Prisoners 'killed' at US Base

By the way, what does the nickname "Dubya" mean?

steissd- "Dubya" is the letter "W" with a Texas accent!

Then why no one called President Reagan with such a nickname: his middle name also starts with "W"?

steissed - He is called "Dubya", which is the initial of his middle name, to differentiate him from his father, the former president, whose name also was George Bush. The two of them are also known as "41" and "43". Father was the 41st pres., son was 43rd!

Thanks.

There'll be a test on this later.

I believe you overlooked this, Streissd. "but I begrudgingly respect him for intending to back up what he promised."

Ok, I admit, I did. Sorry.

Streissd, you're a Mensch! (God, I hope I spelled that right )

I don't know.

The reasoning somewhere on this thread that "free trade is the best way to help bring communism down" (or something) does sound appealing, in a way. Sanctions didnt really work on South Africa, and they certainly didnt work on Iraq. Whereas one could say that, for example, post-Franco Spain has been so exemplary peaceful and stable (barring the Basque country), compared to its pre-dictatorship past, because of the economic prosperity that came about in the 60s and 70s. Economic prosperity that came about when foreign investors pulled in there against the protest of those who expressed disgust at what came down to financial support for a brutal dictator, and in so doing modernized the country and as a result the Spaniards' mindsets and frames of reference.

On the other hand, it just doesn't feel right to allow dictators to profit, often personally, from fully-fledged trade relations. And one could also say that some dictators - Pinochet, Mobutu - lasted a lot longer than might have been necessary thanks to the leash of life foreign trade gave them.

That's the longest "I don't know" I've posted yet. An alternative to blanket sanctions are perhaps the attempts, recently pursued much more vigorously, to cut ruling dictatorial clans off from their financial sources and bank accounts abroad, while allowing overall trade to continue. Would be xtremely hard to implement, and the more dictatorial a country is, the harder it is to separate the two, and Cuba is pretty dictatorial in this regard, too. But then the current sanctions should be easily circumvented too.

I've been consulting with friends about the origins of the nickname "Dubya." None of us is sure, but the general belief is that it came from a Molly Ivins article published during the 2000 presidential campaign. Steissd: Molly Ivins is a wonderfully funny and acerbic Democratic columnist.

Wow. Good, thoughtful answer, nimh. I could probably write more on what I don't know than what I do. You have to be right on the idea of rewarding dictators, yet, I can't recall a single instance in which sanctions have worked. In fact, it sometimes seems they strengthen rather than weaken, as they were intended to. My instinct seems to be telling me that the one on Cuba has outlived it's usefullness.

Thanks for a thoughtful answer to what I tossed in as a throwaway question.

Roger,
...I thought the sanctions did that, on day two.

When Castro crosses the Great Divide, it's gonna be a wonderfully bad day for all those Cubans in Miami -- whose political clout will evaporate leaving only a few drops of old venom. I hope the embargo is lifted well before that time, but there are a lot of votes Jeb y familia are depending on which would no longer be so dependable.

In case you haven't noticed, I try to separate the person from the message, so you may find me seeming incredibly hostile at one moment and quite chummy the next, because it isn't you I am attacking or embracing, but the statements you make or positions you espouse.

That's what makes you a fun adversary. :wink:

kum bye yah

Well, whatever happened before, now that alllied soldiers have gotten captured, Dubya has definately discovered the Geneva Convention.

Boo - I'm curious to know whether you could outline for me, in simple terms according to your understanding, under what terms exactly the rules of the Geneva Convention apply.

Thanks.

The only international agreement the US still follows! :wink: