Re: The World News Thread

by **Kiskaloo** Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 12:16

mysterybad wrote:What do you mean about a "second Vietnam." El Conservatore?

In 1950, the United States created the Military Assistance Advisory Group to assist the French in the First Indochina War. The MAAG provided weapons, advised on strategy, and trained Vietnamese soldiers. This was the first step that led to the full commitment of the United States military in what became the Vietnam War.

Personally, I do not feel that this assistance will lead to the US becoming deeply militarily involved in Syria. The Vietnam War was driven by the policy of containing Communism and the "The Domino Theory", which postulated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

This time, Communism is dead and while we have seen a "domino effect" with the Arab Spring, it's been mostly a positive thing for the populations involved. The US also did not send combat troops to Libya for their civil war, so I would expect the same with Syria - even more so because of Syria's proximity to Israel and the desire of the US to not be seen as acting as a proxy for Israel.

by Il Direttore Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 13:09

Kiskaloo wrote:
mysterybad wrote:What do you mean about a "second Vietnam." El Conservatore?

In 1950, the United States created the Military Assistance Advisory Group to assist the French in the First Indochina War. The MAAG provided weapons, advised on strategy, and trained Vietnamese soldiers. This was the first step that led to the full commitment of the United States military in what became the Vietnam War.

Personally, I do not feel that this assistance will lead to the US becoming deeply militarily involved in Syria. The Vietnam War was driven by the policy of containing Communism and the "The Domino Theory", which postulated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

This time, Communism is dead and while we have seen a "domino effect" with the Arab Spring, it's been mostly a positive thing for the populations involved. The US also did not send combat troops to Libya for their civil war, so I would expect the same with Syria - even more so because of Syria's proximity to Israel and the desire of the US to not be seen as acting as a proxy for Israel.

*nods* I was going to mention that I was probably being hyperbolic in that initial comment. It's unlikely that actual soldiers will be sent in a full on military capacity, but it seems likely to me that the amount of support will drastically increase over time.

by **Kiskaloo** Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 13:22

El Conservatore wrote:*nods* I was going to mention that I was probably being hyperbolic in that initial comment. It's unlikely that actual soldiers will be sent in a full on military capacity, but it seems likely to me that the amount of support will drastically increase over time.

I guess it would depend on how well things go for those fighting against the government. I could see a similar strategy as to what played out in Libya.

by Il Direttore Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 14:19

Kiskaloo wrote:
El Conservatore wrote:*nods* I was going to mention that I was probably being hyperbolic in that initial comment. It's unlikely that actual soldiers will be sent in a full on military capacity, but it seems likely to me that the amount of support will drastically increase over time.

I guess it would depend on how well things go for those fighting against the government. I could see a similar strategy as to what played out in Libya.

*nods again* I would agree that this seems the most likely. US Airstrike Capability, in particular, would be a tremendous advantage for the rebels and end the conflict quickly.

by Kurosaka "Ery" Erika Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 14:59

oone word for me: INTERVENTION

by Awinnell Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 16:40

would it be better if the Rebels won ? after all they are most likely going to go all out with the fundamentalist version of Islam that the west is doing its best to suppress ! not that it matters at the moment as both Russia and China are vetoing any sort of intervention( probably due to arms sales with the current regime)

by Robert Frazer Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 17:52

Is this really just a bit of housecleaning from the USA though, an excuse to empty some warehouses of old kit? I seriously doubt that an actual intervention into Syria will ever happen, short of hands being forced by something outrageously improbable like Iran testing out one of its new nukes on Aleppo. Obama doesn't want it, Cameron can't afford it, Europe couldn't attempt it. Also, I imagine that the backroom deal that Russia consented to in order to pass UNSCR 1973 to bomb Libya was "we'll give you Gadaffi if you leave us Assad".

by Il Direttore Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 18:12

Given the latest in Libya, Awinnell, you may have a point. Interfactional fighting is basically what most people will default to, after all.

What do you mean, exactly, Robert? I'm a little confused.

by Robert Frazer Thu 28 Feb 2013 - 18:18

Just that I don't believe that anyone in government has any political will or even much of a desire to intervene in Syria. We'll see gestures and second-hand support at a remove, but actual military commitments aren't going to happen.

by mysterybad Fri 1 Mar 2013 - 6:02

Vietnamese armed security in UAE - this is the first time we export the mercenaries to foreign country

by Kurosaka "Ery" Erika Fri 1 Mar 2013 - 8:53

"Royal Sulu" paramilitary intrusion in Sabah update news today; 2 VAT69 commandos and one police commando today died during the heated battle in Sandakan,sabah; with 12 enemy died.

my condolesnce...
i'm kinda worried that the intrusion location is actually 300km from my hometown XD

by Kurosaka "Ery" Erika Sat 2 Mar 2013 - 10:54

Another recent news...
The "Royal Sulu" paramilitary breached my hometown....

and by 10.52p.m, i've received a news that another battle, 2 police wounded....

by Il Direttore Mon 4 Mar 2013 - 13:45

A Jester No More, Italy’s Gadfly of Politics Reflects a Movement

In summary, Beppe Grillo, a comedian turned activist, just won about 25% of the vote for Italian Parliament and now has to step up to the plate.

He also refuses to work with either of the big coalitions in parliament. The result is that nobody really has enough of a majority to become Prime Minister. Now normally, that'd be pretty "meh" and all this means is that the new player ends up winning more popularity or eventually losing, with a return to the status quo.

Now if the squo returns, that's fine-ish. We get the same system, Italy is politically stable, and while things are still pretty bad, it's not horrible. But if Grillo's movement increases in popularity, it capacity to enact its stated goals will increase as well. Notably:

NY Times wrote:Among the top measures is a so-called citizenship salary, a type of unemployment insurance for hard-hit Italians. Policies would be funded by cutting waste, corruption and rampant political spending. Further savings would come from withdrawing Italian forces from Afghanistan, capping state pensions at 5,000 euros a month and overturning tax amnesties, among other steps.

This is comparatively benign. From the stand point of a consumer, I find all of that to be appealing at face value. But...

NY Times wrote:The departing prime minister, Mario Monti, saved Italy — at least temporarily — from having to ask for an international bailout. The risk is that Mr. Grillo has the effect of reversing those gains, making the situation harder for the people he is fighting for.

Mr. Grillo brushed off those concerns. Markets would respond positively, he said, “if we work with transparency and serenely, if we are honest and abolish conflict of interest, and pass laws against criminality, and if we support small and medium businesses and transform Italy into a community.”

Grillo's mindset makes me cautious. The presumption that government transparency implies increased investment due to greater confidence in said government is not a link that is intuitively drawn, and there is a distinct lack of argumentation to support this claim. As a result, it seems much more likely that the increased programs to assist Italians will result in increased spending without any compensatory reduction in costs in other areas. This would cause increased debt and land Italy back where it started.

But the more extreme measure is this:

NY Times wrote:Barefoot and wearing faded jeans and a gray T-shirt with an image of Gandhi, he said his goal was to do away with a system that had “disintegrated the country” and build “something new” that would restore Italy to a true participatory democracy. “We can change everything in the hands of respectable people, but the existing political class must be expelled immediately,” he said.

According to this quote, it seems that Grillo's movement would apparently eventually involve sweeping reforms of the parliamentary system and attempts to remove current politicians from power. In a perfect system where humans are inherently good and behave as such, such attempts at reform should occur naturally as a function of corruption. Theoretically, the level of corruption should be kept at equilibrium with public opinion. But the presumption that humans will behave as if they are inherently good is false, namely because humans have a tendency to be greedy, reactionary, and stupid, as evidenced by politics in general, and national-level politics in particular. Attempts to reform will, therefore, most likely result in INCREASED political posturing and a turn towards GREATER corruption and underhandedness, causing an increase in social unrest until something explodes.

Oh wait. Does this seem familiar to anyone?

by **Kiskaloo** Mon 4 Mar 2013 - 14:05

Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity measures are deeply, deeply disliked by the general Italian population so I can see why Grillo's platform found resonance with said population (and why Monti's party was destroyed in the elections).

by Kurosaka "Ery" Erika Mon 4 Mar 2013 - 14:46

the current situation in my town-
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/3/3/nation/20130303133323&sec=nation

by MP5 Tue 5 Mar 2013 - 18:48

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has died at age 58:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21679053

by Thescarredman Tue 5 Mar 2013 - 19:47

Kiskaloo wrote:Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity measures are deeply, deeply disliked by the general Italian population so I can see why Grillo's platform found resonance with said population (and why Monti's party was destroyed in the elections).

Just because they were unpopular doesn't mean they were unnecessary. One wonders how long the Germans will keep covering the EU's spendthrift members' debts.

by **Kiskaloo** Wed 13 Mar 2013 - 14:10

Time for Kara to shop for a new outfit for the inauguration as the Conclave of Cardinals have chosen a new Pope.

And that new Pope is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who has taken the Papal name of Francis. He is the first non-European Pope.

by Hamster Wed 13 Mar 2013 - 18:17

Kiskaloo wrote: He is the first non-European Pope.

Relevant recent Polandball:
Backstory: The other Latin American countries used to make fun of Argentinaball for claiming to be white/European.

Argentina can finally into white!
The World News Thread - Page 12 BYKQlCp

by MP5 Thu 14 Mar 2013 - 0:14

Hamster wrote:
Kiskaloo wrote: He is the first non-European Pope.
Relevant recent Polandball:
Backstory: The other Latin American countries used to make fun of Argentinaball for claiming to be white/European.

Argentina can finally into white!

Oh my god, I LOVE Polandball.

by **Nachtsider** Thu 14 Mar 2013 - 0:23

Glad the new guy's a Jesuit. They're staunch believers in logic and rationality, and see the church dogma as a spiritual exercise in a sort of eye of the beholder way, not something to trump common sense.

Wouldn't be surprised if he starts rounding up pedophiles and handing them over to the cops with evidence.

by **Kiskaloo** Thu 14 Mar 2013 - 9:36

Yeah, the only time I'll go to Mass is if a Jesuit is handling the Homily.

by **Nachtsider** Sat 23 Mar 2013 - 12:54

So long and good night, My Chemical Romance. So long and good night. (teardrop)

by Awinnell Wed 3 Apr 2013 - 14:43

Author Iain Banks has revealed he has gall bladder cancer and has just "several months" to live.

In a personal statement on his official website, the Wasp Factory writer said he asked his partner Adele to marry him and is now on a short honeymoon.

The 59-year-old said: "The bottom line now, I'm afraid, is that as a late-stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for 'several months' and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year. So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last."

by Awinnell Mon 8 Apr 2013 - 13:11

Baroness Thatcher has died at the age of 87 following a stroke, her family has announced.

As tributes poured in to the former premier, it was announced that she will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral. Downing Street gave details of the event after the Tory former prime minister died on Monday morning. She had been in ill health for several years and was rarely seen in public in recent years.

by **Kiskaloo** Mon 8 Apr 2013 - 14:54

Mouseketeer Annette Funicello has also passed at age 70.

Her children attended the same private elementary school in Los Angeles I did and she used to serve hot dogs in the cafeteria.

by Alfisti Tue 9 Apr 2013 - 6:51

Part of me really hopes this is real and not just some crazy stunt because... ow my brain.

WTF: Daft Punk debuting new album in regional Australian town

Also, if true, possibly going for a drive.

by Il Direttore Mon 15 Apr 2013 - 16:46

Dual Bombs at Boston Marathon Kill 2, wound 20+

From the New York Times

"A series of explosions was reported near the finish line at the Boston Marathon on Monday, leaving two people dead and at least two dozen injured, according to the Boston Police Department."

Oh shit. The fact that the bomber(s) apparently were able to bypass a rather substantial security effort is a little concerning, either for the competency of American Police or for the competency of the terrorist(s) involved.

by mysterybad Mon 15 Apr 2013 - 20:00

another terrorists act in the US? I hope the terrorists meet justice.

by Guest Mon 15 Apr 2013 - 21:25

One of my friends from the US National Guard is there today. Said the place was a fuckin mess.

by Awinnell Tue 16 Apr 2013 - 0:41

I reckon it will be home grown nut jobs not extremist Islamic terrorists

by **Nachtsider** Tue 16 Apr 2013 - 20:48

Awinnell wrote:I reckon it will be home grown nut jobs not extremist Islamic terrorists

Apparently some Saudi guy got hauled in by the cops. Or am I mistaken?

by **Kiskaloo** Tue 16 Apr 2013 - 21:03

Nachtsider wrote:
Awinnell wrote:I reckon it will be home grown nut jobs not extremist Islamic terrorists
Apparently some Saudi guy got hauled in by the cops. Or am I mistaken?

US law enforcement officials have stated he is a witness to the attack, not a suspect.

The bomb design is one used by al-Qaeda and they have published the specifications to make it so it could still be a domestic terrorist.

by **Nachtsider** Tue 16 Apr 2013 - 21:42

Hmm. It seems a little odd that they would place a witness under armed guard at the hospital, but hey, if he's innocent, then I'm glad.

I read about the pressure cooker bombs, yeah. The Taliban and AQ types love those. But you're right; some domestic could easily have accessed the information to make his own.

Wonder what sort of message is being conveyed here, timing the bombing for Patriots Day.

by Il Direttore Tue 16 Apr 2013 - 23:56

Nachtsider wrote:Hmm. It seems a little odd that they would place a witness under armed guard at the hospital, but hey, if he's innocent, then I'm glad.

I read about the pressure cooker bombs, yeah. The Taliban and AQ types love those. But you're right; some domestic could easily have accessed the information to make his own.

Wonder what sort of message is being conveyed here, timing the bombing for Patriots Day.

Not sure about the timing, but the witness-under-armed-guard does make a certain amount of sense. What if the perps go "Oh shit, we should probably blow this witness to hell so that we won't get nabbed"?

by Awinnell Wed 17 Apr 2013 - 0:48

Nachtsider wrote:
Awinnell wrote:I reckon it will be home grown nut jobs not extremist Islamic terrorists
Apparently some Saudi guy got hauled in by the cops. Or am I mistaken?

I felt it was more likely to be a home grown attacker as the type of attack resembled an IRA style attack rather than the larger suicide type attacks used by Islamic extremists, of course i'm no expert , so we'll have to wait and see

by **Nachtsider** Wed 17 Apr 2013 - 1:45

El Conservatore wrote:Not sure about the timing, but the witness-under-armed-guard does make a certain amount of sense. What if the perps go "Oh shit, we should probably blow this witness to hell so that we won't get nabbed"?

I'm pondering the probabilities of these people being able to identify, track down and eliminate a specific witness. But I suppose you're right; better safe than sorry.

by mysterybad Thu 18 Apr 2013 - 6:34

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/17/17800341-5-to-15-killed-160-wounded-in-devastating-texas-chemical-plant-blast?lite

another terrorist attack ?

by **Kiskaloo** Thu 18 Apr 2013 - 9:18

I would expect this is an industrial accident, not a deliberate act.

by **Nachtsider** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 2:53

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/18/mit-police-officer-hit-gunfire-cambridge-police-dispatcher-says/4UeCClOVeLr8PHLvDa99zK/story.html

One bombing suspect in custody after a firefight, and the other being hunted down. Shit, that was fast.

by **Kiskaloo** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 10:45

In more uplifting news, the NASA Kepler telescope has found two habitable worlds in orbit around an orange dwarf star about 1200 light years from Earth. The star is 7 billion years old, which is more than sufficient time for complex life to evolve.

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/nasa-twin-planets-perfectly-habitable-just-discovered?ocid=ansnews11

by Il Direttore Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 11:10

Nachtsider wrote:http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/18/mit-police-officer-hit-gunfire-cambridge-police-dispatcher-says/4UeCClOVeLr8PHLvDa99zK/story.html

One bombing suspect in custody after a firefight, and the other being hunted down. Shit, that was fast.

NYTimes says that the one guy is dead while the other is being hunted down. Additionally, they're brothers?!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/boston-marathon-bombings.html?emc=na&_r=0

by Guest Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 11:20

Someone needs to get on making a frickin FTL drive.

by **Nachtsider** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 11:29

http://www.news.com.au/world-news/massive-police-operation-and-manhunt-for-bombing-suspect-in-boston-area-after-shootout/story-fndir2ev-1226624804954

Chechen brothers.

by Il Direttore Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 11:30

Nachtsider wrote:http://www.news.com.au/world-news/massive-police-operation-and-manhunt-for-bombing-suspect-in-boston-area-after-shootout/story-fndir2ev-1226624804954

Chechen brothers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/details-of-tsarnaev-brothers-boston-suspects-emerge.html?pagewanted=2&src=un&feedurl=http://json8.nytimes.com/pages/national/index.jsonp

Who were apparently pretty cool? This just gets weirder and weirder. Why would two perfectly normal, pretty cool guys decide to bomb the fuck out of a marathon? And get into a massive shootout with the police? The Fuck?!

by **Nachtsider** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 12:02

That's what they always say once the perps are unmasked. He was cool, he was friendly, he was normal, yadda yadda yadda.

Latest reports I'm seeing is there's apparently a third accomplice, who fled by boarding an Amtrak train headed for New York.

by Il Direttore Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 12:07

Nachtsider wrote:That's what they always say once the perps are unmasked. He was cool, he was friendly, he was normal, yadda yadda yadda.

Latest reports I'm seeing is there's apparently a third accomplice, who fled by boarding an Amtrak train headed for New York.

Right, so proposal: hold the news reports and wait until the situation sort-of-vaguely concludes before trying to make sense of everything.

by Professor Voodoo Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 14:04

By no means do I intend to trivialize this; but the interview with the Boston suspects' aunt in Toronto is epic.

by **Triela** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 14:46

Nachtsider wrote:Latest reports I'm seeing is there's apparently a third accomplice, who fled by boarding an Amtrak train headed for New York.

Really? Oh god. D:

I can't believe all this is happening, it's so unreal. It's so scary to watch all of this unfold. I hope they find the remaining suspects soon.

Even though what happened to them was horrible, I'm happy to read that all the victims that were hurt in the attack will survive.

by Professor Voodoo Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 17:30

I was in New York City on Monday (the day of the Boston bombing) and what surprised me was how little increased security there seemed to be. There's always a lot of Police & security around landmarks and transport hubs but nobody was checking cars or bags at all. I sat in a car parked (illegally Embarassed

) in front of the New York State Supreme Court for 15 minutes and nobody even looked twice at me.

The only indication I got that something wrong up came at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, where I heard one Police officer ask another "You heard the news, right?"
Even the MARSEC level aboard the ferry was at its lowest tier.

by Il Direttore Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 18:04

Professor Voodoo wrote:I was in New York City on Monday (the day of the Boston bombing) and what surprised me was how little increased security there seemed to be. There's always a lot of Police & security around landmarks and transport hubs but nobody was checking cars or bags at all. I sat in a car parked (illegally ) in front of the New York State Supreme Court for 15 minutes and nobody even looked twice at me.

The only indication I got that something wrong up came at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, where I heard one Police officer ask another "You heard the news, right?"
Even the MARSEC level aboard the ferry was at its lowest tier.

To be fair, NYC is not Boston.

My friend from Jersey says: "Also, the amount that people in New York City don't care is fantastically high."

by **Nachtsider** Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 20:52

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/19/boston-mit-police-dead-watertown

Got him. Tsarnaev captured alive.

by Il Direttore Fri 19 Apr 2013 - 20:53

Nachtsider wrote:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/19/boston-mit-police-dead-watertown

Got him. Tsarnaev captured alive.

And now we wait for the details. Damn, this is going to be tense.

by Awinnell Tue 30 Apr 2013 - 19:15

[youtube][/youtube]
horrifying crash at Bagram airfield, a Civilian cargo plane carrying 5 military vehicles suffered a load shift resulting in a stall and crash

by **Kiskaloo** Tue 30 Apr 2013 - 19:59

It was a former Air France 747-400 converted to a freighter and operated by National Air Cargo. All 7 aboard (4 pilots, 2 mechanics and 1 loadmaster) were killed on impact.

by Officer_Charon Tue 30 Apr 2013 - 20:15

Amazing that the guy was able to stop the tail slide at all.... damned shame he didn't have more room to work with...

by Il Direttore Tue 30 Apr 2013 - 23:11

Awinnell wrote:[youtube][/youtube]
horrifying crash at Bagram airfield, a Civilian cargo plane carrying 5 military vehicles suffered a load shift resulting in a stall and crash

Jesus Christ, that's horrifying. Anyone know why it was going so slow at the beginning? Had the load just shifted at that point?

by tremec6speed Wed 1 May 2013 - 0:03

That is so tragic, so sad.

by **Nachtsider** Wed 1 May 2013 - 1:15

Some loadmaster's head will be on the chopping block very soon. You can bet your boots it will.

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