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Originally posted: May 30, 2007
U.S. ranks 96 in new peace index
Posted by Frank James at 11:43 am CDT
There'll no doubt be some violent debates over a new peace index just released today.
In a new global ranking of the world's most peaceful countries, the U.S. ranked at 96, just beating out Iran which came in at 97. Israel came in at 119, one notch above Sudan and two notches above Iraq which, understandably, came in last on the list as world's least peaceful nation. Download global_peace_index.pdf
Norway, New Zealand and Denmark led the index in that order. Canada was the leading Western Hemisphere nation on the list, coming in the eighth on the list.
According to a press statement, the new index was "initiated by Steve Killelea, global entrepreneur and Australian philanthropist, and developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Prominent endorsers of the project include HH Dalai Lama, President James Carter, Sir Richard Branson, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu."
Anyway, how could it be that the U.S. came in at 96?
The analysts at the Economist Intelligence Unit, part of the company that owns the Economist magazine, chose to assess countries based on 24 indicators for its first Global Peace Index.
The indicators, which were weighted by the importance the analysts attached to them, included the number of internal and external conflicts fought between 2000 to 2005; the number of deaths from organized internal conflict; and the number of homicides, jailed people, internal security personnel, and military transfers per 100,000 people of the population.
While some of the indicators had hard numbers, others were more qualitative and thus more subjective, like levels of respect for human rights or the level of distrust in other citizens.
At a press conference today, Leo Abruzzese, the Economist Intelligence Unit's editorial director, North America, said a higher ranking on the list correlated with a number of factors, including a nation being a highly functioning democracy with a high gross domestic product and a cohesive population.
Some countries were noticeably absent from the list, namely Afghanistan and North Korea. That was due to the inability to get data. Presumably, if they had been included, the U.S. would have ranked higher than both.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Norway: Going Nowhere.New Zea
May 31, 2007 - 06:19 ET by UnsaneNorway: Going Nowhere.
New Zealand: Going Nowhere.
Denmark: Going Nowhere.
Canada: Going Nowhere.
And amazingly, WhichWhine, in spite of the intense self-loathing you have for your country and the profound guilt you feel for being American, people still immigrate here in droves. Why is that?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
Who benefits from the global
May 31, 2007 - 06:33 ET by ThisnThatWho benefits from the global protection provided by the US? Norway; New Zealand; Denmark; and Canada.
Would any of these countries like for the US to contract it's world-wide forces and commitments, and leave them (these countries) to their own abilities to protect themselves from agression? Why isn't this a factor included in this so-called ranking?
Because this "ranking&qu
May 31, 2007 - 06:38 ET by UnsaneBecause this "ranking" is only meant to provide a means to gush about socialism and Nanny States.
The moral of these rankings is: if the United States would just be a good, coddling, babying, pampering Nanny State to its citizens, it would solve EVERYTHING!
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
You left out "whiny&qu
May 31, 2007 - 09:48 ET by WhichWingYou left out "whiny" and "toothless."
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
I save those for you, since y
June 1, 2007 - 06:56 ET by UnsaneI save those for you, since you are the one campaigning with all of your ever-permanently hemmorhaging heart for a whiny, toothless, powerless, helpless America.
If you somehow wind up within 100 miles of the border with either Canada or Mexico, do you begin having seizures, knowing that you might be close to the Outside World?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
NO Peace!
June 1, 2007 - 06:59 ET by PawpawNSeems the only NO PEACE in USA comes from within the MSM. We get no peace from their everlasting stories of the EVIL BUSH, etc., when all 1 has to do is look at the Stock Markets, look at the protection since 9/11, look to their own life, etc., and they can see and say-"Yes, I'm a whole lot better off today than when BILL CLINTON was in office!"
Unsane,Where exactly should t
June 1, 2007 - 07:02 ET by LeonUnsane,
Where exactly should those countries be going?
Forward instead of extinction
June 1, 2007 - 08:20 ET by NL207Forward instead of extinction.
Another name for the new peac
May 31, 2007 - 06:50 ET by liberal_bug_zapperAnother name for the new peace index is:
"List of suckers easiest to Kowtow into submission."
____________________________________________________
"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine
Wing, you are as big a fool a
May 31, 2007 - 09:06 ET by NL207Wing, you are as big a fool as that clown, Jimmy Carter. This stupid list ought to be renamed the "Dying Culture Index". None of the "leading" countries on this list have birthrates in their populations sufficient to continue their civilizations. In a few short generations these races/cultures will be dead and these places will have totally different populations and cultures. What they are today will be history tomorrow.
You are one of the few posters on this board who argues that extinction is a good thing.
Sustainable birthrate
May 31, 2007 - 09:10 ET by Cool ArrowOur birthrate isn't doing too good either. Hence the flood of slaves pouring into the US.
Gore lied. Nobody fried
Ther U. S. birthrate is down
May 31, 2007 - 09:54 ET by NL207Ther U. S. birthrate is down to about 2.3 or some such, but that is still high enough to sustain our civilization. These other countries we are talking about have rates in the 1.1 - 1.5 range. They are halving or nearly so every generation. Do the math. If current population is P, in 5 generations, population will be (0.05, 0.24) of P, exclusive of any immigrants. Extinction.
Norway, New Zealand and Denma
June 2, 2007 - 22:07 ET by Airforce_5_ONorway, New Zealand and Denmark led the index in that order. Canada was the leading Western Hemisphere nation on the list, coming in the eighth on the list.
Norway's Army: The UN: AKA the USA
New Zeland's Army : Australia
Denmark's Army: The UN: AKA the USA
Canada's Army: The USA
HMMMMMMMMMM, I think I see a pattern.
Liberal non-confrontational country needs big bad military of aggressive conservative country to keep it from invasion.
Got it. Glad you cleared that up for me.
Peace index...ROTFLMAO
On Denmark and Norway
June 2, 2007 - 22:28 ET by UnsaneTo be fair, Denmark and Norway are both members of NATO. However, the point remains that they can afford their Nanny States due to the efforts of the United States military...
TWELVE DOWN, FOUR TO GO...(until the SPURS' FOURTH RING!!!)
Unsane I stand corrected...I
June 2, 2007 - 22:31 ET by Airforce_5_OUnsane I stand corrected...I should have remembered NATO and unlike our liberal friend here I will admit when I am wrong.
Canada's in NATO also, but I
June 3, 2007 - 01:07 ET by UnsaneCanada's in NATO also, but I like what you said much better. After all, do you (or I) REALLY believe that the Canadian Forces are going to be enough to cover their entire nation? Canada might be the world's second largest nation, but it is among the most sparsely populated. Once again, Canada needs us in the worst way, yet many up north just can't bring themselves to admit it...
TWELVE DOWN, FOUR TO GO...(until the SPURS' FOURTH RING!!!)
I've been to Maple Flag (Ca
June 3, 2007 - 01:24 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveI've been to Maple Flag (Canada's clone of Nellis AFB's Red Flag exercises) twice in 1997 and 1998. They were flying old--and I mean old
jets like the F-80 and F-104. They did have some F-18's (all of their fighters were American made of course*), but they were still flying 30 year old (40 years old if they're still flying them now) fighter aircraft as their front-line in national defense. The base I was at (Cold Lake) is Canada's largest base...I must assume they're including range/airspace in the size, as the base proper was smaller than any U.S. Air base or AFB (CONUS or OCONUS) I've ever been on. They do need us and they will rely on us for defense if the need arises...and the way things are going, the need will arise.
*How sad is it that a country loyal to the Queen uses more U.S. rather than British aircraft?
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." --Thomas Jefferson
Maple Flag! Now there's a t
June 3, 2007 - 05:48 ET by UnsaneMaple Flag! Now there's a term I haven't heard in some time... :-)
The Canadian government not long ago ordered 8 C-17s. They finally decided to upgrade their airlift capability...and spend a few more loonies on their own defense. But I had no idea they were STILL flying F-80s and F-104s!!!
(About their lack of British aircraft...I can't believe they never went with the Harrier, for one...)
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. - Vegetius
Never got the chance to go to
June 3, 2007 - 06:42 ET by Airforce_5_ONever got the chance to go to Maple Flag but I did Red Flag twice while I was stationed at Tinker.
The Germans were not much better off when they were at Nellis. F-4's were what they were flying. You could see them drawling for the America plans out on the flight Line.
My first permanent duty sta
June 3, 2007 - 11:44 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveMy first permanent duty station was Nellis. I worked with the USAF Aggressors Squadron (they play the Russian MiG role in Red Flag) and the 422d Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (a detachment of the 53rd Wing out at Eglin...they test all the new F-16 "secret squirrel" mods that come out...when I was there one of the things they tested was the JDAM). Since being stationed at Kunsan, Spangdahlem, and Cannon, I've returned several times for Red Flag. It is quite awesome. I even got to Fly in a Red Flag mission for an incentive flight in a F-16...we dropped bombs and did some dog-fighting with the F-15's...that is an experience I will never forget.
It is great to see other countries come to Nellis to learn how to successfully execute various airstrikes and air combat tactics. I've seen the Germans, British, Aussies, Israelis, Chileans, Koreans, French, Italians, and Spanish among others in attendance. They all come to the USAF to collaborate, learn, and sharpen their skills.
You weren't missing much a Maple Flag. It's in the middle of nowhere about 2.5 hours NE of Edmonton Canada. About the most exciting thing I got to see there was the sun set at about 11:45 pm and then rise at 3:45 am, and of course the Northern Lights.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." --Thomas Jefferson
ANOTHER TROLL THAT SHOULD STARVE
June 2, 2007 - 22:38 ET by Free StinkerMuch like LibertyOrMeds, and ThoughtPolice, WhichWing has proven to be just another serial troll that we all need to stop feeding. And yes, I admit my own culpability in that aspect.
Maybe we all just hope that we can educate the ignorant, but in the case of willfull ignorance it's just pointless.
-FS
Let him talk. He only demon
June 2, 2007 - 22:43 ET by NL207Let him talk. He only demonstrates just how woefully ignorant the left is.
Keep debating with him. He won't even reply to my posts anymore. I can trash his positions with impugnity. Impeach his reasoning enough and you can do the same. It isn't hard. This guy only has traditional liberak ideas about foreign enemies like Al Qaeda.
You know NL he stopped talkin
June 3, 2007 - 00:03 ET by Airforce_5_OYou know NL he stopped talking to me too.
For the most part I left yo
June 3, 2007 - 00:08 ET by WhichWingFor the most part I left you all to talk about this yourselves, and I noticed something strange. You would never admit that there was any reason the U.S. would be low on that list, which is purely subjective. Instead you all chose to trash the nations listed higher up on it. Because, obviously, anyone who scores high on a "peace index" is no nation worth learning anything from.
"We are right in all that we do." Keep repeating it until you have no doubt that its true.
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
For the most part, we enjoyed
June 3, 2007 - 00:12 ET by BlondeFor the most part, we enjoyed your absence.
Kiss off, troll....or move on over to NL's debate.
You're wasting bandwidth....and being a total lilly livered chicken sh**.
Time for you to put up, or shut up, little troll.
For the most part, we enjoyed your absence.
June 3, 2007 - 00:14 ET by misterbillFor the most part, we enjoyed your absence. Goes double for me, blonde.
Did someone forget to close the doggie door before going to bed????
Look, two replies already,
June 3, 2007 - 00:20 ET by WhichWingLook, two replies already, both still avoiding the point of the article. "Never look onto yourself and you will never doubt yourself." Quite a motto to live by.
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
"Never look onto yourself
June 3, 2007 - 00:23 ET by misterbill"Never look onto yourself "---- there goes the ceiling mirror!
OMG....ROTFLMAO
June 3, 2007 - 00:27 ET by Airforce_5_OOMG....ROTFLMAO
Your thread is pointless, Win
June 3, 2007 - 00:37 ET by NL207Your thread is pointless, Wing. It attempts to shame our nation by labeling the United States as "not peaceful". In so doing it uses some contrived "peace index" to assign a value to the American life compared to lives led in other countries. This measurement is completely bogus, since it has no basis whatsoever. It is a "measurement" scale invented by socialists. It is no wonder that it ranks countries that are socialist higher.
Moreover, there is one measure that surely puts the lie to this made-up nonsense: immigration. The United States is the number one desired immigration destination all over the world. More people want to sneak in, come in, get invited in, etc. etc to the US than any other country in the world. I think that is the true measure of this country. It is still seen as a land of greater opportunity all over the world. And all you mindless liberals can do is be ashamed of it and make up tripe like this idiotic peace index in an attempt to besmirch it..
The point of this article (re
June 3, 2007 - 05:41 ET by UnsaneThe point of this article (read slowly and carefully) is that we should ALL become happy little Socialists in happy little Nanny States and strive for complete mediocrity for peace to break out everywhere!!!
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. - Vegetius
The real question WW is: How
June 3, 2007 - 00:22 ET by Airforce_5_OThe real question WW is: How is it even relevant?
The other is: Why should we care?
If the other Nations are scared of us then what the hell? They still trade with us. People still immigrate here faster then any country in the world.
I don't see them running to Russia, China or Venezuela in droves, legal or other wise.
Who freaking cares! You want peace then get a puppy or a cat and move to Montana in a cabin and live like a Mountain man.
For a bunch of people that do
June 3, 2007 - 00:27 ET by WhichWingFor a bunch of people that don't care, you all seem to have a lot to say.
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
Come on WWDebate my boy.Your
June 3, 2007 - 00:32 ET by Airforce_5_OCome on WW
Debate my boy.
Your so smart, tell me why I should care about the peace index?
You want a debate then Bring the heat son.
Throw the high stinky cheese (thats a baseball reference WW if you didn't know) and lets play ball.
Conversely WW, you haven't
June 3, 2007 - 00:32 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveConversely WW, you haven't had much to say on this topic either...other than posting it (without any elaboration). Usually when I post something I put my commentary with it to at least get the conversation moving.
Why is this significant to YOU?
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." --Thomas Jefferson
I was stimulating a convers
June 3, 2007 - 00:35 ET by WhichWingI was stimulating a conversation. I thought that was the point of posting in the forums. I don't usually include commentary with something I copy and paste because I don't want to dictate where the conversation begins.
It is signifigant to me because we are trying to convince everyone that we are spreading peace (by the barrel of a gun), yet we rank only one spot above Iran on this peace index.
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
MB peace index--
June 3, 2007 - 00:39 ET by misterbill110 Who cares?
China, a communist dictatorsh
June 3, 2007 - 00:43 ET by NL207China, a communist dictatorship where people are run over by tanks in the street ranks higher on this list. Vietnam, where millions have been improsoned in "re-education" camps and 100's of thousands more have been put to flight is 35th. Cuba, Castro's socialist nightmare, where people will do ANYTHING to escape to Florida is 59th.
The list means NOTHING.
This is the "list".
1 Norway 1.357
2 New Zealand 1.363
3 Denmark 1.377
4 Ireland 1.396
5 Japan 1.413
6 Finland 1.447
7 Sweden 1.478
8 Canada 1.481
9 Portugal 1.481
10 Austria 1.483
11 Belgium 1.498
12 Germany 1.523
13 Czech Republic 1.524
14 Switzerland 1.526
15 Slovenia 1.539
16 Chile 1.568
17 Slovakia 1.571
18 Hungary 1.575
19 Bhutan 1.611
20 Netherlands 1.620
21 Spain 1.633
22 Oman 1.641
23 Hong Kong 1.657
24 Uruguay 1.661
25 Australia 1.664
26 Romania 1.682
27 Poland 1.683
28 Estonia 1.684
29 Singapore 1.692
30 Qatar 1.702
31 Costa Rica 1.702
32 South Korea 1.719
33 Italy 1.724
34 France 1.729
35 Vietnam 1.729
36 Taiwan 1.731
37 Malaysia 1.744
38 United Arab Emirates 1.747
39 Tunisia 1.762
40 Ghana 1.765
41 Madagascar 1.766
42 Botswana 1.786
43 Lithuania 1.788
44 Greece 1.791
45 Panama 1.798
46 Kuwait 1.818
47 Latvia 1.848
48 Morocco 1.893
49 United Kingdom 1.898
50 Mozambique 1.909
51 Cyprus 1.915
52 Argentina 1.923
53 Zambia 1.930
54 Bulgaria 1.936
55 Paraguay 1.946
56 Gabon 1.952
57 Tanzania 1.966
58 Libya 1.967
59 Cuba 1.968
60 China 1.980
61 Kazakhstan 1.995
62 Bahrain 1.995
63 Jordan 1.997
64 Namibia 2.003
65 Senegal 2.017
66 Nicaragua 2.020
67 Croatia 2.030
68 Malawi 2.038
69 Bolivia 2.052
70 Peru 2.056
Rank Country Score Rank Country Score
The moral of the list
June 3, 2007 - 00:55 ET by UnsaneAs I have said, this stupid list's moral is "Nanny States are good for you! America NEEDS to become a Nanny State TODAY!!!" or "Socialism! It's good and good FOR you!!!"
TWELVE DOWN, FOUR TO GO...(until the SPURS' FOURTH RING!!!)
If you don't put your own c
June 3, 2007 - 00:46 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveIf you "don't want to dictate where the conversation begins" when you post the topic, then don't come back bitching about it when we take the conversation our own way and run with it.
I'm sorry to break it to you, but peace doesn't happen on it's own. Peace usually springs AFTER armed conflict. A big problem would be if "peace" were enforced "by the barrel of a gun".
BTW, you should change your profile description. You are not "On the fence" in the political arena.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." --Thomas Jefferson
WW that is more like it!Gun b
June 3, 2007 - 00:48 ET by Airforce_5_OWW
that is more like it!
Gun barrel diplomicy.
How do you handle a bully WW?
Do you talk to them? That can help but it only feeds their ego.
Do you run to your Mother and Father and ask them to handle it? That works sometimes too but that only feeds their anger.
sometimes you handle a bully the only way the know. Put a boot in their rear end.
Hitler needed it.
Sadam needed it.
So do those who want to come to our soil and kill us.
Peace means nothing to a terrorist unless it is in the grave.
WhichWhine and his love of the Going Nowhere Club
June 3, 2007 - 00:52 ET by UnsaneTell me, WhichWhine, what should America learn from these nations in Unsane's "Going Nowhere" club?
That if we have more governments that continuously punish and steal from their productive citizens, that the world will suddenly become peaceful?
I know that context, perspective, and critical thinking bother you a great deal, but you should try it sometime. From 1945 to 1991, there was this thing called the Cold War, where the then-war-ravaged nations of Europe were under threat from the communist Soviet Union. WhichWhine, communism, and the Soviet Union were...forget it...
Anyways, these nations couldn't even feed their people, much less defend themselves, so we offered them economic assistance and protection from the Soviet Union. That's right, WhichWhine! We kept the peace in Europe using our EVIL WARMONGERING MILITARY MACHINE!!!
And you know how we kept the Soviets on their side of the Iron Curtain? Why, we made sure that IF they even entertained the thought of coming over on the wrong side, and decided to have the Third Shock Army pay a "visit" to Brussels, we were going to FIGHT BACK, and quite possibly NUKE them into the Stone Age!
Imagine that, WhichWhine! The threat of violence WORKED! The Soviet Union stayed where they were and eventually collapsed! And while the Europeans enjoyed their freedom - provided by NATO and the United States military - they also crafted "Nanny States", where the governments there promised their people that they would always be there to coddle, spoil, and pamper their population. Unfortunately, in order for these governments to give their populations every damn thing under the sun for free, they had to gut their own militaries, making them increasingly dependent on our military for their freedom - which is the state that they are still in today!
So no, I really don't think we have much to learn at all from Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Denmark.
TWELVE DOWN, FOUR TO GO...(until the SPURS' FOURTH RING!!!)
Great Post Unsane!!!! Now I'm
June 3, 2007 - 01:00 ET by Airforce_5_OGreat Post Unsane!!!!
Now I'm like a newborn and head out!
Agreed and i'm out tooSupreme
June 3, 2007 - 01:01 ET byAgreed and i'm out too
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.