DrAlimantado

Hakko: I think that I see what you are saying. The US has not imposed itself in the same way as former superpowers have done during history. But that does not change my main point (maybe we are talking about slightly different things): that even though things might have gotten worse if we gave the US political and economical position to some other country, it should not stop us from critisizing US policy. This connects to your second point. I would agree with you that the Left likes to ignore differences in crimes commited. In the same way as the right usually ignores crimes commited. Both sides are unable to look at the problem in a balanced way. The European left without a doubt has romanticized the Black Power movement, in the same way as they romanticized the Viet Cong. But I would still maintain my point for bringing them into the discussion. The US was up to the early 70's not a full fledged democracy as it is today. And this is very much forgotten when talking about the virtues of US politics. I hope I did not step on too many toes. Now it is time for breakfast. Mattias

Hmmm...here I am just about to go to bed, and then I find a thread containing references to objectivism/relativism and logical positivism. How do you think I will be able to go to bed now?? The majority of those participating seems to lean towards logical positivim, (even if MrPeng admitted to being a pragmatic regarding truth issues, something that is not so very compatible with logical positivism.). This leads me to the shaky conclusion that there ought to be less smilies on this forum, as objectivists and logical positivists do not need that in order to communicate clearly. And to aaronb: if you ever get the urge to join the dark side again, skip Nietzsche and go directly for Wittgenstein, (why smoke weed when one can smoke crack?). Sorry for butting in (YES, I am a weakling, but then I am a feminist too), but I felt that I wanted some form of confirmation that I have learnt something by studying philosophy for too many years.

I will just try to make a few short comments. And you will have to excuse as they will be a bit disoriented, I am doing this from the top of my head and it is getting late. argie wrote: "A nice and warm Socialist regime ala Sweden could be a nice option to live in..." I see what you are getting at. But, a lot of people I have spoken have unfortunately a slightly outdated and/or exaggerated picture of what Sweden is. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy and support the wellfarestate (the little that is left of it). But it is not so far to the left as it used to be, and as many seem to believe. When I went to college in Colorado a lot of people to the right thought that Sweden was a rampant horror communistic regime. But then on the other hand, leftists believed it to be a warm and cozy heaven. The truth (whatever that would mean) is somewhere in the middle. We still have free university education and general socialwellfare, etc. But that is being dismantled so that the economists are kept happy. We have a culturally conservative backlash against what is percieved as the fragmentation of the world.The monarhy is more popular than ever. etc, etc. Hakko Ichiu wrote: "I just want you to imagine what recent history would be like if America and, say, China had changed places." In one sense you are of course correct. The world would have been a much worse place if Chine and/or Soviet had gotten the upper hand in the cold war. But then on the other hand ... the outcome could have been better. My experience from living in US and watching the international media, is that a lot of the people who frenetically applaude the death of communism, also have a very selective memory of what the west has been and have done. ... I am NOT saying that this is the case with you,from what I could percieve of your posts, you seem too well read to do that kind of trick. What often is forgotten is that while we say the we fought communism in the name of freedom (we can include Sweden to, Sweden was only neutral on the paper), we tend to forget to look at ourselves. The Black Power movement had to fight on until the early-mid 70's, that is kind of telling about the state of the American democracy at the time. UK and France had colonies while we wanted to liberate the world from communistic opression. Anyway, now it is time for me to shut up and hit the sack. This is getting way toó late for me. I hope that I made some sense with my irratic ramblings. Mattias

I think I must agree with Germanboy, (and that is not just because he lets me beat him in our pbem battles). Infantry battles without the tanks are far more enjoyable. You need more skill to win, i.e. it is not just about who has the biggest .. you know what. And this fella here is one of Germanboys smilies that was captured by 6th Batallion the Duke of Wellington Regiment, in Colchester. I just popped over to the base and freed hím. (All the grunts were drunk, so I could just walk in) Now he is my slave for my sick and perverted purposes.

A special spoiler area would most defenitely be a good idea. .. in other words I am in total agreement with the previous posts as I do not have a will of my own.

"quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by KiloIndiaAlpha: Germanboy, Do u like being in England? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I live in Coventry. ------------------ Andreas" That was not a proper answer to the question Dr A

Germanboy is right - luck is a major part in this game (but that is not to downplay the role of good tactical skills). In a battle that we played I had serious luck and managed to turn the tide. My last hellcat managed within the time span of a few turns (4 or 5) to pick off his two stug's an his Tiger without getting any returning fire from the German tanks. My jaw just dropped when I saw what was happening. Anyway, time for me to take my sedatives.

Ooops, forgot that this thread might apply to me too. Moved from Sweden to the UK a year ago. I am currently stuck in Colchester, (don't laugh). Take care.

As far as I can remember I think I had placed the wire on the hill right in front of the village,on the downard slope, when I saw the problem you are talking about. This is the only time I have seen the problem, (as far as I recall ... it is early morning and I have not gotten my coffee yet.)

54. Having Ray Charles as a tank driver might be good if you like his music, but it is problems if you want to spot enemy tanks. (Germanboy can explain what I mean)

Yep, I think this has happened once to me too. I can't swear that there was not a glitch, but I am pretty sure that the US troops ran over the wire on the centre of the tile. I got so surprised that I forgot to check more closely. [This message has been edited by DrAlimantado (edited 05-20-2000).]

Kettle Black: How are things going in Sweden? I have seen you around on the board. Would love to take on your forces when our shipments arrive. gyrene251: Thanks for the tip. I will have to see what happens. I got an additional degree in political science, so I'll probably try to use that one in order to get a job in London. Otherwise I think that Ronald McDonald would embrace me *shiver*

I'm doing an MA in Philosohpy and Psychoanalysis, and I'll probably become unemployed as soon as I finish. Unless some psycho with too much money is willing to hire me despite my suspicious degree.

J. Bourke has a lengthy and complicated discussion about these numbers in 'An Intimate History of Killing: Face-To-Face Killing in Twentieth-Century Warfare' (Granta Books,London, 1999). If you have any spare chash, try to get the book .... it is very interesting even though if it has its flaws. But it is a good attempt to try to understand the individual psychological mechanism that enable and sustain and war.