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1

CH3• + •CH3 → C2H6

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 12, 2007 10:18 AM
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Southwest Asia?

Posted by keshmeshi | October 12, 2007 10:21 AM
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The Europeans think America is now a rouge nation and think we are very dangerous to the rest of the world.

Both Germany and France are arming in secret for a potential conflict with America.

Russia is renewing its sense of national pride, which means telling American business to stay away and fear the American neo cons.

The old political friendships between China, now awash with money, and Russia, also bailed out by high prices for oil and all its minerals, - the new economic foreground makes both bold when dealing with the US and also reflect our changed role in world power games.

The American right wing has missed the cold war terribly. Part of the hatred of GLBT folk is to fashion a new enemy. they like clearly defined enemies.

Interesting topics. America vs. The World, what the fuck.

Posted by One Eric | October 12, 2007 10:25 AM
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I think we need 2 Presidents. One for International issues and one just for National issues.

It's a good point to wonder about Obama's world diplomacy. I love the guy myself but do wonder if he can handle it all.

I'd like to think his compassion and logic could make the sunshine, rainbows appear and win the world over with common sense and his fresh outlook but I don't think that's very realistic. . . with the axis of evil and all that there.

Posted by irl500girl | October 12, 2007 10:29 AM
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Are you saying you're *not* in favor of going after Bin Laden?

Posted by Aexia | October 12, 2007 10:55 AM
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obama is a great speaker who can make throngs of under-informed masses feel like he cares, but I don't think as many world leaders would take him seriously. you can't just blurt shit out about attacking pakistan and expect world leaders to think you have the natural judgment and restraint to lead what is one of the major world powers. i'm afraid he'll look as much of a clueless novice if/when he's elected president as our current embarrassment.


in this extremely delicate time, we so desparately need someone who understands and respects the process. there's no way in hell this is the time for some newbie american to enter the world stage and try to shake things up.


the only on-the-job training i'm willing to trust him with is that of hillary's vp.

Posted by kim | October 12, 2007 10:57 AM
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Hey, here's an idea: maybe this would be a good time to withdrawal our troops from Europe and let the European Union defend itself. See how well the Euro holds up when they have to buy their own tanks and planes.

I mean seriously -- I don't see any French troops patrolling our borders. Why the fuck is it our responsibility to maintain a permanent presence in Europe?

Posted by Judah | October 12, 2007 11:11 AM
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Okay, so you're not in favor of capturing Bin Laden.

Next question. Why are you arguing that "capturing Bin Laden" is the same as "attacking Pakistan"?

Posted by Aexia | October 12, 2007 11:12 AM
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Why the fuck is it our responsibility to maintain a permanent presence in Europe?

There's the national security interest in having a permanent ground base on the other side of the world. Both sides benefit from the arrangement.

Posted by Aexia | October 12, 2007 11:16 AM
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@9

No, they don't. We're not benefiting from this arrangement. The cost of maintaining a global military presence outweighs the benefits. More broadly, we don't need to maintain those bases at anything like their current levels. In any event, we certainly don't need to respond to Russia's buildup with a buildup of our own.

We have domestic spending priorities that should trump defending a prosperous European federation that is economically competitive with us and can easily afford to defend itself.

Posted by Judah | October 12, 2007 11:25 AM
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We defended Europe during the cold war because they (and Japan and Australia) were the only liberal capitalist democracies. The world has changed since then. I agree with Judah that Europe should carry a bigger part of their defense, especially if they are going to subsidize Airbus against Boeing.

But as a hardcore Anglophile, I think the "special relationship" with the UK is important and must always be defended. Once President Fuckhead is out of office, our relationship w/ the UK will return to its normal strong state.

And it's undeniable that while Russia can no longer credibly threaten an invasion of Western Europe, my distant cousins in Poland and the Ukraine legitimately fear economic domination by Russia and look to NATO for the stability to build enduring democratic institutions.

So I wouldn't abandon NATO. Just scale back. *Any* of the Dem candidates would be 100x better at this type of operation than President Fuckhead. Well, not Kucinich.

Posted by Big Sven | October 12, 2007 11:25 AM
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I am not against getting terrorits or Bin Laden. I am against a potential candidate saying he would go into a country with military forces without their approval/cooperation. Not only that, but even if presidents want to do this/have done this, its not something you SAY in a debate. I mean jesus.

We don't need to f-up our relations with the one country able to effectively help us in Afganistan and the NWFP.

Posted by Original Monique | October 12, 2007 11:32 AM
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Good luck (to any future president) getting the Pakistanis' cooperation/permission to get Bin Laden.

Posted by keshmeshi | October 12, 2007 11:49 AM
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If you talk to anyone with any real knowledge of the area, you'd realize Obama was right on the threat that Pakistan poses.

Now, what will we do about the continuing 90 percent of funding and volunteers for al-Qaeda that Saudi Arabia represents?

Iraq never was a threat - and still isn't.

Even the Marines understand this.

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 12, 2007 11:52 AM
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One Eric @3:

The Europeans think America is now a rouge nation...

Meaning... we're a pig with makeup?

Posted by lostboy | October 12, 2007 12:37 PM
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no, a pig with rouge.

if we had lipstick, it would have lead in it.

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 12, 2007 12:58 PM
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rogue

lostboy - what do you think about the Euro replacing the dollar as the international currency standard?

And when - year, two years?

Posted by One Eric | October 12, 2007 1:46 PM
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One Eric @17, I don't have any particular opinion on that. Sorry.

Posted by lostboy | October 12, 2007 4:49 PM

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