"we soon will find us another Vietnam. Mark my words !" What part of this sentence did you guys miss?
msfe/wild, are you successful at fooling yourself? because you are not fooling anyone else. The British compromise was directed to Iraq. This whole mess is about Iraq (earth to wild...come in wild). By answering before the Iraqis, France is showing in the most naked way possible that they are allied with Iraq (if anyone doubted it!). Now run along and find a Guardian article to c/p here.
Lee Harris has recently published an essay that attempts to address issues such as those brought up by Soros head on. It's a long essay, some may find it difficult, and others will no doubt take notions and ideas out of context, but, for those willing to make the effort, it's very much worth reading. http://www.techcentralstation.com/1051/defensewrapper.jsp?PID=1051-350&CID=1051-031103A SOME EXCERPTS: * * * "Interpret America's true motives as cynically as you please - let it be the defense of the interest of big business in the stability of world markets - it makes no difference. What counts in the long run is the kind of world that arises out of this subjective intent. " * * * "...[T]he critics, if they are to be responsible, must do more than merely apply outmoded labels to the newly emergent possibilities - they must suggest others that realistically grapple with the impasse the world is facing, and with the consequences of failing to act at this time, when it is still possible to prevent the kind of nightmare scenarios [e.g., a rogue state or terrorist group using a nuclear weapon] that we have explored. They, too, have the intellectual duty to think the unthinkable." * * * "Once the world-historical magnitude of the risk is understood, it is possible for men of good will to differ profoundly over the wisdom of this or that particular response - and not only possible, but necessary. But this must be done in a climate free of pettiness and personalities: the cult of naïve cynicism - that oxymoron that characterizes so much of what passes today for intellectual sophistication - must be dismantled and as soon as possible if we are to make our response as intelligent and as creative as it must and can be. To call prudence appeasement is wrong. But to call the United States' response a bid for empire is simply silly."