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John RE:To John 7/11/2001 4:23:10 AM

You see I do disagree with your premise that countries always act rationally. I think you underestimate the role of passion and emotion in things. Isn't it true that Russia joined the 7 Years War because the Czarina Elisabeth hated Frederick the Great? Why didn't the USA joint the Central Powers or the Axis? She had more to gain from the break up of the British and French colonial empires than she did from restricting Germany in Central Europe? What possessed Hitler to invade the USSR whilst still facing Britain in the West? Why did he declare war on the USA. What possessed the Plantagenets to fight the 100 years war? There are loads of examples of countries acting illogically. Why did the USA spend billions of dollars and thousands of lives protecting South Vietnam? Where was the vital interest there? My expereince is that people often find a logical explanation for something they want to do for emotional reasons and I don't think that countries are all that different.

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Themba RE:To John 7/11/2001 1:31:03 PM

Malrait- since this is perhaps the most reasonable I have ever seen you I will respond. I was the person who asserted that you system of analysis was just one of many. I must admit that I doubt you have read 40 books and that only (RAM) or Rational Actor Model was put fourth in all of them to explain international relations. Although admittedly it is one of the more popular ways of viewing, the International Community it is far from the only one. In fact, I went to my bookshelf before retiring last night and in one book, I found approximately 37 different theories. Most of course fall within the two categories of Realist and Idealist, but they all differ from each other in unique ways. If you in fact have read 40 books then you have apparently either read 40 authors that have no original thought, or the same book 40 times. However, I doubt you have as broad an understanding as you would like us or for that matter yourself to believe. P.S. John don?t worry you have better instincts then Malrait gives you credit for on this issue.

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malrait RE:To John 7/11/2001 10:09:20 PM

Agreed, John. When the reins of power are in a single person's hands, passion may overwhelm reason. I was talking about contemporary states rather than monarchies. Still, it is too easy to talk with hindsight of the "illogical actions" of some states in history. They rather are miscalculations and mistakes, aren't they? Malrait

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Malrait John and Themba's amazing library. 7/11/2001 10:53:52 PM

Another thing I expected from you, Themba, is the petty and childish remark about my "competence" in discussing international matters. Any sensible person had understood that by saying I had read over forty books on the subject, I did not mean I was some kind of "master", but just that I found no author contradicting the view you and John disagree with. I know about some of the hilarious theories you mention. What I have said and what I maintain is that nowadays no serious author supports them (please give me the references of any "contemporary" book contradicting the "widely acknowledged view" as you say. To me the correct adverb is not "widely" but "totally"). The reason why many Americans cannot accept THE geopolitical method of analysis is that it mathematically leads to the conclusion that the more powerful one state is, the more ruthless it becomes. And as the US is the only superpower... It is very hard for nationalist pride to swallow, I agree. It is no use digressing over it, as I have seen so many times in this site ("Hey, look at China... WE are the good guys!", etc, etc). I have already said the US is not the biggest bastard in the world, but it is ridiculous to measure one's virtue by comparing with the nastiest ones, isn't it? So stop it, please... Themba, isn't that you who said you no longer wanted to hear from me? (I am engaged in too many discussions to remember exactly who said what). You have changed your mind, as you wish but if you could just do away with insults it would be just fine, ok? Insults are revealing enough about the minds of the person who vomits them, and do not particularly enhance his credibility. Do you agree with my opinion? You will not mind if I call you a coward for not answering my survey(search the definition in the dictionary before saying I insult you)? It was designed especially for people just like you, please answer... Malrait

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Themba RE:John and Themba's amazing library. 7/12/2001 3:04:17 AM

Well Malrait, Had you bothered to read my post before responding you would have noted I said you were appearing to be discussing the issue reasonable that I would reply to you. As I told you many times before, I am always open to an honest discussion. The Citation of the book from my library that I looked through last night is as follows ?What Causes War? An introduction to the Theories of International Conflict.? The Author is Greg Cashman and Lexington books publish it. I also copied a link from Amazon, so that you might order it if you are interested however in case the link fails you can just type in the title and it should come right up. link As for your survey I saw no value in wasting my time when no matter what I said you would have disagreed with it. Were you not taught as a child that sometimes it takes more courage to walk away from a pointless fight then to cheapen yourself? As for your weak ranting about the definition of a coward, I have provided Webster?s definition below for your education. I am anything but timid, and I am far from being afraid of you or what you what you claim. I shall not be goaded by your puerile attempts to sway me to that which is contrary to my own desires. Oddly enough, that fits the definition of courage, which I have also been kind enough to provide for you. Oh and let me know if there are any other big words that you need help with. Coward \Cow"ard\, n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon. Courage \Cour"age\ n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.

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Malrait RE:John and Themba's amazing library. 7/18/2001 4:55:22 AM

I insist, Themba. You are a coward. Not only that, but you let me win too easily... What does it cost you to give me the list I ask for? Nothing. You are hiding your cowardice behind a smoke screen of offended dignity. "I will not bother to answer since you will disagree". That joke!!! You have always bothered to answer me when you perfectly knew I would disagree. But now that I am demanding hard data, you flee. Re-read your definitions. Malrait

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Themba RE:John and Themba's amazing library. 7/18/2001 10:44:36 AM

Since you Obviously have difficulty understanding English I have re posted the entirety of what I said, and to put it another way I am not going to waste my time playing your game. Calling me names will also not expedite the issue either, so get over yourself. Furthermore, Malrait if as you mentioned on another board, you are constantly be told that you have nothing to offer but rhetoric, or illogical sophistry, then maybe you should examine yourself in light of what all these people are independently saying. But then again that might require to honest of self-examination for someone like you. ?As for your survey I saw no value in wasting my time when no matter what I said you would have disagreed with it. Were you not taught as a child that sometimes it takes more courage to walk away from a pointless fight then to cheapen yourself? As for your weak ranting about the definition of a coward, I have provided Webster?s definition below for your education. I am anything but timid, and I am far from being afraid of you or what you what you claim. I shall not be goaded by your puerile attempts to sway me to that which is contrary to my own desires. Oddly enough, that fits the definition of courage, which I have also been kind enough to provide for you. Oh and let me know if there are any other big words that you need help with.? Coward \Cow"ard\, n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon. Courage \Cour"age\ n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.

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Malrait RE:John and Themba's amazing library. 7/19/2001 2:37:08 AM

You are amazing, Themba. Can't you see that you are proving me right? What are you doing right here if not "wasting your time answering"? You lose more time playing this little game than if you had answered right away! Can't you see that you are proving me right? You are ridiculous... See your previous messages: there are many insults and childish teasing... THAT is a real waste of time! You are showing everyone here that you are always there for petty skirmishes, but that you run away when it comes to embarrassing questions. You have lost credit even among your allies. You are not only a coward, but a hypocritical coward (it often goes together, anyway). Do not give me the bad role, it is you who often indulge in insulting people, not me. And for God'sake, how dare you question my honesty when you are not even able to answer my question?!?! That is the pot calling the kettle black!!! Look at LOL; he is an objective chap always ready to listen to others'opinions and to change his mind if he sees fit. He recognizes that supporting dictatorships was quite a dirty thing... You do not. So do not talk about things whose colour you do not even know. Every time you answer, your hypocrisy becomes more blatant. Reading your last message, it was obvious you did not know what to answer... You are cornered, Themba. Show some courage; answer my survey. Malrait

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Themba RE:John and Themba's amazing library. 7/19/2001 2:03:19 PM

There is the amazing feature called ?copy and paste?, which means that I only typed a short paragraph in response to your last message. I must update my earlier assessment not only are you ignorant but you are belligerent and perhaps even stupid. Your little barbs will not make me change my mind you have no interest in the truth. I have to say this will be my last message to you on this issue. Go ahead and call me names all you want it suits someone with such a limited mental capacity. You honestly remind me a young child on the playground who hopes that by yelling and screaming that teacher will make the other kids play with you. Maybe you should go see a therapist you seem to have abandonment issues.

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