Walsingham

As fascinating as it is to hear Sand singing the same song yet again, I fail to see the relevance. The failure of Iraq's new genesis is not Islam but a culture of tribalist non-state loyalty. There are several countries making progress within the bounds of Islam, including Malaysia and (in some respects) Iran. The challenge is not changing a culture of religion. the challenge is changing a culture of corruption and individual advancement. A culture which keeps practically the whole of Africa under its heel, and is laying low Russia. On the one hand, such a culture always flourishes during unrest and violence (we had it here in Britain during both wars) but it is also laid down with cultural traditions, stories, institutions, heroes and so on.

It seems that Sand does not merely hold the social opinions of a Dickensian miser, but the sense of humour also. Of course prank calls can be funny. This does not sound very amusing, however. What a waste of so much time and effort.

on all your accounts too! there really should be the forum 'Knights of the Nine" or somthing. top nine posters or top voted posters get a tag like that. You mean a forum with NOTHING but drivel on it? notice the VOTING your favorite poster into one of the spots. I apologise, sir, for not noticing your point. However, I still say the result would be the same.

A lot of interesting points. I'm going to listen for a bit first. However, just a couple: 1. Iraq is not a 'Muslim' country. It's a complex hodgepodge of allegiances and cultures. However, I've heard a lot of people who ought to know saying Iraq is a secular country. They're a brutalised country, but basically secular. The religious extremism is finding its most fertile soil in the disaffected and jobless young men. Thus (and this is no accident) the more the extremists wreck the country the more support they get in their key niche. 2. I think it's nonsensical to say that we have to be either about stopping extremism or prducing a pro-western success story. Firstly the two goals are enabled by almost identical effects in country. Secondly, we never seem to have one goal, but rather a massive mess of competing goals. If we did we have only one goal we might be a lot more effective. 3. I don't think it's at all fair to describe all American wars as a grotesque grinding mess. We could debate plenty of the examples you mention, but Gulf 1/Desert Storm was an absolute triumph demonstrating how incredibly far the Yanks have come since embracing operational manoeuvre and information warfare in the mid '80s. LImited objectives, coalition warfare, and almost staggeringly tiny casualties.

I could see math being used given the right puzzles, like novel cryptography, or that bit in the film Cube.

Is anyone else thinking of Glory in Buffy?

I'd have thought in pen and paper bards could be very efffective and lots more fun than other classes, because you can be much more creative than in a CRPG. As for some dude singing, I agree that a lute seems odd, but think of that scene in Apocalypse Now with the Wagner playing. I bet that was the aircav's bard platoon at work.

The Godfather isn't how the mafia is, anymore than 'Hero' was about how the ancient Chinese were. It's a fantasy talking about what we'd like it to be. EDIT: To be fair we fantasise about lots of stinky things to make them seem better.

I do see what you mean. But given the importance of Iraq to the US on every level I would suggest that other commitments be dramatically reduced. This is crunch time on the centre of gravity for this century. Of course this is a Brit talking, and we're strolling off whistling...

BBC main al-Jazaera BBC mortars Figures on attacks are down. The Iraqi public are losing patience wuth organisations such as the Mehdi army, and staging protests against them. Al Qaeda has been beaten back in Sunni areas due to their high-handedness, and determination to provoke total war and genocide against the Shia. Yet yesterday the Independent newspaper declared this a 'war without end', on its front page. My question is really whether this news changes anyone's opinions here. Is a continuation of effort and ramping up of support capable of rescuing the country, or should the signs of progress be taken as cause to leave? The US is usually accused of reinforcing failure. Will this be a case of abandoning success?

Bioshock, without question.

The hardest thing is probably going to be fighting in no goddamn armour.

It would indeed be a significant challenge. But is it really impossible? to do as well, or better?

I might well prefer gaming on console, but I need a PC for work, and I can't afford both. so it's PC.

I recall you being more nihilistic last year.

I agree with Steve, too much furniture makes rooms claustrophobic. I used t get people saying "Why do you have such a fantastic big place and no furniture?" Whereas now they ask "Huh! And how much did this cost you?"

on all your accounts too! there really should be the forum 'Knights of the Nine" or somthing. top nine posters or top voted posters get a tag like that. You mean a forum with NOTHING but drivel on it?

Thanks for you opinion, Tigranes. I guess I will go buy them then... The third one was completely whacky.

I'm happy we have you here to determine which jokes are funny and which aren't. Tell me when I can laugh next, I sure need it right now. Sure thing. I'll tell you when my mom dies and you can make jokes about it on the day of the funeral.

\ You just like it b/c it has Green Or is that my reason ... hehe ... FLoSD.ObE Nutloop.

Another issue is the commitment of Britain to the defence of France against Germany. In the history of the time this was as bizarre as America siding with Morocco against Britain. This is discussed in many books, but most interestingly in 'Sea Power' by the anonymous author 'T124' (1940). Essentially you had a Britain who had been primed pre-war by key individuals to support France. Then after the outbreak of hostilities the commitment became a British emphasis on troops over ships. This was both bizarre and unhlepful because it fooled the land command into believing tehy could win on land were it was tactically impossible. Good topic choice, BTW. If we merely go through the emotional components of honouring the dead we will quickly forget the truth of the deaths. If we forget the truths we are doomed to repeat them. EDIT (Trading at war): In that case China is actively supporting genocide in Sudan, and terrorism in Iraq, not just with materials but finished weapons.

It is the signal defect of education that it permits us to dress up childish ignorance as if it were reasoned thought. I think you're correct that these teenage nihilists are really just angry eedjits.

Hah! I am a fighter! Stab! Stab stab!

Has anyone else noticed we've all got classes now?

I read abvout this in the news, but thought I'd wait for one of you chaps to bring it up. I didn't know what to say besides: 1: How pathetic these individuals are 2: How they are almost always known to the authorities before the attack 3: Nothing is done about them prior to the attack 4: In my opinion stopping guns won't stop these individuals. They can and will switch to other means of lethal force such as bombs or arson. 5: I think the solution is much more effective monitoring and care.