Wow. I don't think the U.S. has been this hated since March 2003.

[wtmusic]

Observing what the US are doing and saying regarding Snowden has fundamentally changed my attitude to the country. Add in the whole gun culture thing and much else besides I really don't think I care to visit the place again. Central to both these issues has been Obama and once again my former belief for him as a man and as a president has been terminally screwed. - symphony1010 03 July 2013 4:13am

An op-ed by a German Green politican:

"Edward Snowden deserves shelter in Germany

Edward Snowden has done us all a great service. In the past two weeks Europeans have been made aware of massive data collection from their private and business communications by American and British security services. The extent of this surveillance has been staggering. We have also learned that the US is apparently spying on EU representations in Brussels, Washington and New York, and the embassies of European member states. These practices have nothing to do with the war on terror.

We can only speculate about the real motivation. What type of information is being extracted, and what is being done with it? The European Commission is supposed to start negotiations with the US on a transatlantic free trade agreement. Should our delegations choose to meet at secret locations in future and prepare meetings using encrypted code, because otherwise the US National Security Agency will know their every move in advance? On top of that, German and other European businesses' secrets cannot be secure any more. For years the US has been accusing China of stealing intellectual property. Do we need to redirect our attention over industrial espionage?

If even a few of these revelations are true, our worst Orwellian nightmares have become reality. Already trust between the EU and the US, and between the EU and its member state Britain has been violated. Both governments need to react to these accusations, clarify the activities of their secret services and, if true, stop these programmes immediately. Surveillance without suspicion to this extent constitutes a violation of the right to privacy laid down, for instance, in the international covenant on civil and political rights."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/02/edward-snowden-shelter-in-germany

Read comments by Guardian readers below.

[KittyWampus]

1. LOL! You post an editorial and project it onto all of world. It says more about the posters doing

so than people in other countries.

Edit- but yes, read the comments. LOL!

[wtmusic]

2. Did you read the comments?

I didn't think so.

[KittyWampus]

5. Yes I did. Did you? LOL!

[graham4anything]

33. +1

[Cali_Democrat]

22. Probably the same kinds of idiots who say the US govt killed Michael Hastings

Who gives a fuck.

[Violet_Crumble]

29. The same sort of 'idiots' who opposed the invasion of Iraq and Bush's bullying of the world....

You should give a fuck...

[graham4anything]

31. +1

everyone loves the US
especially the way there are peaceful elections

people look at Egypt and think, if only Egypt had peaceful elections every 4 years, and if they don't like the Bush family,
they vote them out
(what person would think, oh, if they don't like the Bush's, let's get rid of Obama and bring in Jeb?

and after 9-11, the world admired America, and same was true in all the years after.
Remember, the world stood with America and most were part of the two wars, CONGRESS voted on.

and the world cheered when Bush was ousted.

Certainly, in the world, there is not one nation that would want Bush brought back.

(And in Germany and Austria, they remember recent history Google Jorg Haider and no one in the world would
want Jorg Haider or anyone looking like him in viewpoint or looks to come to power.

[Luminous Animal]

77. When was Bush ousted?

[SidDithers]

42. +1...nt

Sid

[pnwmom]

3. And we have Snowden to thank for this.

He moved a lot closer to treason when he stopped talking about US internal surveillance and started leaking about US spying on other countries.

[wtmusic]

4. Shoot the messenger?

How convenient.

[pnwmom]

6. No, charge him with theft of classified documents and put him on trial. nt

[wtmusic]

7. So...they hate us because Snowden stole the documents.

That's twisted.

[pnwmom]

8. He stole them and shared them with China and other countries around the world.

I suspect a lot of the governmental reaction is posturing, though, because they're doing the same thing.

[wtmusic]

9. Screw the governments, you're saying that's why citizens around the world hate us?

That's very, very twisted.

[pnwmom]

20. Some are angry, the ones who pay attention to news media. And they wouldn't be angry

if Snowden hadn't taken it upon himself to leak the documents he did.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. They don't hate US. They hate the spooks.

[brooklynite]

52. Right, because NONE of those countries have an intelligence service...

[Bluenorthwest]

60. So your contention is that merely having an 'intelligence service' means any nation

can do anything, there is no law, no limit? Because we have such agencies, other nations are free to spy upon us in any way they wish? That is what you are suggesting.

[brooklynite]

67. No, my contention is that intelligence gathering is an element of statecraft in every nation...

...and everyone engages in it to different levels, with respect to both their friends and enemies. And of course there are laws and limits: get caught doing it on somebody else's territory and you'll suffer the consequences (see: Jonathan Pollard). Doesn't stop nations from trying.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

114. They hate their own too...

Ya know, eventually we are gonna go around them.

When that happens, they're out of a job.

[TheMadMonk]

32. And EXCUSE ME! Exactly why shouldn't the 6.5 +billion...

...of us who ARE NOT US citizens be outraged at what's being done to us?

And just exactly why shouldn't we be permitted to know?

You are not Team bloody America. You're worse!

[pnwmom]

36. You don't think China's spies do the same thing? Russia's? Germany's? Get real. n/t

[reorg]

41. No, they don't

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2013, 10:29 AM - Edit history (1)

In order to get real, please post whatever proof or indication you might have that European allies bug US embassies or store billions of intercepts in huge data centers.

BTW, as was pointed out today in German TV, this is not the first time US whistleblowers tell the world that the US is spying not only on their declared enemies, but also on who is supposed to be their allies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_and_Mitchell_defection

So, you already had that kind of reputation. In that sense, the latest episode is not news. But it was about time that more than a few select government members became aware of how the US interpret their role as "leader of the free world" these days, with most communications being accessed through the Internet.

Thank you, Snowden, for making the world aware. Hopefully, we find the strength to do something about it.

[TheMadMonk]

45. 1. I don't believe they're doing it on anything like this scale.

2. I don't believe they're using the information they collect to manipulate the whole world

3. You and a handful of others here have consistently made every effort to discredit the messenger and shut down the discussion.

4. If I'm told "Don't you worry 'bout that." then I fucking worry.

[laundry_queen]

72. Especially #2. The world is not as stupid

as some people in this thread seem to think.

[tsuki]

96. I'm glad you were not around during CoIntelPro and Watergate. nt

[LondonReign2]

120. I see. Ignorance would be bliss.

That's brilliant

[Douglas Carpenter]

76. I love your avatar - may I use it?

[wtmusic]

106. Sure!

[KittyWampus]

12. "they" don't hate us.

[Skittles]

23. they have gone WAY past pretzel-shaping, wtmusic

yes INDEED

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. For proving the US steals citizens' documents?

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2013, 05:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Spies on other governments?

[markpkessinger]

18. Maybe, just maybe . . .

. . . we have an out of control surveillance state to thank for this.

[DeSwiss]

25. You'd see the roaches better if you took the blinders off....

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2013, 04:31 AM - Edit history (1)

In answer to the issue of the press and others attacking Edward Snowden instead of the NSA: ''It's like blaming the guy who turned the light on while ignoring the roaches he exposed.'' ~Tierra_y_Libertad

[Life Long Dem]

28. Someone else already turned the light on exposing all the roaches

That makes it more about Snowden than anything.

[LittleBlue]

10. Yep. This is definitely very Bushian. nt

[HooptieWagon]

13. Remember the international goodwill Obama had a few years ago?

He's pissed it all away. He might be hated more than Bush by other countries now. At least he hasn't groped Chancellor Merkel....

[wtmusic]

15. Gone.

From "Hope and Change" to "Disillusionment and More of the Same Shit".

[Art_from_Ark]

44. The change that we're getting

is of the nickel(ed)-and-dime(d) variety.

[The Straight Story]

14. WHY we are hated (IMHO) by some

1. Justice: we apply our laws unequally to the poor and the wealthy/powerful

A. You are working and come across things which you see as violating our laws and constitution and you let others know. You are the problem, not the people doing the things you are talking about.

B. You cause more damage and harm overall to the people here in the US through financial crisis, loss of jobs, home, food, etc and you - at most - pay a fine. You get bailed out and bonuses, not to mention tax breaks. You do things that others would be jailed for but are considered too big to fail.

2. Military: You use your might to wage wars against countries that pose you no threat.

A. You also use drones in countries you are not at war with and kill innocent people then have it covered up by those governments (like Yemen, who lied and said they carried out bombings to cover us - something which wiki-leaks proved).

B. Your military, supported by tax dollars that wealthy companies don't pay, is used to support corporations.

3. Jobs: You berate people without one and want to cut benefits to encourage them to work while all the time saying they cannot find jobs because of current policy.

A. You have secret negotiations with other countries that will benefit the few here and harm the many.

B. Corporations get away with anything and at most have to pay a fine. They can cheat on taxes, get benefits for moving jobs overseas and using slave labor and screwing over the environment, etc. We encourage and reward this at the cost of many people (from fires because of no regulations that kill people to child labor).

The list goes on. We support the few at the cost of the many. Something which history has shown us does not end well.

We abuse our power.

[wtmusic]

16. Yes! To all.

So much potential, wasted.

[The Straight Story]

19. And - if you call it out, you are labeled as a hater by whichever group holds power

Like "Oh, you hate Obama!"

No...I hate some things that his admin does - and I recognize that the US is a big place and while he is in charge he does not know everything each department does all the time.

Ask him what the Parks/rec dept has done lately. Doubt he knows (nor would I to be honest).

One can kick the ass of the government for crap they pull, but that does not mean it all falls on one person - there are 456 federal agencies at last count. The president sleeps maybe 8 hours a day. Add in bathroom breaks and eating and say he has 15 hours a day to work. Now think about all the lawsuits, crimes being investigated, national security, etc and so on....and well, the president can't be on top of all the issues all the time (hell, no one can).

Obama is in charge right now over it all but he is not alone - WE the people are in charge as well and we should, if we care about our country, keep up on what is going on and talk about it. Post about it. Ask officials about things, etc.

I try to keep up on the news when it comes to our country and no way in hell I can each day. But if each of us takes just a few minutes a day to check out one department and what is going on we can summarize things and bring light to issues.

*WE* too have a responsibility to each other and our government (which is by us and for us) to keep up on issues (and it would be nice if the press did too, but they get distracted by court cases and celebrities).

We have the power now - to read websites the government has out out there, press releases, to keep up on things more now than ever in our history. We can help, we can be part of the solution.

And calling out problems does not mean we hate or want someone else as president, it means we are active and care and want change.

[octoberlib]

17. +10000

[BuelahWitch]

38. That's it, in a nutshell n/t

[Catherina]

40. ^^This^^ n/t

[MuseRider]

59. Thank you.

Everyone screaming here must have been fine knowing they were watching us like this and the extent they were doing it did not matter much, at least until the next Republican was in charge? Don't get it.

Add all the things you just mentioned and all the others you did not and this country is just a sad sad place.

What we have done to others for our entire existence is unconscionable. No numbers of good things make up for the fact that we have been monsters as well.

The people of the world need to know and have proof who the bullies of the world are. Their reactions are appropriate. As are ours. Those wishing to defend the actions of our government against the people confuse me. Certainly there is some reason for these vile reactions to those who want the truth to be known but I can't seem to see it.

Thankfully, THANKFULLY the information is out. Enough is known to start the process of getting things set right. That is the only part of this story that means anything at all. We can't set things straight until we know what they are up to. Hopefully we can eventually get through all those things you mentioned. What an embarrassment this countries policies have become.

[HardTimes99]

103. That is one damning bill of particulars. I really wish you would build it into an OP

and elaborate on its themes. I think it would make a great DU thread and inspire a lot of thoughtful and, yes, heated discussion.

My compliments.

[HipChick]

21. If you can't do the time

don't do the crime,..pretty simple to me

[villager]

27. 1% Criminals Don't "do the time"

Pretty simple to me.

that's why they keep repeating them, from one administration to the next...

[sabrina 1]

24. Irish politicians are also asking that he be given shelter in Ireland.

[DeSwiss]

26. Don't kid yourself.....

...the hatred goes back a loooonng ways.

- I'm nobody's judge, but I'd say that America has much to answer for.......

K&R

[Catherina]

34. The reaction on twitter is not good at all for us

I've never seen anything like it.

[treestar]

35. We were not so "hated" in WWII

Or the years after when the Soviets had missiles pointing at Europe.

Let these countries have their own Snowden and see what happens.

[Katashi_itto]

43. Except that was 30years ago and we've been riding on that.

"Let these countries have their own Snowden and see what happens." Cept they don't have one.

[treestar]

51. They could

Though it would not make the news.

We still have a lot to do with security for other countries. Isn't it a big complaint we are still world policeman? At considerable expense, too.

[wtmusic]

107. Nice to be able to agree with you treestar.

No we weren't hated, but we were a different country then - the 1940s U.S. would hate the 2013 U.S.

Snowden is not a cause, but a symptom.

[eilen]

115. 1940's US-- a time of unprecedented propaganda

coming off The Great Depression.
Japenese internment camps
large number of US military deserters

Plenty of countries hated us in the 70-80's (during the Cold War).

[Skidmore]

37. So, is this the happy dance thread?

The one where we all jump up and down an d clap our hands in anticipaton of a really big war? Where do you all think this will head? Where do you want it to go? All I keep reading is utter joy in as much destabilization as possible with nothing to fill the space vacated b but navel fuzz and pipe dreams. I seriously don't hear anything that sounds like a serious concern for where all the excitement of a grand adventure takes the world. What if all those people you are counting on don't have the same wish list that you do?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

80. You don't feel any personal embarrassment at how we are treating the rest of the world?

[Skidmore]

82. Did I say that?

The rest of the world is inhabited by people too--the same ones that we see shouts of outrage over how those countries handle punishment and civil rights of their own peoples. No one nation is more outstanding than the next on any of these issues.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

83. I'm asking.

[Skidmore]

85. And I'm telling you my opinion.

I don't think this country is the sole owner of all the ills of the world. We contribute in our own way and others violate ideals in their own way. I'm willing to own our share, however, the notion that the rest of the world is alwaysi and forever totally made up of innocent bystanders when each nation has its own share of willing players is a game I won't participate in at the level of acrimony being demanded. There are many problems in this world that are not going to be resolved by demanding that we only latch onto anger and not find constructive solutions and workable alliances around.

[wtmusic]

86. You've already told me where I want this to go

Why bother asking?

The fear your post displays is typical of the people who would sacrifice every civil right they own to be protected from the Scary Terrorists™.

A "really big war". "Destabilization". Are you out of your mind?

All this will do is make life harder for all Americans. It reduces our bargaining position for everything overseas, from climate change to trade. It makes it harder for people to travel safely. And you think I want that. Are you out of your mind?

Sorry if I bear bad news, but suck it up, face the music, and don't shoot the messenger. Sound familiar?

[Skidmore]

90. I'm responding to the tone and tenor of the posts I have been reading

for the past couple of days. And, yes, given the posts I have read, I do think there are people who want this type of instability.

[sibelian]

116. ...

Maybe that's because you're a little oversensitive to the idea of instability, Skidmore.

[Union Scribe]

39. The Empire has no clothes.

because it turned it all into dirty laundry that was bound to flap in the open air eventually.

[Arkana]

46. Oh hey, a right-wing rag in the UK says a thing in an editorial

and that means all of Europe hates the United States again?

[brooklynite]

58. BTW, How's that Official Secrets Act working out for them?

[muriel_volestrangler]

63. The Guardian is left wing

You just don't get it, do you? The right wing is perfectly accepting of the surveillance. It thinks that spying on allies is a vital part of foreign policy. Go and take a look at the right wing websites - National Review, Townhall, RedState, Current Affairs - you'll find that they don't care about the spying at all. Very occassionally, they take the chance to say it means Obama is hypocritical.

But the Gaurdian is centre-left, for Europe - left of the US Democratic party, for instance. But if you don't like being criticised from the left, try the AP on this:

The Obama administration faced a breakdown in confidence Sunday from key foreign allies who threatened investigations and sanctions against the U.S. over secret surveillance programs that reportedly installed covert listening devices in European Union offices.

U.S. intelligence officials said they will directly discuss with EU officials the new allegations, reported in Sunday’s editions of the German news weekly Der Spiegel. But the former head of the CIA and National Security Agency urged the White House to make the spy programs more transparent to calm public fears about the American government’s snooping.

It was the latest backlash in a nearly monthlong global debate over the reach of U.S. surveillance that aims to prevent terror attacks. The two programs, both run by the NSA, pick up millions of telephone and Internet records that are routed through American networks each day. They have raised sharp concerns about whether they violate public privacy rights at home and abroad.

Several European officials — including in Germany, Italy, France, Luxembourg and the EU government itself — said the new revelations could scuttle ongoing negotiations on a trans-Atlantic trade treaty that, ultimately, seeks to create jobs and boost commerce by billions annually in what would be the world’s largest free trade area.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/06/30/germany-investigating-whether-broke-laws-spying/Ymkq66H0Ond3diBDiKGH3L/story.html

And the author of that Guardian piece: a German Green party politician. Again, on the left - further left than any Democratic member of Congress, probably.

[temmer]

87. yep

And the author of that Guardian piece: a German Green party politician. Again, on the left - further left than any Democratic member of Congress, probably.

Trittin was a commie in his youth. But this was long ago. He was minister for environment for a couple of years, I think 1998-2005.

[JaneyVee]

47. Didn't Obama have an 88% approval rating in Germany just this month?

[FSogol]

48. Unrec for RW nonsense and an Unrec for your avatar image.

Does everyone now write in ridiculous "the sky is falling" hyperbole? "If even a few of these revelations are true, our worst Orwellian nightmares have become reality."

[muriel_volestrangler]

66. You're claiming the German Greens are right wing?

Why do you bother writing such obvious rubbish? It only makes you look ignorant. We know you aren't actually that uninformed. And you know that we know. So why waste everyone's time? Is it just to fill up the thread with crap?

[FSogol]

69. Rubbish is conflating a German op-ed into worldwide hatred of the US.

And we know that you know too, you know.

[muriel_volestrangler]

70. OK, so you *are* claiming it's right wing

Because it's still there, isn't it?

You are a waste of space.

[FSogol]

73. Example of your polite niceties to someone who disagreed with you: "You are a waste of space."

[wtmusic]

94. How typical that you take "the sky is falling" from OP.

Be careful, there might be a terrorist under the bed (j/k).

Your unrec didn't take, have you contacted Customer Support?

[FSogol]

98. Oh Noes! My worst Orwellian Nightmare!

[HappyMe]

49. So some asshat writes up

an editorial and it's the super truthy truth.

[NCTraveler]

50. The US is hated by many, loved by many,......

and most are ambivalent toward us. Many have great reasons to truly dislike us. We give many countries reasons to love us.

In the end, the worlds superpower, will most likely always be the most hated. We have more influence worldwide. Wish we used our influence in a more positive manner.

[liberal N proud]

53. And so many here still think Snowden is a hero?

[bobduca]

55. yeah better that we kept this illegal shit secret right?

i mean what will the voters think if they think Obama has any power over the surveillance state's actions? They might think he has some blame!?!? better to just post roffle waffles all day and mock any who point out the illegality of the whole mess.

what is your plan B?

[liberal N proud]

62. Secret vs divulging secrets to the world?

I will take secret.

Did you learn nothing from James Bond?

[bobduca]

65. What I learned from James Bond : How not to make a martini.

Shaken is for cocktails with juice and or syrups.
Stirred is for coktails with spirits and vermouths.

Entertaining movies, but just like its gives bad advice for bartenders, its likewise bad at helping one judge our foreign policy.

[liberal N proud]

68. It was a joke just like everyone who truly believe that Snowden is a hero

Hero to who? Al Qeda

[bobduca]

71. a joke

a joke like "the most transparent" government.

a joke like "campaign promises about protecting whistleblowers"

"we have made a determination that this is legal"

[liberal N proud]

74. Now we are getting to your real problem

You don't like the President?

[bobduca]

79. I love the president and his fan club!111

I love him so much that I dont care what he said during his election campaigns!

GOBAMA!!!

HINT: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT I VOTED FOR THE PRESIDENT TWICE. I CANT VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN, THAT PROBABLY UPSETS YOU. ILL NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN. MY VOTE FOR PRESIDENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR STUPID LOYALTY-BAITING REPLY.

[sibelian]

117. That would make it nice and simple wouldn't it?

Nice and pithy and comfy and resolvable.

[wtmusic]

91. My liberty is not yours to sacrifice

but everyone's entitled to their opinion.

[liberal N proud]

93. It was sacrificed already sharing divulging secret information to other nations is still a crime

Just saying!

[wtmusic]

97. Really?

For some reason I feel freer than I have in a long time.

What liberties have I lost?

[liberal N proud]

100. You were the one crying about civil liberties in you previous post

[wtmusic]

104. You're confusing discovering the loss with losing them.

like most Ed critics. Not sure what the solution is.

[liberal N proud]

105. Making Snowden a hero isn't one of them

[one_voice]

54. Oh yay...

let's piss on our country and set it on fire. I've never seen so many people so happy to hate their country.

No it's not perfect. Yes, there's a shit load wrong.

But fuck, between the happy dances on hating and the romanticizing a revolution....

[laundry_queen]

110. So what you are saying

is that if I, as a Canadian, spoke out against the oil sands and Harper, and was happy about shitty environmental reports coming out to put pressure on him, I'd hate my country?
Or is it ok because Harper is a right wing nutcase? What if Justin Trudeau or Tom Mulcair were PM and decided to expand the oil sands and build more pipelines? Would I hate my country then?

I thought this "You hate your country" bullshit went out with the Iraq war. Jesus.

[one_voice]

118. I guess you missed this part of my comment...

No it's not perfect. Yes, there's a shit load wrong.

It's a little more than 'You hate your country bullshit' Jesus.

[laundry_queen]

123. Didn't miss it

but when you call people haters, my comments still stand. If there's a shit load of wrong, then criticism doesn't not equal hatred.

[Fumesucker]

121. You weren't here during the Smirk years, this is nothing, DU was far more unified in hating the US

[SidDithers]

56. ... at DU nt

Sid

[Greybnk48]

57. Yet another Bush/Obama false equivalency.

Bush is a war criminal. His regime illegally invaded a sovereign nation. They tortured and murdered people without knowing who they were. Under Bush the U.S. raided the treasures of a sovereign nation like fucking unlawful pirates. They stocked an unlawful prison and changed centuries old law after the fact to cover their asses. His VP said, "yeah, so?" Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Card, Rice, Rove, etc. are all bona fide war criminals.

President Obama is not. The World does not, and cannot possibly, despise the U.S. Govt. including the President, with the vehemence of Bush Regime hatred. No way.

They may be repulsed by the Republican Congress and their misogyny and racism, but that's a different story. Aren't we all?

[bunnies]

61. I cant find a single comment from anyone "hating" the US.

Maybe you could point them all out for me.

[Zorra]

64. They should be hating the banksters that control our government. We are in the unfortunate

position of being the country that the banksters have designated the Global Police Agency.

That is why the US defense budget is probably greater than all or most of the rest of the countries on the planet combined.

[temmer]

84. don't worry

people all around the world are able to make this difference

[1-Old-Man]

75. The book "The Ugly American" was written in the 1950s if my memory serves me correctly

Hatred for the US is neither new or undeserved.

[tallahasseedem]

78. Wow, you took a comment section from the Guardian

and extrapolated it to represent a worldwide view. Fabulous!

Not.

[FSogol]

81. Hope he never finds the comment section of Yahoo News.

[wtmusic]

101. Yahoo?! Good one.

The NSA Employee Newsletter is very supportive of police state surveillance, too.

[wtmusic]

89. Feel free to publish comments from any international publication

which support the U.S.

Not holding breath.

[tallahasseedem]

92. No need to hold your breath...

I'm not going to troll comment sections of online news publications to try and prove a viewpoint...which is what you did.

[wtmusic]

95. So...nothing.

Breathing normally.

[tallahasseedem]

99. That's what I said!

I'm glad to hear you're breathing normally. You could have held it, but your body has a way of shutting that whole thing down.

[wtmusic]

102. Not one example? From ANY international publication?

Come on.

Breathing, still waiting.

[tallahasseedem]

109. Oh, I'm sure that there are plenty out there...

that have tons of comments against the US. My point was that you cant take that and extrapolate it to represent the whole.

As an earlier poster commented, we could do that with Yahoo comments. We could also go into other comment sections and surmise that Kim Kardashian is amazing.

I just don't take too much stock in the comment section of any publication. Granted, they're sometimes interesting...but not what I would use to evaluate world view.

Having said that, I'm finished with this matter.

[PDJane]

88. A similar op-ed has been published in the Toronto Star.

And yeah, the US isn't the most popular player at the moment.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

112. Does "German Green" have any relation to the American Green Party?

Because I don't give a flying fuck what those idiots have to say either.

[muriel_volestrangler]

113. The author was a minister in the German government

Jürgen Trittin is a German Green politician. He was federal minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety from 1998 to 2005

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jurgen-trittin

Remember when the German government was saying "don't invade Iraq"? Yeah, he was part of that.

Please don't try to live up to the stereotype of the Ugly American by ignoring anything the rest of the world has to say.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

119. I ignore people of all kinds including Americans, which was pretty clearly made apparent in my post

Wonder if this guy patronizes Obama by calling him "articulate" like Doc Jill Stein.

[muriel_volestrangler]

122. So, falling back on the "he criticises Obama, so he must be racist" BS, huh?

That's truly pathetic.