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I'm honestly disturbed that one of the United States' greatest foreign policy disasters may be remembered because some guy involved was an accomplished gamer.

I'm honestly disturbed that one of the United States' greatest foreign policy disasters may be remembered because some guy involved was an accomplished gamer. I really miss the GWB days. Had this happened on his watch, people wouldn't be talking about Eve or WoW or whatever the fuck.

JeremyBanks 14y ago
People in general aren't. The gaming and tech communities, which were closer to him, are. Did something similar in that respect happen during Bush's watch?
knowtheory 14y ago
Wait, how is this one of the US's greatest foreign policy disasters? It was definitely a significant loss for the U.S. diplomatic corps, and one of only a handful of times where an ambassador has been killed, but despite that, Chris Stevens's death did not materially change the facts on the ground in Libya, or in the arabic speaking world in general. In terms of geopolitics, as tragic as the attack in Benghazi was, it hasn't amounted to much. If nothing else, the drone wars in Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan are considerably more consequential.
pstuart 14y ago
> I really miss the GWB days Are you trolling? because "the United States'greatest foreign policy disasters" under GWB far surpassed what happened in Libya. This is being used as political hammer by the GOP, so it's hard to take at face value.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- mynameishere 14y ago
  The Bush administration's foreign policy mistakes are still continuously condemned by the press. Many, many years later.
  - LekkoscPiwa 14y ago
    Why are you surprised? USA in year 2000 was a much stronger and powerful country than America in 2008 or 2013. Since 2001 the USA is in downfall. Doesn't matter Bush or Obama, the country isn't recognized as a power it used to be. The tragic events of 9/11 could have and should have been used to make the America even more powerful internationally. They made it much weaker. Militarilly, economically, socially the US is getting much weaker every year since then. I remember how back in 1990 the US administration was explaining Russians not to bomb Chechnya because "you don't destroy terrorists with bombs and occupation". I remember how in 1990s America was telling Asia that "you don't solve economic problems by printing money". And telling Japan to stop subsidizing "zombie banks" that should let to fail. Etc, etc. It's like you know what to do, but you don't do it and that this makes you weaker than ever. While others in the meantime took all your advise seriously and are building strong economies and societies.
  - illuminate 14y ago
    And? Even with his family and party's influence over the popular media, he's not entitled to control over his "legacy".
gadders 14y ago
And the US Government is still lying and trying to cover up what happened...
- crusso 14y ago
  I expect the administration to be covering up embarrassing information. That's par for the course. What I'm constantly amazed at is how the media ignores the issue. On 9/11/2001, George Bush hesitated a few minutes while events were unfolding and he was in front of a class of school children. The press explored every second of the event and Bush was lambasted for just sitting there. Fair enough. On 9/11/2012, (from what little we know) Obama got one briefing in the early evening on what was happening, gave no orders to mobilize support for those under attack (which was apparently critical), went to bed and didn't check on status until the next morning. If George Bush had been that lax in handling something, Michael Moore would have had a movie that featured it as a key failing, ABC, NBC, and CNN would be all over it as a major political failing - with story after story and maybe a couple of specials. When the press basically becomes a mouthpiece for a particular administration or party, we're all in big trouble. The potential iceberg under the water becomes larger and larger.

JeremyBanks 14y ago

People in general aren't. The gaming and tech communities, which were closer to him, are. Did something similar in that respect happen during Bush's watch?

knowtheory 14y ago

Wait, how is this one of the US's greatest foreign policy disasters? It was definitely a significant loss for the U.S. diplomatic corps, and one of only a handful of times where an ambassador has been killed, but despite that, Chris Stevens's death did not materially change the facts on the ground in Libya, or in the arabic speaking world in general. In terms of geopolitics, as tragic as the attack in Benghazi was, it hasn't amounted to much. If nothing else, the drone wars in Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan are considerably more consequential.

pstuart 14y ago

> I really miss the GWB days Are you trolling? because "the United States'greatest foreign policy disasters" under GWB far surpassed what happened in Libya. This is being used as political hammer by the GOP, so it's hard to take at face value.

deleted 14y ago
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mynameishere 14y ago
The Bush administration's foreign policy mistakes are still continuously condemned by the press. Many, many years later.
- LekkoscPiwa 14y ago
  Why are you surprised? USA in year 2000 was a much stronger and powerful country than America in 2008 or 2013. Since 2001 the USA is in downfall. Doesn't matter Bush or Obama, the country isn't recognized as a power it used to be. The tragic events of 9/11 could have and should have been used to make the America even more powerful internationally. They made it much weaker. Militarilly, economically, socially the US is getting much weaker every year since then. I remember how back in 1990 the US administration was explaining Russians not to bomb Chechnya because "you don't destroy terrorists with bombs and occupation". I remember how in 1990s America was telling Asia that "you don't solve economic problems by printing money". And telling Japan to stop subsidizing "zombie banks" that should let to fail. Etc, etc. It's like you know what to do, but you don't do it and that this makes you weaker than ever. While others in the meantime took all your advise seriously and are building strong economies and societies.
- illuminate 14y ago
  And? Even with his family and party's influence over the popular media, he's not entitled to control over his "legacy".

gadders 14y ago

And the US Government is still lying and trying to cover up what happened...

crusso 14y ago
I expect the administration to be covering up embarrassing information. That's par for the course. What I'm constantly amazed at is how the media ignores the issue. On 9/11/2001, George Bush hesitated a few minutes while events were unfolding and he was in front of a class of school children. The press explored every second of the event and Bush was lambasted for just sitting there. Fair enough. On 9/11/2012, (from what little we know) Obama got one briefing in the early evening on what was happening, gave no orders to mobilize support for those under attack (which was apparently critical), went to bed and didn't check on status until the next morning. If George Bush had been that lax in handling something, Michael Moore would have had a movie that featured it as a key failing, ABC, NBC, and CNN would be all over it as a major political failing - with story after story and maybe a couple of specials. When the press basically becomes a mouthpiece for a particular administration or party, we're all in big trouble. The potential iceberg under the water becomes larger and larger.