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Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 08:16 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,114620,00.html

TAIPEI, Taiwan_�_President Chen Shui-bian and his vice president were shot and wounded Friday in an apparent assassination attempt as they rode in an open vehicle while campaigning for this weekend's elections.

The shooting occurred during a campaign parade in the southern city of_Tainan (search)_ahead of Saturday's landmark election and referendum, which could be a turning point in the island's tense relationship with China.

fizzlemynizzle · Mar 19, 2004, 08:44 AM

I don't know how, but I'm sure it's the fault of either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton.

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
I don't know how, but I'm sure it's the fault of either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton.

No, no. It's Chirac's or Schr�der's fault.

Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 08:51 AM

More like mainland China.

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
More like mainland China.

Doubt it.

If they would want to do this, they would finish the job. Not just barely injure the president and vice president.

My guess is that this was probably just some idiot who wants Taiwan to be a part of China and decided to "do" something about it.

Oisín · Mar 19, 2004, 08:55 AM

[reply to posts before Logic's]

Or maybe, just maybe, just some nutcase of a Taiwanese political fanatic who doesn't like poor xiao Bian...

Just like the JFK shooting... oh, wait, bad example...

Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 09:01 AM

Originally posted by Logic:
Doubt it.

If they would want to do this, they would finish the job. Not just barely injure the president and vice president.

Whoever did it tried pretty hard.

gadster · Mar 19, 2004, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by Zimphire:

Whoever did it tried pretty hard. [/B]

Yeah, that was no karate chop!

eklipse · Mar 19, 2004, 09:47 AM

Why the hell would the President and Vice-President of any country be in public, together, in an open top vehicle?

Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by eklipse:
Why the hell would the President and Vice-President of any country be in public, together, in an open top vehicle?

I agree. Pretty darn silly.

They should have held bulls-eyes up while they were at it.

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by eklipse:
Why the hell would the President and Vice-President of any country be in public, together, in an open top vehicle?

I have absolutely no idea.

Oh, wait. Here on Iceland the president and primeminister walk around downtown like regular people

lil'babykitten · Mar 19, 2004, 10:02 AM

I don't know much about the political circumstances in Taiwan right now, seems to me they should have taken better security precautions. A lot of people were quite shocked - some gathered outside the hospital:

Lucky escape for the both of them.

ghost_flash · 10:17 AM

Originally posted by Logic:
I have absolutely no idea.

Oh, wait. Here on Iceland the president and primeminister walk around downtown like regular people

I couldn't find a picture of your president but I did find the primeminister:

Found it:

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by ghost_flash:
I couldn't find a picture of your president but I did find the primeminister:

The President and his former wife.

The Primeminister.

These two should be afraid to be shot just because of their looks

ghost_flash · Mar 19, 2004, 10:21 AM

Logic:

Is this your chief of police?

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by ghost_flash:
Logic:

Is this your chief of police?

Close, but no cigar

ghost_flash · Mar 19, 2004, 10:39 AM

Logic:

That dude looks serious...bygons.

Oisín · Mar 19, 2004, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by eklipse:
Why the hell would the President and Vice-President of any country be in public, together, in an open top vehicle?

As the article said, in a country where violent attacks on politicians is not "something you do", how could they expect it? Had they been in the US or many other countries, I would agree it would be stupid, but in a country like Taiwan, I think they'd be considered more stupid if they'd gone with the whole security shebang...

[personal anecdote]
On two occasions of official (or semi-official) visits by the Prime Minister and the Queen respectively, I have been able to walk right up to them and shake their hands if I wanted to. Only, with the Prime Minister I didn't want to, so I stayed where I was (about 3 feet from him) and didn't say anything. With the Queen, instead of shaking her hand, which would be kinda strange what with her being a queen and all, I chose to do the etiquette-wise appropriate thing and give her a high-five. She high-fived back.

Both occurences took place in the open wide (one by a train station, the other in a park), and neither of them were accompanied by more than one security guy who was walking 10 feet behind the PM (Queen didn't have any)
[/personal anecdote]

fizzlemynizzle · Mar 19, 2004, 12:32 PM

Taiwan has a queen?

ghost_flash · Mar 19, 2004, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
Taiwan has a queen?

Shhhhhhh!!!!

fizzlemynizzle · Mar 19, 2004, 01:19 PM

Speaking of Taiwan, did you notice there's an election there this weekend? Is this the first sign in an escalation of terrorism in order to sway voters out of fear now that it's been proven as effective thanks to Spain?

Ayelbourne · Mar 19, 2004, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Logic:
Here on Iceland the president and primeminister walk around downtown like regular people

Same here in Sweden. I have walked past G�ran Persson in the streets downtown, and was once strolling by the prime minister's residence when the King arrived to pick him up. The S�po man gave my wife and I the once over and said into his radio "go ahead and bring the cars". I routinely see government personnel in the streets with everybody else. It's an open society.

ghost_flash · Mar 19, 2004, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by Ayelbourne:
Same here in Sweden. I have walked past G�ran Persson in the streets downtown, and was once strolling by the prime minister's residence when the King arrived to pick him up. The S�po man gave my wife and I the once over and said into his radio "go ahead and bring the cars". I routinely see government personnel in the streets with everybody else. It's an open society.

You guys are the greatest! What is your secret from keeping the bad guys from messing with you?

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by ghost_flash:
You guys are the greatest! What is your secret from keeping the bad guys from messing with you?

We have already told you several times. The secret is to not mess with them to begin with.

Ayelbourne · Mar 19, 2004, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by ghost_flash:
You guys are the greatest! What is your secret from keeping the bad guys from messing with you?

Not sure about your tone, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. We don't have a secret, and certainly the tragic events of last september show that we have no special immunity from violence - nor do we expect any. However, an open society is important to us, part of how we want to live and we are doing our best to maintain it.

kvm_mkdb · Mar 19, 2004, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
Speaking of Taiwan, did you notice there's an election there this weekend? Is this the first sign in an escalation of terrorism in order to sway voters out of fear now that it's been proven as effective thanks to Spain?

Unless the ruling party in Taiwan starts claiming it was the ETA, despite clear evidence of the contrary, I don't think that is the case.

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Mar 19, 2004, 02:11 PM

<leftist logic> Obviously this is the Pres and VP�s fault for focusing their attention on issues other than those demanded by the shooter.

The second the bullets entered them, each must have been considering how reasonable the shooter�s demands were. Efforts to understanding the shooter�s needs should now take precedent, after the shooter having established such a reasonable request for attention to his needs. </leftist logic>

dcolton · Mar 19, 2004, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
<leftist logic> Obviously this is the Pres and VP�s fault for focusing their speeches on other issues that didn�t address the demands of the shooter.

The second the bullets entered them, each must have been considering how reasonable the shooter�s demands were, therefore helping them achieve a better understanding of the shooter�s needs. </leftist logic>

PERFECT

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Mar 19, 2004, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by dcolton:
PERFECT

Not quite. It needed a little editing to achive truly 'progressive', I dare say Wilsonian leftist logic status.

fizzlemynizzle · Mar 19, 2004, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by Logic:
We have already told you several times. The secret is to not mess with them to begin with.

If it weren't for our "messing with them", Iceland would long ago have fallen under the rule of the Nazis and later the Soviet Union.

Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
<leftist logic> Obviously this is the Pres and VP�s fault for focusing their attention on issues other than those demanded by the shooter.

The second the bullets entered them, each must have been considering how reasonable the shooter�s demands were. Efforts to understanding the shooter�s needs should now take precedent, after the shooter having established such a reasonable request for attention to his needs. </leftist logic>

Heh, dead.on.

macvillage.net · Mar 19, 2004, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Logic:
Doubt it.

If they would want to do this, they would finish the job. Not just barely injure the president and vice president.

My guess is that this was probably just some idiot who wants Taiwan to be a part of China and decided to "do" something about it.

Yep. Sounds like it.

China is to advanced to do something this half assed.

And there are many people who have those feelings. All you need is a cult leader, or someone influential, or just a mental patient... and a weapon.

It could happen anywhere.

Zimphire · Mar 19, 2004, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Logic:
We have already told you several times. The secret is to not mess with them to begin with.

Yeah don't stop them from taking over other countries and you'll be fine!

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
If it weren't for our "messing with them", Iceland would long ago have fallen under the rule of the Nazis and later the Soviet Union.

Actually, that thanks to the Brits. They invaded us first. Then we got independent, then we joined NATO then we made a deal with the US that they would be allowed to put up a base here as long as they would defend us at the same time.

Biggest difference?

We want/wanted you here.

Logic · Mar 19, 2004, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
Yeah don't stop them from taking over other countries and you'll be fine!

Please don't put words in my mouth.