IG-Calibre
comhalta
+226|7167|Tír Eoghan, Tuaisceart Éireann
A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6577|what

She wasn't talking about America at all. But the middle east, Iraq, and the Iraqi PM. That can't be considered un-American.

Besides, she's talking about security measures. Something the US doesn't need more of atm.
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
Sorcerer0513
Member
+18|6966|Outer Space

TheAussieReaper wrote:

She wasn't talking about America at all. But the middle east, Iraq, and the Iraqi PM. That can't be considered un-American.

Besides, she's talking about security measures. Something the US doesn't need more of atm.

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6577|what

Since when is the US a functioning democratic state?
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
Sorcerer0513
Member
+18|6966|Outer Space

TheAussieReaper wrote:

Since when is the US a functioning democratic state?
Oh. That settles it then .
Wallpaper
+303|6418|The pool

TheAussieReaper wrote:

She wasn't talking about America at all. But the middle east, Iraq, and the Iraqi PM. That can't be considered un-American.
That, and...

Correct me if Im wrong, but cant "state" also mean country?
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7190|Cambridge (UK)
Interesting...

Yeah, one could take this to mean that America is not a "functioning democratic state" (and yes, Wallpaper, 'state' can mean 'country').

But, of course, we're talking about America here, so what she said doesn't apply to America, just everybody else.
RAIMIUS
You with the face!
+244|7139|US
That's what our British friends said, right around 1775.
I happen to vehemently disagree with her statement.  I also happen to disagree with a lot of things the government has done.  Perhaps we should talk about the basic notions behind a free government.

Last edited by RAIMIUS (2008-04-21 06:56:42)

loubot
O' HAL naw!
+470|7003|Columbus, OH

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
I think she means of disarming Iraqi citizens and local milita, possibly curtailing the sale of military grade firearms to every day folks .
Locoloki
I got Mug 222 at Gritty's!!!!
+216|7065|Your moms bedroom
stop....


your reading it wrong
sergeriver
Cowboy from Hell
+1,928|7182|Argentina

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
She just took a dump on the Second Amendment.
Masques
Black Panzer Party
+184|7147|Eastern PA
As much as I dislike this administration, Rice does have a point. For most other democratic states having a population flooded with arms wouldn't be much of a problem, but Iraq doesn't have a critical mass of the population even vested in "Iraq" as a coherent state. The US can have a large number of individual citizens owning weapons (or indeed even a large number of criminals owning weapons) because most criminals and law-abiding citizens alike view the US as a coherent sovereign body.

Arming militias in this case is only hastening the disintegration of the national entity formerly known as Iraq.

What Rice's statement DOES highlight is how incoherent US policy is and how there are major power centers within the executive branch pursuing contradictory policies. On the one hand you have the Sec. State arguing for a reduction of arms among the general population, while the military pursues a policy of arming anti-Sadr Shia militia and anti-AQI Sunni militia (which has been tactically successful, but has clearly negative strategic consequences).

EDIT: I should note that I'm not condemning the military, just that in this case, what is best tactically (as currently defined) is self-defeating strategically (again, as currently defined).

Last edited by Masques (2008-04-21 08:53:00)

Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6966|Texas - Bigger than France

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
I think what she's saying is the prime minister has asked for Sadr to stop fighting and come to the peace table, terms of which include laying down their arms.
IG-Calibre
comhalta
+226|7167|Tír Eoghan, Tuaisceart Éireann

Pug wrote:

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
I think what she's saying is the prime minister has asked for Sadr to stop fighting and come to the peace table, terms of which include laying down their arms.
While I agree with the general thrust of your observation, there clearly is an underlying sub text, one which I would of thought most Americans would find particularly unacceptable and even more alarming being uttered by a Republican of such high standing.. no? here is the equation for you - ( Functioning Democracy = unarmed citizens no guns in private hands or bye bye 2nd amendment)
ATG
Banned
+5,233|6954|Global Command
I'm thinking she's talking about RPG's, mortars and heavy machine guns.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6966|Texas - Bigger than France

IG-Calibre wrote:

While I agree with the general thrust of your observation, there clearly is an underlying sub text, one which I would of thought most Americans would find particularly unacceptable and even more alarming being uttered by a Republican of such high standing.. no? here is the equation for you - ( Functioning Democracy = unarmed citizens no guns in private hands or bye bye 2nd amendment)
And what's the likelihood she's talking about the US 2nd amendment?

Google it.  It's not the first time she's been accused of being an absolutionist and been absolved.

If you want to read into it what you will, fine by me.
mikkel
Member
+383|7026

ATG wrote:

I'm thinking she's talking about RPG's, mortars and heavy machine guns.
Well, she's saying that arms belong in the military, not in private hands. That doesn't sound very exclusive at all.

Pug wrote:

IG-Calibre wrote:

While I agree with the general thrust of your observation, there clearly is an underlying sub text, one which I would of thought most Americans would find particularly unacceptable and even more alarming being uttered by a Republican of such high standing.. no? here is the equation for you - ( Functioning Democracy = unarmed citizens no guns in private hands or bye bye 2nd amendment)
And what's the likelihood she's talking about the US 2nd amendment?
Pretty big and very apparent, considering that she's talking about every functioning democratic state.
RAIMIUS
You with the face!
+244|7139|US
Considering her past comments, I think there is something odd here.  She may have misspoken.  She may be going off of what the US and Iraq governments want to hear about Iraq (i.e. supporting whatever they want).

Consider her past statements:
Condoleeza Rice: Gun Rights Important As Free Speech 

By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer Wed May 11, 9:13 PM ET 

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, recalling how her father took up arms to defend fellow blacks from racist whites in the segregated South, said Wednesday the constitutional right of Americans to own guns is as important as their rights to free speech and religion.

In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Rice said she came to that view from personal experience. She said her father, a black minister, and his friends armed themselves to defend the black community in Birmingham, Ala., against the White Knight Riders in 1962 and 1963. She said if local authorities had had lists of registered weapons, she did not think her father and other blacks would have been able to defend themselves.

Birmingham, where Rice was born in 1954, was a focal point of racial tension. Four black girls were killed when a bomb exploded at a Birmingham church in 1963, a galvanizing moment in the fight for civil rights.

Rice said she favored background checks and controls at gun shows. However, she added, "we have to be very careful when we start abridging rights that the Founding Fathers thought very important."

Rice said the Founding Fathers understood "there might be circumstances that people like my father experienced in Birmingham, Ala., when, in fact, the police weren't going to protect you."

"I also don't think we get to pick and choose from the Constitution," she said in the interview, which was taped for airing Wednesday night. "The Second Amendment is as important as the First Amendment."

The First Amendment protects religious, press and speech freedoms as well as the rights to assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment guarantees "a well-regulated militia" and "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Gun-rights supporters and those who favor gun control disagree over whether the amendment guarantees individual gun ownership.
Sorcerer0513
Member
+18|6966|Outer Space

mikkel wrote:

Pretty big and very apparent, considering that she's talking about every functioning democratic state.
Wait, didn't we establish earlier in the thread that US isn't a functioning democratic state?

TheAussieReaper wrote:

Since when is the US a functioning democratic state?
Or was I tricked???
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6577|what

sergeriver wrote:

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
"...But clearly the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with arms belonging to the state, not in private hands."
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
She just took a dump on the Second Amendment.
Yeah, the United States Second Amendment. But Iraq doesn't have the US constitution, although it does have your oil, military and bravest fighting over there.
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6966|Texas - Bigger than France

TheAussieReaper wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

IG-Calibre wrote:

A quote from Republican Condoleezza Rice 
(italics mine) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle … 357191.stm

Is she saying by default that America is not a functioning democratic state, or, is that the most un-American statement ever???  discuss..
She just took a dump on the Second Amendment.
Yeah, the United States Second Amendment. But Iraq doesn't have the US constitution, although it does have your oil, military and bravest fighting over there.
Well, she definately said that democracies can't exist when people own guns, but the context which some are debating about is that democracies can't exist when their too much violence in the streets because there's a war going on.

But I really didn't need to write that did I?

Last edited by Pug (2008-04-21 18:38:59)

AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6577|what

No, Pug. You didn't really need to write that. I think we're agreed that the quote from Rice has been taken out of context though.
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
Canin
Conservative Roman Catholic
+280|6899|Foothills of S. Carolina

I guess its a good thing that the USA is not a democratic state, but rather a Republic. That kinda exempts us from her statement now, doesn't it?

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