Sunday, March 28, 2004
What do you mean, I can't have the President of Tunisia shot?
The Arab League plans to get together to talk about stuff, only horror of horrors! They learn that other countries actually hold different opinions on stuff. So, of course, they meet anyway, and work through their differences with tolerance and mutual respect.
Or, they act like a bunch of six year olds, and call the whole thing off.
It's always amusing to watch dictators try to function in international organizations. The surprise at the existence of contrary opinions is genuine, which makes it even more hilarious.
I'm reminded of a few years back, Deng Xiaoping of China visited the U.S. Of course, he was met by people protesting China's occupation of Tibet, as well as other potentially bad ideas of the Chinese government. I read somewhere an interview with one of then-President Clinton's advisors who said Deng was genuinely upset with the protesters. The Chinese belived that of course Clinton had the power to restrain them, and the only reason he didn't was spite. They refused to accept American explanations that the protesters genuinely had a right to be heard.
Well, it's funny as long as you don't live in one of those countries, I guess.
The Arab League plans to get together to talk about stuff, only horror of horrors! They learn that other countries actually hold different opinions on stuff. So, of course, they meet anyway, and work through their differences with tolerance and mutual respect.
Or, they act like a bunch of six year olds, and call the whole thing off.
It's always amusing to watch dictators try to function in international organizations. The surprise at the existence of contrary opinions is genuine, which makes it even more hilarious.
I'm reminded of a few years back, Deng Xiaoping of China visited the U.S. Of course, he was met by people protesting China's occupation of Tibet, as well as other potentially bad ideas of the Chinese government. I read somewhere an interview with one of then-President Clinton's advisors who said Deng was genuinely upset with the protesters. The Chinese belived that of course Clinton had the power to restrain them, and the only reason he didn't was spite. They refused to accept American explanations that the protesters genuinely had a right to be heard.
Well, it's funny as long as you don't live in one of those countries, I guess.
