uziq
Member
+493|3667
a lot of theorists, including foucault, have used the US war in vietnam as an example of the difference between power and force.

vietnam was subdued as an imperial colony by a handful of soldiers with muskets. that's because the french had power.

the entire US military-industrial complex couldn't defeat the vietcong. all they had was force.

cf. pouvoir/puissance

Last edited by uziq (2016-11-27 18:48:22)

Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,813|6321|eXtreme to the maX
The French also had education.
Fuck Israel
uziq
Member
+493|3667
i know you're being facetious but that level of 'power' was precisely a function of their remarkable success. french schools, french-language teaching, promotion of french culture and identity – these all had a massive control over cochinchina. force is nothing compared to that level of sociopolitical flexing.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5573|London, England
We were not colonizers. Apples and oranges
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
uziq
Member
+493|3667
nah that's right you wanted to keep all those markets open cause you're FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

america's foreign policy is basically a superhero movie.
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,813|6321|eXtreme to the maX

uziq wrote:

i know you're being facetious but that level of 'power' was precisely a function of their remarkable success. french schools, french-language teaching, promotion of french culture and identity – these all had a massive control over cochinchina. force is nothing compared to that level of sociopolitical flexing.
Yes I know, I was only being a bit facetious.

My father was in the foreign office during Vietnam, the British offered their experience of dealing with Malaya, and the whole of the rest of the world really, but no, the US thought they could handle a simple insurgency and didn't want any help or advice.
Fuck Israel
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5573|London, England

uziq wrote:

nah that's right you wanted to keep all those markets open cause you're FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

america's foreign policy is basically a superhero movie.
I'm sure we were making bank buying rice and those cute straw hats. All the Cold War era wars were pointless if you're looking for a reason beyond "stop communism" but isn't that justification enough when looking back? I bet the people living in South Korea today are really fucking glad they aren't down on their knees worshiping the god that is Kim Jong Un.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
uziq
Member
+493|3667
america's imperial phase was backdoor via the cold war and capitalism. this is history 101. to say you weren't fighting a 'colonial' war in vietnam is slightly myopic. and yes, vietnam in itself wasn't a major capitalist market (though it has been a profitable success-story). but anyone who has studied ancient rome knows that the empire is only as strong as its weakest border.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5573|London, England
RIP British privacy
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
uziq
Member
+493|3667
GCHQ aren't exactly some aberration. NSA does it too. a shitty day for law, though, no question. same as when the patriot act got signed.

Last edited by uziq (2016-11-29 09:52:19)

KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,978|6847|949

I used to argue with FEOS about the USA PATRIOT act and how it would be used for non-terrorism purposes.  I provided historical examples of the US government passing laws for purported security reasons then using those laws against American people for other reasons.  He told me it wouldn't happen because of government oversight blah blah blah.  He was wrong.

Worst part about Obama's presidency was the expansion of government power, including domestic espionage.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5573|London, England

KEN-JENNINGS wrote:

I used to argue with FEOS about the USA PATRIOT act and how it would be used for non-terrorism purposes.  I provided historical examples of the US government passing laws for purported security reasons then using those laws against American people for other reasons.  He told me it wouldn't happen because of government oversight blah blah blah.  He was wrong.

Worst part about Obama's presidency was the expansion of government power, including domestic espionage.
Especially domestic espionage. I can deal with a half-baked shitty healthcare program. Domestic spying on every piece of communication is abhorrent.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935

KEN-JENNINGS wrote:

I used to argue with FEOS about the USA PATRIOT act and how it would be used for non-terrorism purposes.  I provided historical examples of the US government passing laws for purported security reasons then using those laws against American people for other reasons.  He told me it wouldn't happen because of government oversight blah blah blah.  He was wrong.

Worst part about Obama's presidency was the expansion of government power, including domestic espionage.
FEOS was a tool. Small government guy who made bank being a military contractor. Every military person here except GS had the same sort of deal and delusion about their job's value.
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935
i hate hunters. someone killed Pedals the walking bear here in NJ with a bow and arrow.
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,978|6847|949

SuperJail Warden wrote:

KEN-JENNINGS wrote:

I used to argue with FEOS about the USA PATRIOT act and how it would be used for non-terrorism purposes.  I provided historical examples of the US government passing laws for purported security reasons then using those laws against American people for other reasons.  He told me it wouldn't happen because of government oversight blah blah blah.  He was wrong.

Worst part about Obama's presidency was the expansion of government power, including domestic espionage.
FEOS was a tool. Small government guy who made bank being a military contractor. Every military person here except GS had the same sort of deal and delusion about their job's value.
He was a smart guy, and pretty rational in his arguments about pretty much anything EXCEPT the US government and military especially.  He was a US military spokesman on this forum.  We can only hope now that he is in the private sector he's not as brainwashed
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935
RIP Carrie Fisher. At least she got to see Rogue One
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
uziq
Member
+493|3667
damn, massive heart attack at 60.

so glad i kicked that yayo
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935
Cocaine and steroids never seem like a reason to lose a heart over.
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
pirana6
Go Cougs!
+691|6506|Washington St.
Word on the street is she's stable. She might not have gone over yet
Jaekus
I'm the matchstick that you'll never lose
+957|5393|Sydney
Her brother said "It's not fair to say 'stable'. I am not saying she is fine, or not fine," and that she's in ICU.
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935
jesus christ someone took a picture of her in the middle of her heart attack and posted it to imgur
http://imgur.com/a/IHN40
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
uziq
Member
+493|3667
her heart stopped for 10+ minutes apparently and she's now in ICU. i've seen very close at first hand what happens when someone's heart stops for 10 minutes. even if she is stabilised in ICU there is a very very tiny chance she will make it neurologically intact. at this stage it could be so bad that she can't survive without a ventilator or life-support; it could be that eventually they restore normal ventilation (assuming the cause was pulmonary) and she still never wakes up.

wouldn't wish it on anyone, let alone the innocent doe-eyed star wars geeks of this world.

Last edited by uziq (2016-12-23 21:42:17)

pirana6
Go Cougs!
+691|6506|Washington St.
George Michael?
SuperJail Warden
Gone Forever
+640|3935
Playing the big concert in the sky with Prince and David Bowie
https://i.imgur.com/xsoGn9X.jpg
uziq
Member
+493|3667
another celebrity who really didn't look after their self.

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