Hostile questions baffle US army official

[bemildred]

THE US' most senior military official in the Gulf yesterday said he had been left baffled by hostile questioning of his country's intentions in the region on the opening day of the Manama Dialogue.

Commander of US Central Command Admiral William J Fallon told the GDN that the strongly-worded questions posed by Arab delegates to US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on whether the large US military presence in the Gulf is in the region's best interests overlooked the important role played by his country.

"I think Secretary Gates did a masterful job today, particularly with the questions. Some were clearly hostile questions, and you scratch your head at some of the thinking," said Admiral Fallon, who has responsibility for US military operations in the Middle East, East Africa and Central Asia.

"I just reject out of hand the premise of some of the comments we heard - we are a force for peace in the world and we engage here for the purpose of trying to make this a better world, and I think the record pretty much speaks for itself."

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=202350...

[PDJane]

1. Well, the record does speak for itself.....

And it says not one damn thing about peace. That is, actually, the problem, no?
'

[ixion]

3. peace... through bombing

and illegal invasions and torture.

Gee, why would they be upset?

[crim son]

4. Another problem might be that top-ranking officials

don't have a clue why we're in there. "Hostile questions." Jeez.

[Rex]

2. Ya you can't figure it out, you would think they would be happy

with the hundreds of thousands of dead civilians in Iraq and other ME parts! How ungrateful they are!

Fucking idiots.

[Xipe Totec]

5. We need to take up a collection to buy this asshole a clue nt

[Selatius]

6. The US record in the third world throughout the 20th century is a very bloody history.

A lot of third world countries have been smashed simply because they got in the way of American business interests.

[bemildred]

7. I thought it was interesting that the mice are not afraid of the cat anymore.

This quote was interesting:

"There is not much I can do about things that have happened in the past - we can debate them in an academic setting, I'm all for that, but right now we need results and we need to be looking to work together constructively to get those results," he explained, adding that the US was keen to use diplomacy to solve differences with Iran over its uranium enrichment programme."

[Selatius]

8. That's usually a sign that the colonial empire is losing power: When colonies begin to rebel.

Of course, the US government does not hold colonies in the traditional sense. Since the inception of the UN, colonialism has been largely outlawed except in several disputed cases like Israel in the Palestinian Territories and China in Tibet. The US instead influences the host country by forming business relationships with the local business interests, usually to the detriment of everybody else in the host country.

A good example of this kind of cooperation between wealthy interests is in Venezuela, where the record of US support of Venezuelan business interests through joint-ventures and financial aid is rather long. Neither liked Hugo Chavez, and indigenous business elements briefly liquidated the courts and the legislature after attempting a failed military coup against Chavez. The US government was the first to welcome the coup leader Pedro Carmona as a legitimate head of state, despite liquidating the legislature and the courts.

[bemildred]

12. Yep. That was my take.

Sounding kind of defensive there.

Ruling through stooge governments is historically fairly common, direct rule is much more difficult. A lot of the old empires and feudal systems were run that way. It is much easier, in a general way, to install a (more or less) loyal stoogeocracy to rule in your stead, for a slice of the pie.

[acmavm]

9. Sometimes the shit these 'Americans' say is just absolutely unbelievable.

There is just no way to describe how bizarre and surreal this shit is that comes out of their mouths.

<snip>

"I just reject out of hand the premise of some of the comments we heard - we are a force for peace in the world and we engage here for the purpose of trying to make this a better world, and I think the record pretty much speaks for itself."

<snip>

That is just repellant, repugnant, and insane.

[Lautremont]

10. There's only one answer possible in the Manama Dialogue.

"Doot-doo-de-doo-doo."

[scarletwoman]

11. "we are a force for peace in the world..." Which is why we have dropped bombs on more countries

over the past 60 years than the rest of the world altogether. We are a force for peace in the world, which is why we have the biggest military budget than any other country on the planet. We are a force for peace in the world, which is why we have military bases all over the world. We are a force for peace in the world, which is why our biggest export is weapons and military hardware.

My gawd! I just can't imagine the depth of the denial it takes to make such a statement and actually believe it!

sw

[scarletwoman]

13. Kicking this up, because the irony is so frikkin' unbelievable... (nt)

[bemildred]

20. Yep, the irony of seeing these "warriors" taken aback by "hostile questioning". nt

[tabasco]

14. Who could EVER question the intent of an invading army????

Throughout history, invading armies have always been bringers of peace and prosperity.

"I'm SHOCKED anyone would think otherwise!" says the Admiral.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. As the bonehead said in F9/11 "Burn Motha-fucka burn!"

Who would doubt the sincerity of our cause?

[12string]

16. A better world for whom?

Using the Admiral's logic I can only surmise that he would
have no hostility if someone invaded his home during a family
gathering,killed the young men,raped his wife and
daughter,destroyed half of the home,and tortured him until he
signed over his bank account and future pension,as long as the
occupiers assured him that it was in his own best interest and
their losses were necessary,because they need the money to
maintain a lavish lifestyle on the other coast.Makes sense to
me.

[WinkyDink]

17. "a force for peace". That about says it all, re: Bushco's insanity.

[flashl]

18. After we have bomb you into the stone ages, we, together will diagnose your situation

"There is not much I can do about things that have happened in the past - we can debate them in an academic setting."

Where have I heard that before?

[leftchick]

19. Fallon is as delusional as bush

and that is scary.