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2003-10-31 Europe

Poll controversy as Europeans label Israel and US labelled biggest threats to World peace

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Posted by Bulldog 2003-10-31 7:14:37 AM|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 "some of the results not yet published are still "unstable""
LOL! Okay, now I know they rigged this puppy - start to unstable finish. Prolly stationed each of the polsters within a block of a Moskkk and had a LOT of fun with the wording of the questions - and then, in a Watergatish fit of insecurity, even massage the numbers. Pfeh.

I wrote software used to "normalize" NIST (was NBS) test results for an API standards re-calc for orifice metering - and that means measuring flow of petroleum products... you know that little stamp you see on the gas pump that proves it meets the standard? Folks, that's billions of dollars per year for a difference of 1%-2% and trillions over the "life" of the standard... So I know a little about mathematical outliers (I wouldn't refer to it as "unstable" data, however. Tainted, yes, but unstable? Snicker!) across terabytes of data.

What, pray tell, does the EUseless spokesdink mean by "unstable" data in an itty-bitty rinky-dink poll?

LOL! Ewwwwwww! Wotta joke.

Posted by .com 2003-10-31 8:08:12 AM|| 2003-10-31 8:08:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I wouldn't be so sure the poll was rigged, .com. Guiding questions helped generate a 'favourable' outcome, but we all know that European anti-semitism and anti-Americanism is common, and real enough.

According to the results' pdf file (linked to above), the polling was done by telephone poll. How the respondents' telephone numbers were selected, however, isn't given.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-10-31 8:23:32 AM|| 2003-10-31 8:23:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 There is still the little question of the absurdity of "unstable" data. You're right, of course, about the anti-whatever-the-US-is-doing-and-whomever-they're-doing-it-with attitudes. I have little doubt that this reflects general attitudes. It was just too pfunny to me to pass up!

Y'know, something keeps nagging me: What are the doom & gloom crowd going to do when it doesn't turn out to be doom & gloom? I guess we're seeing Thomas Friedman in transition right now, but what will the total phreaking loonies do? Maureen Dowd and her ilk? Will there be enough crow to go around? It's gonna be damned hard on the crows. ;-)

Posted by .com 2003-10-31 8:34:48 AM|| 2003-10-31 8:34:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Hell, maybe things are doom and gloom, and it's not like I love everything done by Dubya & Sharon.

BUT that still doesn't mean that the current cup of gall is ours to pass on, and the sooner the EUnicks figure that out the better.

The real question is how do you deal with the meltdown of the Islamic world for the next generation or so? What policies are really sustainable? We can't invade everyone.

Posted by Hiryu 2003-10-31 8:40:20 AM|| 2003-10-31 8:40:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Must be fun to whistle past a graveyard; but it is even more fun to watch Euros do it;

Posted by badanov 2003-10-31 8:44:00 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org/weblog] 2003-10-31 8:44:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 There is still the little question of the absurdity of "unstable" data.

Heh. It was a Commission spokesman. All figures and data are "unstable" when they've got their greasy hands on them.

To be honest, when a Sprout says something like that, it simply doesn't surprise me any more.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-10-31 8:44:37 AM|| 2003-10-31 8:44:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 When Israel stops sending suicide bombers into other countries to kill and maim innocent men, women, and children, they'll be off the list.

Oh, wait... Never mind...

I especially enjoy reading these poll results the day after I watch a video of Saddam's goons torturing Iraqis and throwing men bound hand and foot off multi-story buildings and after I read about a US Army lieutenant colonel being prosecuted for shooting near a prisoner to frighten him during interrogation.

Yeah, we're definitely the bad guys and the true threat to peace. We need to be stopped.

Posted by Dar 2003-10-31 9:22:33 AM|| 2003-10-31 9:22:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 And in other news......a recent poll in the Sunni triangle says 40% hate the U.S., 30% are seething, 25% want Saddam back in power, and 5% think that brown is the new black for this fashion season.

Posted by Jarhead 2003-10-31 9:25:51 AM|| 2003-10-31 9:25:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 A lot of Europe is suffering from a version of the Stockholm syndrome in which the victim comes to identify with the kidnapper. Sadly, a lot of Americans (e.g., virtually all the faculty lounge at Berkeley is descending into the same madness.

Posted by mhw 2003-10-31 10:05:44 AM|| 2003-10-31 10:05:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 "We recently polled our population - and if you've ever been on a cattle ranch, you know *just* how painful that can be..."

Thanks. I'll be here all week.

Posted by mojo 2003-10-31 10:36:07 AM|| 2003-10-31 10:36:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Poll controversy as Europeans label Israel and US labelled biggest threats to World peace

Question: Are we (Americans) supposed to give a rat's ass about this poll?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-31 12:21:44 PM|| 2003-10-31 12:21:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 B-A-R, the answer is no. However, I bet they still inhale at the rapid rate our products, music, jeans, movies, food, etc....

Posted by Jarhead 2003-10-31 12:47:21 PM|| 2003-10-31 12:47:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 Over half of Europeans think that Israel now presents the biggest threat to world peace... controversial poll requested by the European Commission... Europeans believe the United States contributes the most to world instability along with Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

What ARE these dudes smoking? I think we need to re-establish Radio Free Europe, and aim it at the Continental nations of "old Europe". Obviously, these people have been fed so much BS by their governments they haven't a clue about the real world. Both this article and the one about Chinese 'investment' in European space operations are clearly warning bells for most sane people.

When the Muslims in France start demanding the nation be ruled by Sharia law, when the Muslims in Italy attack the Vatican to kill the Pope and Cardinals start getting whacked by car bombs, it'll be a little late to wake up and smell the cordite.

We've had to rescue Europe three times in the last hundred years - WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. Usually, people learn from their mistakes. Obviously, Europe is immune to that innoculating effect.

Bulldog, are you sure Britain wants to join this insanity?

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-10-31 12:55:13 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-10-31 12:55:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 OP -- Apparently the lesson Europe learned from our three rescues is that Americans are violent, pushy people. I believe that stems from the fact that they really enjoyed killing each other in droves and disliked our butting in and stopping it.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2003-10-31 1:17:36 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2003-10-31 1:17:36 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 LOL. Good one Robert.

Posted by Rafael 2003-10-31 1:29:19 PM|| 2003-10-31 1:29:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 The poll results on Israel and the US being main threats to peace are simply results of superior European education in logic-the Islamic world is angry that Israel exists and must act on that anger.Therefore if Israel didn't exist,the Islamic world wouldn't be angry and would spend its days in peaceful contemplation of the Koran.Since the US is main support of Israel it is also obvious that the US is guilty of disturbing peace.

Sigh.Same kind of logic lead to both Munich and Auschwitz.

Posted by Stephen 2003-10-31 1:40:45 PM|| 2003-10-31 1:40:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 OP and Robert's comments remind me of an old William F. Buckley line: France only approves of American military intervention when it occurs in France to rescue France from an invading power.

And right at this moment in history I want everyone between Morocco and Pakistan to think that we're the most violent sumbitches they'll ever lay eyes on.

Posted by Matt 2003-10-31 2:21:50 PM|| 2003-10-31 2:21:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 ... right at this moment in history I want everyone between Morocco and Pakistan to think that we're the most violent sumbitches they'll ever lay eyes on.
Matt - some of us are. In fact, quite a few of us are - something Binnie and Sadsack forgot.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-10-31 2:32:04 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-10-31 2:32:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 ... right at this moment in history I want everyone between Morocco and Pakistan to think that we're the most violent sumbitches they'll ever lay eyes on. Matt - some of us are. In fact, quite a few of us are - something Binnie and Sadsack forgot.

-I asked one of my buddies whose recently back from Afghanistan how the locals were to them. He said "they're scared shitless of us." They think we got into the Marines by killing a parent or are former violent criminals earning our freedom in the Corps. They don't really understand our whole tattoo fetish either. LOL. We couldn't ask for a better image!

Posted by Jarhead 2003-10-31 2:49:53 PM|| 2003-10-31 2:49:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 Matt--Spot on! I agree with those sentiments 100%

I laugh my ass off everytime I hear the weenies spout off about Bush and the US being "cowboys" or "sheriffs"--as if it's a negative connotation. We have a unique and proud history vested in those two icons, and those wimps clearly don't understand our history, values, and traditions.

Posted by Dar 2003-10-31 2:59:33 PM|| 2003-10-31 2:59:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#21 If we gave a shit what Europeans thought... this would really concern me.

Posted by tu3031 2003-10-31 3:31:31 PM|| 2003-10-31 3:31:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#22 Jar - You mean, you don't have to kill a parent?

There's a story in The March Up about the Iraqis firing three shells at some Marines and getting counterbattery fire by the 11th Marines totaling 7500 bomblets.

Posted by Matt 2003-10-31 3:34:20 PM|| 2003-10-31 3:34:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#23 My understanding was that while Sky News and Fox News covered elements of the Iraq War like the Sadaam statue coming down, there was no broadcast in France.

I doubt that many Europeans are paying much attention to the WOT other than that we are shooting up the joint and generally pissing off all teh countries in the ME. I'm glad the Jews are in charge of all these nations or our complete lack of PR or proactivity by State could really have some bad consequences throughout the world.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-10-31 4:56:59 PM|| 2003-10-31 4:56:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#24 ... right at this moment in history I want everyone between Morocco and Pakistan to think that we're the most violent sumbitches they'll ever lay eyes on.

And give'em a hint that they ain't seen nothin yet..... Perhaps it's time to play the HAARP.

Posted by Shipman 2003-10-31 5:39:03 PM|| 2003-10-31 5:39:03 PM|| Front Page Top

#25 Jar - couldja tell more about this recounting? ;)

Posted by Lu Baihu 2003-10-31 8:19:06 PM|| 2003-10-31 8:19:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#26 Matt, I only killed my stepdad, so not sure if that counts :)

7500 bomblets huh? Those arty guys love that sh*t. Was that the first incoming 11th Marines took from the 'rabs or was this later on during the drive north?

Lu - this was also the case in Iraq (Gulf I). Not sure how the propaganda got started but not gonna bitch about it. Iraqi pow's told us they knew all Marines were criminals and parent killers, baby killers, brain washed killers, and overall not nice people to invite to friday night prayer blah, blah, blah. They said our 'tats' were proof of past time in prison. I know, LOL! If it scares them, good, then it may save lives. In ref to your question: My bud basically said the local populace was scared shitless of us. Sometimes we would patrol and do the p.r. thing (wave, give candy to the kiddies, etc.) the next day we'd act all pissed like we wanted to corn hole their whole extended family. We kept that type of crazy shit up during patrols to throw them off. Not get to used to our method. (hat tip to our Brit brethren who perfected this patrolling style in N.Ireland, Bulldog's gonna whack to that one) I'm a mick-American as well so that's a hard one to swallow but there it is. Anyways, the main thing was they knew we were around but didn't know what to expect. He said one time they took fire from some shacks out by Camp Rhino (could a been Ripper but I forget) so they leveled them. Leveling the shacks from a distance wasn't the big deal (the enemy probably high-tailed it right after initiating contact anyhow), the big deal was letting the adjacent hamlets see how much fire power, hate & discontent a Marine squad will throw at the Talibano knuckleheads. We figured the locals knew how nuts the talibanos were, needed to ensure that they feared retribution from us more. He said most of them were easy to deal with.

Posted by Jarhead 2003-11-1 12:24:43 AM|| 2003-11-1 12:24:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#27 total respondents to first question: 149% of those queried. Second, 102%. Third, 168%. Etc.

Unstable results? Oh, yeah.

Posted by John Anderson 2003-11-1 12:43:03 AM|| 2003-11-1 12:43:03 AM|| Front Page Top

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