[mentalfloss]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

The realization that Obama while being a decient guy, is not Merlin the grand wizard that many had once thought of him is beginning to sink in.

The fact that it took this long just goes to show the submissive nature of people to begin with. Mind you, that isn't to imply he's done a poor job in office up until this point - far from it, actually - but it's disgusting how many people still fall for the 'appeal to authority' fallacy these days.

[CommanderSock]

Interesting.

This Obama fellow is smarter than Conservatives give him credit for. He's trying to split Al Queda along racial lines, and if he manages to succeed, all the better for the west.

Who would you rather have Muslim Africans side with? Muslim Arabs or the West.

The war on terror will be won or lost in Africa. While the Middle East has oil, Africa has uranium, oil, diamonds, zinc, copper, cobalt, potash and basically every other resource one can think of. Who they side with is important. They’ve been growing on average 5%-10% in GDP for the past decade, and still going strong some are now in the 11-17% growth bracket. Again, who they choose as their allies will greatly shape the global political landscape of the future.

Some countries have already chosen. Ethiopia is a staunchly Christian nation that will fight Islamic regimes on that principle alone (they were the first Christian country in the world).

Others, such as Nigeria are still on the fence. For them, it depends of the leadership flavour of the month, and who pays the fattest bribes.

An Al Queda split along racial lines is good for the west. I wonder why so many people are too blind to see it.

[BartSimpson]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

Interesting.

This Obama fellow is smarter than Conservatives give him credit for. He's trying to split Al Queda along racial lines, and if he manages to succeed, all the better for the west.

Al Qaeda could care less about Obama calling them racist.

[CommanderSock]

Al Qaeda won’t, but young Africans who are on the fence may think deeper about the issues of race and joining an organization that is (perceived) to have strong anti black elements.

Al Qaeda is like Apple Computers, they don’t necessarily have the best product, but they are a global brand, and image is everything. If Obama can equate Al Qaeda with anti black racism, potential recruits on the continent may begin to dry up.

Or not.

I'm sure the policy wonks and think tanks are more knowledgeable than us forum junkies.

[ManifestDestiny]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

I'm sure the policy wonks and think tanks are more knowledgeable than us forum junkies.

I dont subscribe to your point of view. Eggheads are generally out of touch with reality.

[kenmore]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

I really think Obama is a Clown.

Yes, I think is new 21Century version of Jimmy Carter, a well meaning guy but missing a couple of elements. We need a Theodore Roosevelt.

I agree and Canada needs Pierre E. Trudeau!

[EyeBrock]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

Interesting.

This Obama fellow is smarter than Conservatives give him credit for. He's trying to split Al Queda along racial lines, and if he manages to succeed, all the better for the west.

Who would you rather have Muslim Africans side with? Muslim Arabs or the West.

The war on terror will be won or lost in Africa. While the Middle East has oil, Africa has uranium, oil, diamonds, zinc, copper, cobalt, potash and basically every other resource one can think of. Who they side with is important. They’ve been growing on average 5%-10% in GDP for the past decade, and still going strong some are now in the 11-17% growth bracket. Again, who they choose as their allies will greatly shape the global political landscape of the future.

Some countries have already chosen. Ethiopia is a staunchly Christian nation that will fight Islamic regimes on that principle alone (they were the first Christian country in the world).

Others, such as Nigeria are still on the fence. For them, it depends of the leadership flavour of the month, and who pays the fattest bribes.

An Al Queda split along racial lines is good for the west. I wonder why so many people are too blind to see it.

Really, Africa has no political muscle and nobody really cares ‘politically’ what goes on there.

Black yanks romanticise Africa and dress up in clothes they think reflect their African heritage but can’t name more than two or three of the dozens of countries and ethnicities on the continent.

Obama is just another brown Yank that thinks Africa is a black version of Camelot with mystical knights of the round table etc. Reality is way different.

The last time most of Africa had an efficient system for mining and industrial growth there were Union Jacks, French Tri-Colours and other colonial flags fluttering over the continent.

Africa exchanged colonial masters for corrupt tribalism. Wake me up in a hundred years or so when things change.

Oh, and I’ve spent 2 years of my life in various parts of Africa, I have an idea about what I’m talking about.

[CommanderSock]

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

I'm sure the policy wonks and think tanks are more knowledgeable than us forum junkies.

I dont subscribe to your point of view. Eggheads are generally out of touch with reality.

That's BS.

Eggheads set policy and manipulate the foolish masses.

In every society, including "the west", there is small elite. These small elite control the wealth creation of the country. They also control the wealth itself.

This elite range from policy makers (political class) to simply wealthy private citizens.

Some are elite due to family ties, some due to innovation and hard work.

Then there's the middle class. The purpose of this class is to consume. The more they consume, the wealthier the top 5-10% become.

The middle class remains in the middle.

The middle class is the one that need to sweat for that mortgage, not the elites. The middle class masses are the ones lining up at 5am outside the Apple store for the new I-Gizmo.

The best part is the middle class thinks it controls its destiny. For the most part, it's the other way around. Its destiny is written in the policy setting rooms of Ottawa, Washington, London, Paris, and the corner office boardrooms of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and other powerful institutions such as banks, insurance firms and other miscellaneous corporations.

They [the masses] are controlled by elites, and that's how it's always been, and that's how it will continue to be, regardless of political system, race of religion.

Ultimately it’s the middle class masses that are out of touch with reality.

And yes, I'm one of the ignorant masses for now, for the most part.

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

Interesting.

This Obama fellow is smarter than Conservatives give him credit for. He's trying to split Al Queda along racial lines, and if he manages to succeed, all the better for the west.

Who would you rather have Muslim Africans side with? Muslim Arabs or the West.

The war on terror will be won or lost in Africa. While the Middle East has oil, Africa has uranium, oil, diamonds, zinc, copper, cobalt, potash and basically every other resource one can think of. Who they side with is important. They’ve been growing on average 5%-10% in GDP for the past decade, and still going strong some are now in the 11-17% growth bracket. Again, who they choose as their allies will greatly shape the global political landscape of the future.

Some countries have already chosen. Ethiopia is a staunchly Christian nation that will fight Islamic regimes on that principle alone (they were the first Christian country in the world).

Others, such as Nigeria are still on the fence. For them, it depends of the leadership flavour of the month, and who pays the fattest bribes.

An Al Queda split along racial lines is good for the west. I wonder why so many people are too blind to see it.

Really, Africa has no political muscle and nobody really cares ‘politically’ what goes on there.

Black yanks romanticise Africa and dress up in clothes they think reflect their African heritage but can’t name more than two or three of the dozens of countries and ethnicities on the continent.

Obama is just another brown Yank that thinks Africa is a black version of Camelot with mystical knights of the round table etc. Reality is way different.

The last time most of Africa had an efficient system for mining and industrial growth there were Union Jacks, French Tri-Colours and other colonial flags fluttering over the continent.

Africa exchanged colonial masters for corrupt tribalism. Wake me up in a hundred years or so when things change.

Oh, and I’ve spent 2 years of my life in various parts of Africa, I have an idea about what I’m talking about.

I think you're way out of touch EB.

Africa of 2010 is not Africa of 1990. There's been a huge difference. Africa has not grown this fast since the 1950s. Sustained GDP growth of 8% is quite remarkable (median!). And it has been generally well sustained for the past 10 years.

But you're an afro-skeptic; I don't quite expect a different response.

After all you did say RSA would flop hosting the WC2010.

RSA did a great job hosting the tournament, the third highest attendance in the tournament’s history and highest revenue stream for FIFA.
It was England that flopped.

And I should revise what I mean by Africa. I don't mean little hopeless states like Guinea Bissau and Cameroon. I am referring to heavyweights, the EAC, RSA, Nigeria, and Ethiopia etc.

They that hold the resources, hold the chips.

[GreenTiger]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

Interesting.

This Obama fellow is smarter than Conservatives give him credit for. He's trying to split Al Queda along racial lines, and if he manages to succeed, all the better for the west.

Who would you rather have Muslim Africans side with? Muslim Arabs or the West.

The war on terror will be won or lost in Africa. While the Middle East has oil, Africa has uranium, oil, diamonds, zinc, copper, cobalt, potash and basically every other resource one can think of. Who they side with is important. They’ve been growing on average 5%-10% in GDP for the past decade, and still going strong some are now in the 11-17% growth bracket. Again, who they choose as their allies will greatly shape the global political landscape of the future.

Some countries have already chosen. Ethiopia is a staunchly Christian nation that will fight Islamic regimes on that principle alone (they were the first Christian country in the world).

Others, such as Nigeria are still on the fence. For them, it depends of the leadership flavour of the month, and who pays the fattest bribes.

An Al Queda split along racial lines is good for the west. I wonder why so many people are too blind to see it.

Really, Africa has no political muscle and nobody really cares ‘politically’ what goes on there.

Black yanks romanticise Africa and dress up in clothes they think reflect their African heritage but can’t name more than two or three of the dozens of countries and ethnicities on the continent.

Obama is just another brown Yank that thinks Africa is a black version of Camelot with mystical knights of the round table etc. Reality is way different.

The last time most of Africa had an efficient system for mining and industrial growth there were Union Jacks, French Tri-Colours and other colonial flags fluttering over the continent.

Africa exchanged colonial masters for corrupt tribalism. Wake me up in a hundred years or so when things change.

Oh, and I’ve spent 2 years of my life in various parts of Africa, I have an idea about what I’m talking about.

I've often wondered given the horrendous things going on if Africa if the were better off under Colonialism than what they are now. To mt knowledge these kinds of tribal massacres were unheard of before.

[Zipperfish]

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

I dont subscribe to your point of view. Eggheads are generally out of touch with reality.

I've considered your input and have concluded that you are wrong. Please modify your opinion accordingly.

[Thanos]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

I really think Obama is a Clown.

Yes, I think is new 21Century version of Jimmy Carter, a well meaning guy but missing a couple of elements. We need a Theodore Roosevelt.

Unofficial Teaparty leader Glenn Beck hates Teddy Roosevelt. He thinks that Teddy was an evil progressive and has a lot of chalkboard doodling that apparently proves it. Something about the establishment of the national parks instead of handing over all the public land to timber and mining interests was literally the exact equivalent to the Gulag Archipelego, or some other such ranting.

[commanderkai]

Thanos Thanos:

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

I really think Obama is a Clown.

Yes, I think is new 21Century version of Jimmy Carter, a well meaning guy but missing a couple of elements. We need a Theodore Roosevelt.

Unofficial Teaparty leader Glenn Beck hates Teddy Roosevelt.

Eh? GreenTiger isn't exactly a member of the Tea Party, if you consider his past comments.

[commanderkai]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

Al Qaeda won’t, but young Africans who are on the fence may think deeper about the issues of race and joining an organization that is (perceived) to have strong anti black elements.

Al Qaeda is like Apple Computers, they don’t necessarily have the best product, but they are a global brand, and image is everything. If Obama can equate Al Qaeda with anti black racism, potential recruits on the continent may begin to dry up.

Or not.

Yeah, I don't get your line of thinking at all. If African Muslims don't see AQ as suitable due to AQ's racism, they'll join some other local terrorist/rebel group pushing for an African Caliphate or for the joys of killing whitey or for replacing the government corruption for their own corruption.

Considering AQ has been more than happy to target anything and everything that goes against their radical beliefs, and if African Muslims even consider AQ, then there is a problem. AQ being racist or not won't stop said problem.

[Pseudonym]

Thanos Thanos:

Unofficial Teaparty leader Glenn Beck hates Teddy Roosevelt. He thinks that Teddy was an evil progressive and has a lot of chalkboard doodling that apparently proves it. Something about the establishment of the national parks instead of handing over all the public land to timber and mining interests was literally the exact equivalent to the Gulag Archipelego, or some other such ranting.

Dude, I have a little advice, and you can take it or leave it, but I think you shouldn't watch Glenn Beck or commentaries on Glenn Beck any more. I don't think it is doing good things for your blood pressure.

I mean, I don't watch or listen to him, more because I don't find him entertaining or informative, but I get the feeling its just not healthy for you.

[ShepherdsDog]

kenmore kenmore:

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

I really think Obama is a Clown.

Yes, I think is new 21Century version of Jimmy Carter, a well meaning guy but missing a couple of elements. We need a Theodore Roosevelt.

I agree and Canada needs Pierre E. Trudeau!

If you want him that bad, all you need is a shovel and a sack.