Another brilliant comment by Bush

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » October 17, 2004, 9:20 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magaz ... l&position

"...Lantos went on to describe for the president how the Swedish Army might be an ideal candidate to anchor a small peacekeeping force on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Sweden has a well-trained force of about 25,000. The president looked at him appraisingly, several people in the room recall.

''I don't know why you're talking about Sweden,'' Bush said. ''They're the neutral one. They don't have an army.''

Lantos paused, a little shocked, and offered a gentlemanly reply: ''Mr. President, you may have thought that I said Switzerland. They're the ones that are historically neutral, without an army.'' Then Lantos mentioned, in a gracious aside, that the Swiss do have a tough national guard to protect the country in the event of invasion.

Bush held to his view. ''No, no, it's Sweden that has no army.''

The room went silent, until someone changed the subject."

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 17, 2004, 9:31 pm

I can't help but laugh..

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » October 17, 2004, 9:32 pm

yes this man should be the head of the strongest country in the world

Aruman · Post by **Aruman** » October 17, 2004, 9:39 pm

Is 25,000 an army?

Anyway, yeah... pretty bad. Still not anything to get worked up into a lather about though.

Oh, and no way in heck am I going to get put on god knows how many mailing lists just to read an article. I get enough spam as it is.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 17, 2004, 9:53 pm

Very easy to forget Sweden has an army. They do spend 4 billion a year on their military though! 2.1% of GNP. The Swiss do have an army btw. Get out your Swiss Army Knife and take a look! There's mandatory military service for males in Switzerland.

Sweden does spend more on their military than Denmark though in total and as a percentage of GNP!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » October 17, 2004, 9:53 pm

Well Sweden has a pretty good air force, their Jas 39 Gripen is a damn fine plane. Their navy also has some nice boats if I recall. Their ground force is just like Norway's though, small but well trained for specific purposes. In addition to those 25 000 they have Heimvernet (or whatever it is called in Swedish) which is basically a guerilja warfare system with people trained but not active except for one weekend a month who keep their weapons at their homes in case of invasion.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » October 17, 2004, 11:03 pm

lol, this is beyond moronic if the president of the united states, one who is attempting to run on foreign policy is able to confuse Switzerland and Sweden.

I knew Switzerland was a neutral country since I was like...8

Even I didn’t think Bush was that stupid

noel · Post by **noel** » October 17, 2004, 11:09 pm

It's really not funny. As an educated American citizen who learned that in grade school, it's fucking embarassing.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · October 17, 2004, 11:36 pm

Might want to make sure this actually happened. Let us not forget the Dems motto..."Even if it's not true, say it anyway!"

http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.c ... ryID=30051

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... 2131.shtml

http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen02152003.html

http://www.house.gov/lantos/

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » October 17, 2004, 11:47 pm

Aruman wrote:Is 25,000 an army?

Anyway, yeah... pretty bad. Still not anything to get worked up into a lather about though.

Oh, and no way in heck am I going to get put on god knows how many mailing lists just to read an article. I get enough spam as it is.

http://bugmenot.com/

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » October 18, 2004, 12:12 am

Wasnt Bush angry at Kerry for leaving Poland's 150 troops out of the "main" forces in Iraq? Yet he pretty much has no clue how many troops a country has?

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » October 18, 2004, 1:58 am

dude, he fucking forgot POLAND!

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » October 18, 2004, 2:34 am

As a dane, i just find it hilarious (and tragic) that Bush didnt know sweden had an army.
Hell, Denmark and Sweden been at war on regular basis since the our vikings started beating up each other (when we were finished raiding England that is

), and we been fighting for each others lands since before the US was even founded.

But hell, Bush ARE the leader of what was it again, oh yes, the most powerfull nation in the world.
He sure got a fun way to prove that.

Rekaar. · Post by **Rekaar.** » October 18, 2004, 3:05 am

I'm an educated American, probably moreso than most. Someone tell me what impact Sweden's army has made in the world in the last 50 years. If it's such a noteworthy force these are things I should know, and it bothers me that I have no idea whatsoever.

Rivera Bladestrike · Post by **Rivera Bladestrike** » October 18, 2004, 3:24 am

It doesn't matter if its noteworthy or not, it still exists and it could help in the west bank, hell, anything could. And certainly there would be no prior hostility to the swedes since no one hates them...

Only way I could think the swedes were neutral would be during World War II.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » October 18, 2004, 3:33 am

I hate the Swedes!

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » October 18, 2004, 5:06 am

Drolgin is gonna be pissed!

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » October 18, 2004, 6:46 am

Dregor Thule wrote:I hate the Swedes!

Dont hate them, not their fault the was born on the wrong side of the water

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » October 18, 2004, 7:44 am

Rekaar. wrote:I'm an educated American, probably moreso than most. Someone tell me what impact Sweden's army has made in the world in the last 50 years. If it's such a noteworthy force these are things I should know, and it bothers me that I have no idea whatsoever.

Anyone trying to defend bush for not knowing if an allied country has an army is a blind, ultra-right wing partisan

you guys cant even admit when your fucking moronic excuse for a leader makes a mistake, you just spew out republican talking points

Mak · Post by **Mak** » October 18, 2004, 10:57 am

Lantos?

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 18, 2004, 11:01 am

He's not defending Bush, he's making a point.

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » October 18, 2004, 11:08 am

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Might want to make sure this actually happened. Let us not forget the Dems motto..."Even if it's not true, say it anyway!"

http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.c ... ryID=30051

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... 2131.shtml

http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen02152003.html

http://www.house.gov/lantos/

Sorry mid, but what are you trying to show with those links? None of them say he didnt say that quote, or are you trying to show something else?

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » October 18, 2004, 11:41 am

Read the whole article... it's much scarier than just not knowing Sweeden has an Army...

Marb

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 11:59 am

Sionistic wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Might want to make sure this actually happened. Let us not forget the Dems motto..."Even if it's not true, say it anyway!"

http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.c ... ryID=30051

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... 2131.shtml

http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen02152003.html

http://www.house.gov/lantos/
Sorry mid, but what are you trying to show with those links? None of them say he didnt say that quote, or are you trying to show something else?

I was wondering that as well.
I suspect Mid didn't even read the article, he just saw someone criticizing Bush and went into a google frenzy trying to discredit them.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » October 18, 2004, 12:43 pm

Agree, and the funny thing is Lantos is quoted in the article as saying he wouldn't share the information with the press, but had told it to some friends.

Marb

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » October 18, 2004, 12:59 pm

Rekaar. wrote:I'm an educated American, probably moreso than most. Someone tell me what impact Sweden's army has made in the world in the last 50 years. If it's such a noteworthy force these are things I should know, and it bothers me that I have no idea whatsoever.

.... are you seriously trying to justify your leader not knowing that fucking sweden had an army by saying "but what the fuck have they ever done?"

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » October 18, 2004, 1:00 pm

Akaran_D wrote:He's not defending Bush, he's making a point.

No, he's making a stupid fucking excuse..

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 1:19 pm

Rekaar. wrote:I'm an educated American, probably moreso than most. Someone tell me what impact Sweden's army has made in the world in the last 50 years. If it's such a noteworthy force these are things I should know, and it bothers me that I have no idea whatsoever.

Translation from retard into english:

I am completely ignorant of Sweden's armed forces.
Since I know nothing about them, I will assume that they have done nothing noteworthy in the past 50 years. The fact that I am American makes me right and everyone else is wrong.

PS: I am mentally handicapped.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » October 18, 2004, 1:22 pm

All you had to do in this thread is say "Wow. Ok, he screwed up there." and it would have been dead and no one would have thought less of you.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 18, 2004, 1:42 pm

What's the score between Denmark and Sweden in terms of wars?

Denmark X wins Sweden X wins? Who holds bragging rights?

Midnyte_Ragebringer · October 18, 2004, 1:43 pm

If it's true. Yes, he screwed up. I don't find it to be a monumental fuck up therefore justifying all the Bush haters desires to have him gone. I don't expect perfection from a president. And if you are one of the many "all he did was get a blow job" people, then neither do you. So knock it off.

Try and keep your hate directed in the right direction....."NO WMDS!!!!"

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » October 18, 2004, 1:45 pm

I think its not the fact that he screwed up but the fact he was so stubburn he said he was pretty sure it was Sweden.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » October 18, 2004, 1:45 pm

Ignorance, lies, deception, we kinda dislike all of em Mid

Midnyte_Ragebringer · October 18, 2004, 1:49 pm

Pherr the Dorf wrote:Ignorance, lies, deception, we kinda dislike all of em Mid

Welcome to the world of politics.

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 1:49 pm

If it's true. Yes, he screwed up. I don't find it to be a monumental fuck up therefore justifying all the Bush haters desires to have him gone. I don't expect perfection from a president

You don't think that being completely unaware of your allies military capabilities and insisting that you're right is not a collosal embarrasment?

I can't say that I'm really surprised at this/
Bush has shown that he too arrogant and stubborn to admit he is wrong...

Ignorance, arrogance and stubbornness are not usually desireable traits in a world leader.

Wonko Wenusberg · Post by **Wonko Wenusberg** » October 18, 2004, 1:51 pm

Sweden's army is highly specialized!

We do/did a good work in the peacekeeping zones around Kosovo, Kongo, Liberia unt so weiter.

It's mandatory too so you often have no choice. I was 15 months in the marine/amphibious army

Midnyte_Ragebringer · October 18, 2004, 1:54 pm

miir wrote:
If it's true. Yes, he screwed up. I don't find it to be a monumental fuck up therefore justifying all the Bush haters desires to have him gone. I don't expect perfection from a president
You don't think that being completely unaware of your allies military capabilities and insisting that you're right is not a collosal embarrasment?

I can't say that I'm really surprised at this/
Bush has shown that he too arrogant and stubborn to admit he is wrong...

Ignorance, arrogance and stubbornness are not usually desireable traits in a world leader.

IF it's true. Where's the tape? The Video? It's conjecture right? Third party recollection of events? You want proof of WMD's but not anything else right?

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 2:04 pm

IF it's true. Where's the tape? The Video? It's conjecture right? Third party recollection of events? You want proof of WMD's but not anything else right?

I'm not quite sure how you can compare the magnitude of those two.

The (alleged) deceit in this administrations claims of WMDs has resulted in the deaths of over 1k americans and over 15k Iraqis.

The (alleged) deceit in your president's complete ignorance of Sweden's militray has only resulted in the embarrasmsnt of 1 person.

But in your fantasyland, the deaths of over 16 thousand people is far less important than someone possibly making fun your beloved leader of the American Empire.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 18, 2004, 2:05 pm

Stragi, Miir: He said point blank he didn't know, and it bothers him that he doesn'tknow, so he was asking what those contributions were, if there were any. He didn't say anything else either way about it.

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 2:11 pm

Akaran_D wrote:Stragi, Miir: He said point blank he didn't know, and it bothers him that he doesn'tknow, so he was asking what those contributions were, if there were any. He didn't say anything else either way about it.

Nah, he was just trying to being a cock. His post history speaks for itself.

Other than domestic affairs and occasional UN peacekeeping missions, Sweden's army has not done anything internationally noteworthy.

That is completely irrelevant as your president should be aware of the military capabilities of america's enemies and allies. Especially in oval office breifings concerning such matters.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » October 18, 2004, 2:14 pm

I admit I was not aware of Sweden's military prowess. But I did know that Switzerland was the neutral one. How can you not know!

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » October 18, 2004, 2:32 pm

Googleduel result:
sweden (8,880,000)
denmark (6,910,000)

Damn, time to make a shitload of webpages to beat those pesky swedes.
Oh well, its also because they got way more people that us

. And the guys from Skaane counts as negative for you guys too

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 18, 2004, 2:33 pm

So aside from domestic affairs and a few tag along pickup groups of UN peacekeepers, they haven't done much?
Thank you - that's my question answered.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » October 18, 2004, 2:37 pm

Aruman wrote:Is 25,000 an army?

Anyway, yeah... pretty bad. Still not anything to get worked up into a lather about though.

Oh, and no way in heck am I going to get put on god knows how many mailing lists just to read an article. I get enough spam as it is.

Since Rumsfeld wanted to invade Iraq with 40,000 I'd say yeah its a significant number of troops.

by the way military experts wanted ~300,000.

miir · Post by **miir** » October 18, 2004, 2:38 pm

Akaran_D wrote: a few tag along pickup groups of UN peacekeepers

What the fuck is a 'tag along pickup group'?

Are you intentionally trying to come across as an arrogant, condescending prick?

And some of you wonder why people just fucking despise americans and their attitudes.

noel · Post by **noel** » October 18, 2004, 2:40 pm

UN Peacekeeping missions are not like EQ Raids.

There is no: /ooc Looking to keep the peace in Iraq... anyone from < Sweden > available?

< Sweden > has joined the raid.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 18, 2004, 2:40 pm

No more arrogant and condensending than you, Miir.
I was actually trying to be somewhat humors, but it was lost on your shield of thorns.

noel · Post by **noel** » October 18, 2004, 2:41 pm

Before you reply, I too was trying to be humorous!

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » October 18, 2004, 2:42 pm

I actually laughed at what you said. =p

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » October 18, 2004, 2:49 pm

The entire article is quite an eye opener and reaffirms a lot of my feelings about Bush and his staff, especially this passage:

...I had a meeting with a senior adviser to Bush...he told me something that at the time I didn't fully comprehend -- but which I now believe gets to the very heart of the Bush presidency. The aide said that guys like me were ''in what we call the reality-based community,'' which he defined as people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ''That's not the way the world really works anymore,'' he continued. ''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''

My god, I think I read something almost exactly like that in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged when the goverment was trying to coerce John Galt to end his struggle and join the side of the looters.