Unfortunately, politicians are not going to stop being idiots, so we might as well deal with what we have.

Still don't really understand this coalition thing. I asked my dad, but he just keeps muttering about them all acting like little children.

Nero wrote:But everyone there is an idiot; Layton is frustratingly ignorant, Harper can't use his minority well, Dion's personality is just not good enough to compete.

Personally, i find Harper's personality far less likeable than Dion's. Although that time he had a sleepover with Rick Mercer sorta redeemed him, but only 'cos his kids are adorable.

And whenever I do that test, I always get Layton. I like that he wants to pull out of Afghanistan. Obama wants to invest more in there.

Oh and the coalition is really simple, if I've understood it correctly. The NDP, Bloc and the Liberals signed a 2.5 year contract so together they have more seats than the Conservatives who become the opposition. And it's completly democratic because they are in fact voted in by the people

Edit: Also this is the cutest thing in the universe

OMG. Rick Mercer is awesome. I like the lil' Layton kid.

wrote:Oh and the coalition is really simple, if I've understood it correctly. The NDP, Bloc and the Liberals signed a 2.5 year contract so together they have more seats than the Conservatives who become the opposition. And it's completly democratic because they are in fact voted in by the people

Doesn't really seem like they should be able to do that... Meh.

I know, they even got the porn 'stache on him!

*shrugs* They do it all over. Like in Italy and Netherlands.

Wow.
Nice avie Lucy.

Royal Marines killed by 13 year old suicide bomber.

wrote:But we cannot succeed on our own. We need help. It is high time that other members of Nato started to provide it.

Oh what a surprise. A fricking humongous article complaining about the lack of support from NATO and not one mention of Canada. ><

Canada has fewer troops in Afghanistan than Germany or France.

Dansariki wrote:Wow.
Nice avie Lucy.

lol it's Chris Crocker :P

PS: Anyone know if Michael Ignatief the Canadian politician is the same guy who wrote "The Russian Album" 'cos his wiki page refuses to open for me for some strange reason. It was an ok book, but I only read like a chapter.

Yes, The Russian Album, 1987.

America isn't really the most dangerous country, i think that economically Russia is the most dangerous. they could take out most of the worlds power and fuel which would seriously affect us all.

Sentynel wrote:Canada has fewer troops in Afghanistan than Germany or France.

Not by that many troops.

wrote:Canadian forces have been actively fighting the Taliban in the south and have suffered a high proportion of the allies causalities. The total number is expected to rise to 2700 by Feb. 2009

The south is near Kandahar.

Canada in Afganistan

Yes, but the writer of the article was complaining that Germany and France weren't contributing enough! By that logic he should have been complaining about Canada not doing enough too.

Alec wrote:America isn't really the most dangerous country, i think that economically Russia is the most dangerous. they could take out most of the worlds power and fuel which would seriously affect us all.

This depends. Do you mean dangerous worldwide? In the Middle East, the US is probably the most "dangerous". In Europe, Russia is looking increasingly off their rocker. And China and NK will always be dangerous. =P

Sentynel wrote:Yes, but the writer of the article was complaining that Germany and France weren't contributing enough! By that logic he should have been complaining about Canada not doing enough too.

What the writer was saying was that Britain and the US are taking the brute of the mission. By not mentioning Canada, the writer just forgetting entirely about Canada's contribution. That's my beef with the writer.

Nero wrote:

Sentynel wrote:Yes, but the writer of the article was complaining that Germany and France weren't contributing enough! By that logic he should have been complaining about Canada not doing enough too.

What the writer was saying was that Britain and the US are taking the brute of the mission. By not mentioning Canada, the writer just forgetting entirely about Canada's contribution. That's my beef with the writer.

..but Canada has fewer troops there than some of the nations he was complaining weren't doing enough!

Nero I think you're either incapable of or ignoring Sentynel's point...

In the Far East, China is quite clearly the biggest threat, while North Korea is right behind.
One could successfully argue for NK, due to unpredictability, but China, if they deicide to do something, could do far more.
China has the world's largest standing military, while the US has the largest total (which add active, reserve, and paramilitary units), and NK is the world's 4th largest in standing army, and roughly 8th total.

*Edit*Iran has the world's largest total military, not America. Sorry.

So, in the region, China and NK are 1st and 2nd, respectively, while India, Vietnam, and Iran are the largest (and thus pretty much most dangerous, not taking into account Nuclear capability or lack thereof) in their respective areas, moving East to West.
As for Europe, I'd go for Russia too. They found their balls and have started to walk a fine line, the one that everyone fears.

Economically, the US is still the most influential, as evidenced by our economic screw-up setting everyone else's (which weren't great to begin with) in to motion and over the edge into the recession we're in now.
I see Russia as having the most potential in the future economy, but I have doubts as to whether or not they can capitalize on it.
The Political Atmosphere there is, as usual, hectic and loaded as hell.

In North America, the US takes top spot, regardless.

South America is up for grabs, with Brazil leading in all military categories, but I know nothing of the economic situation there.

Africa goes region by region, I don't bother paying attention. War rages on and off throughout most of the place, power switches with the weeks.

The US still stands on it's hill, but barely.

Have you seen the Russian economy? Their stock market has been ready to collapse for far longer than any other major country and since the summer (the georgia conflict is directly resposible) has fallen the most out of any stock market. I can't see the Russian economy recovering any quicker than any other.

That's why I said potential.
They won't be buying the world anytime soon, but if they recover quickly enough they could do quite a lot.

Sentynel wrote:

Nero wrote:

Sentynel wrote:Yes, but the writer of the article was complaining that Germany and France weren't contributing enough! By that logic he should have been complaining about Canada not doing enough too.

What the writer was saying was that Britain and the US are taking the brute of the mission. By not mentioning Canada, the writer just forgetting entirely about Canada's contribution. That's my beef with the writer.

..but Canada has fewer troops there than some of the nations he was complaining weren't doing enough!

Mmmk. You win. :P

You involved in the riots Kitty? =P

Well she got drunk last night, so.... might be :P