Reply to: With a little help from my Friends

[Spacecadet]

But historically, isn't having a war a good way to distract people from economic/domestic issues and get them to pull together?

Yes, and it cuts down the number of unemployed

[expat]

But historically, isn't having a war a good way to distract people from economic/domestic issues and get them to pull together?

Yes. While actually making the mess a hundred times worse.

[d000hg]

Agree: I've always reckoned that war is waste, and a really big one like WWII is just a step back 2 generations. Whole countries' investments down the drain to pay for stuff that blows up or gets blown up, a generation doing no productive work, huge net values of buildings destroyed, and farming land laid waste. 20 years is conservative.

But historically, isn't having a war a good way to distract people from economic/domestic issues and get them to pull together?

[AlfredJPruffock]

France jumps aboard Russia’s great railway revival

By Paul Betts

Published: October 7 2008 20:51 | Last updated: October 7 2008 20:51

In normal times, Alstom’s announcement that it has clinched a strategic alliance with Russia’s leading railway rolling stock manufacturer would have commanded a great deal more interest than the curt statement put out by the international news wires on Monday. But these are not normal times, with the credit crisis and collapsing stock markets overshadowing virtually everything else in the business world.

Yet, the Russian venture does deserve some attention....

[AlfredJPruffock]

I read the news today - Oh Boy
The English Banks had just been Nationalised
A crowd of people stood and stared
Now they now how many Banks it takes
To fill the middle of Red Square

[expat]

You know something is happening,
But you don't know what it is.
Do you, Mr Jones?

[AlfredJPruffock]

Wait - theres more -

Russia and North Korea to build shortest railroad link between Asia and Europe
Russia and North Korea have launched a joint project to restore a railroad within North Korea, which will eventually be joined with the Trans-Siberian railroad. (89 sec./3.42Mb, shows: 515)

[AlfredJPruffock]

All the other friends are a bit strapped for cash right now. They are a bit busy solving their own financial crises too.

Ironic that a coupld of months back Russia was labeled by some on this site as the International Bully as it had the temerity to defend its people.

Perhaps Russia will now save us all.

Cue - Nicky G ...AtW

[The Lone Gunman]

So nobody wanted to help gallant little Iceland - except Russia - whom despite grave internal problems has come to their aid.

That is rather shameful of the West.

All the other friends are a bit strapped for cash right now. They are a bit busy solving their own financial crises too.

[expat]

So nobody wanted to help gallant little Iceland - except Russia - whom despite grave internal problems has come to their aid.

That is rather shameful of the West.

And possibly rather stupid. This, not the banking crisis itself, may be the biggest thing that happens this decade, because it may affect decades to come.

[expat]

After the great depression it took 20 years to recover. I still think that protectionism and WW2 slowed the process up.

For WW3 could we be on the Germans side this time? Last 2 we were drawn in the other group.....

Agree: I've always reckoned that war is waste, and a really big one like WWII is just a step back 2 generations. Whole countries' investments down the drain to pay for stuff that blows up or gets blown up, a generation doing no productive work, huge net values of buildings destroyed, and farming land laid waste. 20 years is conservative.

ISTM that Vietnam was the USA's first money-haemorrage, and Iraq and Afghanistan are ruining them now.

[BrilloPad]

Well I guess WW3 is one way of re-kindling the Global economy - no thats way too cynical.

After the great depression it took 20 years to recover. I still think that protectionism and WW2 slowed the process up.

For WW3 could we be on the Germans side this time? Last 2 we were drawn in the other group.....

[expat]

Maybe we should lend them some money in exchange for fishing rights in their waters?

Or send our trawlers up there protected by the RN. They cant afford a navy to defend themselves.....

Ah, back to what made Britain great: send a gunboat to steal from other people.

[expat]

“We have not received the kind of support that we were requesting from our friends,” said Geir Haarde, prime minister. “So in a situation like that one has to look for new friends.”

Is he really called Keir Hardie???

[BrilloPad]

Maybe we should lend them some money in exchange for fishing rights in their waters?

Or send our trawlers up there protected by the RN. They cant afford a navy to defend themselves.....