Wednesday February 15, 2012

timorborder's past comments

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    timorborder

    I voted for Rudd, not Gilliard. If Rudd is doing a bad job, then it should be the electorate that votes him out at the next election.

    Good comment Smartacus!!! Backroom factional deals are not the way politics should be conducted.

    Posted in: Australia gets its 1st female prime minister as Rudd ousted

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    timorborder

    Why does there have to be a "ceremony" for everything? And why do you have to drag along the relatives? If the soon-to-be-separated couple really wanted to whack something with a hammer, why not make the whole process somewhat "gladiatorial" in nature? How about winner takes all? You could arm both partners with a range of non-lethal weapons (at a nice mark up) and let them go at it. Indeed, I think the soon-to-be-ex in-laws would really be into such an idea. Sort of like Tiger and his Missus on Southpark.

    Posted in: Happily divorced

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    timorborder

    This had to happen, unfortunately you cannot have senior officers biting the hand that feeds them (or at least orders them).

    By the way, why is Petraeus set to get this gig? Is the talent pool show shallow in the US Army these days that senior appointments have to be shifted around like deck chairs?

    Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan

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    timorborder

    So no more carpet bombing the locals? Perhaps it is time to give up golf?

    Posted in: Camp Zama introduces strict penalties for over-enthusiastic golfers

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    timorborder

    Whose been at the sugar this morning? Any talk of this little incident amounting to "treason" is so unrealistic that it is laughable.

    At it's worse, the general's brain fxrt is a classic example of a uniformed office stupidly conflicting his personal beliefs with his public duties. Furthermore, by criticizing the C-in-C, even indirectly, his position has become untenable. It reminds me of the old saying that the "army protects freedom-of-speech, it does not practice it."

    The only issue left to decide is whether the general falls on his sword and resigns, or whether he will be given a violent shove by those who wish to use this episode as a means by which to further their own political agenda.

    Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan

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    timorborder

    Good bit of ambush journalism on the part of the Sunday Times. However, I don't know whether the timing of article was the best?

    Posted in: IWC meeting abuzz over Japan vote-buying accusations

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    timorborder

    President Obama outranks any military officer and so has the inherent right to assume command on the battlefield

    Understand the sentiment but would disagree with the "assume command on the battlefield" comment. The civilian administration and the military command structure are two completely different things. That being said, however, what I think you meant was that the "military is subordinate to the civilian administration as embodied by the office of the President of the United States."

    On the other hand, letting the civilians (without military advice) run a war is a recipe for disaster, for example, Hitler vs. OKW or Rumsfeld vs. Gen. Shinseki and friends.

    Just remember, Eric was right.

    Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan

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    timorborder

    General McChrystal has shown extremely bad judgment with regard to this magazine article, and the only way that this problem can be resolved is for him to hand in his resignation. Why? Because he is too senior to be court martialed on the charge of conduct unbecoming good order and discipline.

    Furthermore, did McChrystal sleep through his press liason lectures at Command School? You know the ones that begin with don't trust the press. Also he seems to have forgotten that uniformed officers are not paid to criticize their (non-civilian) superiors, even if their views are contrary to the personal views of the officers in question.

    If McChrystal was so troubled by all these issues, he should have handed in his resignation, and then done a hatchet job on the administration via his memoirs.

    Finally, a couple of unrelated points. It has been reported that McChrystal had a pretty relaxed relationship with some of his subordinates. Again this shows bad judgment. Being too friendly with the people in your command can undermine your leadership (this is not my view but a view included in the basic leadership syllabus of every army).

    Secondly, McChrystal's subordinates who are mentioned in the article also need to swing for this. Responsibility starts at the top, but it does not end there when you happen to be a commissioned officer. McChrystal may be the person in charge, but those under him also need to carry the can (especially those whose job it is to shield their commander from the press).

    Thirdly, why did McChrystal end up as the commander in Afghanistan anyway? I seem to remember that his name came up in the Pat Tillman affair, and he was criticized for some of his actions. Surely at the top end of the slippery pole, such problems should have stopped his further promotion? Perhaps a souffle can rise twice?

    Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan

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    timorborder

    What a nut job.

    Posted in: 1 dead, 10 injured after ex-Mazda temp hits 11 plant workers with car

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    timorborder

    If FIFA are happy with the standard of refereeing, then I would suggest that random drug testing is not working, because these guys have to be smoking something.

    Posted in: FIFA happy with standard of refereeing

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    timorborder

    *Cops and stress - - Its a big problem in EVERY police force. *

    Yep, if they aren't out stealing woman's underwear, there back at the police box emptying the contents of their service pistol into their heads. Where will it all end.

    Posted in: Osaka cop caught red-handed stealing women's clothing

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    timorborder

    Somebody should consider implementing a total embargo on Israel. Put the shoe on the other foot and see how these folks like it.

    Posted in: Israel drafting new list of goods banned from Gaza

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    timorborder

    Sounds like the League of Nations all over again, and we all know how that one ended...

    Posted in: Japan may quit whaling commission if ban stays put

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    timorborder

    I am very surprised to hear of this discrimination, especially in this economy where landlords are suffering from decreased rents and vacancy.

    This is a good point.
    When I turned up in Japan about 20 years ago, despite a very high salary and a very stable lifestyle, it was still a real hassle to rent an apartment, get a credit card, etc.

    Fast forward to 10 years ago and I am a senior manager at my old company, having done my time in domestic sales (like a rank and file Japanese employee), before running the company's overseas business. Although renting a property was no longer a problem, the main bank of my employer still narked at giving me a credit card (despite a very good salary).

    Fast forward to the present and I am working for myself, still making a very good living. These days, however, I have major Japanese financial institutions scrxwing each other over to offer me housing loans, banking services, credit cards, stockbroking services, etc.

    Indeed, the economy (finally) is changing attitudes in this country.

    Posted in: Why Japanese property managers are so strict on renting apartments

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    timorborder

    Boy, isn't everybody jumping to conclusions? The article specifically states that these people are of "a particular religion" and everybody assumes that they are Muslims. Why can't they be over zealous Presbyterians or some other extremist religious sect?

    Whatever, anyway to bring back the "wa" to the workplace, it is obvious that the Japanese should throw off their inhibitions and convert.

    Posted in: Reconciling foreign workers' prayer breaks with production deadlines

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    timorborder

    What religion could they be talking about here? I think everybody knows.

    Anyway, the real issue in this story is the inability of the Japanese employers to admit what is obvious, they to should caste off their pagan belief and convert. This would eliminate these conflicts within the company.

    Posted in: Reconciling foreign workers' prayer breaks with production deadlines

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    timorborder

    Just read through the article in the Times. It does makes rather interesting reading. I was particularly impressed with the comments of the representative of Mali, who believes that whales (or too many of them) are endangering his country's fish resources. It was very nice of the times to point out that Mali is in fact land-locked.

    Anyway, if the times really has an axe to grind on this issue, it should have waited to publish this story when the IWC next meets. Published at the current time, this article, at best, creates a stir. Published to coincide with the next meeting of the IWC, this article would send the international press corps into a feeding frenzy.

    Posted in: Japan bribed small nations with cash, call girls to get whaling vote: Sunday Times

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    timorborder

    Unfortunately, this is not news. It has been an open secret for many years. Indeed, such activities are just an extension of the manner in which Japan has conducted its ODA program for a very long time.

    Posted in: Japan bribed small nations with cash, call girls to get whaling vote: Sunday Times

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    timorborder

    Power napping?

    You mean goffing off?

    Posted in: Nap time

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    timorborder

    What a classic photo, a suitable caption would be "Your Taxes Working For You."

    Posted in: Nap time

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