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Assassinating Iran's 2nd in Command
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Our embassy in Iraq was stormed last week. Today, while at Maralago, trump "gave the order" to kill this guy deemed responsible.
Thoughts?
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[X] No f@#$&ing idea, because all the “information” we have is surely propaganda, and we don’t know what’s really going on.
I just wish there was a party that would bring home all our troops, reduce the military to 20% of its size, and stop nation-building and mingling in other’s affairs.
Ron Paul for President.
-t
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Ham Sandwich
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(
Last edited by Ham Sandwich; Apr 23, 2020 at 10:35 AM.
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My cynical take is that Trump just wants to distract from his impeachment, and hopes he can exploit an escalation with Iran in an election year.
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https://www.rollingstone.com/politic...lected-933391/
“Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He's weak and he's ineffective. So the only way he figures that he's going to get reelected — and as sure as you're sitting there — is to start a war with Iran.”
-Nancy Pelosi
jk that was Trump in 2011
In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.
Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.
Don't let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected--be careful Republicans!
I predict that President Obama will at some point attack Iran in order to save face!
Remember what I previously said--Obama will someday attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.
Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!
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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why we must limit the power of politicians and government.
Politicians tell the truth until they are in power. Then they lie and do the opposite of what they believed before. And please, don’t make this just about a Trump. Bush and Obama were the same way.
And screw all those idiots that want (Democratic) socialism and expanded government.
It’s clear what will happen. It’s not what you have been promised.
-t
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Originally Posted by turtle777
Politicians tell the truth until they are in power.
Since ****ing when? A campaign promise is a lie to get people to vote for you. Politicians tell the truth???
Campaigning and leadership are two entirely different skillsets. You are required to have the first to get voted in, but there's no test of the second until you're in office.
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My nuclear hot take is the military minds in Iran will end up more pissed at whoever ratted out their plan than at us.
We just killed the guy. The rat betrayed him.
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Originally Posted by Laminar
Campaigning and leadership are two entirely different skillsets. You are required to have the first to get voted in, but there's no test of the second until you're in office.
Unless you’ve left a long trail of multiple bankruptcies and failed businesses in your wake.
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Originally Posted by Laminar
Since ****ing when? A campaign promise is a lie to get people to vote for you. Politicians tell the truth???
You have a point. I think the blatant lies come only into play during elections, as a way to “get in poet”. And, to be honest, it’s fairly easy to identify if you are not a complete dumbass.
Trump is a great study because he didn’t have political ambitions for a long time, and during that time, didn’t have anything to gain from lies and pandering.
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This assassination seems like a bad idea. But I haven't formed a real opinion - facts are in dispute.
We violated Iraqi air space to do the hit. Bad. But Iraq failed to protect our embassy. It is the host country's responsibility to protect ALL embassies, even if they were for enemies. During the cold war, the USSR and China embassies in Washington were never breached by rioters. So Iraqi airspace can suck it this once.
We don't assassinate foreign leaders, so they do not assassinate our leaders. Since we've gotten rid of their (possible) #2, Iran may assassinate ... Pence or even Trump? Hmm ... not sure how I should complete this sentence.
Suleimani arranged the rioters occupying the US embassy ... is this true? Trump says it is, which means it has a low probability. As Suleimani was arriving from the airport after, he must have arranged the action via cell phones. We all know how reliable rioters are about following directions.
Side note - we know what Iran's inner circle is planning now? And exposed this spy by forcing a huge public assassination? This inside person isn't going to live long.
I figure Trump is trying to distract everyone from his domestic problems. And he's been trying to provoke Iran into a war for years. But maybe Suleimani did mastermind the rioters.
The whole thing seems poorly thought out, and a bad idea.
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Have the Iraqis said we invaded their airspace? Honest question. There’s a joint airbase 20 miles away, which I assume makes things complicated. Also, until there’s evidence to the contrary, I’m assuming it’s the Iraqis who set him up.
My instincts tell me someone that high in the chain of command only shows up in person if something big is going down.
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Originally Posted by Laminar
Since ****ing when? A campaign promise is a lie to get people to vote for you. Politicians tell the truth???
I'm less cynical about this. Campaign promises are usually idealized wishes that make into policies, but usually in reduced form. Plus, you have a fickle electorate. Look at how many people are cheering at Trump's decision to assassinate a foreign military leader without authorization from Congress. What incentive from their electorate do politicians have to stand against that? Reality is more complicated than saying that politicians are all a lying bunch.
Originally Posted by Laminar
Campaigning and leadership are two entirely different skillsets. You are required to have the first to get voted in, but there's no test of the second until you're in office.
True. Which is also a problem with the American Presidency: you need good campaigning skills to win it and hopefully have good leadership skills to fill out the role. Parliamentary democracies fare better here IMHO.
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Originally Posted by reader50
It is the host country's responsibility to protect ALL embassies, even if they were for enemies.
That's a legitimate beef with Ira q, not Ira n.
Originally Posted by reader50
During the cold war, the USSR and China embassies in Washington were never breached by rioters. So Iraqi airspace can suck it this once.
The US effed up Iraq, it is not a state like the USSR and China that were (are), for the most part, stable.
Originally Posted by reader50
We don't assassinate foreign leaders, so they do not assassinate our leaders. Since we've gotten rid of their (possible) #2, Iran may assassinate ... Pence or even Trump? Hmm ... not sure how I should complete this sentence.
We also don't kill people, because it is wrong, doubly so when they haven't had a trial, and triply so when we don't have any jurisdiction over them and even more so when this could reasonably be interpreted as a declaration of war. However, we should not skip in this discussion that it is ok for us to kill people, and kill them without due process.
Originally Posted by reader50
Suleimani arranged the rioters occupying the US embassy ... is this true? Trump says it is, which means it has a low probability. As Suleimani was arriving from the airport after, he must have arranged the action via cell phones. We all know how reliable rioters are about following directions.
Side note - we know what Iran's inner circle is planning now? And exposed this spy by forcing a huge public assassination? This inside person isn't going to live long.
Given how prone the Trump administration is to lying, I would be even more skeptical than with other administrations. The intelligence community is already leaking all over that Podesta's claim that there was an imminent attack on Americans was tenuous at best. We should take that with a grain of salt, too, but the onus is on the Administration to produce credible evidence here.
Originally Posted by reader50
I figure Trump is trying to distract everyone from his domestic problems. And he's been trying to provoke Iran into a war for years. But maybe Suleimani did mastermind the rioters.
Bingo. Trump is trying to distract from his impeachment and wants to up his chances to win re-election. Suleimani was just the trigger, not the cause.
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Originally Posted by turtle777
Trump is a great study because he didn’t have political ambitions for a long time, and during that time, didn’t have anything to gain from lies and pandering.
What? He's been a con man and a grifter from the moment he could walk into a bank and get a big fat loan check based on a smile, some empty promises, and a handshake.
His entire professional career has been lies and pandering - the numerous bankruptcies, lost lawsuits, and monumental debt he's accrued in the past 30 years can attest to that.
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Originally Posted by reader50
It is the host country's responsibility to protect ALL embassies, even if they were for enemies.
Originally Posted by OreoCookie
That's a legitimate beef with Iraq, not Iran.
Suleimani was assassinated while his motorcade departed Baghdad International Airport, which is within Ira q, not within Ira n. The airspace violation is against Iraq, which certainly did not agree to allow this (but failed to protect our embassy). They've since voted our troops out of the country.
Originally Posted by OreoCookie
We also don't kill people, because it is wrong, doubly so when they haven't had a trial, and triply so when we don't have any jurisdiction over them and even more so when this could reasonably be interpreted as a declaration of war. However, we should not skip in this discussion that it is ok for us to kill people, and kill them without due process.
Couldn't agree more. I'm sick of extra-judicial killings, with no consequences. Congress could hand out consequences, but all too many members will protect Trump from the law no matter what he does. The reality of living under corruption.
When Obama (and Bush) did extra-judicial killings, I wanted Congress to step in then too. Such a question isn't supposed to be a partisan issue.
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We have the word of a compulsive liar, delivered alongside at least one other definite lie, that Suleiman was responsible for anything at all that might begin to warrant his assassination, so it seems safe to assume that any truth in that is purely coincidental and would not stand up in to any legal scrutiny by the house, senate or a war crimes tribunal.
Suleiman was a government official of one sovereign nation, murdered along with his staff on the soil of another sovereign nation without the approval to either of those nations or the UN security council (or anyone else who might conceivably have been asked, including allies who may be expected to pitch in to any consequential conflict). I cannot see past this action being easily defined as an unprovoked act of war.
This is not the same as bombing a few mountains where there are only terrorists living in caves. This is an actual high ranking military officer outside a public airport. Its unconscionable.
Pence should watch his back though, Trump might have him bumped off so he can blame Iran and ramp things up a notch when the news feeds swing back to impeachment....
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Originally Posted by reader50
Suleimani was assassinated while his motorcade departed Baghdad International Airport, which is within Iraq, not within Iran. The airspace violation is against Iraq, which certainly did not agree to allow this (but failed to protect our embassy). They've since voted our troops out of the country.
I know. But bad Iraqi security has nothing to do with the US's “disagreements” with Iran, so I thought this part of your post was leading in the wrong direction (because the story is at its core about the relations between the US and Iran, although Iraq is tangled up in there). But perhaps I misunderstood what you were trying to say.
Originally Posted by reader50
Couldn't agree more. I'm sick of extra-judicial killings, with no consequences. Congress could hand out consequences, but all too many members will protect Trump from the law no matter what he does. The reality of living under corruption.
The one weird thing is that Congress wouldn't necessarily oppose he President's course of action, so the outcome may not necessarily change. But it corrodes democracy and prevents Congress from shouldering its share of responsibility.
Originally Posted by reader50
When Obama (and Bush) did extra-judicial killings, I wanted Congress to step in then too. Such a question isn't supposed to be a partisan issue.
Bush and, especially when it comes to drones, Obama set the international standard for how drones are used. They have been used even when there was only (bad) sigint and apparently nobody cared much about innocent bystanders being killed in the process just to get one “legitimate” target (euphemistically called collateral damage).
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
[…] that Suleiman was responsible for anything at all that might begin to warrant his assassination, so it seems safe to assume that any truth in that is purely coincidental and would not stand up in to any legal scrutiny by the house, senate or a war crimes tribunal.
Plus, it is blocking out a lot of sh*t US allies do in the region — and the US themselves. Why is getting Saudi Arabia all the love and weapons, despite its atrocious human rights record and involvement in (proxy) wars (including Yemen)?
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
Suleiman was a government official of one sovereign nation, murdered along with his staff on the soil of another sovereign nation […] I cannot see past this action being easily defined as an unprovoked act of war.
Exactly, and it seems that a lot of Americans feel as if this is an inappropriate interpretation of the events. If Iran had assassinated e. g. one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I'm quite sure the US would reserve every option it had, including a war.
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So now Trump is threatening to bomb cultural sites in Iran. If they retaliate for the summary execution of a government leader.
Targeting civilian sites is known as a War Crime. Summary killings are too, btw. Cultural sites include museums, historical libraries, ruins, and protected heritage sites. ie, like Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Sites that have no military or government value, and are generally filled with civilians.
I wonder if military leaders will refuse those orders. They're supposed to refuse illegal orders, as those carry personal legal liability.
I haven't found out what Congress is saying about all this. Or if Reps in particular will continue to defend the good member of the family. As he tries to start WW3, and issues terrorist threats.
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Republicans aren't going to do shit about Trump unless Republican voters get in their face and tell them they've had enough.
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Originally Posted by reader50
Targeting civilian sites is known as a War Crime. Summary killings are too, btw. Cultural sites include museums, historical libraries, ruins, and protected heritage sites. ie, like Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Sites that have no military or government value, and are generally filled with civilians.
Yeah, and other, allied governments are contorting themselves to find a stance here. Germany has declared that they will “temporarily” withdraw a “substantial” part of their troops from Iraq. But Merkel's spokesperson declined to comment on Trump's tweets, saying they were not commenting on tweets as they aren't official pronouncements. Japan's government is now rethinking sending ships to patrol the straight of Hormus (which is in flagrant disregard of the Japanese constitution, although this is a separate discussion).
At a certain point, US relationships with allies will reach a breaking point.
Originally Posted by reader50
I wonder if military leaders will refuse those orders. They're supposed to refuse illegal orders, as those carry personal legal liability.
I don't hold out much hope that anyone in the military brass will really and publicly push back over this. Even the military's strategy to put insane options on the menu to make other, slightly less insane options more palatable sounds really, really insane to me. How is it proper for the military to give the President the option to declare war without Congress's consent?
Originally Posted by reader50
I haven't found out what Congress is saying about all this. Or if Reps in particular will continue to defend the good member of the family. As he tries to start WW3, and issues terrorist threats.
I have read through the “intellectual” conservative kommentariat, and it doesn't seem likely that the GOP will do anything to reign Trump in.
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Trump tweeted that his tweets were official... lol.
These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!
At least the sec of defense Esper admits that bombing historical sites would be a war crime.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/wor...3oI/story.html
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To be fair Trumps threat to destroy sites of “historic cultural importance” is likely to mean the Iranians loose a few latenight strip clubs, a few motels and a a couple of drive through burger joints.
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he's only worried because in addition to actual US government targets that he DGAF about, there's his personal investments which are vulnerable: hotels and golf courses that someone could f*** up.
Gee, if only someone had followed the emoluments clause.
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And now Iran has fired back. Whats the Oompa Loompa gonna do now?
I wonder if he's considered the possibility of Iranian-backed terrorists bombing his buildings and resorts. or maybe this whole thing is one big global insurance job.
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Odd that Iran's missiles did no real damage, but the plane from Ukraine went down for unknown reasons.
also twitter is abuzz that trump managed to complete a rehearsed speech without going off the rails, but seemed heavily sedated/slurring/etc.
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Iran's response was far more measured than I'd expected. They fired on two high-alert bases, among the least likely to be taken by surprise. Iran notified the Iraqi PM of the targets before the launches, and he passed the info to the US military. So basically, Iran phoned a warning ahead, so both bases could evacuate or get everyone in the bomb shelters ahead of time. Result: no casualties that we know of, and apparently little damage.
Contrast this to Trump, who fired from Mar-a-Lago without consulting anyone, ally or congress. Possibly while relaxing in a spa.
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I heard Iran warned Iraq but not with specific targets.
Its now being said the Iranian airliner was shot down by an Iranian missile.
If I were Iran and had all the terrorist proxies I allegedly have, I'd be blowing up buildings with Trump written on them. And some golf courses too.
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Originally Posted by reader50
Iran's response was far more measured than I'd expected. They fired on two high-alert bases, among the least likely to be taken by surprise. Iran notified the Iraqi PM of the targets before the launches, and he passed the info to the US military. So basically, Iran phoned a warning ahead, so both bases could evacuate or get everyone in the bomb shelters ahead of time. Result: no casualties that we know of, and apparently little damage.
Awesome. War was avoided because we could count on Iran being reasonable and measured in its response. What I find especially amusing is the argument that this shows that Trump's strategy has worked: he was not afraid to take the bold risks that Bush II and Obama shied away from, and was richly rewarded. I also heard the argument that this shows how good the US's intelligence service, thanks to them nobody was hurt.
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
I heard Iran warned Iraq but not with specific targets.
AFAIK Iran gave enough warning through the grapevine to alert the Americans and chose obvious targets. Plus, Iran apparently did not aim for maximum damage, but instead wanted to flex its muscles and show how good its missiles are.
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
Its now being said the Iranian airliner was shot down by an Iranian missile.
Isn't the only source for this claim so far the Trump administration? Unless I have independent confirmation, I'd take this claim with a grain of salt.
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Originally Posted by OreoCookie
Awesome. War was avoided because we could count on Iran being reasonable and measured in its response.
Originally Posted by OreoCookie
AFAIK Iran gave enough warning through the grapevine to alert the Americans and chose obvious targets. Plus, Iran apparently did not aim for maximum damage, but instead wanted to flex its muscles and show how good its missiles are.
This right here. But all the jingoistic BS on the right will continue nevertheless. And I'd bet my next 3 paychecks that the ones beating their chests the most are NOT the ones in green.
Can You Locate Iran? Few Voters Can. | MorningConsult.com
OAW
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Originally Posted by OAW
If you’re right, Trump will win in a landslide.
As with everything you say, it’s a BIG IF.
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That map is scary. Never mind opinions on Trump - why are US voters so bad at geography?
Someone thinks Iran is within easy driving distance of London.
Assorted brain-damage-types place it mid-ocean. Near Atlantis, no doubt.
All voters agree Iran is not within the Koreas. Or Iceland.
Someone thinks it is near Las Vegas. Or hiding in the Amazon.
I don't recall a geography class when I went to high school. But there was world history, and I don't see how any of us would have placed Iran in Japan. Because they nearly rhyme?
Home schooling must have really taken off in recent years.
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Originally Posted by reader50
Assorted brain-damage-types place it mid-ocean. Near Atlantis, no doubt.
I don't know. These places within oceans make me think this wasn't just a "point at the map" expertise. Is this made up ?
Surely, 99% of the people would know that Iran is not an ocean.
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Have you never seen the youtube videos where they ask Americans easy questions which they get laughably wrong? That map is surprisingly good IMO.
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How did the US manage to fire a missile from a drone and only kill one man?
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Originally Posted by reader50
That map is scary. Never mind opinions on Trump - why are US voters so bad at geography?
.
It’s a combination of Eurocentrism and the fact that US schools just don’t teach geography like they used to. Most Americans can’t even identify all the STATES in the country if they aren’t labeled. I can remember in grade school we had to learn how to identify not just all the states but their capital cities as well. And then memorize it. As well as the countries in North America and Europe. It’s just not like that anymore.
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Originally Posted by Face Ache
How did the US manage to fire a missile from a drone and only kill one man?
It didn’t. The deputy commander of an Iranian backed Iraqi militia and several other officials were killed as well.
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Originally Posted by OAW
It’s a combination of Eurocentrism and the fact that US schools just don’t teach geography like they used to. Most Americans can’t even identify all the STATES in the country if they aren’t labeled. I can remember in grade school we had to learn how to identify not just all the states but their capital cities as well. And then memorize it. As well as the countries in North America and Europe. It’s just not like that anymore.
OAW
They learn it. My kid this year had to label maps of europe, africa, etc for geography, then have quizes etc. However whether they remember it past middle school is another thing. I think they have much more to stuff into their heads then we did.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
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I don’t remember much direct teaching ever happening, but I always liked maps and globes, so I picked up a lot naturally.
In my first through third grade classroom, we had 2’ by 3’ wooden maps where countries or states would fit in them like puzzle pieces. You could then take the pieces out, and trace around them to make our own maps on 2’ x 3’ sheets of newsprint. Absolutely loved doing that, and quickly advanced to the point I was adding capitals, rivers, mountain ranges, and the like. That gave me a pretty solid foundation.
Still mess stuff up, though. Most recently, in my mind I had New Zealand on the wrong side of Australia.
My maternal grandmother had a 12’ wide world map as wallpaper in the kitchen.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
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I did have a very unusual geography class in college. The teacher was amazing, but also a jerk, so I dropped it.
Before I dropped, I received two vital pieces of information. Probably the most important things I learned in college.
The first was he showed us a film about the Milgram Experiment, which is an eye-opener for someone unfamiliar with it, like I was.
The second was his pitch for why geography was important. He said “if you look like you don’t know where you’re going, you make yourself a target”.
He’s absolutely right, but I don’t think it’s a good pitch for geography, but a good pitch for pretending to look like you know where you’re going.
In other words, always walk fast, and with purpose, regardless of whether you have purpose.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
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Originally Posted by subego
The first was he showed us a film about the Milgram Experiment, which is an eye-opener for someone unfamiliar with it, like I was.
Well that's pretty nuts.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
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Originally Posted by Laminar
Well that's pretty nuts.
It was unexpected for a geography class. IIRC, the tie-in was when he used to pair it with a documentary about the Nazis, but said he stopped doing that because it was too much of a downer.
I’m pretty sure he kept the Milgram one in anyway because he felt it more important to pass the knowledge along than be strict with the syllabus.
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