Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

erooMynohtnA · 07-23-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimaldi

I think WMD is used because it's a more general term. It could be nuclear weapons, of course, but it could also be chemical or biological weapons. Sure, it's a good political soundbite, but all three of the above mentioned weapon types are pretty taboo from a military/political standpoint, so it's easier to refer to WMD than each individually.

I agree. Plus, it's become part of the lexicon. People use it all the time.

Quote:

Bigger, certainly. I think stronger may be a stretch. Could the US invade China and win without use of WMDs? Probably not. Could China invade the US? Definately not. Who would win if a war were fought on some neutral piece of ground...say, Africa over natural resources? I think that would be an easy US win. China doesn't have the equipment to project its military power across the globe like the US does. They're developing it, certainly, but they're still very much a regional military power.

I don't know about that. I think the US has the quick strike power to win any short conflict quickly. But that comes at a cost, literally. Our toys are the best, but they're also the most expensive. Logistics win wars.

I would give an edge to the US in a large scale conventional war over a large territory in which neither country could attack the other directly, but not anything decisive. I think the deciding factor would be force presence before things got hot. The longer it went on, the more of an advantage I would give to China based on industry, population, and national determination.

D'Art · 07-23-2008, 07:49 AM

Personally, I'd rather not find out.

erooMynohtnA · 07-23-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Art

Personally, I'd rather not find out.

No kidding

Gav · 07-23-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

I agree. Plus, it's become part of the lexicon. People use it all the time.

Seeing as my point appears to be missed. I will just comment that were perfectly good acronyms around beforehand - not to mention direct phrases. All "WMD" does is promote woolly thinking.

erooMynohtnA · 07-23-2008, 08:23 AM

I could say NBC or CBR, but no one would understand what I mean; therefore they are not perfectly good acronyms.

I understand why you don't like it, but I don't see it as politicized to the point that you do. Like it or not, people use it. Sometimes for something other than fearmongering, even.

KD5MDK · 07-23-2008, 09:25 AM

Saying NBC in the context of the Olympics would certainly not clarify things. CBR is probably among the definitions of jargon.

erooMynohtnA · 07-23-2008, 09:29 AM

Nuclear, biological, chemical and chemical, biological, radiological, respectively.

Philistine · 07-23-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

Nuclear, biological, chemical and chemical, biological, radiological, respectively.

I've always preferred NBC when talking about all three programs, or in a more technical setting.

I generally find WMD to be overly politicized in that it is often used to (correctly) describe a chemical weapons program, while suggesting an existing or imminent nuclear program.

In these circumstances I think it is both more accurate and less loaded to actually refer to the programs/weapons being discussed -- e.g. chemical weapons.

The existence of mustard gas shouldn't suggest nuclear weapons--it's just silly.

Anyhoo--my $.02.

--Philistine

Delta · 07-23-2008, 09:31 PM

The Chinese government has also asked all closeby restaurants to take dog off their menu. Another one of those things that make you go, "hmmm..."

Lemonaide · 07-23-2008, 09:34 PM

In spite of the controversy, it seems China does plan to move forward and believe it or not, they've created a sort of 'special zone' for protestors. It's getting like Japan these days. Very organized Protesting happening - which is a pas-d'nando forward.

On the Fencing side..... who is the new American Fencing Dream Team? What's happening? I have no idea who's the top in any of the weapons for any of the groups, I've been out of touch for a while.

Thanks!

mrbiggs · 07-24-2008, 04:07 AM

Dog-eating black people with asthma are going to be PISSED when they arrive in Beijing.

rory · 07-24-2008, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta

The Chinese government has also asked all closeby restaurants to take dog off their menu. Another one of those things that make you go, "hmmm..."

Why?

Chinese people eat dog. You think that's abhorrent.
You eat pork, right? Several million Jews and Muslims think that's abhorrent.
Buddhists frown on you for eating anything meat based.

What exactly is the point that you're trying to put across with this thread?

(And no, personally I wouldn't eat dog, but I'm not going to denigrate those who do)

telkanuru · 07-25-2008, 05:08 AM

In times of famine around the world, dogs are pretty much universally the first thing to go. This is as true of ancient Rome as it is of modern China.

Heh, man's best friend.

Zilverzmurfen · 07-25-2008, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telkanuru

In times of famine around the world, dogs are pretty much universally the first thing to go. This is as true of ancient Rome as it is of modern China.

Heh, man's best friend.

...be it on a leash or on a plate...

Inquartata · 07-26-2008, 06:49 PM

Try the Mongrelolian Beef.

telkanuru · 07-27-2008, 02:06 AM

Don't we already have a thread hounding people with dog puns?

Inquartata · 07-27-2008, 04:38 PM

Yes, but it ain't Rover 'til the fat Lady sings.

telkanuru · 07-28-2008, 05:42 PM

I think this time you've gone a mutt too far.

Capt. Slo-mo · 07-28-2008, 11:45 PM

His bark is worse than his bytes.

Stormbringer · 07-29-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo

His bark is worse than his bytes.

On the other hand, he might have a Megabyte.

The question is, are the bytes represented in binary, or by Hexadecimal?

Then again, being a sabreur, he might just prefer to Hack and Slash through the problem...