Pole

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Posts by Pole

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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  Pole

  double post
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  Pole

  Aikon,
  
  I'm not sure what is your problem. Where did I say it's not?
  
  Pole
  
  Edited to add: you wouldn't like to check my knowledge of political geography.
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  276

  2005 Barbecue Is Definitely On!

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  saturday seems to be much preferred over sunday, so this years bbq will be held on saturday, july 9th, commencing around 2 pm.

  location is our home in weston super mare.

  as usual, the day will be very boozy and proceedings will conclude in the waverley pub.

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  Pole

  Me and my wife would be interested. That'd be our first apostafest (gasp!).
  
  
  Pole
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  Pole

  I just don't get why Americans get so excited about the alleged 72% Iraqis going to the polls.

  
  
  Just before people start using this statement of mine all over the thread to prove their points, please notice that it was meant to parrot the question about "Europeans" being so skeptical. When taken out of its context it doesn't represent my intentions at all. I didn't mean to extrapolate it to all Americans and I didn't meant to dilute the significance of the election. Please find another strawman.
  
  
  BTW, I also got "excited" about the elections (I wouldn't be posting here if I hadn't).
  
  
  Czar,
  
  Yeah, that's my main objection - those sweeping generalizations. Even if we exclude Spain, France and Germany were a minority in Europe with Italy, UK, Poland (and Ukraine) sending troops. It makes little sense to say European countries have done nothing to help US if you just mean two major countries.
  
  
  Pole
• 
  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  Pole

  roybatty,

  I'm not sure why your reply is so ignorant and unduly emotional.

  I don't understand why Europeans have so little faith in the people of Iraq. I just don't get it. Are Europeans just anti-Muslim? 72% turn out to vote, despite the threat of death looming over their head and the first comment in this thread are "but have the Russians embraced democracy."

  Find out more about living in the Russian or Indian democracies and you'll understand my point. The point about Russia embracing democracy is this: does the fact that people go to polls mean there's a democracy in a country in the Western sense of the word? What exactly does it take to have a democracy? If it's only about peolpe choosing their government in direct elections then is it always the best political system to impose? To turn your comment on its head: I just don't get why Americans get so excited about the alleged 72% Iraqis going to the polls. Let's see who gets elected and what it means for Iraq.

  History will show that the Europeans did nothing to help the people of Iraq during their time of need. By holding a grudge and not sending in any peace keeping troops, the "insurgents" (aka terrorists) killed hundred if not thousands of innocent people. History will also show that Saddam could have been out of power faster if the Europeans hadn't, by means of the UN oil for food scam, given Saddam additional billions of dollars which allowed him more time.

  Sorry, but I find your ignorance personally offending. You certainly know nothing about the role of many European countries other than France or Germany. Poland has been present in the Iraqi campaign from day one (first special troops then a constant force of 2000+ troops dozens of whom have been killed). Spain has paid the price for their participation. Of course Britain is not a European state for you either. I guess the Hollywood industry will help to instill the kind of histroical truths about America's and "Europe's" roles in Iraq which you seem to hold already. Kind of helps me understand how come so many Americans believe they won the WW2 single-handedly.

  When I see Iraqi men volunteering to be police officers, knowing that they will not only be risking their lives but the lives of their family, I admire them. When I see Iraqis standing in line to vote, wondering if a bomb will go off, I am in awe. I'm not ready to call it a succses but shit, give the Iraqis a little credit (and hope).

  I give them a lot of credit and I wish them the best. The "democracy" of my country rarely has such a turnout. I'm just not sure if the great benefits of living under democracy which they owe us will outweigh their losses.

  Pole
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  91

  72% Voter Turnout in Iraq

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the voter turnout for the 2004 us presidential election was 60.7% (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a10492-2005jan14.html).

  despite being threatened by terrorists, iraq's voter turnout was much greater than the last us voter turnout!

  i'd say it was a far greater success than expected!

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  Pole

  Yeah, right, "embracing democracy". Have Russians "embraced democracy" yet?
  
  
  
  
• 
  22

  607, 607, 607

  by Pole in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi scholar!

  is that your phone number?

  pole - ba and ma in linguistics

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  Pole

  No, it actually is 607-1914...

  
  
  Lol, Neo.
• 
  22

  607, 607, 607

  by Pole in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi scholar!

  is that your phone number?

  pole - ba and ma in linguistics

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  Pole

  Scholar,
  
  Gotcha!!! How did I know you'd open up this thread? :-):-)
  
  
  Pole - of the as-Gumby-put-it-MAAAAA-BAAAAAA class
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  149

  Watchtower Observer site goes down

  by Norm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey folks,.

  an era in the ex-jw history is over.

  kent steinhaug's site http://watchtower.observer.org is being shut down.. it was the first of it's kind, and to this day probably still the largest anti wt site on the net.

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  Pole

  Kent,
  
  
  I'd like to see (at least a sample of) the XML data.
  
  
  Let's discuss it here.
  Pole
• 
  27

  Did you gain any good character traits as a result of being a dub?

  by beebee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've never been a dub but i've been lurking around here on an off for about a year.

  i came here to gain insight into my guy and it's been quite an eye-opening education.

  thanks to all of you for all i have learned.

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  Pole

  I quit smoking (?). That has little to do with personality though. Pole