Yes. I surrendered. You won

I know...the BBC just published a table to prove it

"does anyone have any views on the syrian situation ?"

Serious.

What is the extent of Russia/China vested interest in Syria that they will let things continue as is ??

How can a transition happen without subsequent sectarian grievances spilling out +/- Syria becoming another Al Qaeda Club 18-30 ??

Nah... I just made it up instead

Im with Assad tbh.

I dont mean to trurn this thread into an anti USA thread, but I reckon the yanks are responsible for all the bloodshed theyre blaming assad for, and are playing a very very dangerous game in trying to increase their influence in the area but using terrorists as a conduit for that influence.

* by using *

JPB: We finally agree on something! The US care nothing for human rights. It's just about what's in their best interests.
China and Russia vetoed military intervention for this reason. They saw that America just wanted to go into Syria and start controlling things, just like in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Every country should look at China and use it as a blueprint for their own country, very clever in what they have done.

JPB: We finally agree on something! The US care nothing for human rights. It's just about what's in their best interests.
China and Russia vetoed military intervention for this reason. They saw that America just wanted to go into Syria and start controlling things, just like in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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totally agree with that.

China has always been a peaceful country. But past experiences, such as the century of humiliation, have shown them that they need to be MILITARILY strong in order to not be colonised again.

They are playing a slow waiting game. Once they've got enough economic and military clout, they'll start being more assertive.

China has always been a peaceful country.
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they spent most of the 20th century chopping each other to pieces.

Don't pick holes!

Peaceful, as in not engaging in wars and conflicts with other countries. Their focus was historically on economic success. They barely had any weapons.That's why their entire fleet of ships was wiped out in one hour by a single British gunboat prior to the Opium Wars.

i dont think you can define a nation as "peaceful" just because they focus more on killing one another than they do on waging wars against other countries.

they were at war with japan for much of the last century anyway.

Any one else seen one of their handhelds like the PSP Vita? It's awesome, I want one.

JBP: Well by that definition, no nation on earth is peaceful, as there have always been internal conflicts of one kind or another.

And Japan invaded China.

yes, japan did invade china.

the murder and butchery in china under mao is probably unmatched in human history.

I think Europeans committing genocide against the native Americans is right up there. When's the last time you saw a native American, other than on TV?

I think Europeans committing genocide against the native Americans is right up there.
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do you ?

i havent got the figures to hand, but the number of people murdered in china at chairman mao's bequest is almost certinaly many many times greater than the entire population of native americans.

Well, an entire continent of people was wiped out. An entire race. Not to mention having their land stolen in the process.

i dont have an interest in native american history so dont know anything about it. the statement that more murder took place of native americans than under chairman mao is ridiculous though.

firstly an entire race wasnt wiped out as it still survives today. secondly they werent generally murdered in cold blood (as happened under mao), but died in armed conflicts. thridly almost certainly many times more people were murdered under chairman mao than the number of american indians who ever lived.

Sorry. Virtually an entire race was wiped out.

And I don't really think it makes a difference if they were killed in cold blood or whilst defending themselves against a vastly superior foe.

ok, well im not interested in talking to you about it because it's a totally ridiculous comparison which shows that you have no idea of the scale and the horror of the crimes which took place in 20th century china.

your claim that china is a peaceful nation is just wodefully ignorant, and meaningless attempts to draw some sort of comparison to native americans is totally pointless.

myhammers

I think Europeans committing genocide against the native Americans is right up there. When's the last time you saw a native American, other than on TV?
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I worked with one when I was in Asia, and regularly chatted to one for quite a few years online. Fascinating culture and spirituality

Fair enough. Maybe next time you decide to have a 'debate', try to assemble sufficient facts and get them right. Like China warring with Japan, for example