Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

4thTimeLucky · 05-08-2003, 03:58 AM

Pacifier
The headline of The Guardian 22 April: "Blair reaps spoils of war with surge in support".
There seems to be a strong rule of thumb that any leader who wins a war (certainly if they win it 'well') gains political capital and popularity. Bizarrely this even seems to hold true when the population was anti the war in question. "Oh no, they shouldn't have taken us to war, but didn't they do well when they did!".

Will Blair win the next election? Only proof of some heinous misdemeanor would stop him. Looking only at him and his party you would have to say they were very strong. When you then look at the headless opposition, in particular the Conservatives, you wonder if the outcome could be anything but another landslide.

The Empire
I think we gave up the desire to an Empire a while ago, but we certainly want to be a global player and are one. We have the 4th largest economy ($1,414bn GDP), have a large international political network (including a permenant seat on the Security Council) and have one of the top ten largest 'roving' armies (on raw size we are 27th, but this ignores our quality, the fact that such nations as Iraq come in at 12th and that many of the higher 26 have been barracks bound for years). Its not our fault that we are dwarfed by the sole world superpower!

05-08-2003, 03:58 AM	#24 (permalink)
4thTimeLucky Psycho Location: 4th has left the building - goodbye folks	Pacifier The headline of The Guardian 22 April: "Blair reaps spoils of war with surge in support". There seems to be a strong rule of thumb that any leader who wins a war (certainly if they win it 'well') gains political capital and popularity. Bizarrely this even seems to hold true when the population was anti the war in question. "Oh no, they shouldn't have taken us to war, but didn't they do well when they did!". Will Blair win the next election? Only proof of some heinous misdemeanor would stop him. Looking only at him and his party you would have to say they were very strong. When you then look at the headless opposition, in particular the Conservatives, you wonder if the outcome could be anything but another landslide. The Empire I think we gave up the desire to an Empire a while ago, but we certainly want to be a global player and are one. We have the 4th largest economy ($1,414bn GDP), have a large international political network (including a permenant seat on the Security Council) and have one of the top ten largest 'roving' armies (on raw size we are 27th, but this ignores our quality, the fact that such nations as Iraq come in at 12th and that many of the higher 26 have been barracks bound for years). Its not our fault that we are dwarfed by the sole world superpower! __________________ I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless!