Afghanistan (where the war is over)

[Dushan]

Perhaps,...but sadly I do not think 'Murrica' sees that....I think 'Murrica' fails to comprehend anything beyond their shores...

I do, as an Australian citizen, and my Country blindly following into all manner of 'Murricane' military adventurism..that we are owed VERY BIG TIME, and everything we bought is 'Murricane'

Murricanes are incredibly ignorant of the world outside. Their knowledge of world geography comes from news bulletins of Murricane imperial wars against semi-defenceless small countries.

I've told a story here before about the time I spoke to a class of what in the UK we'd call sixth-formers. It was an exclusively white upper middle class district of Long Island. Parents of the kids were all professionals and business leaders. The youngsters hadn't a **** clue about world geography. Not one of 'em knew the difference between the UK and New Zealand.

That was circa 1986. Now those kids are leaders themselves. One of 'em is a very very famous pop singer. Another is a Senator. Another is on the board of a bunch of banksters in what is thought of as Wall Street. I'd bet a million dollars that not one of 'em knows any more about world geography now than they did back then.

It could make you weep.

So what? How much does an average European kid know about geography of the United States? Can they list all 50 states? Their capitals? Why do The Simpsons live in Springfield?

[Undried Plum]

How much does an average European kid know about geography of the United States? Can they list all 50 states? Their capitals? Why do The Simpsons live in Springfield?

Ah, yes.

That explains everything.

Everything, I tell ye.

[Rwy in Sight]

I think I can tell most of the States and again most of their capitals.

I definitely like to know the answers on the Simpsons question although I guess it should be something along the line there are plenty of Springfields around the USA.

I am not sure whether a sound Geography knowledge might be useful in most professions (ok there are some that is vital as Antoine Saint-Exupéry used to say). A business / political leader aware of his weakness in some fields can choose some advisor competent in those areas. So they might not know where Afghanistan is but they probably have an advisor explaining the local conditions.

Probably I don't see something thus I am happy to be shown that.

[Undried Plum]

Bugghah!

[John Hill]

I do, as an Australian citizen, and my Country blindly following into all manner of 'Murricane' military adventurism..that we are owed VERY BIG TIME, and everything we bought is 'Murricane'

Think of it as paying protection money.

[John Hill]

Don't forget what happened to Gough Whitlam when he talked about closing Pine Gap.

Or what happened to NZ when we declined their kind offer for us to host nuclear weapons.

[bob2s]

Gough Whitlam when he talked about closing Pine Gap.
Sorry John,wrong again.
Gough was just the chief clown in charge of the circus that masqueraded as the Labor Party, the voters were the one's to sign his dismissal at the election following his sacking by the Governor General,closing Pine Gap had bugger all to do with it.

[John Hill]

Gough Whitlam when he talked about closing Pine Gap.
Sorry John,wrong again.
Gough was just the chief clown in charge of the circus that masqueraded as the Labor Party, the voters were the one's to sign his dismissal at the election following his sacking by the Governor General,closing Pine Gap had bugger all to do with it.

I will take John Pilger's word on that. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... dependence

[Dushan]

I think I can tell most of the States and again most of their capitals.

I definitely like to know the answers on the Simpsons question although I guess it should be something along the line there are plenty of Springfields around the USA.

I am not sure whether a sound Geography knowledge might be useful in most professions (ok there are some that is vital as Antoine Saint-Exupéry used to say). A business / political leader aware of his weakness in some fields can choose some advisor competent in those areas. So they might not know where Afghanistan is but they probably have an advisor explaining the local conditions.

Probably I don't see something thus I am happy to be shown that.

Yes, almost spot on. There is a Springfield in every state of the Union.

[John Hill]

Yes, almost spot on. There is a Springfield in every state of the Union.

Well yes, but for Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota*, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, otherwise you are quite correct.

[Undried Plum]

I will take John Pilger's word on that. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... dependence

Pilger is the last of the true journalists. And he is clearly ailing through the passage of years.

I can't immediately think of another one who is still around. Assange is still in prison for telling the truth. Craig Murray is in prison for knowing, and almost telling, the truth.

Who else is there? Charles Wheeler is dead. Matt Frei seems to have gone over to the dark side.

Afsin Rattansi seems to be the last man standing.

[media]https://www.rt.com/shows/going-undergro ... ithdrawal/[/media]

[TheGreenGoblin]

I will take John Pilger's word on that. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... dependence

Pilger is the last of the true journalists. And he is clearly ailing through the passage of years.

I can't immediately think of another one who is still around. Assange is still in prison for telling the truth. Craig Murray is in prison for knowing, and almost telling, the truth.

Who else is there? Charles Wheeler is dead. Matt Frei seems to have gone over to the dark side.

Afsin Rattansi seems to be the last man standing.

[media]https://www.rt.com/shows/going-undergro ... ithdrawal/[/media]

+1 to Mr Pilger.

[Undried Plum]

I sat next to him on a flight from Thiefrow to Fiumicino. A fascinating conversation. It seemed like the whole flight lasted about five minutes.

He's on my list of heroes. And I think he's got the longest inches on my author sorted shelves in my library. OK, mebbe Dickens beats him on that score, but that's fiction stuff. Pilger deals solely in facts and reality.

[Boac]

Three flights into Kabul now from the UAE carrying 'humanitarian supplies', and a second Qatari passenger flight outbound.

[Undried Plum]

Almost like Dyce.

[Boac]

Without Qatari, you mean?

[Boac]

I see Mr Farthing says he got all his staff into Pakistan.

[TheGreenGoblin]

I see Mr Farthing says he got all his staff into Pakistan.

Penny for your thoughts Boac?

[Boac]

Good job he did?

[Undried Plum]

He's an honourable man who did his best to get as many of the buggers into Britain as he dared.

The Afghans, I mean. The dogs were easier.