Perceptions Of Notable Political Figures

[lisa jones]

I've always wanted to chat about our perceptions of notable political figures.

Hopefully this topic won't get trashed.

Ok.....here goes.

HENRY KISSINGER.

[Dr. Caligari]

Kissinger is an evil man who did many things others have been hanged for:

http://www.alternet.org/world/top-10-mo ... ger-quotes

Kissinger has a history of saying outrageous things that reveal a dark callousness and hostility to the lives of innocent civilians. Here's a sampling:

Top 10 Kissinger Quotes

1. Soviet Jews: “The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy. And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern.” (link)

2. Bombing Cambodia: “[Nixon] wants a massive bombing campaign in Cambodia. He doesn't want to hear anything about it. It's an order, to be done. Anything that flies or anything that moves.” (link)

3. Bombing Vietnam: "It's wave after wave of planes. You see, they can't see the B-52 and they dropped a million pounds of bombs ... I bet you we will have had more planes over there in one day than Johnson had in a month ... each plane can carry about 10 times the load of World War II plane could carry." (link)

4. Khmer Rouge: “How many people did (Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary) kill? Tens of thousands? You should tell the Cambodians (i.e., Khmer Rouge) that we will be friends with them. They are murderous thugs, but we won’t let that stand in the way. We are prepared to improve relations with them. Tell them the latter part, but don’t tell them what I said before.” (Nov. 26, 1975 meeting with Thai foreign minister)

5. Dan Ellsberg: “Because that son-of-a-bitch—First of all, I would expect—I know him well—I am sure he has some more information---I would bet that he has more information that he’s saving for the trial. Examples of American war crimes that triggered him into it…It’s the way he’d operate….Because he is a despicable bastard.” (Oval Office tape, July 27, 1971)

6. Robert McNamara: “Boohoo, boohoo … He’s still beating his breast, right? Still feeling guilty. ” (Pretending to cry, rubbing his eyes.)

7. Assassination: “It is an act of insanity and national humiliation to have a law prohibiting the President from ordering assassination.” (Statement at a National Security Council meeting, 1975)

8. Chile: “I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves.” (link)

9. Illegality-Unconstitutionality: “The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.” (from March 10, 1975 meeting with Turkish foreign minister Melih Esenbel in Ankara, Turkey)

10. On His Own Character: “Americans like the cowboy … who rides all alone into the town, the village, with his horse and nothing else … This amazing, romantic character suits me precisely because to be alone has always been part of my style or, if you like, my technique.” (November 1972 interview with Oriana Fallaci)

[lisa jones]

Finally.....

I've been doing a lot of reading on Kissinger.

I think he's a criminal.

He's played God with so many countries....so many lives.

I really hate him.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Kissinger is an evil man who did many things others have been hanged for:

I wish I had a reason to disagree with you Aussie, but I can't, because your comment is quite true.

Righto, my turn now ...

Napoleon Bonaparte ... IMO opinion the most influential character in modern history ...

[lisa jones]

Kissinger is an evil man who did many things others have been hanged for:

I wish I had a reason to disagree with you Aussie, but I can't, because your comment is quite true.

Righto, my turn now ...

Napoleon Bonaparte ... IMO opinion the most influential character in modern history ...

Ahhhh good one!

He was the 1st person who dared to challenge the divine right of sovereign kingship.

As a result, he was despised by all the royal houses of Europe.

Great Britain's royal houses hated him the most. Why? They had the most to lose.

Hence the Napoleonic wars which were driven by Great Britain.

Great Britain essentially financed these wars against Napoleon. This is a fact.

If Napoleon had been successful in conquering/changing Europe, there would not have been a WW1.

The destinies of Europe would have been so different.

I could go on for forever about Napoleon.....my husband does. All the freaking time!

[lisa jones]

Oh God.....my husband is STILL going on about him. As I type.



I should never have mentioned the name.

It's starting to sound like a uni lecture. Or a sermon.

[Wayne]

Isn't Google just FANTASTIC? You can reel off all this information and claim it as your own. My,My, in Hurstville as well - who wouda thunk?

[Outlaw Yogi]

Isn't Google just FANTASTIC? You can reel off all this information and claim it as your own. My,My, in Hurstville as well - who wouda thunk?

Hypocrite!

[Raven]

Kissinger is an evil man who did many things others have been hanged for:

I wish I had a reason to disagree with you Aussie, but I can't, because your comment is quite true.

Righto, my turn now ...

Napoleon Bonaparte ... IMO opinion the most influential character in modern history ...

What about Vladimir Ulyanov?

[Wayne]

Isn't Google just FANTASTIC? You can reel off all this information and claim it as your own. My,My, in Hurstville as well - who wouda thunk?

Hypocrite!

Really? I reference all my material Yogi - and as I stated before, my postings come from my own education (which , by the look of your postings is FAR in excess of yours) my training and my skills learnt over decades of working, You on the other hand post either mindless dribble, or claim other's work as your own. I think you have been on your farm too often Yogi, your intelligence level has slipped down to the level of your sheep.

Lisa is a well known googler of topics and a cut and paste artiste. Easily caught out - for instance - we were discussing various ways that nuclear reactors worked and the difference between fission and fusion. Lisa inserted herself into the conversation and posted some high level material about the subject. Naturally, it was unreferenced and soon followed up by more unreferenced information - she claimed it as her own knowledge. A quick cut and paste of some of her postings and that posting inserted into a plagiarism program on the net soon revealed the true source of her self claimed knowledge. She does it here all the time - but you probably knew that didn't you?

However, if you believe her and others are your font of knowledge, then who am I to attest otherwise?