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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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 Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 3:04 pm Post subject: The Death of the "American Brand" |
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The following is an article from the British Guardian by a former senior British civil servant on the reality of Bush's reasons for attacking Iraq:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1270414,00.html
The view is more than convincing. However, it indicates a flaw in Bush's, and hence Blair's, thinking. First of all, control by a single commodity - even an important one like oil - is precarious.
The real fault lies deeper. As has already been shown, the effect of American actions has been a degrading in the credibility of American corporations and products. This is not, as some may hope it simply to be, a few people who decide not to buy American (a surprisingly rare phenomenon in many areas at the moment). It is the seemingly unique situation where statements made even about comparatively ordinary products, if made by US companies, are just not believed. They are no longer plausible.
For US corporations this is serious (as many are already finding out).
However, what Bush has ignored is the second aspect of the article relating to the US Dollar. Currencies are a "brand" - they are not, as paper money, real, but an illusion.
The ability of a currency to be used for trade depends not only on its own credibility as a "brand", but on the credibility of the issuing authority.
America is becoming an "Enron-nation". Prudent investors should look elsewhere.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:19 am Post subject: |
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You really don't get it, do you Donald ? Repeating lies about the UN only provides temporary cover, temporary illusion.
The recent "terror warning" against the US was initially taken seriously by the main UK newspapers, except one. However in the US it was your leading papers that considered a warning from your government to your country unlikely to be credible, to be honest.
And so it proved.
America lies to itself.
Just remember what Lenin said "the purpose of terrorism is to cause terror".
Seems to be that Bush, Ridge - and you - are doing the job of the terrorists for them. However, I am not an American, so traitors to that country are not my concern.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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"many of our supposed "allies" are turning into weak-kneed Islamic terrorism appeasers, you included RH"
I am no ally of yours, Donald.
just one correction - it is not "many" of your supposed allies: it is nearly all of them. Even the Philippines and Ukraine are apparently pulling their troops out. (the Brits don't pull out (yet) - they simply refuse when asked to assist. Very reserved the Brits. They don't say "no"; they just don't hear you).
you going to control the oil ? oil burns, Donald.
you don't get it, do you ? if the dollar has the credibility given to statements of "American intelligence", you are finished.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Not only was the evidence presented by America to the UN fake - your government has admitted that it was fake. Only you still believe it.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Kevin
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Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 1086
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Donald, I hope you can disagree on these issue more sensibly. However much you may disagree with John Kerry's tactics for "winning the war on terror", it is simply slander to say he has no interest in it.
Stick to the facts, man! |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Battlefield weapons are hardly suitable for the "war on terror".
Anyway, your military got their over-priced, over-sold kit, didn't they ?
then they attacked two already devastated and impoverished countries, neither of which could put real armies in the field. And yet your military now seem to be fighting a heavily defensive war.
having withdrawn to the armed encampments, it appears that US forces are more than a little nervous about venturing out. The problem is that this makes their massive dependence on supply acute.
American troops laugh at Iraqis without water in very high temperatures.
Watch the supply lines, Donald.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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War is a matter of logistics.
I am not proposing anything about your troops' water supply.
I am simply saying that the view of your troops is that they are heavily supply-dependent.
Your leaders are more concerned with stealing than with proper supply, and that the limited and endangered supply lines put the lives of your troops at risk.
It is rather obvious that when your troops deliberately alienate local populations, those populations will not rush to help when your soldiers need assistance.
As for Mr. Kerry's coalition - America (while people may have disagreed on some subjects) was one of the most admired countries in the world until Bush got to the White House. Bush has been abusive and threatening to some of America's oldest allies. He tries blackmailing nations with things that he does not even possess, he threatens starving children that unless they do what he says they won't get fed, he lies to the US people, the UN, and the world at large - and then cons dimwits like you into spending trillions of tax dollars just so that his sleazy friends can earn a few backhanders.
However, let's be fair - he was very helpful to the bin Laden family immediately after 9.11.
Perhaps Kerry is just as bad - who knows ?
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:17 am Post subject: |
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"4 million" US dead ? the Pentagon's own estimate from America's widening of the Middle East conflict is "over 50 million US dead". Your arguments actually are reasons for voting against Bush - whether he is merely an excessively close friend, or bought-and-paid-for hireling, of the bin Laden family.
"Did we not reach out to those countries ?"
It has just been revealed that America has been kidnapping and torturing British citizens.
You really don't know anything about the British, do you Donald ? I told you to take note of what General Rose said about Delta Force.
Watch those supply lines.
Incidentally, you are having trouble with your arithmetic:
Did we all miss World War III ? Maybe it was on another channel.
As for "Where was Kerry when we needed him in World War II?" The answer is Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Colorado. He was born there in December 1943.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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So go and fight.
What's the matter Donald - you too busy ?
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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where to visit in France ? wherever you like.
what interests you ? Cathar castles, 18th. Century town squares, Vauban's fortifications or even the Maginot line, little hill towns, Viollet-le-Duc's restoration of Carcassonne, Corbusier's Notre-Dame-du-Haut (remarkable setting if you've never seen it). Plenty to see and the people are friendly and the food good. (Just avoid the "mass-tourism" places).
have fun on holiday.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1375
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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the initial talk of currencies and their value is deeply flawed here...
the US dollar is down b/c the US wants the US dollar to be down... you might have noticed a little currency war that has been taking place b/w the dollar and the euro...
if the dollar remains cheap then goods based upon the dollar remain cheap...since most the world is operating on the dollar and those who use the dollar don't want to switch to the euro...it makes sense to keep the dollar's value down...that way products based on something other than the dollar become expensive and countries will use the 'cheaper' dollar based products...
the US is keeping the euro under control b/c artificially devalueing the dollar. this all helps to keep speculation high on the euro which otherwise would probably fail since the rest of the world can see knows that the european union isn't going to live up to all its promises...especially when all the infighting continues...and countries such as FRANCE are unwilling to make FAIR consessions to newer eastern european members... |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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"the US dollar is down b/c the US wants the US dollar to be down... "
love it. That must be the answer.
However, if you would return to the original points made you will see that it is not a question of juggling on the currency markets, but a question of credibility. Never mind whether the Euro or the Dollar are a bit higher or lower at the moment - it goes far beyond normal trading.
The danger to American brands exists and is happening now. It is serious and, for American corporations, it is very dangerous.
Let me give you a simple example: your postings are mostly deliberate, racist lies and you back them up with a Penn State banner. Now imagine that somebody is thinking that they might go to Penn State, but they are Muslim/French/some other race which you dislike and they think "hey, if this is the way they are, I am not going to go there". And then suppose that it keeps happening and somebody says "I am a WASP American, but my friend, the Muslim from London, wouldn't go to Penn State because they support racial stereotyping, so I won't either" (whether or not the Dean supports racial stereotyping your messages imply that he must because you use the banner). Then maybe a Chinese student ..... well, Bush has threatened China, maybe Penn State doesn't like Chinese either .....
Now imagine that this just keeps happening. It does not take long for the reputation of the "brand" of Penn State to become tarnished. People start to make jokes about it. People come up with remarkable conspiracy theories as to how and why a decent college has gone down such a route - suddenly Penn State is "rebranded". And finished.
If it happens to the currency, then your economy folds. It is not a matter of "opinion". It is a matter of what is happening. The eroding of credibility in America is startling.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1375
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Richard Haut wrote: | "the US dollar is down b/c the US wants the US dollar to be down... "
love it. That must be the answer.
However, if you would return to the original points made you will see that it is not a question of juggling on the currency markets, but a question of credibility. Never mind whether the Euro or the Dollar are a bit higher or lower at the moment - it goes far beyond normal trading.
The danger to American brands exists and is happening now. It is serious and, for American corporations, it is very dangerous.
Let me give you a simple example: your postings are mostly deliberate, racist lies and you back them up with a Penn State banner. Now imagine that somebody is thinking that they might go to Penn State, but they are Muslim/French/some other race which you dislike and they think "hey, if this is the way they are, I am not going to go there". And then suppose that it keeps happening and somebody says "I am a WASP American, but my friend, the Muslim from London, wouldn't go to Penn State because they support racial stereotyping, so I won't either" (whether or not the Dean supports racial stereotyping your messages imply that he must because you use the banner). Then maybe a Chinese student ..... well, Bush has threatened China, maybe Penn State doesn't like Chinese either .....
Now imagine that this just keeps happening. It does not take long for the reputation of the "brand" of Penn State to become tarnished. People start to make jokes about it. People come up with remarkable conspiracy theories as to how and why a decent college has gone down such a route - suddenly Penn State is "rebranded". And finished.
If it happens to the currency, then your economy folds. It is not a matter of "opinion". It is a matter of what is happening. The eroding of credibility in America is startling. |
i don't think they have much to worry about, the united states economy, although not growing very quickly is so large its 'small' growth is still very big compared to other economies...maybe not in percentage points, but in dollar signs.
where is a racist comment? please point one out to me? and how am i backing anything up with a Penn State banner? it asks for a location, i give a location...have i ever stated "b/c i go to penn state this or that..."?
no i haven't. so don't try to put words in my mouth. furthermore, last i checked 'french' was not a race although from speaking to you it seems as though maybe you wish it was so that you could claim its superiority, which isn't unheard of in europe it seems.
i don't get the WASP american reference...am i supposed to be happy that the muslim isn't coming, and yet distraught b/c a WASP american didn't come to penn state? i don't know what college or university you attended but at mine the dean doesn't dictate the image of the school... and a banner representing a student society doesn't either... and you go on to talk about chinese...which hasn't be brought up as of yet....
and i'll state once again you have absolutely no inkling of my racial or ethnic background...but i have a good idea that you have a pretty strong stereotype that anyone who defends the bush administration must be a WASP, racist, warmongeror...who wishes destruction upon the rest of the world and hates all races and religions... so i think you are the one using broad incorrect generalizations in your posts, not me.
i don't know why this has turned into a personal attack, but apparently that is the level at which you wish to make this debate...i'll tell you i'm not fully above that...
furthermore...this "currency brand" theory of yours doesn't add up. money markets don't see 'brands' they see what is going to be profitable. the US dollar has been one of the strongest and most reliable currencies through good times and bad... you can keep talking economic doomsdays all you want...b/c it just isn't going to happen
where were the answers to the EU anti semetism report and the comment on the french unfairly negotiating to take away power from EU members? i think you chose to not respond to those...again |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1375
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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and i'll say it once again...the us dollar is down b/c that is where the US likes it... it gives a boost to the ecomony and helps regulate inflation.
the value of money isn't based on popularity poles my friend. |
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Richard Haut
millennium club
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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you repeatedly seem to accuse the French/Europe, etc. of rampant antisemitism.
Sure there is a very small amount of extremist antisemitism (as there is in many countries - yours included). However to portray it as if it was out of control and (by implication) either ignored or even endorsed by the French and other governments is wildly untrue. Europe tries to address the problems that do exist - the French government has been extremely active already.
you support a regime that lied in order to attack Muslims. There was no link with Al-Queda in Iraq. There were no WMD. The Muslims have something that you wish to "stabilise" - the correct word is of course "steal".
And next Bush will probably attack Iran since his lack of standards do not seem of much concern to many in the US.
I suggest that you read up on what actually happened in the 1930's in Germany (Yad Vashem's own website is a good place to start).
take a look at the racial-stereotyping of the Jews, the way that they were treated as having less and less rights, isolated from society.
now consider why exactly Palestinians have had to live in camps for over 50 years, why their rights are continuously denied, and why even Tommy Lapid compares what Israel is doing to what the Nazis did. And Lapid is the Israeli Minister of Justice. Similarly the word "Muslim" appears to be almost interchangeable with "terrorist" for many in the US.
as for the branding view of the dollar - feel free to disagree. However the brand damage being done to products and corporations is real. And whether you like it or not, a currency needs credibility.
it might be an idea for you to read up on the "New World Order" theories of people like Wolfowitz and Perle. Then you will get an idea of what your country is really doing - and why peoples in the Middle East seem so bitterly ungrateful when you "liberate" them.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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