has a naval base in Bahrain, but not in Libya.

Another interesting piece from the above is:

A video taken by a US helicopter gunship, leaked to Wikileaks and released, shows American forces, as if they were playing video games, slaughtering civilians, including camera men for a prominent news service, as they are walking down a peaceful street. A father with small children, who stopped to help the dying victims of American soldiers’ fun and games, was also blown away, as were his children. The American voices on the video blame the children’s demise on the father for bringing kids into a “war zone.” It was no war zone, just a quiet city street with civilians walking along.

The video documents American crimes against humanity as powerfully as any evidence used against the Nazis in the aftermath of World War II at the Nuremberg Trials.

(I've heard about this video during some debate on one of the news channels here but never seen it, I wish I could find it on the net somewhere.)

That is pretty damning article from Paul in many respects including economical and political dimensions of such hypocrisy of western leaders/governments. But anyway, the real aim IMO is to 'awake' people and I hope some eventually may just do.

Idolizing Absolute Power too is an interesting read, I am still in process of checking on some facts about it, but most of it seems plausible at this stage.

Edit: Another amusing but unrelated fact, excerpts from another article paints the picture bit more clearly

"The world got another look at the US exercise of good governance in Iraq, courtesy of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The George W Bush administration had airlifted $12 billion in cash into post-conquest Iraq. $6.6 billion - more than half - cannot be accounted for. It is now assumed that it was stolen, perhaps "the largest theft of funds in [US] national history.

U.S. officials often didn't have time or staff to keep strict financial controls. Millions of dollars were stuffed in gunnysacks and hauled on pickups to Iraqi agencies or contractors, officials have testified.

House Government Reform Committee investigators charged in 2005 that U.S. officials "used virtually no financial controls to account for these enormous cash withdrawals once they arrived in Iraq, and there is evidence of substantial waste, fraud and abuse in the actual spending and disbursement of the Iraqi funds."

Pentagon officials have contended for the last six years that they could account for the money if given enough time to track down the records. But repeated attempts to find the documentation, or better yet the cash, were fruitless.

In the requisite ironic coda, it turns out that the billions weren't even American taxpayers' money. The US government pulled the cash from the Development Fund for Iraq administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The fund accumulated the proceeds from Iraq's energy exports during the Saddam Hussein oil-for-food sanctions years for eventual disbursement for the benefit of its true owners: the citizens of Iraq.

Tough luck, Iraqi citizens.

For those keeping score, $6.6 billion is 66 million $100 bills. It is 72 tons of shrink-wrapped cash. It is the payload of three C-130 Hercules transports.